Absolute Championships Berkut is an MMA promotion out of Russia that has run events in their native country, plus the United Kingdom and the United States.
However, the owner of the promotion in Mairbek Khasiev recently turned down a sponsorship deal from Nike due to the athletic brands view on LGTBQ rights.
Khasiev made the announcement himself via Instagram:
Here is the translation of what the ACB owner wrote:
"?Women were created for men and men for women. Do you see animals mating with the same sex? If we allow gay marriage, a man worse than an animal.? ? Manny Pacquiao said. After these words, Nike broke a contract with Manny!!! Friends, for a few months we have had negotiations for a Nike sponsorship with ACB but after such a demarche on the part of well-known company, I consider it beneath our dignity to have any relationship with them! I add to all this one expression - "Sometimes the devil is afraid of the thoughts within a f****t?s head."
The next ACB event is going to be ACB 63 on Saturday, July 1, which features a trio of UFC veterans in Vinny Magalhaes, Luke Barnatt and Piotr Hallman on the card.