Oleg Taktarov weighs in on the Crimean crisis and Americans’ perception of Russia

One of the troubling topics in politics over the past year has been the Russia-Crimea crisis and the fallout of the war. That was later coupled with the collapse of the rouble, which has only added to concern that the country is on the brink of a serious recession.

However, former UFC tournament champion Oleg Taktarov believes his people are at their best at a time of crisis.

"When crisis happens, we use to find resources, gain experience and draw right conclusions," Taktarov told Sports.ru. "But when it's all too good - we become spoiled."

While Western media has not been kind to Russia with its coverage of the war, Taktarov is adamant that the average American is far from concerned with the activities in Crimea, and have not passed judgment on him as a Russian for his country's actions in 2014.

"First of all, Russia isn't being perceived badly in USA. I didn't notice any changes in their attitude towards me. Americans have their own problems. Unemployment is rising and there are problems with the healthcare system. Ordinary Americans don't give too much attention to what's happening in Russia or the Ukraine."

In reality, Taktarov found that he average American actually compares President Barack Obama to Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

"They don't like Obama and often compare him to Putin. They say: ‘If we had the same president like Putin, we'd be alright. Putin thinks about his country and Obama seems like he doesn't think about anything.'

"He is considered to be the weakest president in USA history."

Transcription taken from Sports.ru.