Trump-linked MMA fighter questioned by FBI: report

The FBI has interviewed a Russian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter with ties to President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, The Associated Press reported on Sunday.

Fedor Emelianenko’s manager told the news service that the FBI met with the fighter in his hotel room last week ahead of a fight in Illinois.

“The FBI came to the hotel looking to talk to Fedor and they were very nice, came in to speak with Fedor for a few minutes, spoke to me, very cool guys, and that’s all I can really say about it,” Jerry Millen told the AP. “Again, the FBI did come to the hotel, they found us, knocked on the door.”

“Hundred percent, kind of surprised. They were very nice, very professional,” he added.

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Millen declined say what the agents discussed with the fighter, adding that they attended Emelianenko’s fight on Saturday.

Emelianenko was signed to a fight league that Trump had partial ownership in in 2008, and Trump announced a joint venture with the MMA and Emelianenko at a news conference that same year, the AP noted.

Cohen was the chief operating officer of the league, which went out of business for financial reasons after two events, the news service said, adding that Emelianenko headlined both fights.

Putin has also attended Emelianenko’s fights and has been photographed with the fighter, according to the AP.

The interview comes as special counsel Robert Mueller probes ties between the Trump campaign and Moscow as part of the investigation into Russia’s election interference.

FBI agents raided Cohen’s office, home and hotel room earlier this month, and prosecutors revealed that he is under criminal investigation.