Interview with the President of Ukraine’s MMA Real Fight Promotion, Vitaliy Vovk

Introduction

Vitaliy Vovk is a Ukrainian MMA promoter, President and founder of Ukraine’s leading MMA organization, Real Fight Promotion (RFP). Vovk has over 40 years of experience in combat sports, and has competed in amateur boxing and trained in kickboxing. He has a background in law enforcement; however, ultimately he found his calling as an MMA promoter, referee and judge. Since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, RFP has held 11 events which helped support various charities in Ukraine.  In 2025, Vovk and the RFP are looking to continue to hold events, advancing the MMA scene in Ukraine and worldwide.

Q & A

FightMatrix: Please tell us about your childhood and what it was like growing up in Ukraine. At what age did you first get involved in combat sports?

Vitaliy Vovk: I had a great childhood and youth. Thanks to sports, I traveled a lot and visited many cities across the country. I joined a freestyle wrestling club when I was 10 years old.

 

FM: Who have been your biggest influences and mentors in your life?

VV: My boxing coaches: Vadym Verenko and Vadym Kopachko.

 

FM: I understand you began your combat sports journey initially while becoming a boxer. What piqued your interest in this particular sport? Will you please discuss your experiences within the boxing industry?

VV: We had a new neighbor who was a boxing coach (Vadym Verenko). He convinced me to switch from wrestling to boxing when I was 11. Just a few months later, I competed in my first tournament — the city championship — and placed second. I boxed for eight years, represented my region and Ukraine, and won international tournaments.

 

FM: Eventually, from boxing you transitioned to being a kickboxer. Why did you chose to switch from boxing to kickboxing? Is there anything specific you want to share about this chapter of your life?

VV: To be honest, I was a bit burned out from boxing and the constant training. In the ’90s, karate and kickboxing were very trendy. I started training in kickboxing just for personal enjoyment, without the goal of competing.

FM: You studied engineering in the university, but ended up taking a very different career
path. How did that come about?

VV: Before university, I was into cars and worked as an assistant auto mechanic. I dreamed of managing a car service center. But the ’90s were tough in Ukraine. After university, I worked at a security company for three years before joining the police. During my service, I started competing in hand-to-hand combat tournaments and became interested in early UFC events and various fight techniques. I also enrolled in and graduated from the Lviv State University of Physical Culture.

 

FM: In 2007, you established the Ukrainian Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization called Real Fight Promotion (RFP). Impressively, 18 years later you are known as the leading MMA promotion in Ukraine. Will you please tell us about the history of RFP?

VV: In 2007, I created my fight club “VOVK” and held my first event, “West Fight,” in the Lviv Circus on October 26. A friend said to me during the event, “This is awesome! These are real fights!” That’s how the name Real Fight Promotion was born.

 

FM: How did you end up becoming an MMA promoter?

VV: It was a gradual process — one event after another. You gain experience, meet people in the MMA and TV industries. One day, you realize you’re fully immersed in it. I’ve helped many fighters get into major international promotions. A big influence and supporter in this was Donatas Simanaitis, President of KOK & MMA Bushido, with whom I have a close friendship.

 

FM: What is your short-term and long-term vision for RFP?

VV: Our short-term goal is to host RFP’s 100th event and several more before the end of 2025. We’re also aiming to attract a strategic investor and broadcast on major PPV and digital platforms. Long-term, we aim to scale events, host regular media-driven events, increase monetization, and expand internationally, while continuing to promote Ukrainian fighters to global organizations.

 

FM: What makes RFP unique compared to other MMA promotions in Ukraine?

VV: A strong legacy, reputation, and stability. We’ve introduced innovative formats, such as a new point-based Grand Prix system. We maintain solid partnerships across Ukraine, Europe, and the USA. RFP events are broadcast on international platforms, and many of our fighters have gone on to compete in top global promotions — building our brand as a “star factory.”

 

FM: Please discuss sponsorship opportunities available within RFP. If somebody wants to contact you about becoming a sponsor, how do they go about doing this?

VV: RFP is more than just an MMA organization — it’s a media project with high growth potential. We already have a scalable business model, media partnerships, and access to top Ukrainian and international athletes. Our Grand Prix events, strong brand recognition, and dedicated fan base make for excellent sponsorship value. We’re always open to new collaborations! If you’re interested in working with RFP, feel free to reach out — our contact information is available online.

 

FM: I am curious to know what your favorite RFP event ever held was and why. Can you please explain this to me?

VV: RFP 71 – Lviv Open Cup 2019 and RFP 86 – Lviv Open Cup 2021. These events were attended by my friends — Jordan Jay Adams, CEO of United Fight Alliance (USA), and well-known fighter Artem Lobov (Ireland). Both events aired on over 20 U.S. TV channels, including NBC Sports, reaching 130 million households.

FM: What are your thoughts on the current situation in Ukraine? How did the war affect the MMA scene, and how did you manage to keep putting on events?

VV: Russia didn’t invade in 2022 — it started in 2014 with Crimea. The lack of large-scale battles at the time shouldn’t mislead anyone. Hybrid warfare is still warfare. Russia’s largescale invasion of Ukraine already took place on February 24, 2022. Russia is a terrorist country. Which violates Ukraine’s sovereignty on a daily basis, destroying cities, killing civilians, kidnapping children and torturing prisoners of war. Event numbers dropped in early 2022, but now MMA shows are resuming. Since February 24, 2022, RFP has successfully held 11 MMA events, each with charity auctions to support defenders, war orphans, and young athletes.

FM: How do you envision the current situation in Ukraine unfolding in the future?

VV: It’s hard to predict anything, but I can say for certain that Ukraine seeks a just peace.

 

FM: Do you still train in any combat sports?

VV: Yes, I still train, but in a lighter mode. I focus more on stretching and rehab exercises for old injuries. I train for pleasure and occasionally provide private MMA and rehabilitation training.

 

FM: Is there anything else that you want your fans and our viewers to know about you or your promotion?

VV: There’s only one way to move forward — love what you do and do what you love. The results will follow!

Conclusion

With United Fight Alliance as their content distribution partner in the US, Vitaliy Vovk is looking to grow RFP and gain worldwide recognition, while continuing to grow the MMA community in Ukraine. His track record shows that you can persevere even in the most adverse conditions.  Vovk will be joining the FightMatrix team as an MMA analyst, and contributor to the accuracy of record-keeping of Ukrainian fighters. Vovk is so widely respected for his reliability and dedication to MMA, that he is also the first Trusted Promoter in the history of Sherdog’s Fight Finder.