Putin Seeks Revenge on a World Order He Once Wanted to Join https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-02-13/russian-president-vladimi... The summer evening at a beachside nightclub in the Black Sea resort of Sochi resembled a modern-day version of a gladiator fight in imperial Rome. Russian fighters pummeled a “world” team in a mixed martial arts contest. Scantily dressed women waved Russian flags and the crowd roared as the home squad racked up victories. The highlight was the knockout of a 44-year-old American fighter.