MMA fighter Anthony Ruiz thought he could keep it a secret. But not anymore! New broke that after a fight in 2012, he received $150,000 from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Well, at least that's where he thinks the money came from!
Ruiz - who's a married father of two and CalFire firefighter in Coarsegold - fought Alexander Shlemenko in Sochi, Russia. President Putin was in the audience. Ruiz was pummeled, his nose broken. After the fight, Putin commended Ruiz on having such a big heart. He also told him to get his nose fixed.
After returning home, Ruiz received three deposits into his bank account, for $50,000 each. He says the money came from Putin. He used the money to put a down payment on a new home. He also decided to keep the story to himself. Somehow, word of the gift came out last week. Ruiz appeared on Eyewitness News This Morning to talk about it.
He recently won a fight in Russia. No future fights are planned...yet.
Ruiz - who's a married father of two and CalFire firefighter in Coarsegold - fought Alexander Shlemenko in Sochi, Russia. President Putin was in the audience. Ruiz was pummeled, his nose broken. After the fight, Putin commended Ruiz on having such a big heart. He also told him to get his nose fixed.
After returning home, Ruiz received three deposits into his bank account, for $50,000 each. He says the money came from Putin. He used the money to put a down payment on a new home. He also decided to keep the story to himself. Somehow, word of the gift came out last week. Ruiz appeared on Eyewitness News This Morning to talk about it.
He recently won a fight in Russia. No future fights are planned...yet.