Amon Amarth singer Johan Hegg has long been a fan of the UFC. As frontman for the Swedish melodic death metal stalwarts, Hegg said that he was a regular Fight Pass subscriber. It seems that’s all about to change with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Hegg has been vocal about his stance on the attack, and now he has called out UFC for their choice not to ban Russian fighters saying the move is akin to backing the attacks. “As long as [the UFC] allows Russian fighters to compete and make money, while children die in Ukraine, [the UFC] will not get my money. I have now cancelled my fight pass. Athletes represent their country and regime. Allowing Russian fighters to compete is to support Putin.”
Right now Putin has invaded the Ukraine, a democratic, sovereign state, and though this is far from the only weaponised conflict in the world, it has affected me deeply. I thought we as Europeans were passed this, especially considering our troubled past. My hope is that Putin will end this attack on Ukraine, & that peace will be restored in Europe.
Johan Hegg
Previously, Hegg condemned the invasion and explained that his lyrics are based in fiction and do not advocate war. “My lyrics are often about glorious battles & brave warriors, but they’re just stories, sometimes based on history,” he wrote on Twitter. “That doesn’t mean I condone war as a matter of solving conflicts. War is never a solution to any dispute. It can only generate more animosity & hate between people. Right now Putin has invaded the Ukraine, a democratic, sovereign state, and though this is far from the only weaponised conflict in the world, it has affected me deeply. I thought we as Europeans were passed this, especially considering our troubled past. My hope is that Putin will end this attack on Ukraine, & that peace will be restored in Europe. My fear is that even if this happens, it will take a very long time for trust to return between Russia & the rest of the world. I stand with Ukraine & all Russians who oppose this war.”
Amon Amarth’s music video for the song “Mjölner, Hammer Of Thor” featured ex-UFC champion Josh Barnett as The Berseker and former fighter Shanie Rusth as Shield Maiden. Also featured were WWE wrestlers Erick Rowan as Thor and Viktor as Demon Henchman. In a 2019 interview with MMAWeekly.com, Hegg stated about how he got into combat sports: “Actually it was my wife, Maria, who introduced me to combat sports. She’s done some boxing in the past and is currently a yoga teacher and has developed a special kind of yoga for athletes. Currently she’s working with a couple of MMA fighters, Örebro Hockey, the local Swedish Hockey League team in our hometown, and a couple of other hockey players in Sweden. A few years back, my wife and I were in New York when I was promoting our previous album, ‘Jomsviking’, and there we met Josh and his girlfriend at the time, Colleen [Schneider], at a dinner. The day after, we met up with them at a gym, and they tried yoga with my wife, and in exchange they offered to train MMA with us the next time we were in L.A. So next time we were there we met up with them and trained, and I had a blast. I’ve played hockey and soccer, but honestly this is perhaps the most fun I’ve had training. I was never really into fighting or martial arts before. I mean, I had seen MMA fights and all, but I honestly wasn’t that interested, but training with Josh changed all that, and I’ve been training ever since. Now I follow both UFC and Bellator, as well as watch other organizations like Cage Warriors, if there is an interesting fight.”
Numerous rock and metal musicians have spoken out against the invasion including Twisted Sister vocalist Dee Snider. “I absolutely approve of Ukrainians using “We’re Not Gonna Take It” as their battlecry,” Snider wrote. “My grandfather was Ukrainian, before it was swallowed up by the USSR after WW2. This can’t happen to these people again! #F*CKRUSSIA.”
Russian deathcore band Slaughter To Prevail also condemned the decision by their own country to attack Ukraine. “No to war!” they wrote via social media. “Our band has nothing to do with politics, we do not take sides. We are for all peaceful inhabitants of this world and for world peace. We do not accept ANY military action. We wish all of you and your loved ones, relatives and friends to stay safe and hope this nightmare ends as soon as possible.”
