Vladimir Putin(L) and Jean-Claude Van Damme
© AFP Vladimir Rodionov

SAINT PETERSBURG (AFP) - Putin treated the fighters to tea and cakes at the chandelier-lined hall of the Konstantinovsky palace following a mixed martial arts contest.

Dubbed "Russia versus America", Saturday's contest was won by Russian champion Fedor Yemelyanenko who defeated US rival Matt "The Law" Lindland.

Television footage showed judo enthusiast Putin, dressed entirely in black and with no tie, greeting martial arts films veteran Van Damme in the sports hall.

The ultra-violent fights were interspersed with dancing by women in revealing red dresses. Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, a friend of Putin's, was also reported to be in the audience.

Mixed martial arts is a controversial limited-rules combat sport in which fighters use techniques taken from a variety of disciplines against each other.

Putin was shown on Rossiya television embracing Yemelyanenko after his fight and later hosting him at the tea party where cup cakes were served on a candlelit table.

"You have a very tough sport, but it is not without dignity and respect toward your partner," Putin said. "Brave people are in this sport."

Van Damme, the star of a string of martial arts films, dressed in an open white shirt, described the occasion as an honour, Vesti television reported.

"I know that officials can give speeches, but what the president just said was not a political speech, but that of a person speaking from the heart," he said, according to a Russian translation.

©AFP