In a recent interview on the MMA History Podcast, former mixed martial artist Igor Zinoviev made an unexpected disclosure about his time working as a bodyguard for financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The Russian Special Forces veteran and former MMA middleweight champion confirmed that during his employment with Epstein, he was sent to an executive protection school in Baltimore that included attendees from the highest levels of American intelligence agencies.
“He sent me when I was already working for him [as] a bodyguard,” Zinoviev explained. “He sent me to Baltimore to an Executive Protection School. I finished it. I was the only person who was in the private sector. All other people were FBI, CIA guys, the director of CIA was all in every just.”
Zinoviev described being the sole representative from the private sector in what was otherwise a class filled with federal law enforcement and intelligence professionals.
“After that school, like three weeks or something, I received a lot of letters from that kind of high level guys,” he said, noting he received commendations from fellow attendees who were honored to train alongside him.
Recently, there have been growing questions about Epstein’s proximity to elite government circles. These concerns that have been amplified by recent investigations from content creator Coffeezilla, who has highlighted several unusual indicators suggesting possible intelligence community overlap.
According to vi ctim’s attorney Bradley Edwards, Epstein’s bodyguard was reportedly sent to CIA headquarters in Virginia for a week-long training course. The bodyguard claimed he was the only private citizen among roughly 45 attendees, with the remaining participants coming from the CIA or similar government units holding top secret clearance.
Perhaps more striking is that Epstein himself appeared to probe his own potential government ties. He filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the CIA seeking documents related to what he described as an “open affiliation with the CIA” between 1999 and 2011.
Rather than confirming or denying whether such records existed, the CIA issued what is known as a Glomar response. It is a rare stance in which the agency refuses to confirm or deny information because doing so could reveal a “classified connection.” This type of response is typically reserved for matters involving national security.
Coffeezilla’s analysis also points to references in Epstein’s communications to SCIF facilities (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities). These are secure locations used for handling classified intelligence. In one email, Epstein mentioned attending a “tech meeting in the SCIF” and even suggested his own residence operated in a similar fashion.
At the same time, frustration has grown over how Epstein-related documents have been handled. The Epstein Transparency Act required the Department of Justice to release files with minimal redactions, protecting only those who were harmed.
Yet congressional representatives have reported receiving documents with heavy blackouts, sometimes layered with multiple rounds of redaction that make meaningful review nearly impossible.
Coffeezilla stated: “The way the FBI and DOJ have been treating this is a joke because we just talked to a congressman who passed the Epstein Transparency Act. As part of it, the DOJ
was supposed to release all the Epstein files with no redactions except for survivors. That didn’t happen. Several of the survivors names were left unredacted and several of the perpetrators names were left redacted.”
Adding to concerns about the investigation’s completeness, numerous individuals who say they were harmed by Epstein claim they were never contacted by current investigators, despite repeated efforts to provide testimony. During recent congressional hearings, multiple attendees raised their hands when asked if they had been unable to meet with the Department of Justice.
The former MMA star, who competed in early mixed martial arts tournaments including Ext reme Fighting and the UFC, worked for Epstein for several years. Zinoviev clarified his experience with the controversial figure, stating he never witnessed the illegal activities Epstein was later accused of.
“Everybody asks about Epstein, right, and I can tell the truth because my truth will sh**k everyone,” Zinoviev said. “That kind of monster, when everybody represents Epstein, does not exist. He’s not that kind of person. I worked for him for several years. I never ever see any teenage girls. He has like two or three girlfriends. It’s like 24, 25, but not [minors], because if I see something like this, I probably gotta take care of it by myself.”
When asked why he chose to speak about his time with Epstein, Zinoviev explained that he avoids interviews because the media often misrepresents his statements.
Editor’s Note: Quotes have been edited for clarity.
