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Khamzat Dalgiev (R) Saint Petersburg, Russia (Hōngongoi 18) – Toa mā M-1 Challenge Khamzat Dalgiev (10-1-0, M-1: 7-1-0) defends his title this Saturday against his American challenger, Nate “The Train” Landwehr (10-2-0, M-1: 2-0-0), i roto i te the M-1 Challenge 95: Te Pakanga i Nga Maunga hui matua, this Saturday in Ingushetia, Russia.
An all-around gifted MMA fighter, Dalgiev got into “Ko te riri” for a one-on-one interview:
When did you first start in MMA?
KD: “I started training in judo when I was a child and I really loved it. After one championship, where judges made a few very bad decisions that prevented me from becoming the national champion, I decided to move on. At that time there were no MMA gyms around, so I just watched fight videos and hoped to start fighting one day. After a while a friend of mine told me about an MMA gym opening and I understood this was my chance. I remember staying far away from The Rage at one of the first M-1 Global shows in Ingushetia, dreaming about entering the Rage one day by myself.”
What did you have to work hardest at to become the fighter you are today?
KD: “In the beginning of my career, the most difficult thing for me was striking, because I only had a wrestling background. But I can say for sure that it is much easier for a wrestler to learn striking than for a striker to learn wrestling. After a few months of hard training, I had my first fight.
“In my early fights, I preferred using my wrestling skills to defeat my opponents, but as my striking was getting better, I started using it more and more and really enjoyed it. In the upcoming fight I’d love to add the fourth knockout victory to my record.”
Can you talk a little about your only pro loss that came in your debut?
KD: “In my debut fight, I fought a much more experienced fighter, Ali Bagov, who had more than 20 pro fights on his record. I did not care about his record because those are just numbers and I have never chosen my opponents. If you want to be the best you have to fight the best.
“That loss in my debut fight changed me a lot as a fighter. I gained experience, started training harder and since then, with God’s help, I’ve won 10 fights in a row. Even if I could change it and declined taking that fight, I would never do it because that fight was one of the most important one in my career.”
What’s the key to your success?
KD: “If you want to succeed, you have to work hard 24/7 and spare no efforts. You have to set a goal and do your best to reach it, clearing all obstacles on your way.
Can you look back at your title-winning performance and explain what happened?
“In the title fight against Ivan Buchinger, I had great confidence that the title belt will be mine. I was extremely motivated and did not feel his punches. He could deliver one good shot to my head that caused a flash knockdown, but it did not shake me. I did not lose concentration and kept controlling the fight. I was listening to my corner and with their help knocked out the champ.
“For that victory the president of Ingushetia Yunus-bek Yevkurov, gave me a generous gift – Toyota Camry – and when I got home that night, I gave it to my mother because I believe that a mother is the most important person in life for any person. I am not always at home, we have no father and my baby brother is too young to help our mom, so mother could use a car to make her life a bit easier.
What do you feel about your opponent, Nate Landwehr?
KD: “Nate Landwehr is a very aggressive fighter and I love it. He keeps pushing his opponents all the time, no matter what, and even if he eats some punches, he does not stop, and this is exactly the way I fight. Nothing can stop me! Na, I have no doubts our fight is going to be the best fight of the night!
“The best victory is the fast victory, so I’d like to finish ‘The Train’ early. I te tahi atu i te ringa, a tough five-round battle would give me much more experience and a boost to my career. Anyway, I’ll do my best and use any opportunity to finish my opponent. My goal to is to become a better fighter and leave a mark in MMA history!”
M-1 Challenge featherweight title-holder Movsar Evloev (9-0-0, M-1: 9-0-0) makes his second title defense versus Rafael Dias (15-5-0, M-1: 1-1-0) I roto i te hui tahi-ngā.
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Upcoming M-1 Challenge Events:
Hōngongoi 21 – M-1 Challenge 95 i roto i te Ingushetia, Russia
Nashville, Tenn. (Pipiri 28, 2018) – “
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CO-FEATURE – M-1 POLE whitu CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 X 5
FLYWEIGHTS — 3 X 5
