The Fightcross Albion team recently had the opportunity to watch some amazing fights at one of Brisbane’s biggest amateur combat sports shows – HAMMA Fight Night 20.
We sat down with some of our athletes that competed at the event to learn more about their relationship with mixed martial arts.
Read on to find out more.
How did you get into the sport?
Bijaan: Through my interest in the UFC and boxing – I decided to sign up and give it a go.
Damian: Ever since I was a teenager I’ve always been interested in martial arts and I’ve been in and out of many different ones for years., but when I found out my wife was pregnant I decided to get serious about MMA. I guess it’s that internal feeling in most parents to be able to protect your family in all situations.
Seth: I was threatened in a parking lot by someone who was significantly smaller than me and if something went down, which it didn’t, I wanted to have the ability to resolve the situation without any harm coming to me.
How do you think you went in your last fight?
Bijaan: Glad I got the win, however I’m unhappy with my performance as a whole.
Damian: Unfortunately my game plan went out the window in the 2nd round. I just couldn’t put any combos together and it felt like nothing was landing and I was quickly frustrated. But nevertheless just got to learn and move on.
Seth: I think I did as well as I could have with the training I put in. I was very happy about the whole situation.
What does being a fighter mean to you?
Bijaan: Being a “fighter” is my attitude and mentality to life, and I consider my martial arts training my preparation for all facets of life.
Damian: Being a fighter is more of a lifestyle than a title. Most people don’t understand the work and dedication it takes to get into the cage. They only see those short three rounds, not the long three months leading up to the fight. It takes a level of dedication that not many people have.
Seth: A fighter is about being individually strong, both mentally and physically. I remember hearing a quote that sums it up well – “You cannot call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of great violence. If you’re not capable of great violence you’re not peaceful, you’re harmless.”
Who are some of your favourite fighters and why?
Bijaan: The Diaz brothers, for their no-nonsense attitude and inability to give up. Israel Adesanya for technical skill. Max Holloway for unwavering positivity. Conor McGregor for his confidence and belief in himself.
Damian: Conor McGregor. What he did for the sport we should all be thankful to him. The night he beat Eddie to become the first double champion in UFC history was such a milestone for the UFC and now every fighter is chasing that same dream.
Seth: I don’t watch fighting but I would say Khabib – his intention to cause pain is so intense that it makes his opponents fear him from the get-go.
If you could have one dream fight with anyone, who would it be?
Bijaan: I’d love a boxing match with Max Holloway.
Damian: I’d love to fight Mayweather, just to see if I could land at least half a punch hahaha.
Seth: I don’t dream about fighting anyone else.
What keeps you hungry and motivated to continue training and competing?
Bijaan: The infinite learning opportunities and enjoyment it brings to my life.
Damian: The need to win. I’m an incredibly competitive person, and the feeling of winning in this sport is like no other.
Seth: Philosophy, ethics, and discovering what it means to be a good person. It’s the most complex strategy game that the world can offer and great people reside within the sport.
Now that the fights are over, it’s time for everyone to reflect on their performance and work on improving in time for the next HAMMA Fight Night on May 22nd. To stay up-to-date on all the latest HAMMA Fight Night news, make sure to like and follow the promotion on Facebook and Instagram.
