Issue 127
April 2015
Kazakhstan may be a country cast into the shadows, but the newly crowned One Championship middleweight king, Igor Svirid, is drawing a spotlight on the fighting nation, finishing one fight at a time
Age: 28
Pro debut: 2011
Aliases: Lionheart
Team: Arnau-RS
Division: middleweight
Height: Six-foot
Style: Grappler
Ask anyone in the West for their first thoughts on the nation of Kazakhstan and you’ll likely receive the same contrite smile and name: Borat, the bumbling fictitious journalist played by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
Those a little more educated may be aware it was an integral part of the Soviet Union before independence was declared in 1991. They might also know it’s a transcontinental nation of Central Asia and Europe that
boasts flatlands, dense forests, rock canyons, snow-capped mountain ranges and even remote deserts. It’s the ninth largest country on the planet – bigger in fact than the whole of Western Europe. But would anybody associate Kazakhstan with combat sports? Probably not.
However, the country is actually filled with fighters, mostly amateur boxers. Kazakhstan has been one of the leading nations in the amateur boxing world for years. Its fighters won a number of medals in the last few Olympic Games, including a gold, silver and bronze across various weight classes at London 2012.
Plus, the success of undefeated WBO, WBC and IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin – widely considered one of the leading pugilists fighting today – in the professional ranks has shown it’s a country that’s becoming a force in the world of the sweet science at least.
However, while there are plenty of boxers carrying the hopes of a nation with them, in the world of mixed martial arts that responsibility falls solely on the back of Igor Svirid, One Championship’s (formerly One FC) recently-crowned first middleweight champion.
Born in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, Svirid began his MMA journey in 2011 against South Korean heavyweight Kwi Hun Joo, but lost in the first round due to strikes. Despite suffering a devastating defeat, Svirid admits it made him a mixed martial artist for life.
“I lost my fight since it was the beginning of my pro-career,” he explains in an exclusive interview with Fighters Only. “I was not ready then, but during the two years I wasn’t in professional competition I focused on fighting on the amateur level instead.”
Those years out of the spotlight clearly helped him. ‘Lionheart’ returned in 2013 and has now won 10 fights in a row, finishing all but three of his opponents.
And while some fighters falter under the burden of their accomplishments, especially when they’re recognized as their nation’s leading light in the world’s fastest growing sport, Svirid takes pride in his role of bringing MMA to Kazakhstan.
“Since childhood I have loved combat sports because it attracted me to a bright view on life, which is why I began to engage in MMA. I can say I am flying the flag for the Kazakhstan people because I am a patriot for my country,” he says proudly.
Asian powerhouse promotion One Championship took notice of Svirid’s skills and signed him up. In his first bout, he was matched up in a vacant title fight against highly-touted Evolve MMA prospect Leandro Ataides.
Despite being a significant underdog, Svirid only needed 17 seconds to TKO the Brazilian and walk away from the Singapore Indoor Stadium as the inaugural 185lb champ.
“I was very satisfied to sign with One Championship,” he adds. “I love the promotion, especially the rules they have. I think it is a very stabilized promotion. I’m also very happy to have become their first middleweight champion and I am glad I am able to create history for the promotion.”
With so many talented 185lb’ers plying their trade around the world, the competitor in Svirid can’t help but eye up potential opponents he’d like
to fight at some point. And MMA’s most accomplished middleweights are on his hit list.
“I can actually have great fights against Mamed Khalidov, Vitor Belfort, Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and Chris Weidman,” he says.
While those fights might be available in the future, right now the other fighters in One Championship’s 185lb division are aiming at a target that’s firmly on his back. But Svirid says he’s willing to take on all comers.
“There are some good guys in my weight division,” he says excitedly.
“I do not know whom I will face next, but I will definitely be ready.”
With Svirid’s eye-catching finishing skills gaining buzz among MMA fans around the world, the Kazakh standout may not just be known for being One’s first 185lb title holder, he could well become the catalyst for more fighters from his country to switch to MMA in the future... You read it here first.
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