Issue 040

August 2008

Mustapha Al-Turk is one of the most respected heavyweight fighters on the UK scene. Boasting aggressive ground 'n pound skills and an uncompromising boxing style to match, the London Shootfighter is a European heavyweight fighter to watch. 

Al-Turk recently bounced back from a razor thin decision loss to Tengiz Tedoradze by ruining Gary ‘Smiler’ Turner on the mat with strikes at Cage Rage 25. That clinical victory has earned him another shot at the Cage Rage heavyweight title, this time against James McSweeney on 12th July.

Where are you right now?

I’m in my kitchen. I went weight training this morning and then tonight, I’ve got a sparring session lined-up at London Shoot.

What do you remember from your first fight?

At the time, I had confidence issues: it kind of held me back a bit. That’s why I didn’t win, but I had to get over these hurdles, be proud of who I am and what I do and start winning, that was the main thing really. But I wasn’t mentally prepared. Another thing, I didn’t have my family behind me, I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing. 

How have you changed since that fight?

I’ve got a totally professional attitude now, I don’t really get involved in the banter. I have no emotional hindrance. When I get in there, I show my respects before and afterwards, but I’m emotionally detached. When I get into the cage I’m a totally different person – an alter ego comes out. 

You won’t see me putting my face up against someone or causing problems at the weigh-in, I don’t need to hate who I’ve got in front of me to fight them. Emotions can hinder your performance; I don’t do emotions when I’m fighting. I save that for my family and for my kids.

What is the hardest you have ever hit someone in competition?

It’s got to be boxing really, in the ABA’s (amateur boxing). I’ve hit some people pretty hard! (Laughs). Or if I’m doing ground ‘n pound. The hardest I have ever hit someone was probably Tengiz. It was in the first round when I took his back and came down with a strike to his head, that was probably the hardest… I landed an overhand right with all my energy. That must have hurt!

Did he react in any way?

No he didn’t! (Laughs). He’s a tough guy, you know, he didn’t show any weakness or anything. But that must have hurt, I don’t care!

What do you remember from your most recent fight with Gary Turner at Cage Rage 25?

I think the game plan was executed to a ‘T’. I knew exactly what he was going to do, because Gary Turner likes to broadcast what he does on the Internet. I thought that he wanted to kick from the way he was talking, so I waited for him to kick, caught the kick, took him down and smacked him about the ears. That was basically it.

Was there any way he could have continued in your opinion?

Gary Turner is a tough guy. If he had thought that he could have taken some more, he would have done – but he was getting concussed and I was hitting him really hard. If Gary Turner thinks that he should have tapped out, then it’s probably the smart thing to do, rather than getting damaged. 

Your next fight will be for the Cage Rage British heavyweight title. Do you think James McSweeney is the right person to be fighting for the title?

I don’t consider him to be the number one contender for the British title. He does have excellent tools and a good pedigree in K-1. He’s tough, he’s young, he’s got a good image and his ground game is improving all the time. So we’ll see. The show is called ‘Step Up’, so we’ll see what he’s got.