Issue 198
June 2023
London Shootfighters has helped produce some of England’s best fighters over the years, and the gym, located just a stone’s throw away from Alperton tube station, near Wembley, has another rising talent training within its four walls, writes Simon Head.
The son of an Olympic champion, Norbert Novenyi Jr was destined for athletics, and the London-based Hungarian fighter is looking to make an impact inside the Bellator cage. Novenyi has been working alongside the established names at the famed London Shootfighters gym, including Bellator superstar Michael “Venom” Page, who was in Novenyi’s corner for his fight with Andy Manzolo at Bellator 291 in February. “MVP” was suitably impressed with his teammate’s performance as he knocked out Manzolo with a big right hand mid-way through the opening round of his middleweight bout at the 3Arena in Dublin.
Page later made an appearance backstage to chat to the media, where he revealed his admiration for his young teammate’s emerging skillset.
“Every time somebody asks me – don't tell him though – somebody asked me who's the next special thing in your gym? I always mention him. Who's the most well-rounded? I always mentioned him.”
Novenyi showcased his striking to defeat Manzolo in Dublin, but his bread and butter is his wrestling, with his father, Norbert Sr. a Greco-Roman wrestling gold medalist for Hungary from the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Novenyi Sr. has passed on that knowledge to his son, who has since added a dynamic striking game to his arsenal.
“Even from what you just saw (at Bellator 291), even today, you wouldn't believe he's got an amazing wrestling background, that he was raised in wrestling, because his striking is unbelievable," said Page.
“So yeah, he's scary all-round and even his jiu-jitsu and stuff. You guys haven't seen anything yet. So I'm looking forward to that growth.”
Still only 23 years of age, Novenyi Jr. is looking better with every appearance inside the Bellator cage, where he remains perfect at 5-0, with four of those wins coming under the Bellator banner. He’s seen a second round only twice, and gone to the judges’ scorecards just once.
Novenyi’s win over Manzolo, a fighter with 35 fights to his name, gave him victory over a man with seven times more professional experience than his own, and will almost certainly see him elevated toward higher-caliber opposition. Clearly, the Bellator matchmakers have already earmarked Novenyi for bigger things – he was previously booked to face Irish contender Charlie Ward in 2021 before a torn ACL forced him out of the matchup.
His next test came in the form of Kamil Oniszczuk – a matchup many expected to pose the toughest opposition of Novenyi's career to date. But "Magic" showed off more of his tricks as he ran through the Pole in just 46 seconds, using a striking style very reminiscent of "MVP" himself.
His latest performance earned him more plaudits, and in his post-fight interviews he heaped praise on the team that helped develop him from a raw young prospect to a rising contender on the world stage.
"My team and my coaches at London Shoot, they make me a better man every single day," he said.
"Whatever they tell me, I'll just do it. They give me advice, and I know they want the best for me. I get advice from them every single day, and every single day is a pleasure.
"I feel like now people are understanding the level I'm on. Someone said I'm like the best hidden secret talent in MMA, and another guy said I'm the biggest prospect in MMA, and now I feel like people are seeing that, and it took a lot of work."
Page said that he and his team at London Shootfighters are still scratching the surface of Novenyi’s potential, and suggested that his technical MMA abilities are also backed up with the right mindset, as demonstrated by his focus as he bounced back from that knee injury two years ago.
“I don't want to big him up too much,” Page grinned.
“He's just special. But to be fair, he's, he lives for it. He went through a difficult time, and I think it's always hard for anybody to kind of come from layoffs, but mentally it can screw with you, as well. He had a massive knee injury, and it can kind of mess with you mentally. And as young as he is, he’s very mature.”
Page still has plenty of his own career still to enjoy, but he promised to have Novenyi’s back as his young teammate continues to climb Bellator’s middleweight ladder.
“Seriously, I've got him under my wing, and I can just see amazing things from him,” he said.
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