Issue 208
August 2024
Modestas Bukauskas gives Fighters Only's Emma Bramford, the details of the lifestyle he leads to keep his win streak alive.
'The Baltic Gladiator,' known off the canvas as Modestas Bukauskas, clinched another victory at UFC 304, where he forced Marcin Prachnio to submit. This win solidified his place under the UFC lights and underscored his climb in the ranks. 
Bukauskas was born in Lithuania, and his family moved to the UK when he was three years old. Under the guidance of his father—the former Soviet Union No Holds Barred Heavyweight Champion—he set his sights on following in his father’s formidable footsteps. Following a trip to America, which yielded unfulfilled dreams of becoming a basketball player, he returned to the UK, where his true calling emerged. He became the four-time British Kickboxing Champion and a two-time Cage Warriors Light Heavyweight Champion. His rise was not without challenges. During the early stages of his career, Bukauskas was diagnosed with sports-induced heart palpitations, a condition that threatened to cut his dreams short. At 19, he underwent a rare and risky heart surgery through his groin—a procedure that could have ended his career before it began. Like any great fighter, Bukauskas refused to back down, channeling the tenacity of a warrior who knows that the battle is won not just in the ring but in the heart. Now, fresh off the biggest win of his UFC career, Bukauskas fields questions about the lifestyle that got him to where he is today.
What TV shows are you into right now?
Breaking Bad
Power
Give us your all-time top five movies.
The Last Samurai
Gladiator
Happy Gilmore
White Chicks
The Wolf of Wall Street
Do you watch any other sports?
American Football
Olympics
What was your first car?
VW Polo 1.4-liter 2002 plate in black
What car are you driving these days?
Mercedes E Class in Blue
What's your dream car?
Lamborghini Urus
Tell us about your walkout music.
Giggs – Talkin the hardest. It gets me in the right mindset for the battle about to commence in the Octagon.
Do you choose the walkout music for yourself or the crowd?
Myself. Ultimately, it is me who will be in the Octagon.
What is the best destination you have been to with the UFC?
Australia
Do you have a playlist you listen to when you're warming up? What's on it?
I don't have a set playlist; I will flick through Spotify. I listen to music that gets me mentally prepared for war. Orchestral music, stuff from Star Wars, stuff from The Last Samurai, stuff from The Witcher or Talkin the Hardest, all in a mix.
What sort of stuff do you listen to when chilling out at home?
It depends on my mood. It ranges from rock, acoustic guitar, rap, hip-hop, dance, club, and house. I also use music to visualize fights.
What's your guilty pleasure when it comes to music or movies?
Mean Girls – Movie
NSYNC - Music
Backstreet Boys - Music
Blue – Music
Do you have any surprising hobbies or interests?
Basketball and I can cook a good risotto and pancakes, not simultaneously, though.
What is your pre-fight meal?
Spaghetti Bolognese
What is your post-fight meal?
Deep pan cheesy crust meat and vegetable pizza.
What inspires and motivates you during training?
I think about what kind of life I can provide for my family if this all goes well, and for all the people who have counted me out and told me that I can't do something or said this is impossible.
Where do you see yourself going in the next few years in your career?
By 32, I see myself as a UFC champion (I'm 30 now), having defended the belt more than 11 times at LHW. Additionally, I aspire to have a significant boxing fight with the top contender in my weight division at the time. These goals reflect my competitive spirit and desire to leave a lasting impact on the sport.
If you were not a fighter, what would you be?
Banker or lawyer or potentially an American Football Player.
Does pineapple belong on pizza?
Yes.
What do you like to do in your spare time away from fighting?
Go on long walks and hot holidays.
What five items would you take with you on a desert island?
A lifetime supply of water-purifying tablets
A bottle
A knife
Helicopter
Petrol
You are holding a dinner party and can invite three past, present, alive, or dead guests.
Joe Rogan. He would be fun, and who wouldn't want Joe Rogan?
Mike Tyson. He also would be fun and would have a lot of stories to tell.
Michael Jordan. He would have so many stories to tell about basketball.
WHAT'S NEXT?
As Modestas Bukauskas steps out of the limelight and back into training, one thing is for sure: his journey is far from over. And while he aims higher and is determined to chase down a legacy that will stand the test of time, the future will have countless possibilities for 'The Baltic Gladiator.' You can bet that you’ll see more of this force to be reckoned with in the years to come, so sit back and enjoy the show because it’s going to be a fiercely bumpy ride for anyone in his way.
