6 April 2014
Simon Bandarian returns to his roots after 10 years absence
It turned out Bandarian moved to Australia to study. He stayed tehere for 6 years but the never left martial arts. In Australia he fell in love with thaiboxning. Another interesting fact is that he made his pro debute in MMA in Canberra, Australia at Brace of War 1 back in 2009. The fight was intence and Bandarian won the fight on an armbar in the first round.
Recently Simon Bandarian returned to his origin club Gladius MMA and started training in their pro group. He once again was hooked. Now he makes debut in front of his home crowd after over a decade of absence from the martial arts scene in Sweden.
Bandarian fights at feather weight -65.8 kg, the 26th of April at The Zone FC 13 – Tough Luck.
Tell me about your martial arts background!
– I have been doing martial arts since I was a 6 years old. I started in Karate and North Shaolin Gung Fu. Then I progressed into Kickboxing, Thaiboxing and Greco Roman Wrestling at around 12-13. All of that was heaps of fun, but it all got serious when I met Johnny Ghevrie and started Kickboxing in my teens. That was then followed by even more serious training at the Shooters Shootfighting organisation under August Wallén. At the time MMA was not that big and the UFC had just started its coming era. We followed Pancrase and fought in Shootfighting every couple of months in Shooters competitions which was leading the path for Scandinavia’s coming MMA scene. I spent some years there and then fell in love with Muay Thai. And during my time at university in Gold Coast Australia I trained with Roy Luxton and Arslan Magomedov in Five Rings Dojo and then later fought in pro Muay Thai and MMA matches for the now retired Coach Michael Mead and his Siam MMA team.
How long have you been traing MMA?
– Since 1998.
How have you perpared yourself for the fight?
– When I returned to Sweden after my years at university in Australia I immediately returned to coach August Wallén and asked if he would sign me in his pro team. He did, and here we are. I have been fortunate to train with the best in Scandinavia under one roof at Gladius MMA in Gothenburg where some of the best in European MMA today have been raised and trained. My camp for this fight have had its ups and downs with an injured shoulder and a massive flu. But overall it has been great to train under August and the very technically advanced Gladius MMA team.
Which are your strengths?
– Haha, you will see..
What do you know about your opponent?
– I know everything!
What is your game plan?
– To give him the toughest fight he has ever had!
How do you see the fight end?
– Very quickly!
Why do you like to compete in MMA?
– After all these years, I am still fighting, even with a good job and great education, I keep returning to this sport. I have realized that I cannot see myself being away from it. I love it too much!
What goes through your mind at the day of the event?
– Pure thrill and happiness!
What goes through your mind right before the referee says “fight”?
– Tactics, focus and mental visualization!
How much do you need to cut weight before the event?
– I wont say but I am probably one of the largest and heaviest featherweights in the MMA scene.
Have you ever been scared in a fight?
– All fighters are somewhat scared, some can’t admit that, but at the end of the day it is how we mentally prepare and handle our fears that determine our character and strengths. This comes with experience and good pros know that!
What is your dreams within the sport?
– To fight the toughest fighter in my weight. All rounds, Toe to Toe! Gloriously!
What do you want to accomplish?
– If you mean championship plans then my answer is, nothing in particular. But if the toughest fighter who could challenge me the best is the champion, then so be it, id fight him. But not for the belt or the win, but for the challenge of fighting the toughest!
Who do you think is the best fighter in the world?
– My favorites are Jose Aldo, Ole Laursen, Jai Bradney, Buakaw, GSP and most of the lighter weight Japanese Shooto fighters.
Describe a regular training week.
– Work full time, train full time, sleep and dream of fighting the rest of the time.
Does you family and friends support you?
– My father is the one who supported me and enroled me and my brothers at an early age. He was a kung fu toa fighter and fought in Teheran in the 1980’s under the nickname Balooch. He, as well as his brothers and my grandfather. My brothers are also retired fighters. In my family, this is tradition!
Fight Card :
-83.9 Kg : August Wallen (7-1-0) Vs. TBA
-61.2 Kg : Sirwan Kakai (9-2-0) Vs. TBA
-65.8 Kg : Rafael Macedo da Silva (6-1-0) vs. Frantz Slioa (3-0-0)
-77.1 Kg Per Franklin (6-4-0) Vs. TBA
-77.1 Kg : Erik Carlsson (3-1-0) Vs. TBA
-77.1 Kg : Niclas Danielsson (3-1-0) Vs. TBA
-61.2 Kg: Binh Son Le (2-1-0) Vs. TBA
-65.8 Kg: Simon Bandarian (1-0-0) Vs. TBA
-88.1 Kg : Piedde Hedberg (debute) Vs. TBA
The Zone Fighting Championship: The Zone Fighting Championship is a series of professional MMA event in Gothenburg. On April 26, 2014 The Zone FC 13 – ‘ Tough Luck ‘ will take place in Lisebergshallen. Expect spectacular matches between Swedish elite fighters and foreign fighters.
Some athletes who previously has competed in The Zone FC: Alexander Gustafsson , Tor Troeng , Mats Nilsson, Hamid ” Akira ” Corassani , Magnus ” Jycken ” Cedenblad , August Wallen , Besam Yousef, Assan Njie and others.
Tickets: Biljettforum http://burl.dk/sfuvxj Simon Bandarians pro debute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEoLZU6sFwg
