The 30-year-old Paradeiser managed three matches last year, during which he won twice. The only defeat came in the title match against Ivan Buchinger. And a possible retaliation against the Slovak champion is not far away. However, the paradeiser absolutely has to manage the duel with the Belgian Losen Keita, who showed a fantastic performance during his first appearance in the OKTAGON MMA organization. Who will rejoice in winning the interim title after Saturday’s match?
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It’s a few days before the match, how do you feel?
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I feel very good. I have been on a diet for two months, so the weight listens to me and there are no extreme numbers. I also feel very good physically. I underwent an eight-week quality camp and I can’t wait for the match.
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And mentally?
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Exactly the same. I’m really looking forward to the match, I’m motivated and I feel like fighting. I’m a wrestler who likes to wrestle often, which I’ve been doing well lately, even though I had more injuries last year. Even so, I was able to start three matches and I’m looking forward to the next one.
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You will compete for a provisional title. Do you consider this to be the most important match of your career?
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Yes, I take it that way. I also take it that every match that awaits me is the most important thing for me. You will make about forty matches in your life, so each is very important. This one is even more so because it’s the title.
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How did the match between you and Keitou bake?
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I called my manager and coach, who let OKTAGON promoters know. It started to work out and in some two weeks it was confirmed.
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At first it was supposed to be a classic match, then it was agreed that it would be a provisional title. How did this actually happen?
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At the beginning of the match, I thought it would be a provisional title. I was two weights, Brichta left, so I automatically moved up to first place. Keita also beat the three, so he took second place. There is no one better in the division right now. Just because of that, I thought they could give it the interim title. If they didn’t, I was fine with it. The winner would still go to Buchinger. But halfway through the camp I was surprised when they said that it would eventually be a provisional title.
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Did you have to change some things in preparation?
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Definitely yes, we will fight for five rounds and it changed a lot of things in preparation. But I don’t think it will go to the fifth round. I think it will end sooner. Even so, it’s good to be prepared for anything.
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But when I return to your future opponent, what do you say to him?
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He is young. He is certainly very dynamic and confident. But all this has some and its disadvantages. If, for example, he stops succeeding in the second or third round, he will go down mentally. This is a chance for me to take the reins of the match.
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Why did you actually challenge him?
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After the match with Karol Ryšavý, he showed a very good performance. I want to wrestle with the best and it’s an extra motivation for me to fight such a quality wrestler. Every match with such a quality wrestler will move you too. I have a huge motivation to beat him and I’m looking forward to it.
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Ronald Paradeiser won the OKTAGON 25 tournament over Arda Adas.Photo: OKTAGON MMA
Keita won most of the matches in the first round. On the contrary, you are more experienced when it comes to longer matches.
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That is a fact. Anyway, in the first round I don’t want to wait, I have to fly into it at exactly the same pace as he flies into it. The fact that I have experience with longer matches is an advantage, but again Keita has very good first rounds. I have to prepare for every second of the match. I definitely can’t afford to underestimate anything.
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Moreover, he has never lost in his professional career. Will it be a big challenge for you?
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Keita has not lost in the amateurs either, so he is an undefeated wrestler overall. He is dominant in his matches and I wonder what he will do against me. Anyway, it’s a big challenge for me. I believe I have put everything into preparation and I hope that it will show in the match.
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An unbelievable storm. Losene Keita did not pair up with Karol Ryšavý and cut out the winning danceVideo: Oktagon TV
How do you think the match will turn out?
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I have a feeling I’m going to end this on some submission. But it can easily end up in KO or TKO. We’ll see what happens. Anyway, I’ll be happy for any winnings. It’s an important match, we will go for a provisional title and hopefully I will be able to grab it.
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Is the good news that you will be fighting in a sold-out hall with 10,000 people?
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I wrestled for two years in the Brno fortress, where the capacity was a maximum of 1000 people. So it will make a big difference to me. After a long time, I will finally be struggling in front of a sold-out arena, and I’m really looking forward to it. The last time I fought against Aziz was at the O2 Arena three years ago, and I can’t wait for the wonderful atmosphere.
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Although he will fight in the Czech Republic, you should still have a lot of spectator support. Do you feel the same way?
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Can it be like that. I trust my fans that they will support me in the match and make a real mess. This will drive me to better performance and win the title. I also think that Keita gathered a lot of fans during one match in OKTAGON and they will of course be in Saturday’s match as well.
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