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Agy Sardari on OKTAGON debut: “I’m the best in Europe”
Agy Sardari. Photo via Instagram (@agysardari)
Former Cage Warriors lightweight champion Agy “The Wolverine” Sardari will finally make his first appearance in OKTAGON on Saturday.
The crafty veteran enters the tournament with back-to-back wins, and has his mind set on showing that he is the best lightweight in Europe.
“I love the fight against Losene Keita,” Sardari tells Frontkick in an exclusive interview. “As I said many times, for me it is a dream fight to face a current champion. I always say that I’m the best in Europe, and now I will prove it. I’m always up for the challenge. I never duck a fight.”
“I think if I beat him, it will get easier and easier. The rest of the opponents are good, but not as good as him. In my opinion, he’s the most dangerous in the tournament.”
Agy Sardari was turned down by 19 fighters
Fighting in the tournament could mean a very busy 2024 for the former Cage Warriors champion. He could potentially be fighting four times in one year. Sardari welcomes the challenge as he wants to test his skills as often as possible.
“I love it! If I could sign for five years, fighting every three months I would do it. Now I will fight every three months. Six months away from the cage gives you ringrust. Sometimes you don’t even have a fight in 8-9 months. I just want to be an active fighter.”
Sardari had a contract with Cage Warriors, but was turned down by 19 fighters in 18 months. The frustration of not being able to fight eventually became a huge problem for the former champ.
“That’s why I moved to ARES FC for one fight. If you are the champ everyone wants to fight you. If you are No. 1 or No. 2 and former a champ, no one wants to take the risk fighting you.”
The 30-year-old has never been a full-time pro. Instead, he combined his pro career with working 20-30 hours a week. Winning the tournament, and the 1 million euro cash prize, would make him go all the way as a pro fighter.
“What I want the most is to stop working. I could have been a price fighter but I chose a path where I never really fought for money. I have to keep working on the side and it’s hard. If I make more money so I could stop working, what could be my full potential?”
Losene Keita and Agy Sardari. Photo via Instagram (@agysardari)
“One of the most intelligent fighters around”
With 12 of his 17 wins having come via stoppage, Agy Sardai is as game as they come. One of his biggest strengths as a fighter is his way of quickly adapting to his opponents, to take the fight where he wants it.
“I consider myself to be one of the most calm and intelligent fighters around. Maybe not the strongest and biggest, but smart. That’s what makes me creative. We analyze the opponents a lot to make gameplans. I meditate a lot too. MMA is a mental game. You have to put on a switch in your head during the fight.
In fact, a big key to Agy Sardari’s success is the mental preparations. One of his coaches is a mental trainer, and the 30-year-old is doing a lot of talking, almost therapy-like sessions, ahead of his fights.
“One of the things with fighters is that everyone wants to be so tough. To be the biggest or strongest and don’t fear anyone. But everyone has some kind of fear or tension when you step in the cage. You are very vulnerable. When you are open about it and admitting it, then you acknowledge it. If you speak of it loud, you become conscious of it and from there you can work on it. When you make your luggage lighter, you enter the flow state easier.”
Sardari stops himself and starts to laugh.
“Now I guess I have to prove that I’m the most intelligent fighter in the tournament. I know Keita has fast hands. If I lose focus for a split second it can be a knockout. 15 min of absolute focus is the hardest thing about this fight, but it’s a nice challenge!”
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