Mark Vologdin. Photo: Chris Önnerby and via Instagram (@mark_vologdin)
AFN bantamweight champion Mark Vologdin is one of the most promising prospects in the Nordic region at the moment. Riding a five-fight winning streak, he’s set to defend his AFN bantamweight strap on October 19.
The 24-year-old represents Allstars Training Center in Stockholm and might very well be the next Nordic fighter to sign with the UFC.
“I am a sportsman and I have dedicated my whole life to this,” Vologdin recently told Maximum Sports. “I started training kyokushinkai karate at the age of four. I won first place in Russia, Europe and the WC. After that I changed my life. I started training MMA and developing myself within the sport.”
Check out one of Vologdin’s craziest KO’s in the player below! The video was published in 2017, when Vologdin was just 17 years old.
On October 19, Mark Vologdin will face Bolivian title challenger Luis Galarza in Stockholm. The title bout is one of the most anticipated of the stacked fight card.
“I will defend my belt and do one more good highlight for the people and after that I hope I will be in one step of UFC,” Vologdin told Frontkick about the upcoming fight.
“I think that I’m ready for (signing with the UFC), I have everything to compete in the UFC. I’m feeling that soon it will happen, because I trained hard and I deserved it. I want to show the world my technique and my heart. I’m ready and waiting for a call from them.”