Europe

“I got paid to choke a police officer unconscious – I ain’t complaining at all!”

Published

November 9, 2024

Shem Rock. Photo via OKTAGON MMA

Shem Rock has emerged as one of the new big names in UK’s awesome MMA scene.

The 30-year-old is well on his way to becoming a star in the booming European promotion OKTAGON MMA and is quite possible just one win away from headlining his first card in the promotion.

On December 29 he will take on Jakub Bahnik, on enemy turf at the O2 Arena in Prague, in a pivotal fight in the lightweight division.

“Jakob is a match that I was supposed to have on my OKTAGON debut but I dislocated two of my ribs and that pussy pulled out of the fight,” Rock tells Frontkick in an exclusive interview. “I still fought, he never gave no reason why he pulled out. Also, I feel he’s good to do the same again. He acted like in the call out, he didn’t know my name.”

“I see weakness in him and I’m a terrible match up for him. I just hope he shows up because we have unfinished business between me and him.”

Shem Rock: “I knew I’d beat him on my worst day”

In his last fight, Shem Rock faced bitter rival Jaroslav Pokorny in a heated matchup. The ex-fugitive put on a masterclass performance as he submitted the Czech policeman in the first round.

“I didn’t have any expectations but I knew I’d beat him on my worst day. It went as easy as me and my team thought it would to be honest, and of course it’s good I got paid to choke a police officer unconscious. I ain’t complaining at all,” Rock laughs.

OKTAGON MMA’s popularity has really exploded over the past couple of years. A few weeks back they put on one of the biggest MMA shows in the world as they sold around 60.000 tickets for a card in Frankfurt. The promotion’s owner Pavol Neruda recently said that Shem Rock sooner or later will headline a card in Europe.

What do you think about these words from Neruda?

“Pavol is a really smart business man and also the gaffer so what he says goes. If they want the Shem show to headline, so be it. Would be my honor, I just wish it was in my home town of Liverpool. I’ve yet to ever have a single fight in Liverpool in 17 fights.”

Do you put pressure on yourself to become the next big star out of Europe or are you just going with the flow?

“I don’t care about being a star. I don’t wanna be famous. I wanna be successful, there’s a difference, I want to be the best athlete and martial artist and fighter I can be, and go in there and win my fights, but when it’s all said and done and I’m retired the last thing I want is fame. I do this because I love to fight and train and want to better mine and my own family’s life.”