Turkalj on training with mentor and idol ’The Mauler’: ”It’s still crazy to train with him”

Anton Turkalj. Photo via UFC and Instagram (@antonturkalj)

On March 30, Sweden’s Anton ”The Pleasure Man” Turkalj will return for his fourth fight in the UFC to face bitter rival Ibo Aslan in a long-awaited rematch.

Turkalj and Aslan clashed under the Brave Combat Federation banner at Brave CF 40 in Stockholm, Sweden in 2020, with the Swede standing as the winner via second-round submission.

In an interview with Frontkick’s Vidar Redmond, the light heavyweight prospect talks about training with former UFC title challenger and idol Alexander Gustafsson.

”I started doing MMA because of Alexander Gustafsson when I was 16,” Turkalj says and recalls the first time they trained together almost a decade ago. ”He’s still great but then he was so good, and I wasn’t as athletic as I am now.”

”It’s still crazy to train with him, it’s a bit surreal. He helps me a lot both inside and outside the cage. He gives me a lot of support and advice. It’s great to have him by my side.

Read more: Three-time Olympian and UFC fighter Mark Madsen retires from MMA

Check out the full video with Anton Turkalj

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