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Rebooted and ruthless – Cecilie Bolander all in on herself ahead of war: ”I’d bet on me”
Cecilie Bolander. Photo via OKTAGON MMA
On August 9, Norwegian powerhouse Cecilie Bolander will hit the stage for her first title defense. She will take on the undefeated OKTAGON star Lucia Szabova in a red-hot headline fight.
In this exclusive feature, Bolander opens up on the title bout and how she completely changed her training camp.
Just five fights into her professional career, Cecilie Bolander is already the champion of the most prestigious organization in Europe. In just a few weeks, the Norwegian fighter will take on the undefeated European MMA-star Lucia Szabova in her first title defense.
When Frontkick reaches Bolander, she’s nine weeks into her 12 week training camp and is happy as a lark.
”I think I’ll be the toughest opponent she’s faced,” Bolander says. ”I believe I’m on a completely different level, even though she has more experience. My conditioning and strength speak for themselves. This is MMA, but if I had to bet on someone, I’d bet on me. I don’t underestimate her, but I don’t think she has the strength I do.”
Many fans and experts believe that Szabova will be the hardest opponent yet for Bolander, but the Norwegian does not agree.
”I have a different view than many others because I think Lucie Pudilova would beat her. I think Szabova has some repertoire, but at the same time, nothing that feels strange or unusual. Nothing that will surprise me. I’m one hundred percent sure that I’m stronger than her. Mentally, I’m not sure what she got – she has fights where she somehow finishes her opponents, but she also gets dominated sometimes.”
Cecilie Bolander. Photo: Chris Önnerby
Cecilie Bolander learned from her mistakes
For the first time in her pro MMA career, Cecilie Bolander is in a good place ahead of a fight.
Learning from her previous mistakes, this time she put in time to recover during her camp, aiming to be at her absolute best on fight day.
”I’m really calm. I’m actually starting to feel a bit experienced now. During the first camp when I was preparing for OKTAGON I stressed out. But in this camp – I actually asked one of my coaches: ’I’m not stressing as much anymore. Are we doing something wrong?’ It felt strange that I wasn’t crying every other day or thinking the world was ending,” Bolander says with a laugh.
Why have you been stressed during previous camps?
”Because I always want everything to be perfect. In my last camp, I felt like ’this is something I can work with’. Before, it was more like ’how am I going to be able to do this for years?’ I was completely drained after the camps. After my last fight, I got really sick and ended up in the hospital. My immune system was completely wrecked and we had to do something about it. I had been on antibiotics eight times in that year and been sick every time I’ve fought in OKTAGON.”
This time, however, Bolander feels strong. She slowed down the pace a notch and completely changed her diet to reset her immune system – essentially rebooting her body, and it’s working well. Instead of starting her camp at 73 kilos and getting sick during the first week, she began at 69 and feels great.
”I have one less session per week, but the way we’ve planned the whole week gives me much more time to rest. It’s been working incredibly well.”
Cecilie Bolander. Photo via OKTAGON MMA
”You can be a superstar – but no one cares in Norway”
Cecilie Bolander truly put herself on the MMA map by defeating Lucie Pudilova in a OKTAGON title fight last August. However, winning the biggest title in Europe did not gain any attention in Norway.
”No, very little. Not more than I had before. Same as when I was fighting as an amateur, really. Maybe one article in a newspaper, that’s it.”
The lack of attention in her home country, where professional MMA is still illegal, could make it difficult to get sponsors, but at the same time Bolander sees it as a blessing.
”Sure, it would’ve been nice if more people supported me and knew what I’m doing, but at the same time, it’s nice to come back to Norway and have nothing changed. There’s something beautiful in that. I still have my life, and that’s important to me. Especially when you reach a higher level – you still have to prove something.”
”My fans are abroad. You can be a superstar everywhere else in the world, but no one cares in Norway. Right now, I’m in a kind of ’in-between stage,’ hopefully on my way into the biggest organization. When I’m at the top, I’ll appreciate the calm at home. That way, I can go to the hype instead of the hype following me. I know where I’m going – just because I’m not there yet doesn’t mean it’s not coming. The money and the attention will come.”
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