Sweden
Sweden’s most active MMA fighter is back again this Saturday
Samuel Bark is ready for a new fight. Photo Stefan Romare – Frontkick
Swedish knockout sensation Samuel Bark just keeps on adding fights to his resume.
A few weeks back, Bark took a huge step in his young MMA career as he finished Manny Akpan to get his second Cage Warriors win. As always, he doesn’t even wait around for the dust to settle before looking for his next victim.
On Saturday, just four weeks after CW 146, he returns for his sixth fight in 2022 as he takes on the experienced Jerry Kvarnström at Superior Challenge 25 in Stockholm. In other words, Bark continues to be the most active professional MMA fighter in Sweden – and he has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
Talking exclusively to Frontkick, ”Sammon Decker” comments on the quick turnaround.
”The day after the win at Cage Warriors 146, I called my manager Majdi Shammas to see what’s next. He told me that Superior would be a good thing. I got my opponent like the week after,” Bark says.
Always in the gym, he went full on fight camp preparing for the bout as soon as he got his opponent’s name. Kvarnström is a seasoned grappler with 35 pro fights to his name, but that’s nothing that intimidates the Swedish MMA prospect, who’s a highly decorated Muay Thai fighter with several world titles under his belt.
”He doesn’t like to stand up, he’s more into grappling and wrestling,” Bark says.
Superior Challenge 25 will be broadcasted live on TV6 in Sweden, Viaplay in all of Scandinavia and selected European countries as well as FITE.tv for the rest of world.
Samuel Bark had a busy and successful 2022
Samuel Bark currently holds back-to-back stoppage wins in Europe’s leading organization Cage Warriors. The highlight of the year is the massive victory over countryman Tobias Harila in his short-notice promotional debut back in July.
The fight was the biggest between two Swede’s in 2022 – alongside the rematch between ranked UFC bantamweights Pannie Kianzad and Lina Länsberg.
”Cage Warriors was cool, especially leading up to the first fight, but when I went in there, it was just like any other fight,” Bark says calmly.
Talking to the 30-year-old, you realize that there’s never any cockiness or bravado behind his words – in fact quite the opposite. He is just that confident in his fighting and ability to take bouts on short notice.
With the pace you keep, wouldn’t you fit perfectly in the PFL season format?
”Nah, you know, I rather fight more than four times a year. It’s too few. The ideal would be to fight every month. Then I would always have something to look forward to,” Bark says.
”A lot of MMA fighters – as soon as they get hype – they try to live on it and don’t want to fight anymore. I just don’t get that. If you are a fighter, why don’t you stay active and compete? If you’re not injured it’s better to just fight.”
Samuel Bark. Photo Stefan Romare – Frontkick
Wants the Cage Warriors featherweight title
After Saturday’s Superior Challenge 25, Bark will enjoy some well deserved time off during the holidays, but the restless Swede wants to get back in the cage in late January.
”Maybe some good stuff will happen if I knock this guy the fuck out on Saturday,” Bark says.
However, he has no immediate plans to sign with any regional organization at this point of his career, but rather take fights everywhere to build a record and gain necessary experience as he continue to strive towards a UFC contract.
”Cage Warriors wanted to sign me for a multi-fight deal, but both me and my manager reasoned that they should let me fight for the featherweight title next. When I fought Tobias Harila, he was going to get a title shot if he beat me. Well, I beat both him and Manny Akpan.”
The current king of the Cage Warriors featherweights is Paul Hughes, who recently defeated Jordan Vucenic in the most anticipated rematch in the promotion’s history.
As the new force in the division, ”Sammon Decker” had his eyes on the hyped fight.
”Paul is good, but he just held Jordan down a lot. He didn’t do that much damage really, he didn’t finish him. Paul is a fighter I would have no problem facing.”
