AJ Agazarm steps into the cage for his fourth pro MMA bout at Bellator 238. Photo credit to AJ Agazarm's tapology.
AJ Agazarm “Stepping stone on my road to becoming a world champion”
AJ Agazarm takes on Adel Altamimi at Bellator 238. The featherweight bout goes Saturday, January 25th on the preliminary portion of the card. The event emanates from The Forum in Inglewood, California but the event will broadcast live on DAZN. This bout will be contested at 145 lbs and there are a number of high stakes bouts in that weight class slated to go this weekend. Agazarm is riding a two-fight win streak in his MMA efforts and came into the sport as one of the more hotly discussed crossovers from the submission grappling world.
Bellator 238
Agazarm seems relatively pleased with is 2019 efforts but is even more hopeful for the new year it seems. AJ Agazarm said, “Always improving. I think it’s the perfect moment. I’m exactly where I should be. I’m gearing up for a big 2020.” With 15 years of BJJ and wrestling behind him, striking somebody with a closed fist or kicking them was altogether foreign to Agazarm in competition. His fluidity with striking and the incremental forward progression ahs been aparrant to Agazarm.
AJ Agazarm stated, “It’s just now training the body to incorporate strikes more. Looking back at my three fights, I can see the difference. Plenty of opportunities to get some additional strikes in there. I’ll be looking to implement that in my next fight.”
He has been able to train at multiple of facilities over the years but has his core group that he flies his flag for. Agazarm quipped, “I’m up here in Stockton, coming from Florida, and then making my way over to Ohio. Wrestling there now living in California training with these guys. It’s a different breed. The Nick Diaz army, it’s a real thing.”
AJ Agazarm
During our talk, we reminisced about Nick’s big win over Frank Shamrock. The level of respect and admiration he has for the leader of the Nick Diaz army is palpable. Agazarm said, “I just watched Nick and Nate. Especially Nate. Nate had two big fights this year. Just watching him and seeing his approach to the art of fighting has been really mind-blowing. And part of that has been he doesn’t eat any meat either.”
He trains regularly within the state and has competed multiple times there as well. This is something that AJ Agazarm is largely down for but there are some important drawbacks too. Agazarm said, “I like Los Angeles. The weather’s great. The people are nice. They let us do MMA fights there. It’s really cool. The only thing I don’t like about it are the taxes.”
In regards to his Bellator 238 opponent Adel Altamimi, Agazarm stated, “The only thing I saw on my opponent was him doing some sort of what appeared to be grappling underwater. So that was kind of odd to me.” Agazarm also quipped, “This will be his 15th fight. This will be my fourth professional fight. That’s a considerable advantage I think.”
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Agazarm also has trained a lot of Hollywood/ entertainment types like Mario Lopez but also WWE NXT star Kyle O’Reilly. As far as a foray into Pro Wrestling goes, Agazarm stated “I’m not opposed. I think right now my focus is just being a world champion in another sport for Bellator and I’m focused on fighting the best guys. Getting the toughest opponents and putting on a show for everyone. Bellator’s doing a great job.” In summation, AJ Agazarm remarked “One more stepping stone on my road to becoming a world champion.”
