Photo credit to onefc.com
Kiamrian Abbasov on ONE welterweight belt and eyeing middleweight gold
Kiamrian Abbasov is the reigning ONE Championship welterweight world titlist.
The Kyrgyzstan combatant is riding a five-fight winning streak and is coming off of the first successful defense of his ONE Championship welterweight world title. A victory that transpired inside the ONE Circle in November of last year.
Several excerpts from my recent conversation with Abbasov can be found below.
Kiamrian Abbasov
How’s your day going so far?
“Thank you very much for asking. Yeah, everything is good. As you can see I’m with my phone right now spending my time with my family. And cannot wait to come back to fight in the cage.”
When will Abbasov be in the ONE Circle next?
“To be frank with you, this question worries myself as well. We know for a fact over in Asia, it’s really hard times right now because of pandemic. And things are very unprecedented and I haven’t fought for seven months already. So it’s really difficult to me as well. And hopefully, I can expect some dates for ONE Championship. I’m also here with you guys waiting for the date.”
Nakashima title defense
The dynamic of no fans being in attendance for his last prizefight
“It’s got a weird feeling. It’s something like you go to the cage as if you go to normal training. You just fight and there’s no fans for it. And I really fell into Asian fans, they’re really supportive. They really like screaming. So without them was really kind of difficult for me.”
The last fight there several months back was a victory over James Nakashima. Just overcoming certain tough spots in the fight and getting the emphatic finish to hand him that first defeat.
What were your thoughts overall on the last fight with Nakashima there?
“Yeah, thank you for the comments and the question. You know, the fight didn’t go as planned. Actually, after the first round when I broke my nose, everything had to be changed. So, I have to come up with a new tactic. And as you might know already that when you break nose, of course everything is hard. But thank God that everything ended on my side the way I wanted.”
ONE Championship
If he’s next looking to defend his welterweight belt or if he wants a high profile middleweight bout
“I really wanted to measure strengths with Reinier De Ridder from the middleweight division. But unfortunately, things didn’t go as I planned. But I hope I can fight with him and hopefully get the belt. Why not? Maybe we’ll be a potential to get the third one.”
Kiamrian Abbasov continued, “Yeah, of course. Reinier is a good fighter. I really like his style, and you know he has belts for middleweight as well as the light heavyweight divisions. And he of course, is having a record of 13 or 14-0. But it’s not the first time for me to fight those fighters who have only zeros. I like to turn those zeros into one.”
Raimond Magomedaliev‘s run and where he stands as a ONE welterweight title contender
“Yeah of course. He’s a good fighter. I truly respect him. After winning this fight, I think he’s now three or four-zero winning record. So he is a real potential of a fighter for a belt. I don’t see anyone else for that. Of course I wouldn’t want to fight someone from the same country. And I hope the organization wouldn’t do that. But if the organization decides, then I would share the ring with him.”
Fighting Aung La N Sang and how it needs to be a title fight
“Yeah, I would love to. If he would return his belt, back to him.”
Overcoming adversity through familial motivation
Providing his family a great quality of life after the tumultuous upbringing in his childhood
“Yeah, thanks for highlighting my kind of background. I had really difficult times. When I started my career as a fighter. One second I didn’t thought about being somewhere where I am right now. I just was thinking about just fights. Even though I wouldn’t know how to fight… Life teaches you how to fight. And right now where I am, I’m very blessed and very happy. That whatever I have, I can give different life to my kids and my family.”
Abbasov’s uncle Yakub Aliev and the positive influence he had in his fighting endeavors
“Yeah, sure. So, when I was two years old, my family got divorced. So my uncle, became basically my father. He played all the roles that a father could be. As well as he played the role of the uncle. And you know he influenced and pushed me. With every aspect, basically. Sports, life, work, study, and everything. So I’m really grateful for him. And I’m very blessed to have him in my life.”
Parting thoughts for Kiamrian Abbasov
“Yeah. For the fans I would say, trust yourself. Trust yourself and never stop. Do what you really enjoy in life. So don’t really listen to anyone. Do whatever you, frankly, honestly, believe in life and enjoy in life. And just follow that.”
