Almighty Fighting Championship 22 went down on January 22nd in a spectacular event for spectators and those who tuned in to the PPV. Almighty FC picked up exactly where they left off last year with a memorable night of fights.
The Rainton Arena hosted fourteen exciting bouts from the country’s hottest talent and up and coming talent that flew in from outside of the UK. One man who made the trip from Lithuania is Mantas KondratavičIus, who made his professional debut on the night.
KondratavičIus put on one of the best regional scene fights the country has seen in a long time with Jack Comby. Both men traded blows for two rounds, neither looking to surrender. Eventually, after an exhausting back and forth, the Lithuanian native’s hand was raised due to the onslaught he put on Comby.
I had the pleasure of catching up with the Fight of the Night bonus winner to get his thoughts on competing in the UK, going to war and much more.
Interview with Mantas KondratavičIus
After an all-out war like that, one week post your MMA debut, how are you feeling physically and mentally? Are there any injuries or aches after that bout?
Mantas KondratavičIus – “Mentally I’m feeling good. I have minor aches physically, but I’m already back to the gym preparing for my next one.”
Ahead of the contest, what was the game-plan going into the fight? Did you go away from that when the fight just turned into a brawl from the opening exchange?
Mantas KondratavičIus – “We knew that he was a good boxer. The game plan was to clinch and take him down, but he was strong. It was hard to take him down, so we kept banging.”
The first round had the fans in attendance drooling for more of the same action. What was the advice from your corner before you went out for the second round, and do you feel you stuck to the advice?
Mantas KondratavičIus – “My coach was saying many things he wanted me to do—more elbows, knees, and staying close, which gave me victory.”
Today, it was announced that you and Jack Comby won the fight of the night, which didn’t surprise anybody. How much does that mean to you to have flown to the UK and represented yourself as you did?
Mantas KondratavičIus – “It means a lot. I always give everything I have, and I was very happy that people liked it. Local fans were terrific too. They didn’t care that I was from another country, and after the fight, they came to congratulate me.”
KondratavičIus Talks Fighting in the UK
On the topic of the UK, how was your whole experience fighting in the UK and Almighty FC, and can the UK fans expect to see you here again if the opportunity presents itself?
Mantas KondratavičIus – “Everything was very nice, from the promoters to fans to staff everyone was very friendly and professional, and if they’re going to be a good opportunity, I’m down for it.”
When in there with Comby, when you guys traded blow for blow. What is the mindset at that moment when you are both trading heavy blows looking to put each other away?
Mantas KondratavičIus – “The mindset was to just keep pushing and pushing. If someone wants to stop me, they have to knock me out.”
Coming from Lithuania and representing your country on a stage like Almighty FC was impressive. What does that stay of the current progress of MMA in Lithuania? Can we expect to see more talent rising from Lithuania?
Mantas KondratavičIus – “MMA is getting better in Lithuania. I think it’s getting better everywhere. We are growing, and definitely, you can expect more talent breaking through from Lithuania. If you are looking for them, come to Fighterhouse club in Kaunas. We have loads of hard-working savages.”
You’ve started the year with a bang. Professional debut and a bonus to take home to Lithuania. However, what does the year look like for you in terms of competition? How often are you looking to compete?
Mantas KondratavičIus – “I’m looking to be active, very active. My next fight is going to be in March but it’s not official yet.”
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Featured Image credits to DN4 Photography
