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“I competed at ADCC, Horwich didn’t” – interview with Michal Materla.
Michal Materla came back to MMA with a bang recording two impressive victories over solid opponents at KSW 15 and KSW 16. KSW17 – Revenge will see him go up against even a tougher foe, an experienced veteran Matt Horwich. The Berserkers Team fighter talks about his preparation for this bout in the interview below.
Hi Michal. How did you summer go?
- It was good. I worked as a bouncer at the seaside.
Did you go for any vacation?
- I did. I took my family to the tropics in June.
You are set to face Matt Horwich on the November’s KSW 17 show. Many people believe it will be your toughest test to date. Would you agree?
- I will be able to answer this question after the fight. I don’t care who my opponent is as long as I can test myself and evolve as a fighter.
What do you know about Horwich?
- I know he is an experienced fighter and I expect a tough fight. Many people say different things about him, but I don’t care about the rumors. He’ll be certainly ready to put on a great show.
Have you and your coach Piotr Baginski already thought about the game plan for this fight?
- The game plan is always the same: enter the ring and do my thing. I always look for a submission finish or possibly for a knockout on the feet.
Have you set up your training cup already?
- Yes I have. As always I’ll be preparing with Szczecin’s Berserkers. I will train and spar with my friends from Berserkers Team and Top Team Szczecin. Additionally Karol Chabros will be responsible for my strength and conditioning preparations. At the end of October I plan to attend a Bagi’s camp where different fighters from all over Poland will help with my trainings.
In one of the interviews, Horwich admitted that you might be a capable ground fighter, but he planned to show your weaknesses in this area at KSW 17. Would you comment on that?
- I’ll be waiting for him in the ring. We’ll see if he can walk the talk in the fight. I believe that only grapplers who had the opportunity to compete at ADCC, as I did, have the right to rate my submission skills.
Two other Berserkers Team Szczecin fighters will showcase their talent on KSW 17 – Revenge show. Rafal Moks will square off against Aslambek Saidov, while Maciej Jewtuszko will battle Artur Sowinski. What do you think about their chances?
- I will keep my fingers crossed for them. We will train together, so we’ll all be in great shapes. I’m sure they will put on exciting fights and earn victories (laughs).
I have to ask about the recent progress in your boxing skills. Your hands looked really sharp against Zikic and I also heard you had been asked to compete in the amateur boxing league. Tell us who is responsible for coaching you in this area.
- As far as my boxing goes I owe everything to Karol Chabros from Skorpion Szczecin, who has been my stand-up coach for the last three years. He pretty much changed everything in my boxing style. He’s a true pro, both theoretically and in practice.
It’s true I was offered a spot in Polish amateur boxing league. As a sportsman I always like challenges. I might try it as long as it doesn’t collide with my MMA schedule.
Thanks for the interview. Feel free to thank all your coaches, friends and sponsors.
- Big thanks go to my coaches Piotr Baginski and Karol Chabros, who devote their valuable time to my preparations. I’d also like to thank my manager and all my sponsors.
Interview by Artur Przybysz
Hi Michal. How did you summer go?
- It was good. I worked as a bouncer at the seaside.
Did you go for any vacation?
- I did. I took my family to the tropics in June.
You are set to face Matt Horwich on the November’s KSW 17 show. Many people believe it will be your toughest test to date. Would you agree?
- I will be able to answer this question after the fight. I don’t care who my opponent is as long as I can test myself and evolve as a fighter.
What do you know about Horwich?
- I know he is an experienced fighter and I expect a tough fight. Many people say different things about him, but I don’t care about the rumors. He’ll be certainly ready to put on a great show.
Have you and your coach Piotr Baginski already thought about the game plan for this fight?
- The game plan is always the same: enter the ring and do my thing. I always look for a submission finish or possibly for a knockout on the feet.
Have you set up your training cup already?
- Yes I have. As always I’ll be preparing with Szczecin’s Berserkers. I will train and spar with my friends from Berserkers Team and Top Team Szczecin. Additionally Karol Chabros will be responsible for my strength and conditioning preparations. At the end of October I plan to attend a Bagi’s camp where different fighters from all over Poland will help with my trainings.
In one of the interviews, Horwich admitted that you might be a capable ground fighter, but he planned to show your weaknesses in this area at KSW 17. Would you comment on that?
- I’ll be waiting for him in the ring. We’ll see if he can walk the talk in the fight. I believe that only grapplers who had the opportunity to compete at ADCC, as I did, have the right to rate my submission skills.
Two other Berserkers Team Szczecin fighters will showcase their talent on KSW 17 – Revenge show. Rafal Moks will square off against Aslambek Saidov, while Maciej Jewtuszko will battle Artur Sowinski. What do you think about their chances?
- I will keep my fingers crossed for them. We will train together, so we’ll all be in great shapes. I’m sure they will put on exciting fights and earn victories (laughs).
I have to ask about the recent progress in your boxing skills. Your hands looked really sharp against Zikic and I also heard you had been asked to compete in the amateur boxing league. Tell us who is responsible for coaching you in this area.
- As far as my boxing goes I owe everything to Karol Chabros from Skorpion Szczecin, who has been my stand-up coach for the last three years. He pretty much changed everything in my boxing style. He’s a true pro, both theoretically and in practice.
It’s true I was offered a spot in Polish amateur boxing league. As a sportsman I always like challenges. I might try it as long as it doesn’t collide with my MMA schedule.
Thanks for the interview. Feel free to thank all your coaches, friends and sponsors.
- Big thanks go to my coaches Piotr Baginski and Karol Chabros, who devote their valuable time to my preparations. I’d also like to thank my manager and all my sponsors.
Interview by Artur Przybysz
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