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“KSW offered me more money than M-1 Global” – interview with Rafal Moks
It’s our first but probably not the last interview with number two-ranked Polish welterweight, Berserkers Team Product Rafal Moks. “Kulturysta” talks about his beginnings in MMA, leaving M-1 Global and his desire to become the KSW champion. Enjoy the interview.
Hi Rafal. Please introduce yourself to KSW fans.
- Hi and greetings to all MMA fans. My name is Rafal Moks and I’m twenty-five years old. I live in Szczecin where I started training when I was eighteen.
Tell us about your career. How did you start? Why did you decide to become a pro fighter?
- My martial arts journey began in Berserkers Team Szczecin. While I was attending jiu-jitsu and MMA classes I was watching how my training partners (Materla, Jewtuszko, Wojcik) prepare for their fights. I got hooked and decided to try it myself. Few months later my coach Piotr Baginski arranged my MMA debut and that’s how it all started (laughs).
What are your strengths as a MMA fighter?
- I come from a grappling oriented team, so I guess my submission skills are my greatest strength.
What are the aspects of the MMA game you have to work the most on?
- In the early days of my career I focused most of my time on training grappling, now I try to improve my stand-up skills.
In one of the recent interviews Maciej Kawulski said that you yourself had approached KSW and offered your services. Is this true?
- It’s indeed true. After my last fight for M-1 Global in Ukraine I was really dissatisfied with this promotion. I’m really impressed with what KSW does, how popular they are in Poland. That’s why I wanted to fight for them.
Why did you decide to leave M-1 Global?
- As I said, I was not happy with this promotion after the last fight for them. Nothing held me there, so when the KSW contract came, I took it immediately.
Did KSW offer you a better salary than M-1 did?
- Absolutely. Firstly I’ll be able to fight in front of the Polish crowd, secondly KSW offered a much better financial terms.
What does being a KSW fighter mean to you?
- It’s a new challenge (laughs).
You’ll make your KSW debut at KSW 17 – Revenge on November 26th in Lodz. You are set to face Aslambek Saidov. What do you expect?
- I expect a tough fight and that I’ll have my hand raised.
What do you think about Saidov as an opponent? What are his strengths and weaknesses?
- I’ll answer this question after the fight (laughs).
In the KSW 17 – Revenge trailer you said that fighting Saidov is your first step towards the title. Is winning the KSW championship belt your current goal?
- Of course. Every fighter wants to be the best and the title is a symbol of this achievement.
To end the interview I’d like to ask you about your nickname - Kulturysta. How did you get it?
- I believe that Piotr Baginski or one of my teammates invented it for me.
Rafal thanks for your time and all the best in your KSW debut.
- Thanks and greetings to all MMA fans.
Interview by Artur Przybysz
Hi Rafal. Please introduce yourself to KSW fans.
- Hi and greetings to all MMA fans. My name is Rafal Moks and I’m twenty-five years old. I live in Szczecin where I started training when I was eighteen.
Tell us about your career. How did you start? Why did you decide to become a pro fighter?
- My martial arts journey began in Berserkers Team Szczecin. While I was attending jiu-jitsu and MMA classes I was watching how my training partners (Materla, Jewtuszko, Wojcik) prepare for their fights. I got hooked and decided to try it myself. Few months later my coach Piotr Baginski arranged my MMA debut and that’s how it all started (laughs).
What are your strengths as a MMA fighter?
- I come from a grappling oriented team, so I guess my submission skills are my greatest strength.
What are the aspects of the MMA game you have to work the most on?
- In the early days of my career I focused most of my time on training grappling, now I try to improve my stand-up skills.
In one of the recent interviews Maciej Kawulski said that you yourself had approached KSW and offered your services. Is this true?
- It’s indeed true. After my last fight for M-1 Global in Ukraine I was really dissatisfied with this promotion. I’m really impressed with what KSW does, how popular they are in Poland. That’s why I wanted to fight for them.
Why did you decide to leave M-1 Global?
- As I said, I was not happy with this promotion after the last fight for them. Nothing held me there, so when the KSW contract came, I took it immediately.
Did KSW offer you a better salary than M-1 did?
- Absolutely. Firstly I’ll be able to fight in front of the Polish crowd, secondly KSW offered a much better financial terms.
What does being a KSW fighter mean to you?
- It’s a new challenge (laughs).
You’ll make your KSW debut at KSW 17 – Revenge on November 26th in Lodz. You are set to face Aslambek Saidov. What do you expect?
- I expect a tough fight and that I’ll have my hand raised.
What do you think about Saidov as an opponent? What are his strengths and weaknesses?
- I’ll answer this question after the fight (laughs).
In the KSW 17 – Revenge trailer you said that fighting Saidov is your first step towards the title. Is winning the KSW championship belt your current goal?
- Of course. Every fighter wants to be the best and the title is a symbol of this achievement.
To end the interview I’d like to ask you about your nickname - Kulturysta. How did you get it?
- I believe that Piotr Baginski or one of my teammates invented it for me.
Rafal thanks for your time and all the best in your KSW debut.
- Thanks and greetings to all MMA fans.
Interview by Artur Przybysz
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