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For me Mamed is the winner - interview with Szymon Bonkowski
Despite the late time in Japan and endless problems with telephone connection I was able to talk to Mamed Khalidov's head coach Szymon Bonkowski.
Szymon let's start from the beginning. Is that true that while Mamed was entering the ring, some fans were booing.
- A handful of Santiago's fans booed. It wasn't the attitude of the whole crowd.
You probably already know, that Polish MMA fans weren't able to see the Snegoku middleweight title bout between Mamed Khalidov and Jorge Santiago. Please tell us how the fight looked like.
- The fight lasted five rounds. It's hard to be objective, because I'm still full of emotions. I believe Khalidov won three rounds, one was even or slightly for Santiago, and the last round was clearly his. Mamed had more takedowns and strikes on the grounds. On the other hand Santiago had one clear submission attempt and he landed a few punches in the last five minutes. Khalidov certainly was more active in the course of the fight and that's why Santiago was in better shape in the fifth round.
Mamed has never fought for five rounds in his career. Was he even prepared for such a long distance?
- He was prepared for twenty-five-minute fight, but the bout was really intense and he lost some steam at the end.
Are you satisfied with his performance. How many mistakes did he make in this fight? - It's impossible not to make any mistakes in a five-round fight. However, I'm satisfied with how he fought. I think he beat Santiago.
At the end of the second round Santiago caught Mamed in a tight kimura. Was it Mamed's mistake or Santiago's cleverness?
- Indeed it was a great attack by Santiago. Omoplata joint with a kimura, but Mamed was able to escape it.
Do you want another fight against him?
- Definitely not in the next bout. They should both fight other opponents and then I'm all for the third meeting.
Szymon thank you for your valuable time. See you at the airport in Warsaw.
- No problem
Interview by Artur Przybysz
Szymon let's start from the beginning. Is that true that while Mamed was entering the ring, some fans were booing.
- A handful of Santiago's fans booed. It wasn't the attitude of the whole crowd.
You probably already know, that Polish MMA fans weren't able to see the Snegoku middleweight title bout between Mamed Khalidov and Jorge Santiago. Please tell us how the fight looked like.
- The fight lasted five rounds. It's hard to be objective, because I'm still full of emotions. I believe Khalidov won three rounds, one was even or slightly for Santiago, and the last round was clearly his. Mamed had more takedowns and strikes on the grounds. On the other hand Santiago had one clear submission attempt and he landed a few punches in the last five minutes. Khalidov certainly was more active in the course of the fight and that's why Santiago was in better shape in the fifth round.
Mamed has never fought for five rounds in his career. Was he even prepared for such a long distance?
- He was prepared for twenty-five-minute fight, but the bout was really intense and he lost some steam at the end.
Are you satisfied with his performance. How many mistakes did he make in this fight? - It's impossible not to make any mistakes in a five-round fight. However, I'm satisfied with how he fought. I think he beat Santiago.
At the end of the second round Santiago caught Mamed in a tight kimura. Was it Mamed's mistake or Santiago's cleverness?
- Indeed it was a great attack by Santiago. Omoplata joint with a kimura, but Mamed was able to escape it.
Do you want another fight against him?
- Definitely not in the next bout. They should both fight other opponents and then I'm all for the third meeting.
Szymon thank you for your valuable time. See you at the airport in Warsaw.
- No problem
Interview by Artur Przybysz
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