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After the UFC cut both Josefine Knutsson and Guram Kutateladze this last year, the Stockholm based gym Allstars Training Centre owned by Alexander Gustafsson
have seen themselves left with only three remaining UFC fighters in Volkan Özdemir, Benardo Sopaj and Felipe Lima.
Last night, however, their fighter Mark Vologdin got rewarded with a UFC contract and a first-ever performance bonus at the DWCS.
The well-rounded but wild fighter is now coming in to the big league with a 12-4 record, and his path to get here wasn't an easy one. Three years ago he moved all
alone to Sweden, in search of the chance to develop as a fighter. During this time he eventually moved up from flyweight with more confidence.
"Both living and training in Sweden has been the most valuable experience of my career," Mark Vologdin tells Frontkick.
"Moving here on my own, without family or friends was tough, but I don’t regret it for a second. I have found new friends, a new family, great professionals to train with
and I have developed a lot as a fighter. I have gotten a lot of help from my teammates and we have this great team of top-level professional fighters. And they have all
played a big role in my preparations for this opportunity".
He knows that on Tapology he's been listed as competing from Finland, something he himself doesn't really understand but still clarifies.
"I don’t really have any roots in Finland. My only connection is that my father worked there for a long time. I respect the country, but my real roots are in Russia."
"I will represent my home country Russia and Sweden by my gym Allstars Training Center."
Mark Vologdin assures anyone who's hearing about him now for the first time that he will be worth the watch, leaving no questions about what's to expect:
"If you haven't seen me fight yet, expect a technical and exciting performance that normally doesn't go to the judges. I'm a well-rounded fighter who always looks for a finish.
I don't like to let the judges decide, I want to finish the fight myself and focus on that!"
have seen themselves left with only three remaining UFC fighters in Volkan Özdemir, Benardo Sopaj and Felipe Lima.
Last night, however, their fighter Mark Vologdin got rewarded with a UFC contract and a first-ever performance bonus at the DWCS.
The well-rounded but wild fighter is now coming in to the big league with a 12-4 record, and his path to get here wasn't an easy one. Three years ago he moved all
alone to Sweden, in search of the chance to develop as a fighter. During this time he eventually moved up from flyweight with more confidence.
"Both living and training in Sweden has been the most valuable experience of my career," Mark Vologdin tells Frontkick.
"Moving here on my own, without family or friends was tough, but I don’t regret it for a second. I have found new friends, a new family, great professionals to train with
and I have developed a lot as a fighter. I have gotten a lot of help from my teammates and we have this great team of top-level professional fighters. And they have all
played a big role in my preparations for this opportunity".
He knows that on Tapology he's been listed as competing from Finland, something he himself doesn't really understand but still clarifies.
"I don’t really have any roots in Finland. My only connection is that my father worked there for a long time. I respect the country, but my real roots are in Russia."
"I will represent my home country Russia and Sweden by my gym Allstars Training Center."
Mark Vologdin assures anyone who's hearing about him now for the first time that he will be worth the watch, leaving no questions about what's to expect:
"If you haven't seen me fight yet, expect a technical and exciting performance that normally doesn't go to the judges. I'm a well-rounded fighter who always looks for a finish.
I don't like to let the judges decide, I want to finish the fight myself and focus on that!"
