The wait is over, Fightstar Championship 23 kicks off on Saturday March 11th for a night of pure unadulterated organised violence in the capital at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
Many gifted athletes will take centre stage on this absolutely stacked card, from professional to amateur.
For Yacine Sifiin in particular, this will be his 1st step on his amateur career.
I caught up with Yacine as he prepares to take his 1st step into the cage under the lights of Fightstar Championship.
Yacine ‘Judo’ Sifi (0-0-0) is a Somalian amateur Mixed Martial Artist currently competing in the Welterweight division, representing Team Crossface. Yacine takes his 1st step on his amateur journey on March 11th at Fightstar Championship 23.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to speak with me today Yacine, and also to congratulate you on your recent inclusion to the Fightstar Championship 23 card mate.
“Thank you, and I appreciate you speaking with me about it. But honestly, you don’t have to congratulate me on being a part of the show, I’m here to be the best Welterweight not only at Fightstar but in the country. This is my goal, this is my ambition.”
A great mindset to have as you kick off your journey.
I hope preparations have been going well for your inclusion to the weekend’s violent festivities in the capital?
“Yeah, preparations have been going very well. Thankfully a lot of the boys at Team Crossface have got fights coming up. We’ve got Sam Patterson fighting next weekend at UFC London, we’ve also got Charlie Leary heading out to Hawaii with Bellator next Month. There’s great vibes in the Gym, everyone is pushing each other to the max. A real good brotherhood in the gym, I’m very excited to see all of our performances.”
I bet mate. I’ve taken a few trips down to the gym recently, a phenomenal work ethic and a great environment to train in I gotta say, a phenomenal team no doubt.
“Thank you.”
Anytime man.
A big night for yourself, not only will this be your debut for Fightstar Championship, but also your 1st step on your amateur career, you must be buzzing for Saturday?
“I don’t really feel like this is a big step-up for me, I feel I’m the most experienced fighter on the whole card really. I’ve been on the Great Britain national team for many years, and done so many competitions. In the UK we don’t have a big emphasis on wrestling, I believe Judo is our wrestling. I’ve competed at the highest level and done many international competitions, these are just a few of the experiences I’ve had with the national team. None of these guys have had these experiences, if anything, I feel like I’m the star of the card. They have a National Judo fighter making his MMA debut, in my eyes, I’m the main event. It’s gonna be a professional performance for an amateur debut, looking at the card, they don’t have my level of wrestling and grappling.”
You sound hungry to get out there man, I look forward to witnessing your skill-set, I’ll try to grab a chat with you definitely.
“Yeah man, I look forward to speaking with you in person.”
With a high level of practitioners surrounding you at Team Crossface as we previously spoke of, from experienced professionals competing at the highest level of the sport, to gifted and well rounded amateurs, and coaches with a vast knowledge of the fight game, you will no doubt be full of confidence as the night draws near?
“Yeah, most definitely, like I said, I’ve got amazing training partners and an amazing coach. But I don’t take too much confidence from it, it’s not like a video game like Pokemon where I could fight the first round and get one of my teammates to fight the second hahaha.”
Hahaha.
“As much as the team has helped me and pushed me to where I am today, when I step into that cage, it’s just gonna be me and my opponent, that’s how it is. I don’t really care who he trains with, and I’m sure he doesn’t care who I train with, at the end of the day, it’s just gonna be me and him you know.”
Absolutely, it’s a team effort until that cage door closes.
“Absolutely.”
A late addition to the absolutely stacked fight card, your inclusion was no doubt a joy to many of your peers. Now just days out, the Fightstar fans will have the opportunity to witness your skill-set, for the readers, what led to your decision to take your 1st step into the violent yet exhilarating world of Mixed Martial Arts in the capital?
“1st of all, I’m not a late addition hahaha, I got offered this fight in January. I felt a little disrespected when they announced it as a late addition, and so many fights were announced before mine. They’re gonna see my performance come Saturday night, and when the next Fightstar rolls out they’re gonna see that they’ve got a real superstar on their hands. I’m.the second fight of the night, but come next time, I’ll be on the main card, I’m that kinda fighter. The attention I draw, my tenacity and pressure which I’m gonna display in the cage. What drew me to Mixed Martial Arts, it was always the next challenge I set for myself. I’ve been doing Judo since I was 8 years old, I got on to the national team when I was 15, where I medaled at the British Championships as a junior and cadet, that was a big goal for me and I wanted something bigger to pursue. Back then I saw advertisement for Team Crossface and saw that they trained Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, insaw it as if I trained BJJ and wrestling, it would enhance my performance on the Judo mat. I fell in love with the sport so much that I started to pursue MMA, a lot more. This was back in 2016 when I walked through the doors of Team Crossface, so I’ve been training for many years now. This is what I meant when I said I have great experience, I’m more well equipped than any fighter on the card. It’s just unfortunate that whenever I was given my amateur debut, I had a bigger and better Judo competition to go to. So I don’t see this debut as a big thing, this is very small to me.”
I love your attitude man. How can I put this, you’re the most confident debutant I’ve ever spoken to, it’s brilliant to hear man.
“Hahahhaha, thank you.”
You are set to put your talents to work, facing off against New Wave Academy’s Antonio Carvalho, Like yourself, relatively fresh put on his amateur journey.
What do you make of Antonio as you prepare to collide in the capital?
“This guy doesn’t really motivate me, not the slightest bit to be fair. I wanna be the best Welterweight in the country, I am looking past him to be truthfully honest with you. Throughout the whole preparation not once have I thought about this guy, my training sessions I’ve been put through hell, so I’ve been thinking about them other than him. When pushing myself in training, thinking of him kinda de-motivates me. I’m looking past this guy, it’s as simple as that.”
I get that man, stay laser focused on your game and your ambitions.
“Yeah, 100 percent.”
As previously stated, Raj Singh and his team have once again assembled some of the most exciting fighters to make sure Fightstar Championship 23 is once again a huge success.
Other than your inclusion on the night, are there any match-ups in particular that you’re looking forward to witnessing?
“No hahahaha, none whatsoever, I’m not gonna stay to watch these guys. I am a fan of Fightstar and of Mixed Martial Arts, I’ve watched many fights at Fightstar events though. This card, there’s nobody that really catches my eye, in the past there’ve been a few good talents but this card, I’m the best fighter on it.”
Yet again, your confidence is incredible to hear man.
It’s been a pleasure speaking with you today Yacine, I wish you all the best for your debut, and I look forward to witnessing you out there mate.
“We’re definitely gonna be doing a post fight interview yeah?”
Definitely man, I’ll make sure to grab a chat with you after the bout.
“My guy.”
Last but not least, do you have a message for the fans that will be in attendance and anybody you’d like to give a shout-out to?
“Of course. I’d like to give a shout-out to Team Crossface, I don’t wanna single out anybody because it really is a team effort. My Coach Dave Lee has gone great saying when we are doing our Jiu-jitsu classes, the higher belts they can help pull you up, so when you get to that level turn around to those below you with the same energy. So I wanna thank all my sparring partners and coaches. To the fans, you’re gonna witness a menace.”
Catch Yacine and many more phenomenal warriors take centre stage at what’s shaping up to be an incredible fight card on March 11th at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London. Head over to the Fightstar Championship website here to grab your spot, as there are limited numbers available.
Fightstar Championship are proudly affiliated with the English Mixed Martial Arts Association (EMMAA) who’s prime goal is To develop and promote the education, training and safeguarding of young people, competitors and coaches in MMA.
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