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Krzysztof Jotko (right) has competed against the best in the world. | š·: PFL MMA
Krzysztof Jotko is no stranger to last-minute changes. Throughout his career, the Polish middleweight has been forced to adapt to new opponents on a momentās notice, and he hasnāt let it slow him down.
Heading into Saturdayās Tipsport Gamechanger middleweight semifinal against Hojat Khajevand at Oktagon 77 at Ondrej Nepela Winter Stadium in Bratislava, Slovakia, the game plan is simple: walk into the cage and dominate.
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āI donāt worry about anything that I canāt control,ā Jotko told Sherdog.com. āI know Iām in good shape, I believe in myself, and I know Iām going to win. It doesnāt matter whoās across the cage from me.
Since signing with Oktagon earlier this year, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Professional Fighters League veteran has dominated his opposition. Jotko (27-6, 1 NC) has enjoyed a long career amongst the top middleweights in the world and doesnāt feel that the promotion has someone who can handle his blend of violence and experience. He knows little about Khajevand, who entered the tournament as a reserve, but understands that heās in the way of a trip to the finals.
If Jotko wins on Saturday, heāll face the winner of Kerim Engizek and Dominik Humburger in the middleweight final in December. Itāll be his fourth fight in a calendar year, and at 36, Jotko is more concerned about the wear and tear on his body than the opponent heās set to face.
Jotko trains amongst some of the best fighters in the world at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, and while the training is brutal, it puts him in a state of extreme confidence. Thereās nothing that can happen to him in the real fight that hasnāt already happened at ATT.
āThe best fighters come through ATT,ā Jotko proudly proclaimed. āWe have the best kickboxers, incredible coaches, and Olympic-level wrestlers ā¦ Itās great when you can work wrestling with Bo Nickal, kickboxing with Artem Leven and always have the best partners.ā
While training at a star-studded gym like ATT can be too competitive for some fighters, Jotko says that the environment at ATT isnāt built on ego. Although teammates can meet down the line or stash away potential information, Jotko believes that the āiron sharpens ironā approach is why heās still at the top of his game.
With a win on Saturday, there will be little time for Jotko to rest before beginning his camp for the championship, but heās looking forward to visiting his mother in Poland before the work begins. While heās known as a world-class fighter wherever he goes, Jotko loves to return to a place that brings him back to Earth.
āWhen I win, Iāll go visit my mom and spend a week in Poland, because there Iām just Krzystof, but after that itās back to Florida and back in the gym,ā Jotko said.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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