A fight between Leandro Ataides and Vitaly Bigdash is always going to be a draw in Asia. The former is a human highlight reel with some spectacular knockouts, while the latter was involved in arguably the best fight in ONE Championship history.
Bigdash, who will finally face Ataides at ONE: Grit and Glory on Saturday, had to pull out of a fight against the same opponent earlier this year. It was frustrating for the fans, but no one was more disappointed than the Russian, who details the series of unfortunate events that led to the withdrawal.
“That fight camp was a nightmare. There were many problems in different areas of my life and I did not feel at my best nut, a job is a job and I kept pushing through. I had my mind set on this fight (and) my team and I were ready to go, but just days before we had to board that plane to Jakarta, my temperature shot up. Then a small blister appeared on my knee; in just a day, it became enormous. My knee was swollen and throbbing with pain.”
Instead of facing Ataides in Jakarta, the Russian found himself undergoing a painful medical procedure on his infected knee.
“The doctor had to open the wound on my knee. I already had an abscess and the only way to treat it was to cut it open and drain it. It was a painful process.”
The fight has been rebooked for the same venue. At the Jakarta Convention Centre on Saturday, these two top middleweight contenders will finally go head to head. Bigdash reveals that there is no bad blood between them, despite the disappointment of seeing the original bout nixed.
“I apologized to Leandro about having to withdraw. I understand that he is a family man, too, and has to put food on the table for his loved ones. There is no beef. I actually respect this guy and his reaction was very cool. All I can hope for now is that we both come to this fight well prepared and give fans a good show.”
Ataides represents an unusual type of challenge because he doesn’t always play to his obvious strengths. The Brazilian is a BJJ black belt, but whether it be with a flying knee or a swing of the right hand, he has a habit of sending opponents to sleep with his striking rather than his submissions.
At his best, Ataides finishes fights fast, but if opponents can survive the early exchanges, he has been known to fade. Perhaps this is what Bigdash is alluding to when he claims to have identified some weaknesses in his opponent’s arsenal.
“I know his weak and strong points, and I do have a game plan to address both. I can only say that my goal is to win, and I will use my plan to do so.”
This article first appeared at News – MMAWeekly.com
