“Afghan Killa” Siyar Bahadurzada (14-3-1) spoke exclusively with Fighters.com after his controversial victory over “Cyborg” Evangelista Santos (16-12) by TKO due to injury in the first round of Sengoku’s Middleweight Grand Prix.
As a child, Bahadurzada immigrated to the Netherlands from war-torn Afghanistan, but became stuck there without a passport as his fight career took off. In July 2007, he was finally allowed to travel to Japan to fight (and beat) Shiko Yamashita (10-4-3) for the Shooto title.
Fighters.com: Can you describe the difference between your feelings when you first arrived in Holland after leaving Afghanistan, then when you first arrived in Japan to fight after being stuck in Holland? Holland must’ve been both a place of refuge from war-torn Afghanistan, but then like a cage keeping you from furthering your fight career?
Siyar Bahadurzada: When I first came to Holland I felt like I was given a second chance. I just went for it and kept trying to make something out of my life. I learned to speak Dutch in almost six months. I was [studying] very hard and, besides, not to forget, I’m pretty gifted in learning languages. I can speak several languages very well.
But, when I went to Japan, I felt different. Coming to Holland was different because I was saved from the war; but, when I came to Japan, I felt like, “Now it is my time to shine. My 15 minutes of fame is on!” I feel invincible when I’m in Japan. Somehow, the environment in Japan drives me to my limits, motivates me to take one step more and go for my dreams!
Read More About Bahadurzada: “I will beat Misaki. He knows it!”…