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Nicolas Atkin

Sasha Palatnikov has said he wants to inspire a new generation of fighters in Hong Kong after making history for the city by winning the Angel’s Fighting Championship middleweight title.
The 30-year-old became the first Hong Kong-born fighter to win a world title, securing a unanimous decision over Son Sung-won in Seoul on Monday night.
“Man, winning this world title was the best feeling ever,” he told the Post. “You have to understand that I have been planning for this exact moment for the last 10 years.
“It’s an amazing feeling to have my name in the history books. It’s an honour to represent Hong Kong and I hope to bring some more eyes to MMA in my city. I hope people can see that I’m trying to put Hong Kong on the map.”




“I want people to understand that I can be the beginning of a big movement of next generation fighters that will in time be challenging for world titles in the future,” he added. “If I can go down as a pioneer for the sport that would make me so happy and I hope I can inspire young athletes to pursue their dreams of becoming world champions.”
For now, Palatnikov is enjoying a few days off in Seoul “doing the tourist thing” and resting up before returning to Hong Kong on Friday.


“I’ll have a sit down with my management team and discuss the next upcoming challenge,” he said. “Either defend this belt or go down and fight for the 77kg world title.
“Either way, I’m excited for the next one. I mean the goal stays the same – I want to be representing Hong Kong in the UFC. I’m all about making history and this is another opportunity to do so.”
It was a five-round war inside the Sindorim Techno Mart Grand Ballroom and Palatnikov admitted he had to switch to plan B early on.

“Going into the fight I truly believed I was going to keep it standing,” he said. “But after discussing game plans with [coach and UFC fighter] Alberto Mina, we knew that the takedown was always going to be another road to victory, as my opponent was taller, heavier and longer than me, so it may have been an issue to really dominate the stand up with his length.
“After the first couple exchanges we got into the clinch and I didn’t feel he was strong in that position. So dropping to the single leg takedown was a no-brainer. I felt I dominated top position on the ground and had to be wary of submissions and sweeps off of his back. It was a little back and forth but I felt I was landing the more significant strikes on the ground.
“Don’t get me wrong, going into the fifth round I didn’t want to leave any inkling in the judges’ minds that this could go either way so I knew that I had to dominate, which was exactly what I did. Honestly, I thought I was going to finish him in the last round but all credit goes to my opponent for staying tough.”

Palatnikov also had to battle through an eye injury after his opponent was yellow-carded for an illegal up-kick.
“It really affected my vision and definitely rocked me a bit,” he admitted. “But after getting some time with the doctor my vision improved. I actually had no idea he was yellow carded until I read the reports from after the fight.
“So it was a significant blow to take. But like I said to you before I’m willing to die in the cage to win so it wasn’t going to change anything.”


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Sasha Palatnikov poses with his coach after winning the AFC middleweight title. Photos: Handout

Sasha Palatnikov poses with his team after winning the title.

Sasha Palatnikov poses with fans outside the arena.

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Sasha Palatnikov raises his arms in victory. Photo: Twitter

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Sasha Palatnikov is ready for a world title shot in South Korea. Photo: Handout

Sasha Palatnikov trains

Sasha Palatnikov

Sasha Palatnikov punches Ko Seok-yun.

Sasha Palatnikov.

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Sport

Mixed Martial Arts

The 30-year-old becomes first Hong Kong-born MMA world champion with AFC middleweight title win in South Korea
Palatnikov wants to put his city on the MMA map and inspire a new generation of champions


The 30-year-old hopes he is putting his city on the MMA map and inspiring a new generation of champions after winning AFC middleweight title in South Korea


Martial arts

Now a world champion, Sasha Palatnikov wants to make more MMA history for Hong Kong in the UFC

The 30-year-old becomes first Hong Kong-born MMA world champion with AFC middleweight title win in South Korea Palatnikov wants to put his city on the MMA map and inspire a new generation of champions

The 30-year-old becomes first Hong Kong-born MMA world champion with AFC middleweight title win in South Korea

Palatnikov wants to put his city on the MMA map and inspire a new generation of champions