LOS ANGELES – After marking his Bellator debut with a quickfire submission win, Iraqi fighter Adel Altamimi was brought back down to earth with a unanimous decision loss to Salim Mukhidinov at Bellator 229 last October. Now the 30-year-old karate black belt plans on bouncing back into the win column at Bellator 238 this weekend.
Chatting to MMA Junkie ahead of his bout against noted grappler AJ Agazarm, Altamimi (8-6 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) revealed he learned not to let his ego get in the way of his success in the cage after competing injured last time out.
“It was really big lesson to me,” he explained. “A lot of people don’t know what’s going on in camp, or injuries, but it’s never been an excuse when you get in there. But it was a big lesson to me. It was the first time in my career that I went to a decision, but I learned a lot how to stay there (in the fight) for 15 minutes. I was injured, and I was injured during the fight, too. But I just wanted to stay there. That’s who I am, I will never give up. I got a little punched in the face, but I will never quit.”
Altamimi said he still wouldn’t be able to bring himself to pull out of a fight at short notice, but his experience of picking up an injury in the leadup to his last fight has helped him to taper back his intensity as he prepares for his next test inside the Bellator cage.
“Sometimes your ego… I never backed down, I never turned down a fight because you’re injured and stuff, especially when you’re injured the week before (the fight),” he explained. “I never want to call and go: ‘Hey, I’m hurt. I’m this, I’m that.’ But yeah, (I’m) definitely being smart in the camp when you get closer, being smart and not getting hurt. It was a good lesson. And I fought a good opponent. He was really good, not taking anything away from his skills. All respect to him.”
Altamimi has seven submissions to his name, but that stat serves as a smokescreen to his predominant skillset – karate. The black belt in Kyokushin karate admits he hasn’t yet been able to showcase his full striking arsenal as a mixed martial artist, but says he’s hoping to do just that against BJJ specialist Agazarm (2-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) on Saturday night.
“It’s exciting, because I know what he’s going to bring to the fight,” he said. “He’s comfortable to grapple and not be on the feet, but it’s going to be a test. I’m a black belt in jiu jitsu. I have eight wins, seven submissions and one knockout. I believe that’s why Bellator matched us up, because he’s a grappling specialist and you see my record, and they see a test of skills. But you know my background, I’m a champion in karate, I’m a black belt in karate, and I still haven’t shown a lot of my striking. I’m excited to show a little bit of my striking and takedowns and wrestling. I’m excited for it.”
With a notable name from the grappling world lining up against him on Bellator’s first big fight card of 2020, Altamimi has the perfect opportunity to bounce back in eye-catching fashion, and the Baghdad-born featherweight says he’s ready to do just that after a tricky time in his career.
“Yeah. Last year it was life-changing. There was a lot of change and pressure. I’m from a different culture and stuff, and this (loss) happening is a little bit damaging, but it takes a little bit of time to reset and get back to yourself,” he said. “A lot of changes happened … I’m good. I’m excited for this one. I know where I am and I’m seeing clear in front of me. I have the hunger and fire inside of me, and I’m excited and ready to go.”
