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MMATorch Interview: Swedish prospect Max Nunes on BAMMA 12 bout and more
Feb 28, 2013 - 2:00:35 PM
MMATorch Interview: Swedish prospect Max Nunes on BAMMA 12 bout and more
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By: Dan Moore, MMATorch UK Contributor

MMATorch UK Contributor Dan Moore spoke to top Swedish prospect Max Nunes this week to discuss, amongst other things, his upcoming fight with Marcin Lazarz at BAMMA 12 in Newcastle, England. The event takes place on Sat 9 March and will be televised on Channel 5* (UK), AXS-TV (US), The Fight Network (Canada), Red Media (Russia), TV Esporte Interativo (Brazil) and Setanta (Africa).

DAN MOORE: You grew up in Sweden and if I'm right in saying, you predominately played Basketball growing up. How old were you when you first got involved in MMA and where did you first start training?

MAX NUNES: I was 19 or 20 years old when I started training MMA, so about four years ago which is not long at all. I started training in Stockholm at a club called Compact Fighters.

MOORE: At what point did you realize that you had the talent to fight professionally?

NUNES: There was never really a point where I thought I was good enough to fight professionally. Early on, I soon realized that I able to learn very quickly. For instance, in sparring I would be able to hold my own with guys who had been doing the sport for years. That's when I thought I was OK at it and I could actually do something with it. I just continued training and here I am today.

MOORE: You're now fighting out of New Wave Academy MMA, with amongst others former UFC fighter Nick Osipczak. How did the move to London and subsequently that team come about?

NUNES: I moved to London purely because of MMA. A few years ago MMA wasn't as big in Sweden as it is now. This was before [Alexander] Gustafsson and others guys; so there weren't many shows to fight on compared to somewhere like the UK. That's why I moved here because I wanted to start competing and finding New Wave was just a pure coincidence. One day I Googled online looking for where my closest MMA gym was, and it was them. I went there, liked it and i've been with them ever since.

MOORE: You're 9-0 as a professional now, with five wins by submission and four by TKO. Only one of those fights has gone to a second round (vs. Iain Martell, UCMMA 29). Does any particular fight stand out as the most satisfying?

NUNES: I'd probably say my last one, just because with every fight there becomes more and more pressure. I'm undefeated and I was 7-0, then 8-0 and with each fight there is more pressure on me to keep the winning streak going.

MOORE: In your last fight at BAMMA 11, you finished Kevin Thompson with some vicious ground and pound from a standing position, in a very impressive win. Next up at BAMMA 12, you face Marcin Lazarz who beat Trojan Freefighter Sam Mensah at the same event. What do you think of him and how do you see the fight playing out?

NUNES: To be honest the only fight I have seen him in was the one at BAMMA 11, because I was there. Other than that I haven't seen anything or really know anything about him. I do know that he trains out of Team Titan, so he'll come in prepared, well trained and well rounded and I think it's going to be a very good fight.

MOORE: You've established yourself as a fan favorite thanks to your diverse striking and excellent ground game. Experience aside, how far away do you think you are from being the finished article?

NUNES: A long long way off, I've got years and years to go. I have only just turned 24 years old and I haven't even grown into my body yet. I also don't really know what my best style of fighting is. I have a lot to learn and right now I'm only at like 10% or 20% of what I will be and fulfilling my full potential.

MOORE: What particular part of your game if anything, do you think needs the most improvement?

NUNES: Everything really because I'm not happy with any part of my game. I want to improve on every part. My striking, wrestling, grappling and my ground and pound. Everything really.

MOORE: This will be your first time fighting on an event with the new Safe MMA regulations in place. With that in mind, has anything changed for you in the build up to this fight?

NUNES: No not really and everything has been normal to be honest. It hasn't been too much of a difference because even in UCMMA you would need to get blood and other tests done.

MOORE: What's your opinion of Safe MMA thus far?

NUNES: I don't know yet to be honest. I just haven't seen enough of them or really know what they do to be able to comment. Maybe after this first fight is over I will.

MOORE: Although you've had TV exposure before; you're the co-main event on a card that will broadcast on Channel 5* and will also be shown on terrestrial TV. Do you feel more pressure heading into this fight then ever before?

NUNES: No, not really... well maybe, but if I do it might only be on fight day itself, or even the day before. As for now, I feel exactly the same. Also when you're fighting it's just the same, irrespective of whether it is on TV, or not. You just show up and fight, well at least I do anyway.

MOORE: You've recently signed an exclusive three fight deal with BAMMA. What impressed you about them as an organization to commit to such a deal?

NUNES: What I like the most about BAMMA is that they put their shows on in big arena's. So they'll have the same fight shows in the same arena's as the UFC for instance. The first time I fought (for BAMMA) it was at Wembley Arena, London. Last time I fought for them it was at the NIA, Birmingham, and this time it's at the Metro, Newcastle. I like it that I can get experience fighting in these big arena's and get used to how it feels on big promotions.

MOORE: With the new TV deal, they're doing more events now, so you can fight more consistently?

NUNES: Yeah good point. I also like the fact that they bring in top British fighters. Not only that, but they bring in top international fighters as well, so there is a chance for international competition too.

MOORE: We've recently seen Paul Sass, Che Mills and Terry Etim all get released by the UFC proving how cut-throat top level MMA can be. Jimi Manuwa once turned down a chance to sign with the UFC, partly because he felt he wasn't ready for them. At only 24 years old, is that something you would consider doing if the UFC called you tomorrow offering a deal?

NUNES: I have three fights with BAMMA so I definitely wouldn't consider doing anything until that deal is done, but after it finishes, we'll see what happens. Those three fights might possibly take me up to next summer, but more likely to the end of this year if all goes well. 

MOORE: Is fighting for a US based promotion, the ultimate dream?

NUNES: No Japan is my ultimate dream but to be honest, I just want to fight on good shows against top guys. Where that is doesn't really matter to me right now. I love the idea of seeing and fighting in different places and getting to see new towns, meet new people and stuff like that. That is always exciting.

MOORE: What do you think of Scandinavian MMA and the progress it has made recently?

NUNES: Well I like Gunnar Nelson a lot. I was at the last UFC event at Wembley (UFC on FUEL 7) and I saw him fight. I think there are a lot of guys from there that are doing well right now. They've got some great fighters, especially Gustafsson. Big things are happening there and I think more and more fighters will emerge as the sport gets bigger over there and they get more exposure into the Scandinavian countries.

MOORE: Who are your favorite MMA fighters, past or present?

NUNES: (Without hesitation) Shinya Aoki. I think he is amazing especially his ground game which is on another level. He has got good striking too, but because he's so good on the ground, he just does some crazy stuff and doesn't care if he gets taken out. In my weight class, Jimi (Manuwa) is super exciting to watch. Jones is fun and his fight with Chael Sonnen will be interesting to watch. Gustafsson, I always watch him fight. There are a lot of guys I like watching.

MOORE: One last but very important question. I'm off to Stockholm in April to cover UFC on FUEL 9 for MMATorch. Can you recommend any good drinking establishments to visit during my trip?

NUNES: The hottest nightclub place is Riche; that's probably where all the stars will go. Sturecompagniet is another great place. Those two places in Stockholm are where everyone goes.

MOORE: I'll check them out. Thanks very much and I appreciate you sparing the time to chat. Best of luck in your fight next month.

NUNES: My pleasure. Thank you.


Follow Max on Twitter @maxpowernunes. Follow me on Twitter @MMATorchDan.


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