Kurdish MMA fighter on Sweden main card vows to ‘put Kurdistan on map’

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A Kurdish Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter is set to compete in his second professional bout on the main card of Fight Club Rush 3 in Sweden on Aug. 18.

Serdar Altas (1-0-0) will fight Jake Bond (1-1-0) from England in the flyweight division (125-lbs) at the Bombardier Arena in Västerås, Sweden. The main card begins on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Erbil time.

Altas, born in a small village called Kerboran in the Kurdish-city of Merdin in southern Turkey, told Kurdistan 24 he is “going to put Kurdistan on the map.”

The Kurdish athlete is on a 10-fight win streak, including amateur bouts. His last defeat was over two years ago.

Altas’ first professional MMA fight was in May at Superior Challenge 17, where he defeated opponent Juan Jashari Frantzen (0-1-0) via a round two knockout.

Asked if he has adapted his training routine since then, Altas said it does not matter who the opponent is, the preparations before a fight remain the same.

“I haven’t changed anything really. We do not change anything for the opponent,” he told Kurdistan 24. “It doesn’t matter who I am going to meet.”

At Superior Challenge 17, the Kurdish fighter was on the preliminary card, but on Saturday, Altas’ bout is one of five main card fights. Despite the bigger occasion, he says there is no added pressure with being on the main card.

“The pressure is not that I am [on] the main card, but I have a bit [of] pressure on me because I am fighting in front of the home crowd,” he said.

Before making his professional MMA debut, Altas won gold at the 2017 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Championship, as well as titles at the IMMAF Africa Open and European Open in 2016.

Now that he is competing in his second pro fight, the Kurdish MMA fighter says he has “learned how to compete in a professional fight.”

“I have also learned how to compete with smaller gloves and longer rounds,” he added. “It means that you have to be more careful and wait for the right timing to strike.”

The 23-year-old moved to Sweden in 2008 with his family where he was reunited with his father. He began training in 2013 as a hobby but quickly fell in love with the sport and has been involved ever since.

“I want to thank everyone that believes [in me] and supports me. That means the world to me,” Altas said.

“On Aug. 18, I am going to put Kurdistan on the map. Biji Kurd u Kurdistan!”