The MMA India Show is once again starting its North East series and this time around we interviewed one of Manipur’s rising MMA prospects Bishwamitra Mayanglambam. Fighting out of Kakching, a small town in Manipur, the undefeated amateur stud will be making his professional debut at the Matrix Fight Night 7 alongside his fellow Manipuri fighters like Jojo Rajkumari and Chungreng Koren.
Bishwamitra Mayanglambam will be taking on Arshiyan Memon at the Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad on December 10. This will not be an easy fight for Bishwamitra, as his opponent possesses an undefeated record of 3-0 and has experience fighting in promotions like Super Fight League and Thailand FC. Bishwamitra is also making his professional debut and with that being said he has had an illustrious amateur career where he went on an undefeated run for sixteen straight bouts.
Rupendra Sharma, a local businessman from Imphal and an MMA enthusiast helped us in getting in touch with Bishwamitra Mayanglambam and with the translation.
Are You excited for your Pro debut?
Yeah, this will be my pro debut. I am 15-0 in amateurs and also I have fought in semi-pro competition, but this will be my pro debut.
How did you get started in Martial Arts?
My mother was into boxing and kickboxing. So since I remember I have always been involved in Boxing and Kickboxing and that’s how I got into Martial arts.
Is there any specific reason why he didn’t transition into boxing and kickboxing and came into MMA?
My father was a huge fan of MMA when I was a child and he use to make us watch all the UFC fights which use to be telecasted on TV. He use to call in all his friends and we use to watch the fights and enjoy food together. And I promised my father that one day I’ll become an MMA fighter.
Was the transition to MMA from Kickboxing easy for him?
The change from kickboxing to MMA was not that easy as MMA has many aspects to the game. It took me some time but once I learned BJJ and wrestling then slowly I started getting better.
Where do you train in who is your head coach?
We don’t have a proper gym. Currently, I’m training with my friend Abhishek.
How many fights did you have in your Amateur carer and which was the toughest fight to date for you in the Amateur competition?
All the fights I had and the fighters I faced were tough, but I was mentally tougher than them.
Tell me something about your opponent at MFN 7, Have you been watching his fight tapes?
The fighter I’m gonna face at MFN 7 is Arshiyan Memon. He is a good striker and also has a decent grappling game. The 3 opponents he has faced have a combined win record of just 1 fight between them. He may be 3-0 as a pro-MMA fighter but I have got a very good game plan for him and I’ll be getting that win.
What’s your prediction for this fight?
I’m ready for everything. If the fight happens on feet then I’ll knock him out and if the fight goes to the ground I’ll submit him. People are going to remember my performance.
What do you do apart from fighting?
I take personal training. That’s the only way of income for me at the moment. But after I make some decent amount of money I’m planning to open my own MMA gym.
Where do you see yourself as a fighter in the coming years?
I am improving every day, I feel that I can reach the top, and my plan in coming years is to fight in the UFC.
Which UFC fighter do you look up to?
The fighter I’m following closely at the moment is Khamzat Chimaev. He is not a champion yet but he is the future of the UFC.
How is the management behind you? Are you happy with the representation?
I have been involved in MMA since 2011, but I have never met a person like Rupendra Sharma. Who is so dedicated and managing the fighters so well without getting anything for himself. I just wanna thank him for doing so many things for me and other Manipuri MMA fighters. I also wanna thank you guys for taking my interview.