Tajikistan’s Faridun Odilov has spoken about his path into mixed martial arts and a difficult period when he considered ending his sports career. On October 30, he will face Artem Frolov in the main event of ACA 209 in Dushanbe. It will be Odilov’s first fight on home soil.
Before switching to mixed martial arts, Odilov competed in freestyle wrestling and dreamed of taking part in the Olympic Games. He combined intensive training with work at his older brother’s car wash. After losing at the Russian championship, he stayed away from the gym for a month and a half and thought about quitting sport.
His coach later offered him a fight. Odilov initially declined, but changed his mind after being told he would be paid $100–200. He knocked out his opponent in the first round, marking the start of his mixed martial arts career.
