MMA prodigy Sasha Palatnikov is fighting to become Hong Kong’s first world champion – and to wipe a fall from grace
- Fighter recalls the events leading to his sentencing in 2014 for robbery – and how it all led him to a shot at making history for Hong Kong
- The 30-year-old hopes to come full circle and bring home middleweight title from South Korea – and close the book on that dark chapter
Hong Kong-born MMA prodigy Sasha Palatnikov will be fighting for his first world title next week when he takes on South Korea’s Son Sung-won in Seoul at Angel’s Fighting Championship. He has arguably already come through the biggest fight of his life, though.
The 30-year-old has compiled a 3-1 record in MMA since turning professional in 2017, having started out as an amateur a decade ago. But in the eyes of many, there is still an asterisk next to his name.
“With my career, with MMA, it’s a common thing for people to just Google my name to see my fights and my record,” Palatnikov tells the South China Morning Post. “They must think, ‘Man, this guy’s a crazy person’. I’m not gonna be upset. I’d think the same.”
Palatnikov is warm, engaging, humble and clearly smart – a far cry from the picture painted of him in his court hearing.
“It’s crazy that people can jump to conclusions so quickly when they haven’t met you. I don’t blame them, it’s a normal human trait,” he says.
