Now a world champion, Sasha Palatnikov wants to make more MMA history for Hong Kong in the UFC
- The 30-year-old becomes first Hong Kong-born MMA world champion with AFC middleweight title win in South Korea
- Palatnikov wants to put his city on the MMA map and inspire a new generation of champions
Sasha Palatnikov has said he wants to inspire a new generation of fighters in Hong Kong after making history for the city by winning the Angel’s Fighting Championship middleweight title.
“Man, winning this world title was the best feeling ever,” he told the Post. “You have to understand that I have been planning for this exact moment for the last 10 years.
“It’s an amazing feeling to have my name in the history books. It’s an honour to represent Hong Kong and I hope to bring some more eyes to MMA in my city. I hope people can see that I’m trying to put Hong Kong on the map.”
“I want people to understand that I can be the beginning of a big movement of next generation fighters that will in time be challenging for world titles in the future,” he added. “If I can go down as a pioneer for the sport that would make me so happy and I hope I can inspire young athletes to pursue their dreams of becoming world champions.”
