When Liam Etebar was confronted on the street, the mixed martial artist was left with no choice but to defend himself, and it could’ve cost him his career.
Born with natural athleticism and an unrelenting will to win, ‘The Bad boy’ has earned a reputation as one of the most dedicated competitors in the country.
Regularly taking the long journey from London to the Renegade Gym in Birmingham, Etebar has proven beyond doubt that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to reach his optimum potential.
On April 20, at Oktagon 56, the sportsman will return to action in a guaranteed barn burner against Slovakian hero Andrej Kalašnik. And having had his career stalled on so many occasions, Etebar is chomping at the bit to show the world exactly what he’s capable of.
After starting his career with a loss, the Southerner won his next seven bouts on the spin, showcasing awe-inspiring power and a remarkable array of strikes. Alas, he's never quite received the plaudits his talent deserved due to an incident that occurred after work when an aggressive man approached him on the street, leaving the fighter with no choice but to defend himself.
In an exclusive interview with MMA TV Live, he explained: “It was a long time ago, but I got in trouble. Someone confronted me after work. They were looking for some trouble. I ended up punching the guy; he got injured, and I was arrested. It was eventually deemed self-defence.”
To make matters worse, in 2017, the athlete received an opportunity to compete on Bellator, which he unsurprisingly grabbed with both hands. Alas, in the lead-up to the fight-card, he sustained an injury that forced him out of action and prompted Fabian Edwards to step up to the plate and take his spot, leaving Etebar wondering what might have been. However, now having got himself into the best shape of his career he’s buzzing to make his mark next Saturday night at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, where he will finally have the opportunity to reach the heights that have for so long alluded him.
The warrior explained: “I got injured leading up to the Bellator fight and couldn’t compete. I was plagued with injuries the following year. It took me a while to get back to full health and get back in shape to compete. But now, I’m in Oktagon, I’m in shape, and ready to go on a tear.
“I see this fight as my Oktagon debut. The last fight was on four days’ notice; this time, I’m going in off a full camp, and I can show what I’m capable of at full fitness.”
“Fighting in the UK is massive for me; I’m really excited. Every time I get in the cage, I produce an entertaining, explosive performance.”
