When he talks about his life, and how far he’s come, Mehdad Kavand warns: “If I start telling it, it’ll take hours”. Born in Iran, then expatriated to Europe to accelerate his sporting career, the 31-year-old fighter traveled the world before settling in the Netherlands in 2017, hoping to make a living from mixed martial arts. “As an Iranian, it was difficult to go back and forth to different countries. The trips were long, and there were many visa problems. Now, it’s much easier for competitions.” It has to be said that since his start, Mehdad Kavand has never stopped. Member of the Iranian national karate team, with a black belt in kung fu, he has also participated in over 60 professional fights, between kickboxing and muay thaï. between kickboxing and muay Thai.

“With MMA, I’m fulfilled”.

From now on, Mehdad Kavand wants to make a name for himself in MMA. “I’ve practiced so many different disciplines, I’ve reached the top level, but after a while, I felt something was missing. With MMA, I’m fulfilled. Even more so, in the cage, the Dutchman has a lot to prove. Introduced to the martial arts by his father at 4 years old, Mehdad Kavand first developed elite striking, before moving on to grappling sports. Far from being a one-dimensional athlete, he took part in the European qualifiers for the ADCC, the biggest international grappling competition. “I’m a real MMA fighter. I’ve created a team around me in Rotterdam, and I do some training camps in Thailand, at Tiger Muay Thaï. I’ve got everything I need to succeed!”