At the recently held Desert Force Championship in Dubai, India orchestrated its first international win when Goa’s Nelson Paes, was unanimously declared winner in the in the featherweight category
Maria Fernandes | NT Kuriocity
Mixed Martial Arts is not for the faint hearted. A contact sport that encompasses disciplines from various martial arts and Olympic sports, such as boxing, kick-boxing, karate, jiu-jitsu, muay thai, taekwondo, wrestling and judo, it is considered a niche sport. Rounds are five minutes in length and there are typically three rounds in a contest, unless it is a championship fight, in which case, the contest lasts five rounds. In India the sport is still in its infancy however globally its growth rate is phenomenal.
At the recently held Desert Force Championship (the largest MMA promotion company in UAE) in Dubai, India orchestrated its first international win when Goa’s Nelson Paes, was unanimously declared winner in the fight against Khadoum Al Kaabi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the featherweight category. With a contrasting atmosphere as his backdrop, Nelson still found approval from the desert city’s crowd due to his skill and agility.
Still reeling with excitement over the win, the jubilant fighter is back home and strategising his future moves. NT Kuriocity caught up with Nelson to find out more about the sport, its growth in India and what makes him tick.
A Tivim lad, Nelson and his three sisters were brought up single-handedly by their mother. “In a village, life is different as compared to the city, so with my mum being alone it was difficult but we managed. The adversities that we faced only made us stronger and grow closer,” he says.
Recounting how he got attracted to the sport, he says: “Sports has been an integral part of my life right from the beginning and like any Goan boy I grew up playing hockey and football. In fact I was so involved with sports that I barely studied.” He continues with a grin, “I was lucky however that I passed every academic year even though I studied a day prior to my exams.” After completing his studies Nelson moved to Pune in pursuit of a job and worked in the corporate sector for a few years. “With all the corporate rigmarole I wasn’t really happy. I was looking for a change and then a friend of mine introduced me to Muay Thai. I took to it like fish takes to water and since then there has been no looking back.”
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with different grappling techniques. Characterised by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins it produces tremendous cardiovascular endurance. “The training was very rigorous but I had made up my mind that I wanted to fight and hence the training did not really bother me,” he says. At the time auditions were on for the Super Fight League and determined to qualify, Nelson commenced his training in earnest. “I would train thrice a day with an average of five hours. My life revolved around my training and my social life came to a standstill but it was worth it as I was doing what I wanted.”
Speaking about his first fight in Pune three years ago, he says: “It was extremely tough, both physically and mentally. Being a new comer I was unaware about many things and made grievous mistakes. I lost the fight, but the experience and learning I gained from it were absolutely invaluable. The defeat also made me more determined to work harder and get better. I believe I have come a long way since then.”
When queried on how MMA was different from other sports, he says, “MMA is absolutely different from any other sport or for that matter any other combat sport also. This sport is all you. No gear, no weapons, it’s just your body, mind and soul. It’s probably the most liberal combat sport because it allows you to strike in the most innovative ways, it allows you to clinch, choke and lock joints which is prohibited in most other sports. Moreover it’s not enough that you are trained in a single martial art, you have got to be absolutely dynamic, adaptive and creative.”
Considered the fastest growing sport in the world, MMA however hasn’t picked up speed in India. This can be attributed to the fact that people haven’t been educated about the sport. Regardless of the efforts of the local organisations trying to promote the sport and fighters who, have decided to pursue their career in it, there is a lot more work still to be done. “In our country MMA still does not receive the recognition that it ought to get. Lack of ample financial support is hurting the growth of the sport. Coaching, doctors, supplements, etc, have to be taken into consideration. However since Combat Cage Fight (CCF) has come through, fighters in India are very hopeful,” says Nelson highlighting some of the difficulties the sport and the players face. He says: “CCF has not only given me a shot at what I want to achieve, but has also been responsible for all I have achieved today.”
Speaking about the amazing win in Dubai, he says: “This was new territory for me as I am used to fighting in India with my fans supporting me. But I took my opponent’s cheers as my own and ensured that it did not affect me. I was so proud to carry the Indian flag and represent my country. I knew from the moment I was selected that nothing would stop me from winning this for my country, state, family and the Indian residents of Dubai.
For aspiring MMA fighters in the country, Nelson has words of encouragement. “Nothing comes easy and if you want to take up MMA as a profession you need to be focused. Train hard, respect your body, be technically sound and learn to be patient. These are just a few things that they need to keep in mind but nothing can substitute clean and honest hard work.”
About his future plans, the lethal fighting machine says: “Be it under any banner or brand, I want to fight and be the best in my division. I want to place Goa at the pinnacle in the MMA arena.”