I write this article with excessive amounts of excitement as I was privileged enough to catch up with one of my absolute favourites, as well as an extremely well known and I have to add, exceptionally fast progressing MMA sensation, Irshaad "White Tiger" Sayed. Before we get into it though, I’d just like to say a big Thank you to the White Tiger for taking the time out to answer all our questions.
Sayed, born
in Cape Town, fights out of Evolve MMA in Singapore obtained his fight name in
Thailand when a promoter called him the "White Tiger" and says that it just
stuck with him ever since. Sayed started martial arts at the youthful age of
14, initially getting involved with Muay Thai but soon after he had progressed
to compete at a high level in muay thai, says that MMA, was simply a natural
progression. He now holds an MMA record of 8-2.
Usually when asking athletes in combat sports what their biggest achievement to date is, the most common answer received is having been a part of a specific promotion, or having won specific titles, but Sayed considers his biggest achievement being able to make a living doing something he loves.
Sayed made
his Debut at EFC Worldwide in March 2014, taking the win over Leo Gloss via
RNC, 4min1sec into the fight. Sayed talks us through the fight: "There
were some nerves during my 1st EFC fight. I'm always looking for the finish, so
for me that fight went
according to plan."
So after 2
consecutive fights finishing the same way, only the time is lessened, you’d
think a new trend was being started, right? When asked if that was the case (as
he went on to submit Charlie Weyer in June 2014, also via RNC, 3min45sec into
the first round) and if we could expect to see another RNC submission in round
1 in his next fight (EFC 35, 6th November 2014, Irshaad "White Tiger" Sayed vs. Abdul "Hollywood" Hassan), Sayed said that "It's
simply a coincidence that both fights ended in the 1st round with the same
submission. I think we all know
my game plan against Hassan."
Never mind
the fact that this show stopper already holds title like the WPMF
World Muay Thai Champ, WMC
Planet Battle Kickboxing World Champ. WMC I-1 Asia Muay Thai Champ x2 and Ruff MMA China Champ, but
when asked about his take on the change from EFC Africa to EFC Worldwide, Sayed
said "It's a great
step up for EFC. It will certainly raise the level of competition
and I'm looking forward
to being a world champion".
Sayed
considers his parents
his role models as he
feels they are great guides for him and that he is
blessed to have them as his
parents. From a martial arts perspective,
however, he considers Bruce Lee
to be his role model. "Take
what works and discard
the rest."
According
to social media, Sayed has been having cardio boxing sessions with students and
when asked if this would in any way invoke the re-opening White Tiger Muay Thai
Gym, Sayed said "When I returned from training in Thailand I set
white tiger Muay Thai in Cape Town. After relocating again to Hong Kong we
decided to stop operations as we
didn't have any trainers. Since I got back to Cape Town I've been
teaching an outdoor class for old students who requested me to teach again."
Sayed comes
across as a go getter who lets nothing (and no one) stand in his way, so we had
to ask if there was any specific reason he returned to continue his fighting
career in South Africa. Sayed responded saying that "If
there was a well run and a well organised promotion like EFC, earlier, I would've also
returned to fight in SA. Without the correct platform to compete I wouldn't
have considered coming
back to fight."
Sayed talks
us through a fight night: "I prefer to stay calm before I compete. Before
warming up I take a few minutes to myself and clear my head, at this point I'm
at peace with the outcome of my fight. Whatever
happens, happens. All I can do is give 110%.
When I enter the Hex I take charge, it's my space and I dictate what happens."
Thankfully, he has steered clear from any injuries thus far and takes good care of himself (we can see ;) haha). He looks forward to a long career and admits that nothing gets done without hard work and sacrifice.
We asked
Sayed to share two facts with us, 1. Something about being a fighter, that
non-fighters would be keen to know. Sayed: I eat horribly for 1
week after I fight. Like
you couldn't imagine, haha. 2. Something interesting and random. Sayed: We
have 2 chinchillas as pets in Singapore.
(I would be lying if I said I didn’t google that to find out what it is, haha!
I’ve saved you the trouble, see image below)
Sayed
enjoys the outdoors, so when he’s not at the gym training, he’ll be found
mountain biking, hiking, wake boarding, skiing or rock climbing. Integrating
two things he’s extremely fond, on the 8th of November Sayed will
attempt to run up lions head as many times as possible from sunrise to sunset in
support of Direct Aid International, who
build water wells and boreholes for needy villages in Africa. People can make a
pledge for each
successful ascent he makes,
directly to the NGO.
Final words
from the White Tiger
"I
would like to thank all my training partners at Evolve and my partners that
helped me in Cape Town.
Thank you to GNC, polar ice cream and
SimSport for all the support"
To keep up
to date, check out his website at: Irshaad Sayed
