New Flyweight Star Kantharaj Shankar Agasa: ‘I Can Beat Anyone’
The flyweight mixed martial arts division was already stacked, and now, one of India’s top homegrown superstars is ready to crash the party.
Last month, Kantharaj “Kannadiga” Shankar Agasa signed with the promotion. He’s eager to debut, build upon his 11-2 professional record, and earn a spot in ONE Championship’s Athlete Rankings.
The Bangalore resident is currently recovering from a shoulder injury, but he expects to be fully healed real soon. In the meantime, he spoke to ONEFC.com about his excitement, his thoughts on the flyweight division, and much more.
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ONE Championship: How does it feel to finally join ONE Championship?
Kantharaj Shankar Agasa: I had been planning to join ONE Championship for quite some time. Now, I am a part of the world’s biggest martial arts organization, so I am feeling really happy.
ONE: What do you think are your biggest strengths?
KSA: I have always believed that if the training camp is good, then your self-confidence gets a boost automatically. If not, it won’t be great.
I believe in hard work. I am confident about my grappling skills and I don’t let go of anyone easily once I get my grip. It doesn’t matter if my opponent is a great striker, I always look for the takedown and finish it with ground-and-pound or submission.
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ONE: You will be competing in the flyweight division. What are your thoughts about the division as a whole, and who would you like to fight in your debut?
KSA: ONE’s flyweight division has so many great superstars. I have faith in myself that if I have a good training camp before a bout, I can beat anyone.
I will be ready for whoever I get to fight. All I need is about two months’ worth of preparation so that I can analyze my opponent properly and make a game plan with the help of my team and coaches.
ONE: There are so many superstars in this division. What would be your dream matchup?
KSA: I want to fight Demetrious Johnson. I want to compete against him and test my skills against him so that I know the difference between us. Winning against him would be like a dream come true. Even if I were to lose, it would be a valuable experience, which is so important for any young athlete.
ONE: We heard you had a shoulder injury earlier this year. What happened, and when do you expect to be ready for competition?
KSA: I had come down to my hometown during the lockdown. Around mid-April, I was wrestling with a heavyweight wrestler. Because of the sweat, the ground was slippery. I went for a takedown and he also tried to evade it, but my hand slipped and he fell on me. My shoulder got injured and after about 20 days, I had surgery. But I should be fit by December.
ONE: What is your ultimate goal? What do you want to achieve in ONE Championship?
KSA: My goal is to become the ONE Flyweight World Champion. I want to prove that an athlete from a small town with limited facilities can do great things with hard work.
Read more: Breaking Down The Flyweight Mixed Martial Arts Division
