Kim takes on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) specialist Leandro Issa at ONE FC: "Champion vs. Champion" live from the Singapore Indoor Arena on Sept. 3, 2011. The pressure is on.
Pressure is nothing new to this kid. At only 18 years of age, Kim made his professional MMA debut in a featherweight match-up against DEEP and Shooto veteran Yasuhiro Kanayama. Check out the footage and enjoy the colloquial nuances. [youtube][/youtube] Not bad for a first-timer.
Since winning his debut a year ago, Kim has dropped down to his more natural weight class of 135 pounds (bantamweight) and has earned three consecutive victories.
The 19-year old credits his training and his camp for the success that he has enjoyed thus far in his brief career.
"I train at Team Force which is led by the former national kickboxing champion and the owner of ROAD FC, Mun Hong Jung. I have been lucky to train with elite fighters such as Seung Hwan Bang, the former DEEP lightweight champ, and Dae Won Kim, who used to be one of the top Korean middleweights and former elite judoka, as well as Young Bok Kil, the former wrestling champion. I have the best training partners and I know I am in fantastic shape."
He'll need to be in fantastic shape as he takes on a very tough opponent in Issa, who currently holds a record of 8-2 and fights out of the Evolve MMA camp in Brazil. A renowned submission specialist, Issa has notched seven of his eight wins by making his opponents tap out.
Kim is just excited to be fighting in front of such a large audience and he's ready to see how he stacks up against some of the top talent the MMA world has to offer.
"I am really excited to be fighting for One FC, because it is being broadcast all over Asia and I know a lot of people will be watching. It is a huge opportunity for me and it will be the biggest fight of my career. I am proud to be representing Korea and ROAD FC in an international competition for the first time. I know my opponent is a world champion in BJJ but I want to be a world champion. I am ready to test myself against the best fighters in the world."