How family underpins Kairat Akhmetov’s drive to succeed

Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov is looking to reclaim his belt with a decisive victory over a man he’s beaten before.

Akhmetov faces Geje Eustaquio in the main event of ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES in Manila, looking to hand the Filipino back-to-back losses and in the process, capture the ONE Interim Flyweight Title.

The 30-year-old former world champion lost the belt to Adriano Moraes last year when the Brazilian handed “The Kazakh” his first - and only - career defeat.

Now, Akhmetov is looking to cement his position as the number-one contender for the belt once again by winning the interim title on 26 January.

Despite his focus on the bout in hand, Akhmetov admits there are still things bigger than competing.

Akhmetov grew up in Almaty, where he was brought up by parents who taught him strong morals and values at an early age. They also set high standards for their son.

“I learned that the family always should be number one,” he says.

“My parents taught me everything and raised me well. My father was very strict with me, but my mother was more gentle. They did a lot for my future.

“I have one elder brother, and he was the one I always looked up to,” the Kazakhstani continues.

“He wanted me to succeed in life and supported me all the time. He influenced me with his confidence and determination.”

As an adolescent, Akhmetov played football, rugby, and enjoyed watching martial arts on television. When he turned 12, things changed when his elder brother took him to a wrestling class, and Akhmetov fell in love with the art of grappling. It was just a matter of weeks before he was thrown into competition.

“I had my first competition when I was 12 years old,” he remembers.

“I did pretty well. After that, I fell in love with Greco-Roman wrestling. My family was happy with it.”

His father - a former amateur Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion - was particularly proud to see his son following in his footsteps.

Things were far from easy for Akhmetov, however, who found the constant grind of wrestling tough at times, as his results fluctuated.

“I had a lot of times when I lost and thought about quitting,” he admits.

“But over the years, due to my obstinacy, I always kept pursuing my goals. Of course, all athletes in amateur sports, when they fail, start thinking about ending their careers. Those who overcome this difficulty can see the positives of losing.”

Despite being disheartened at times, Akhmetov refused to quit, and instead worked even harder on improving his skills. He travelled around, visiting different wrestling camps across the world learning his craft, and in 2002, things started to pay off.

He won the Kazakh Greco-Roman Youth Championships, then a year later, won the Asian Greco-Roman Wrestling Youth Championship. In 2008 he hooked up with his grappling hero, former Kazakhstan Olympian Aset Imanbaev, who helped take Akhmetov’s game to a new level, as he won the Kazakh National Title in 2009.

“I am most proud of the first time I won the Kazakhstan [Greco-Roman Wrestling] Championship,” he admits.

“After that, I always believed in myself. That achievement gave me a lot of confidence.”

The 2009 title was followed up by repeat championship wins in 2010 and 2011, and by the time he’d captured his third title, his true career dream was well underway.

Akhmetov made his cage debut in May 2010, winning by submission in just 48 seconds, then followed it up with a second quick-fire win later that summer.

The chance to compete on the world stage in the cage was Akhetov’s dream, and his early success convinced him to leave the sport he excelled at to further his career in a completely new, all-encompassing, discipline.

He continued to broaden his horizons, regularly visiting Albuquerque, New Mexico, to train with respected coach Greg Jackson at the Jackson Wink MMA Academy. And the wins just kept on coming.

When he arrived in ONE Championship, Akhmetov had a remarkable 22-0 record, having dominated the competition across Eastern Europe. Such was his record, ONE officials immediately handed him a title shot on his promotional debut, and he delivered, defeating Moraes via split decision to become the ONE Flyweight Champion on his first appearance for the organisation.

“Since I was kid, I was practicing martial arts and I had a dream to compete professionally,” he reveals.

“And I was happy to become ONE Flyweight World Champion. In Kazakhstan, I have a lot of people supporting me and following ONE.”

Moraes exacted revenge in their rematch, however, as “Mikinho” handed Akhmetov the first defeat of his career, ended “The Kazakh’s” perfect run, and took back his title. And now, Akhmetov wants to get that belt back.

He bounced back with a split-decision victory over Eustaquio at ONE: TOTAL VICTORY last year, setting up the rematch for the interim belt on 26 January.

“I dropped him and was ready to finish the match, but Geje was tough and collected,” he reminisces.

“I tried to finish match again with guillotine choke, but I was not successful with that, and he finished the round on top.”

Akhmetov has all the competitive drive he needs to take the next leap forward in his career, but he’s also driven by something bigger - his love for his family.

“I want my kids never to be in need,” he states.

“Firstly, I want them to be religious. And like my father, I want to give them a good education, and to respect their elders. I want them to be honest, and have a fear of God. I want them to continue in my ways and reach great heights.”