Mehmet Maslak is set for his fourth amateur outing this Saturday at the O2 Arena in London, England at FightStar 25, and he expects his biggest test to date.
The (3-0) fighter is set to face Micky Leithner, who also enters the bout with an undefeated record, mirroring his opponents.
FightStar 25 is set to go down Saturday, August 5th, and the show marks the promotion’s 10th anniversary, meaning those attending can expect an action-packed evening of action featuring some of the biggest prospects across the country.
Ahead of the fight, we had the chance to speak to Mehmet Maslak ahead of battle. Hear what he had to say below.
Interview With Mehmet Maslak
Mehmet, you’re all set to compete on a stacked FightStar 25 fight card in the Indigo at the O2 Arena. How motivated and excited are you to compete on such a fun card in a great arena?
Extremely motivated. Seems to be a great card at a historic venue, and I’ve got quite a few teammates fighting alongside me, so that’s always good.
You’ve had an incredible start to your amateur career. What would you put your recent success down to, and how would you sum up your amateur career so far?
I genuinely believe I haven’t even scratched the surface yet, and I’d credit that to God first and then the amazing team I have around me. I’m truly blessed to be working with some of the best in the country day in and day out under the eyes of some UK MMA pioneers.
What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far that you feel have stuck with you and that you’ve implemented?
I’m still fairly new to this, so there are some things I’m learning on the job. However, if there was anything that’s stuck with me so far, it would be that consistency, discipline, and patience will take me a long way, so all I can do right now is continue to work hard.
Mehmet Maslak on Micky Leithner
You meet a dangerous undefeated opponent in Micky Leithner. What do you know about your opponent, and how do you feel you match up against one another?
I expect Micky to be my biggest test yet and bring out the best in me. I feel like my respect for his skill set is evident through how hard I’ve trained for this fight, which in turn has given me the belief that I’ll come out victorious.
You’ve yet to compete in 2023 but have encountered a few cancelled bouts. Talk us through what’s been going on, and would you have liked to rack up another few wins by this stage?
That’s right. I had been scheduled to fight three times this year, encountering pullouts each time, with the last instance being two days before the fight. If anything, the multiple cancellations have taught me that I can’t get upset over what wasn’t in my control and that I had to let the past stay in the past. Therefore I can’t really think about what wins I would’ve racked up had I been able to compete. I’m grateful that I have another opportunity this weekend to show my development as a martial artist.
What We Can Expect
FightStar 25. Mehmet Maslak vs. Micky Leithner. What can the fans expect?
I’ve got a ton of family and friends coming to this one, and they all know what to expect from me. As for those who haven’t really seen me before, I look to out-skill my opponent in every area and go for the finish. Micky is a good opponent, but I believe I have the ability to finish him wherever this fight goes.
You win and come out of the bout uninjured. What does the end of the year look like for you?
I want to make up for my inactivity in the first half of the year. As it stands, I’m scheduled to fight for the Cage Warriors Academy title in October, and then I’m looking to capitalise on an international opportunity in December. But first things first, finish Leithner and come out unscathed.
