Viktor Gunnarsson eyes a masterful performance this Saturday at Golden Ticket Fight Promotions 22 in Wolverhampton.
The KK Steelmill will host an action-packed fight card over the weekend with both professional and amateur mixed martial arts action.
Gunnarsson makes the walk to the GTFP cage for the second time in his career, and he will be hopeful this time will be as good as the last. In his most recent outing with the show the Iceland native left with a first-round stoppage victory. On Saturday night, Gunnarsson expects the same and feels his tools will be to much for his opponent to handle.
Ahead of fight night, we had the opportunity of catching up with Viktor Gunnarsson. Hear what he had to say below.
Interview With Viktor Gunnarsson
Viktor, you’re all set to return to the cage for the first time since 2022 on GTFP 22. How are you feeling physically and mentally since the last time you competed?
To begin with the first question, mentally, I am feeling a lot stronger and very healthy coming into this fight. My camp with my coaches and training partners has gone super, and I’m excited to show that on Saturday!
Last time out on GTFP, you announced yourself to a wide UK audience by attaining a first-round stoppage victory. Talk to me about that performance now you’ve had a long time to digest that.
It’s definitely my best performance so far, as I was happy with being able to display my striking in the early going, but I just wanna show again that I can dictate wherever this fight goes and how I want it to be.
Having been out for some time, what was the reason for the lay-off and had you hoped to be back sooner?
Yes, I decided to take the rest of 2022 off since I spent the entire summer of 2022 preparing for that fight and making improvements, but for the early part of this year, I had to take a break because of a house fire that happened in January that burned my house and forced my family and me to move towns. It was a tough situation, but I am staying focused on the fight at hand, no matter what.
Between your last two fights, you put a post up explaining your tremendous growth in-between fights. Having had a period again to get better and improve, what can fans expect from Viktor Gunnarson this time around?
Definitely, I am looking to improve always, even if I had amazing performances beforehand. I’m not perfect and likely never will be, but I have Luka and Gunni Nelson as my coaches, and they have done a lot to help me grow as an athlete and as a fighter.
Saturday night, you will face Lewis Mason. How do you like this fight, and how do you feel you match up against him?
Lewis is a good guy. He’s undefeated and young and has a blue belt in bjj right now. But I simply think I’m just better than him. I’m longer, sharper, faster and stronger, and I think that will show on Saturday when I fight him. I know my strengths, and I don’t think he’s prepared for that.
Have you had the chance to watch Lewis’s debut? If so, give us your honest assessment of him as a whole and how you like your chances of getting your hand raised on Saturday night.
Yeah, I watched it on YouTube, and it was a good performance. He got the job done, but I think if he tries to grapple with me or strike with me, he’s gonna find out that it would’ve been a huge mistake.
Saturday night, you claim back-to-back wins on GTFP. What does the remainder of the year look like for you? Are you looking to get back in there before the year ends?
We will have to see. I wanna enjoy the summer and see how September will look for me. If not, then I have a whole six months to look forward to in the year to improve and get better.
Finally, leave us with your official fight prediction.
I think I’ll just get in there and tag him up with all my tools in my arsenal. I don’t care if it’ll be standing or grappling; I just know that I’m going to beat him.
