We at Mogul Management would like to introduce you to hot prospect Liam ‘Badboy’ Etebar. Fighting in the Lightweight
Division and out of 1stGeneration Gym, Liam has a record of 5-1 in MMA. He has the full support and backing of his management team who tell us he is one of the top Lightweight prospects around at the moment.
We catch up with Liam to find out a little about his background, his recurring injury and his plans for the future, starting off with how he originally got into MMA.
“I used to watch MMA all the time on the television and I have always enjoyed fighting so when I got a leaflet through the door from a local gym, I started training. I was just 15 at the time”.
We wanted to know who Liam likes as a fighter and what his training regime consists of.
“I am a fan of Nick and Nate Diaz as I like their fighting style and the way they always bring it when they fight.
If I have a fight, I will be training twice a day 6 times a week, ensuring I am working on all aspects”.
Many fighters are holding down full time jobs, as well as training and fitting in all important family time. Liam tells us what his friends and family think of his chosen sport and what he does other than train.
“My friends and family are very supportive of what I do. My Dad loves the sport so he comes to all my fights and supports me.
I teach classes at the gym so when I am not teaching I am training and vice versa. I also work part time in security”.
Sid of Mogul Management tells us that at just 17, Liam took on a much older and more experienced fighter in his MMA Pro debut. It was against Colin French at UCMMA 7 back in September 2009. Liam lost that fight, the only loss of his 5 year career. He tells us how it felt to make the debut at such a young age and how he recovered from the loss.
“It was a good experience and I learned a lot from it. I thought I had him in the armbar and used all my energy up trying to finish the fight. Nobody likes losing but I didn’t train back then like I do now. I was young, just 17 and took the fight because a team mate was injured. I got straight back in the gym after the loss and back to the drawing board to make sure I was more prepared for the next one”.
Liam has a record of 5-1 with 2 of his wins coming by way of KO/TKO and 3 by way of Submission. His loss came by way of TKO. None of his fights have gone past the first round and we wondered if he was frustrated at not being able to showcase his talent more and if he feels he is a good all-rounder.
“I am a complete all-round fighter. I do like to strike but I am comfortable everywhere. I like to finish my opponents and prove a point but I would like to showcase my skills a little more”.
Looking back at his fights, Liam tells us his favourite fight to date and the one he found the toughest.
“The last MMA fight I had at CSMMA in Guildford against Andrew Stapleton is my favourite fight because it was the first time I had a KO by headkick and it took me just 6 seconds to finish it.
Looking at the toughest fight, it was probably one of my amateur fights. I fought a guy from London’s Shoot and we fought twice and had a war”.
Many of the fighters from Mogul Management are heading out to Mikes Gym in Holland for training and Liam is no exception. He tells us what it was like out there.
“It was a great experience as there are some top level guys there. I will definitely be going back to work my stand-up. It is a little different to the UK training as there are different combinations and drills and real hard fitness, Mike is a world class coach and it was a great honour to work with him and his team”.
Liam hasn’t fought MMA since November 2012 due to an injury which he is now fully recovered from. He came back this year, fighting and winning a K1 bout by KO in the third round but will be back in MMA very soon.
“I had surgery on my shoulder due to recurrent dislocations. It was really hard sitting out for all that time but it is all healed up now and strong”.
As mentioned, Liam is tipped for the top and tells us how it feels to have that backing and when we can expect to see him back in the cage.
“I am very lucky to have a good team behind me. I am looking forward to getting back in there now and showing what I am all about and hopefully this will be September time”.
Looking to the future, Liam tells us what his long term goals are and if there is anyone he wants to fight in his division.
“I am not looking to fight anyone in particular. I will fight anyone who is put in front of me. I want to fight in the big leagues and make it to the UFC. I just want to win fights and make money”.
Now on a 5 fight win streak and completely healed from his old injury, Liam is very much looking forward to stepping into the cage again. As his Manager says, with excellent striking, good all-round abilities and the fact he is very marketable, we can see Liam going right to the top of his game, as he wishes to do. Keep your eye on this young man, you won’t be disappointed. Thanks to Liam for his time, he would like to thank the following people.
“I would like to thank my team at 1st Generation, Eastbourne; my MMA coach Tolly Plested; my Boxing Coach Paul Morgan, Cutting Edge Sports Nutrition and Mogul Management.
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