Two-time K-1 MAX winner Andy Souwer is ready to show the world he is ‘more than only a kickboxer’ when he competes on the Rizin Fighting Federation New Year’s Eve show in Japan.
Fighting on the December 31 Rizin FF show at the Saitama Super Arena, Souwer will face Japan’s own Yuichiro Nagashima (4-2).
Souwer is renowned for his accomplishments in both kickboxing and shoot boxing, two sports which have seen him spend the majority of his competitive career in Japan.
Although he has never officially fought under mixed martial arts rules, Souwer’s experience in shoot boxing – which allows standing submission holds and throws – has given him a good base for his transition over to MMA.
“You have to believe me when I say I didn’t train MMA properly, I didn’t do it seriously,” said Souwer. “I saw some things and sometimes I trained it but not properly. I do it now for the last three months, I do it everyday and I love to do it.”
“31st December, I already said it in interviews in Japan last week, I will try to show that I’m more than only a kickboxer, striker.”
‘Souwer Power’ also stated that his time in kickboxing has likely cone to an end as he believes the sport has lost its edge.
“I think it’s because kickboxing is not that interesting anymore.
“I’ve told a lot of people, I feel like I’m done with kickboxing personally, not only because the sport’s died but organisations like K-1 and GLORY just want to have North American fighters mostly.”
The 33-year-old from The Netherlands even admitted that if his MMA experience doesn’t work out he ‘will quit’ and focus on his gym, Team Souwer in Den Bosch.
“I also said, if it’s not going to work out, I will quit.”
A long-time training partner of former UFC Featherweight champion Jose Aldo, Souwer admitted he has admired MMA from his experiences at Nova União, which spurred him into finally making the jump in Rizin FF.
“I already trained with Aldo for a couple of years and I saw a lot of things what was interesting for me, that’s what made me thinking I just want to do it.”
The Rizin FF New Year’s Eve show is headlined by the return of ‘The Last Emperor’ Fedor Emelianenko who battles Jaideep Singh.
