Friendship has been a thing of the past for some time, now the desire to give it away in a cage prevails. The duel between Václav Mikulášek and Tomáš “Bolo” Meliš was supposed to take place twice, but each time it came to an end. Now OKTAGON MMA has announced a new match date, which is April 9. The closely watched war will take place in the Ostrava arena, which is definitely a welcome issue for Mikulášek.
The third date of the match, do you think it will finally work out?
Maybe so, maybe nothing will happen again. More or less, nothing can stop me now, so I believe that the match will take place. The spectators who have been waiting for him for a long time also deserve it. Maybe now it will work out and we will deliver the duel to them. So unless something else happens, given the situation around us. Therefore, one cannot say 100 percent that this match will take place, otherwise one would go crazy.
It was last canceled due to your injury. So you’re all right now?
Yes, even according to the psychologist (laughs). I try to speed up with every training. I’m only dealing with weight now, but I still have a month to do it, so I should put it in order. I currently have around 96 kilograms, but there is still plenty of time for weight, this will not be a problem. I also know people who have to put down about 20 kilograms, I’m about twelve.
Are you even more hungry for victory since then?
I’m still the same hunger, I’m still motivated to win. The match is such that it is supposed to be the third time, something has changed. But it doesn’t mean anything new to me. I mainly wanted to be motivated so that I wouldn’t stop enjoying it. I’d rather not think about it for a long time, it’s better.
Do you still think there’s anything personal about that?
It’s not personal, it’s just that (Melis) didn’t behave properly. It would be personal if he did something to me. He snorted the match with his behavior, we were friends and now we will go against each other in a cage. Friends don’t do that. That’s my view.
Even after the second canceled date, was it clear that there would be a match in the future?
Yes, we agreed. On the other hand, it was not a case of a struggle that I would have cost at any cost.
The match was put back to Ostrava, do you take it as an advantage?
I don’t know if it’s an advantage, I’ll just fight there. Anyway, I’m glad to be in Ostrava. Even so, fans will come there to cheer me up. But another place for our match is out of the question, I simply want to go to Ostrava with Tomáš.
So the pressure can’t hit you?
No way. If he did, he would be fine now. But in a match, of course, it can be something else. If I win or lose, the world will not change. Bread will not be cheaper, people will always be the same.
Thomas Robertsen defeated Václav Mikulášek after the second round with a technical knockout.Photo: OKTAGON MMA
So if the duel moved somewhere else, wouldn’t you want it?
It’s clear I’d go to it anyway. But it doesn’t make sense elsewhere. I am currently focusing on Ostrava, where there will be a hum of people and perhaps they will make a good atmosphere. Even so, it is not important to decide where the match will be, but mainly that it will finally be. I’m glad for that. The fact that it will be in Ostrava, I just prefer.
Will you shake hands with your opponents after the match?
No, definitely not. That is out of the question for me. I also said I wouldn’t shake his hand. Even if he came, I wouldn’t give it to him. I don’t care how people look at me if it’s unsportsmanlike of me. But I won’t give it to him. The guy has his word to keep.
What do you think the match will look like?
We’ll see what Tomáš comes up with, I’ll adjust accordingly. I think he will want to box and show that he thinks he is better at stance. I don’t think there will be much wrong, but of course I can be wrong. I adapt to everything and that’s how it should be.
And what about your next plans after the fight with Melis?
I’ll keep it after the match. I have found that it is not good to think like this in the future, but to focus on the present. We will see. What comes comes.
