Karate Combat: Hong Kong’s UFC trailblazer Sasha Palatnikov promises to ‘put on a display’ on debut

All martial arts content – including Karate Combat coverage – has been made freely available. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong history maker Sasha Palatnikov has promised fireworks when he makes his Karate Combat debut this weekend in Orlando, Florida. The 33-year-old, who became the city’s first fighter to compete in the UFC when he won a US$50,000 performance bonus in November 2020, is set to take on Rob Buxton on the main card of Karate Combat 37 on Saturday night (Sunday morning, Hong Kong time). “I was potentially looking to go out to Poland and fight for KSW, and then Karate Combat just came out of nowhere and gave me this opportunity,” Palatnikov told the Post. “I said let’s do it. It looks like a really fun experience.” Karate was Palatnikov’s first love, something in which he grew up competing in Hong Kong, the city of his birth. “I haven’t done this since I was a kid,” Palatnikov, who is now based in Las Vegas, said. “I haven’t fought a stand-up fight since I was an amateur. I remember seeing Karate Combat on social media and saying I could see myself maybe one day after my career in MMA doing that. I didn’t expect it to come this soon, but it’s gonna be exciting.” Karate Combat’s striking-only ruleset will play right into Palatnikov’s hands – and feet. After a barnburner of a UFC debut against Louis Cosce, he was taken down and submitted in his second and third fights by two opponents – Impa Kasanganay and Ramiz Brahimaj – who were entirely unwilling to throw down with him. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karate Combat 🥋 (@karatecombat) “This is where I’m most comfortable, where I’m at my best,” Palatnikov said. “I don’t have to worry about guys trying to grab my leg and sniff my b**** any more. I can put on a striking display, and I think more people like to see that. “The MMA world has got so grappling heavy. I just like to entertain. If I can do something that’s not ordinary, people will remember that. I try to make an impact. I never try to be boring. “I can be that boring guy and go grab some dude’s legs and put my head in between, honestly I can. But it’s not what makes me passionate and excited to go and do. It’s like working a job you don’t like. But I love what I do, so it doesn’t feel like work.” Palatnikov (8-5) was released by the UFC in February. But he rebounded with two quick wins on the regional scene in April and May, before tapping out to a rear-naked choke in the last minute of a back-and-forth thriller at XMMA in July. He has now signed a one-fight deal with Karate Combat, but if all goes well, he is more than willing to stick around. “I’m still discussing what we want to do,” Palatnikov said. “I wanted to do a one-off as a resume thing, a job interview. I don’t want to commit to anything too long term. “But if everything goes to plan on Saturday I would be happy to sign an exclusive four or five-fight deal for the year. That would be perfect. Ideally I want to be the champ. I want to fight and get the belt. Whatever route I need to go, I’ll do that. “I’m at a point in my career where I want to compete regularly and put on shows – and also make good money.” Palatnikov said fighting three rounds of three minutes – and striking only – has allowed him to train a different way. “I've been training five or seven rounds of five minutes for so long, just grinding and wrestling,” he said. “That s*** is just tough. I have built such a weathered body and I just feel my level of experience and technique is going to be able to show out in this promotion. “I faced off with [Buxton] and I’ve never seen someone so physically nervous before. He was breathing heavily, his lip was quivering. I don’t know whether to take that as a weakness or this dude’s gonna come out like a banshee. “But I don’t have any assumptions. I don't think it’s an easy fight. I just know I have a lot of tools. That first battle is always looking in each other’s eyes and I feel I took that one. Let’s see who’s got the higher level. “I think I’m gonna find my opening and put him away. I really just want to go out there and throw some dope s*** and see what happens. I’m ready to put work in.”