JAMES SHII - MALAYSIAN WORLD CHAMPION AT 2018 WORLD MASTER BJJ

Few years back when I started this blog just to keep myself updated with the martial arts scene, I realised that my article can also be a source of inspiration to others. I am glad that the story I write not only able to help promote combat sports events but also to bring spot lights to talents that needs the exposure.

But I must admit, the people I interview I would always dig deeper and try to ask questions about how they overcome personal challenges, the stories they shared in return inspire me too.

When I learnt about James Shii's achievement, I was impressed and wanted to know more.

In August this year, Mr. James Shii became the first Malaysian to win a gold medal in a BJJ World Championship. The event was 2018 World Master Jiu-Jitsu Championship. It's the biggest IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) tournament of the year.

Held at las Vegas, USA...the 2018 edition was the 7th. It was introduced in 2012 to cater to the growing demand of competitors over the age of 30. Why the age of 30?..well usually when you reach 30, you are either settling down in your career or already have started a family. Commitment to training usually becomes very hard as you need to divide your time between BJJ, wife, kids & work. 

So anyone that can still compete at a very high level going into their 30s and beyond surely is someone special. This year itself saw over 4000 participants in a humongous event that runs 4 day on 21 mats, with hundreds of top level athletes & plenty of grappling legends from all over the world in attendance.

pix by Graciemag.com

So now that you understand the scale & how prestigious this event is, this is James' achievement, he competed in Master 7 category ( above 60 years old ) - Purple Belt. Winning that gold surely is sweet & special...and to win it at an age when most people would be living a retired life sipping coffee in their favourite coffee shop is certainly amazing.

In the month of the World Master, James celebrated his 62th birthday. Born in the capital of Sarawak, Kuching he moved to Malacca in West Malaysia when he was around 12. 

He is an Accountant by training and currently work as Group Financial Controller for a group of companies that include a PLC and mid-sized property developer.

Warriors of Borneo talk to James to learn about his  BJJ journey.

How did you got started in BJJ? Have you any martial arts experience prior to BJJ? What other sports do you do? What are the achievements in other sports?
I started BJJ 7 years ago and was introduced to it by a good friend who had started BJJ 2 weeks earlier. Before that I learned Chinese Kung-fu for about 7 years. And years before that I did Tai Chi for 5 years. I have always been interested in martial arts. I did play badminton as a sport many years ago. I have not been all that competitive so I have not had any notable achievements in sports.

What do you like about BJJ? How often do you train?
I like BJJ because it is very applicable and effective and I like the emphasis BJJ place on sparring. I believe sparring is a very key component of learning martial art and in this regards I have high regards for boxing, Muay thai, wrestling etc. I train twice a week and make it a point to be as regular as possible. More recently I have increased my training to 3 times a week.

How often did you compete in BJJ? Will you be competing again soon? tell us your competition record.
2018 World Master BJJ is actually my 1st competition. It is not easy to find opponents at my age category. I have not thought of competing again at the moment. 




In The World Masters, how many matches did you have to go through? Tell us about the whole experience participating in World masters? The people, the venue , food, the competition, etc...
I had one fight at the recent Masters. I contemplated taking part in June and got my IBJJF membership accepted end of July. Due to the heavy work load and reporting deadline in August I almost didn’t register for the competition and only decided to sign up on 8 August on the encouragement of my coach Aaron Goh. So I haven’t really had a lot of preparation and only came up with the game plan a week before I left for Las Vegas. 

The World Masters is an amazing experience – the ambience of the venue, the BJJ community people from all over the world, the energy on comp days and the many BJJ superstars gracing the event. Las Vegas is of course unbearably hot in summer with temp reaching almost 110F. 

I am impressed how efficient the whole event was run with about 20 mats and 3000 competitors over the 4-day competition. My match was in the afternoon of the last day. 

celebrating with Aaron & team mates after the win in Las Vegas

At your age, besides BJJ, what is your lifestyle to maintain your fitness? What is your diet like?
I do some cardio and light weights for 1 ½ hours once a week and generally eat a healthy diet like brown rice for dinner and cut out sugar where possible. I am usually in bed by 11.30 pm except for the once a week drink session with the guys. I do take multivitamins, glucosamine with chondroitin and fish oil for joints health, and also citrulline and arginine for heart and better recovery.

What motivates you to train? I believe you train with mostly people younger than you right? Tell us about your gym, your coaches & your training partner.
I do BJJ mainly for the health and self-defence purpose. The people I train with are mostly much younger than me. I am lucky to join one of the oldest and best BJJ gym (Leverage BJJ) in Malaysia and there are many very talented training partners who smashed me week in week out. Thankfully they also don’t go as hard with me. 

My coach is Aaron Goh who is a brown belt. I have very high regards for his knowledge of BJJ and am continuously amazed by the techniques he comes up with every week. Aaron is also really good at breaking down the finer details of the techniques that demonstrates his understand of BJJ.

At your age, you must have seen a lot, be it career wise, family & social life. What is your message for the younger generations of Malaysian.
The younger generation as we know spend way too much time on the internet and their smart phones. I would encourage them to take up sport-related activities that bring them out to the outdoor, promote health and cultivate social skills. I really enjoy the social interactions and comradeship at our gym and I think it is one of the things I look forward to at every class.

Training for 2018 World Masters

James train at Leverage BJJ under coach Aaron Goh.

Aaron first met James 7 years ago and was impress at how a guy at James age was very open minded. Aaron explained that at that time the BJJ community was very small and mostly made up of younger guys, and being the oldest in the group he was impress that James was very willing to learn.

On James competing in World Masters. Aaron explained that as a coach he encourage all his students to compete. 

" It's not about the win or the lose, but because it will make you a better person. The entire process of preparing for a competition will make you a better person. There's no downside to it, win or lost. I've never have a student that compete come to me and say arghhh... Aaron! 
I wish I didn't compete."

Aaron said it was he himself that actually trained for World Masters, in a conversation one night he suggested to James to come along as he believe James have a chance as it's an even playing field for his age bracket. In the World Masters, with the amount of people competiting James would have competitors in his age group compare to competition in Asia where older age group is very rare & participation there usually will ended in James competing in a category with exponents half his age or younger.

As a coach, Aaron says he see potential in everyone whatever their age is. Aaron said James, during training is very technical and one of the most dedicated member of his gym.

In the small knit group that Aaron coach, Aaron believe James is the oldest active BJJ practitioner and even the oldest Purple Belt in Malaysia. Aaron said he don't really take it easy on him, he expect the same technical proficiency from James.

In that sense, as a coach usually Aaron will not pair him up with a hungry younger person whom wanna make his mark in competition, as this will easily leads to injury which at James age takes longer to heal. He would pair James with someone that can push him enough and at the same time both learn from each other.

On this story about James, I couldn't get James to commit in the beginning as he politely decline. 

Aaron felt that James deserve this coverage. 

" He is rather humble and in a way shy and does not felt that the win is a big deal, but at his age and becoming a World Champion is definitely a damn BIG DEAL! "

" He has been one of my strongest supporter since I started my gym and have been very helpful not just to me but also to other fellow team members...for example when we sometimes bring in special Black Belt guest to teach in a seminar, when there's a team member that couldn't afford the fees, Uncle James usually is the first one to step up and offer to pay for him to let him be able to learn and benefit from the seminar. "

Personality wise he finds James as a person with good character, humble and kind, but he doesn't like standing next to him...

" Well because Uncle James is so tall that standing next to him for picture makes me look like a midget! hahaha. 

--------#WRB-----------

Damon Soo (middle)

I will end this story with quotes from James's team mate, Damon Soo- MIMMA two division champion.

"James is actually my cousin in law. I met him when I joined Leverage and he was already a blue belt then. He has been one of my idols since then because despite his age he was and still is very fit and aggressive.

Before the World Masters a number of times I met my uncles and aunties and they would always ask me about James as they know we train in the same gym, they would ask if James really trains BJJ and does it seriously.

I could tell from their questions and remarks that they didn’t believe that he actually trains hard and spars/rolls hard even after I told them he did and that he gives all the younger guys a hard time during sparring/rolling.

He definitely defy the physical limit of people his age. Hence why he is one of my idols and my goal is to be like him when I am at his age."

--------------#WRB------------------


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LUTA LIVRE SEMINAR at KMMA 26 OCT 2016

When we talk about submission grappling most of us here in Borneo or Malaysia will be more familiar with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. But there's a another martial arts style that focus on grappling called Brazilian Luta Livre. It means wrestling in Portugal. That said, the term Luta translates to 'fight' and Livre translates to 'free'. Therefore, loosely the term means 'free fighting'. It is a complete Brazilian martial art, which is primarily a mixture of Catch wrestling and Judo.

The biggest distinction to a layman is that BJJ practitioner wears a Gi and BLL exponents don't. But when it comes to style, both arts share many similar moves, but adapting it differently due to the fact that BLL does not practice with Gi at all.

You can learn more about Luta Livre here, click on the link below
http://martialarts.about.com/od/styles/a/lutalivre.htm
http://thepoc.net/index.php/afonso-cego-brings-brazilian-luta-livre-to-the-philippines/

Last night at Keningau MMA (KMMA), a Brazilian Luta Livre seminar was conducted by Antonio Battistessa of Sabah Top Team and head instructor of BLL Malaysia and Afonso Cego , head instructor of BLL Asia Pacific Union (APU )

Founder of KMMA, Mohd Bakri was very glad that two of the top BLL instructor in this region were willing to go to Keningau to conduct this seminar. Bakri himself a blue belt under Anotonio said it is really a rare occasions and Keningau martial arts enthusiast are very fortunate for this opportunity, as most of the time such seminar is only available in Kota Kinabalu or other big cities.

Bakri (right) testing out some of the techniques being taught

Deadpool and Iron Man spotted in Keningau practicing Luta Livre

26 people attended the seminar, including a representative from the new Innovation Gym in Lahad Datu. According to Bakri, this seminar not only introduce to new comers what is submission grappling and gave them knowledge of self defense but at the same time fine tune and improve techniques of existing fighters, some of which will be competing in Fight fest 3 this weekend at Suria Sabah.

KMMA will be sending 6 participants to compete in MMA and 2 for K1 Kickboxing in Fight Fest 3

In conjunction with Fight Fest 3, the organiser has also arrange for a free BLL seminar:

Date: 28 OCT 2016 (FRIDAY) Venue: SURIA SABAH MALL Time: 7pm.

The head instructor of APU, Afonso Celso “Cego” dos Santos Silva Jr. is a 36-year-old mixed martial arts (MMA) athlete and grappler from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who came to Manila to introduce BLL. Afonso, who represents Academia Budokan – RJ , received his Luta Livre black belt from Joao Ricardo, is, a legendary figure of the sport in Brazil.

Afonso now resides in Manila. It was through Antonio's invitation to Aries Supremo, a Filipino Aikido master to come to Sabah for a BLL seminar conducted by Afonso that the connection was made to pave way for Afonso to further expand BLL in Philipines.

Afonso Cego

Antonio himself is a BLL brown belt. He is BLL head instructor for Malaysia. Antonio runs his own gym in Kota Kinabalu - Sabah Top Team (STT). He is a well known figure in the local martial arts scene. You can see him conducting muaythai demo in MIMMA and also regularly officiating fights as referee or judge.

Antonio Battistessa

He is now busy preparing his team for Fight Fest 3. STT will be sending 8 athlete to compete in grappling, MMA & Kickboxing. Warriors of Borneo manage to catch up with him out of his busy schedule for an interview.

Please click here to read the interview.

AN INTERVIEW WITH ANTONIO BATTISTESSA

If you see a tall, lean "orang putih" ( Caucasian ) whom is a regular at martial arts event. Go say hello. His name is Antonio Battistessa. Antonio is the founder of Sabah Top Team and the head instructor of Brazilian Luta Livre (BLL) Malaysia. 

Being an active fighter before, his wide knowledge in martial arts is well acknowledge where many martial arts events here regularly invite him as a referee or judge. He is also a well sought after instructor to conduct striking or grappling seminar.

His itinerary is tight lately. He just finished a BLL seminar at Keningau MMA and is preparing for BLL free seminar / grading tomorrow at Fight Fest 3 @  Suria Sabah and also preparing his team for competition. STT will be sending 8 fighters to compete in Fight Fest

Warriors of Borneo is glad to able to catch up with Antonio despite his busy schedule

Hi Coach Antonio, tell readers a bit about your background
I'm born in Pescara Italy. Currently 36 years young...: )

Pescara is 2 hours drive from Roma in the East Cost. It’s a sea side city and the mountain is only 1 hour drive away and it’s incredible because we can ski in the winter and swim in the summer.

Tell us about your martial arts journey.

In 1997 I have been in Japan for 1 month visiting a friend and I saw the PRIDE (MMA) on TV, it was love at first sight….

Unfortunately I could not find any MMA gym 19 years ago so I decided to start training in Muay Thai. The name of the gym was “Karate Do” it was a Karate Gym and my friend Massimiliano Violante was the Muay Thai Instructor.

How did you came to this part of the world?
I have always been fascinated by Asia especially South East Asia and my dream was to travel to all parts of S.E. Asia. So in 2001 at 21 yrs young, I travel to Phuket. I was there for 2 weeks but soon I come back to Italy after 1 month I fly back to Thailand, I have been there for 4 years.

During these 4 years a lot of things happened, I started my business and I started to seriously train and fight in Muay Thai competition. I had 8 pro fight in Thailand.

At that time, fights in Thailand were not like now. Fighting a foreigner was like a big thing for the local Thai fighters. Foreigners were like meat. The Thais take great pride winning over foreigners 

You never know who you going to meet and how strong your opponent is going to be. It was always a surprise, you may be matched with some one whom has 100 fight records before. It was never easy. 

Now martial art becomes one of the best tourist business in Phuket. And event organizers and gyms are more careful with the match making, so that they won't scare the foreigners away.

Muay thai is life

So what was your best memories when you were in Thailand?
Among the amazing memories of fighting, I also got few sad memories.

I was living in Phuket when the tsunami hit. It was December 2004…I lost some of my friends and the economy collapsed. 

At that time I was running a bar near the beach and it was completely destroyed by the waves. Luckily I was alive and my fighting spirit help me to overcome the bad situation. So I took over a guest house and I started an Italian restaurant, it was hard for a while but I managed to survived.

Several months after the Tsunami the economy started to pick up so I was able to sell the business and moved back to Italy in 2005.

From 2005 to 2007 I was working and studying and whenever I got few weeks off and enough money saved, I grabbed my backpack and travel to S.E.Asia.

I was working hard and doing 2 or 3 job so I could pay for my studies and afford my holidays.

In that period I was still training Muay Thai but I also started to explore other Martial arts. 

I trained Wrestling with a Ukrainian coach, I trained Kali Arnis / Escrima; a wonderful Philippine Martial arts using knives and rattan stick. 

And I was working out with kettlebell probably the best workout tools I ever used. As well I was doing Parkour and Kite surfing…I was very active as always I have been in my life.

Living an active lifestyle

Finally in 2007 I found an MMA gym and I started Vale Tudo training (traditional MMA from Brazil without gloves and with most of the technique allowed).

The Instructor name was Maurizio D’Aloia. The gym name at that time was Elite Gym now changed to Fight Clubbing.

Since that day, I never stop training MMA and Brazilian Luta Livre and together with my coach and team we join many competitions: Boxing, K1, Muay Thai, Grappling, MMA with great result for the team.

It is consider one of the best MMA gym in Italy with some athlete World and European ISKA pro champion in K1 and several MMA Italian champion titles won, now one of the fighter is been selected for Bellator.

I was lucky to grown up in a great gym with a great coach. my experience definately recieved a great boost.

So how did you end up in Sabah?
During this period in 2006 I met my wife Barbara, she is Sabahan. Her mom from Kota Belud and father from Kampung Kiau at the foothills of Mountain Kinabalu. 

I meet her online first using skype because I was collecting info about Sabah for my next travel. We met up in Kuala Lumpur and my stay in KL from 3 days planned was extended for 10 days. That was the beginning of our life together, she become my life partner and we shared many good memories and many wonderful travel together.

In 2007 I started my own business in Italy and I took over a restaurant / club named “Hosteria del 3° Cerchio” , I had this business until 2 years ago 2014. 

I usually close for summer break with 3 months holiday since during Summer in Italy the night life move to the sea side only, so from June to Aug, I have nearly 3 months off, that I could spend travelling.

So you took that time to travel to Sabah?

Yes, I came to Sabah for Holidays with Barbara in 2007

How did you got involve with the local martial arts scene?

I was looking for a place to train MMA to keep active, and I found Trinity Self Defense.  When I introduce myself to ask the permission to train in the gym, the owner Mr. Faresh Onn ask me if I could teach Muay Thai, so I accepted and for 3 months I teach Muay Thai, it was the first Muay Thai class in all Sabah, there was no Muay Thai trainer and class that time, we were the pioneer.

Teaching at Trinity Self Defense in 2007

Among my students at that times there was few name that become icon in the martial arts scene in Sabah some of them become pro fighters and coaches with great result, so proud of them.

Some of the names: AJ Pyro, Azrin Kadri, Genn Lai, Faresh, Neil Stephen among the first batch of around 15 students.

At Trinity Self Defense. Among the pioneers. AJ Pyro (left), Genn Lai (2nd from left), Azrin Kadri ( 3rd frm left) 

So you didn't want to go back Italy?
Since 2007 I always spend at least half of my holiday period in Sabah . Between 2007-2014 I was a roving trainer. I taught in various gym around KK, giving seminars, PT, Muay Thai and MMA classes.

In 2014 finally I moved to Sabah and for 1 year I had the pleasure to work with some of the best gym ie; Kuda Hitam, Kinabalu Fighters, BTS, Alpha MMA, Karabaw, Cruz Fitness etc

Giving training and seminar during his days as a roving trainer

What about Sabah Top Team, when did this came to fruition?

In 2015, I decided to open my own gym, I scouted a few place and discussed with a few potential partner, but in the end I decided to do it on my own and got a venue in Taman Millenium, on top of CKS Supermarket. That's the birth of SABAH TOP TEAM.

Sabah Top Team at Plaza Grand Millenium

How was the response when you first open?
The response of the people was quite good since the beginning and in 1 year of activity we were able to double the number of the members. What makes me really happy was, that we were able to create a community of family.

Now we have around 100 active members but when we organize a party even the non active members will come back to have fun together.




I see that now STT even offer dance class.

2016 July after the first year, STT got a boost and we decided to open a studio next door so we can perform some extra classes base on the high demand of the people. So we started Yoga, Zumba, Piloxing, Hip-Hop dance and Latin Dance.





What does the future hold for STT?
SABAH TOP TEAM now is at only 50% of my vision and soon as I can I will push the gym to the next stage

You went to Brazil to learn more about BLL, share with readers the experience there.
I start practice Luta Livre since I start to train in Vale Tudo / MMA so back in 2007 but I was more active doing MMA, not as a grappler.  

So in 2011 I went for the first time in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro…..it was amazing! There are so many gyms and the level is so high. I was there for 3 months and I had the pleasure to train with the fathers of Luta Livre “Roberto Leitao” and “Joao Ricardo” owner of Academia Budokan RJ

with Roberto Leitoa of Academia Budokan

Even with my 4 years experience, in Brazil it was like being the last of the class but I love the feeling. I love being a white belt forever because I want to learn as much as I can. The learning process never ends, this is what I love about martial arts.

That period in Brazil was the beginning of a great relationship with the fathers of Luta livre…it was amazing! I trained in the best LL gym in RJ and I meet many extraordinary fighters/grapplers. 

I trained in RFT with Master Cromado, in Rio Fighters with Milton Vieria, Hugo Duarte (the General of LL) and Master Joao Ricardo (Academia Budokan RJ). He rewarded me with the brown belt in LL. It is an honor receiving the belt from Master Joao and to represent LL in SEA.


Can you share with readers on BLL so that they understand more about it.
BRAZILIAN LUTA LIVRE is an independent martial arts with origin, history and roots back to the Greek Pankration and wrestling, unfortunately it get often confused and simplified with BJJ NO GI, generalized and call it BJJ NO GI. This makes years of history disappear.

This is a common mistake and a wrong interpretation of the martial arts. BJJ is a great arts. Complex and beautiful but it was born with the GI and the GI is part of their roots. As for Luta livre, it was born with NO GI and it is a false saying I can do Luta Livre with GI as much as you can say BJJ NO GI.

Back in the past there was a war between BJJ and LL…politics killed the sports, luckily now there is a great respect from both side. To be a black belt require a lot of sacrifice and training in any martial arts.

What is your aspiration for Luta Livre?
My mission is to teach and develop LL in all SEA. Since 1 years ago we made huge steps towards this. 

Now we have 2 black belts directly from Brazil, one is Afonso Cego in Manila Philippines(Extreme Martial Arts) and Gustavo Muniz in Sibu, Sarawak (Borneo Top Team) 

Plus we have a brown Belt in Saigon, Vietnam, a brown belt in Hong Kong, 2 purple belts in Jakarta, several blue belts.

In Sabah there are 2 blue belts: Matt Buvvart of Keningau MMA, Julian Lee in Kinabalu Fighters, and Orange belt Ricky Cheong from Karabaw Sipitang and Rodzaimi from Karabaw Papar.

LL is growing up fast and strong. The reasons behind it in my opinion is the effectiveness of the arts, simple, sharp and aggressive.  

We prefer to play on top the opponent instead to keep our back on the ground, we train our wrestling and plus all our technique can easily been apply even if the opponent is extremely sweaty, slippery and hard to control, so you can see why it's very suitable for MMA; and MMA now is the fastest growing sport in the world, so LL really fit into the need.

Recently in early August, we had a Brazilian Luta Livre Summer camp for 1 week with 2 LL black Belts: Afonso Cego from Brazil and Nicholas Renier from France (World Champion) and The former coach of Philippines National Wrestling Team Violeto Agustin.

We had nearly 30 people joining from all over S.E.Asia and also from overseas (USA). We had a great impact and a wonderful feedback, next year will be even bigger.

If you want to learn more about LL, I will be conducting a  FREE LUTA LIVRE SEMINAR on 28 OCTOBER FRIDAY just before Fight Fest. It's free, so will be a good occasion for those interested to come and try LL.




Coming from your fight days in Thailand and Italy and surviving the tsunami, what is your principle on life? 
My moto is LIFE IS A FIGHT and even our Sabah Top Team T-Shirt got this sentence on the back. I believe Life keep giving us tests and obstacles and it’s like a fight. If you give up, you will lose So you have to keep fighting always.

Aside from your wife...hehe, what in Sabah that makes you like this place?
Sabah is a wonderfull place, full of nature with a good lifestyle. I am not comfortable in busy and chaotic metropolis. I prefer smaller cities and Kota Kinabalu is perfect for me. Furthermore local Sabahan are friendly and open minded and I feel more comfortable than when I was in Thailand.

You promote Italian food a lot through your cafe....do you yourself cook? What do you think of the standard of Italian food in Sabah?
We close the cafe because the commitment was too high and with 2 kids everything become more complicated. We decided to focus on the gym. 

I can cook, but the real chef is Barbara. She used to work as a chef in Italy so she knows perfectly how to cook Italian food. I am so lucky I can have it every day at home, that’s why I never eat Italian food out so I cannot judge the local standard.

What about local Sabahan ethnic food? Do u like it? What Asian food do you like why?
Yes I do I love it, I like noodles most; and among the ethnic food I like is Hinava.




Thank you sir for your time.

All the best for the seminar and STT's participation in Fight Fest 3

FIGHT FEST 3 - JOEL VS HASBULLAH (MMA Flyweight Superfight)

Fight Fest 3 will be bigger this year, as it combines not only fights ( grappling, K1 and MMA ) but also activities from the gaming scene (Cosplay & Console Games). There will also be trade booth from sponsors and retailers from the combat sports and gaming industry displaying and promoting their products.

The highly anticipated fight for MMA will be Joel Nickolson Lawrence (Sabah Top Team) vs ( Md Hasbullah Sanmin) in the Flyweight category. Both are looking to capitalised on weight advantage by cutting from Bantamweight. 

Joel is an ethnic Sabahan Dusun from Tambunan. He attended Sandakan Vocational College and came to KK to further his studies. Active in Taekwondo since young, he represented Sabah in national level competition and also in the MOHE-UMS International Taekwondo Fiesta. 

Joel also does some coaching of Taekwondo under Courage Martial Arts Club. But to continue fighting competitively he began to look for an MMA gym to widen his repertoire, and found Sabah Top Team. Coming from TaeKwonDo background, with a 3rd degree black belt, his footwork is his main weapon. But he has add on wrestling and Luta Livre grappling into his arsenal through the guidance of coach Antonio Battistessa.

With coach Antonion ( center) 

This year was he first attempt at MIMMA. And Joel did well and progress to Semi-Finals where he met eventual bantamweight Champion Damon Soo. He lost the fight by submission as his injured knee disable him to counter fast enough.

After a month of rest he signed up for Jesselton Fight League and fought Australian Nathan Hynes, winning by a front choke in round 2. ( check out his JFL fight here below)

Joel acknowledge that Hasbullah is a tough opponent. But he has come well prepared. He is polishing his ground game with Antonio Battistessa with more complicated Luta Livre move and brushing up on his kicks and boxing. Joel is confident that wherever the fight go, ground or stand up, he can dominate.

Md Hasbullah Sanmin, created an impact in 2015. In Sept 2015, He fought in Fight Fest 2 in Citymall. Competing in the Bantamweight super 4, he convincing win with great submission techniques to emerge as champion.

In Jesselton Fight League (JFL) Semi-finals match he went against the odds by winning vs the highly touted Ahmadjon Karimov from Gymbox Kuching. Hasbullah then progress to the grand finals in Oct 2015, and fought a crazy round of war vs Sabahan muaythai specialist, Dean Hamsah to emerge as the winner for the Bantamweight belt.

Then he further add to his collection the medals of Bantamweight champion from Borneo Amateur Challenge - Labuan in Jan 2016.

Hasbullah's journey in MIMMA was not as successful as in season 3, he stumbled in the ladder match, but this year he manage to reach semi-finals. Hasbullah explained that in Season 3, his lack of grappling skills was the cost of his lost.

But after that lost, he focus on his ground game, learning earnestly BJJ from Allen Solomon Chong and Luta Livre from his coach at that time Mohd Bakri of Keningau MMA, he also took seminar of Luta Livre from Coach Antonio Battistessa of Sabah Top Team.



The improvement of his ground game is significant as can be seen from his victory in JFL, and Fight Fest 2. Even though he manage to improve on his MIMMA journey this year, but Hasbullah was not really happy with his performance. As this year he has venture out on his own. He now is in charge of Team karabaw Keningau branch.

Setting up the Karabaw branch, coaching and recruiting new members took up much of his time and he didn't have the time to train for his own fight. But now that Karabaw Keningau is up and running, Hasbullah have more time to focus on himself.

He promise that the old Hasbullah will be back and will put up a show for fight fans to enjoy.

COme and watch Joel vs Hasbullah. It's going to be a action pack weekend , don't miss out Fight Fest 3 at Suria Sabah.