A contender for the 2018 Asia MMA Rookie of the Year and the face of the sport’s future in Hong Kong, professional fighter Max Leali speaks with Nick Walton about what it takes to be the best in the ring.
What initially drew you to MMA?
I first started training in martial arts after I had been playing rugby for a year or so. It was a combination of parental encouragement and a want to be able to invest my overly high amount of extra energy into some sort of contact. Though I loved rugby, I had frustrations and ultimately I was drawn towards martial arts. I would say I actually fell in love with the sport after watching Forrest Griffin vs Stephen Bonner in the Ultimate Fighter season one final, as well as watching Griffin vs Rampage Jackson. Both are classic fights and the former in particular had pretty much every aspect of MMA – striking, ground, clinching, blood and heart. After I saw that fight I was pretty much hooked.
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You grew up in Hong Kong; how has the local MMA scene developed?
When I first started martial arts I was about 13 years old and it’s grown quite a bit in the last 10 years. Hong Kong’s awareness of different martial arts has improved as well; Muay Thai has been culturally significant for a very long time but there are a lot more jujitsu events now as well. MMA companies have always struggled a bit though and have come and gone. For the most part, MMA is at least starting to have a better foundation.
With organisations like the Hong Kong Shooto Association hosting amateur events (which is partly how I moved into fighting professionally), there’s a much better platform for amateur fighters to gain experience and eventually move to pro. However. there’s still a lot that needs building on and a lot to improve. Hong Kong is a bit behind considering it was home to one of the fathers of mixed martial arts (Bruce Lee).
Describe your fitness regime.
That’s a bit tricky because it really depends on if I’m in camp, what I’m focusing on, who my opponent is, and what type of fight it is. Lots of variables are involved in the whole process. I train about 2-3 times a day, six days a week when I’m in fight camp.
In my last camp, a typical Monday, for instance, would be waking up early (5 am) and training jujitsu in the mornings from about 7-8/8:30. I teach classes at 12:30 – 1:15, then boxing or Muay Thai until 2 pm, when I would go for a run till about 2:40. Then I’d train in Muay Thai or MMA sparring/techniques until 4 pm. Then I would rest for a bit before 6 pm jujitsu training. Some days can be heavy like that and some days very light. Every day will have technique/drilling, sparring, and running for the most part.
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You train and teach at VERSUS; what does the club offer men that would like to train in MMA?
Versus has been a second home to me since it opened when I was around 15 years old. To me, I see it as a welcoming and friendly place that offers professional-level training to all types of people regardless of size, experience, background, gender, or anything else. Most of the classes will have professional fighters, semi-professional fighters, hobbyists who compete for fun, non-competitive hobbyists, and beginners. So we have a real mix of skill levels for just about everyone to find. And give it enough time and honesty and you can easily be part of our weird gym family.
MMA companies have always struggled a bit though and have come and gone. For the most part, MMA is at least starting to have a better foundation.
Max Leali
Among the disciplines that form MMA, which resounds clearest with you?
Technically Mixed Martial Arts can be made up of many different forms of martial art. My main two have been Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and Muay Thai. I love both disciplines dearly and have fought both of them in their pure forms as well as combining them for MMA and Shooto. Between the two, Jujitsu has become something of a home for me and would be what I consider my specialty discipline.
What’s been the pinnacle moment so far in your MMA career?
There have been a few moments so far; I think overall my going from amateur to pro through shooto has been pretty standout overall. Back in May of 2016, I competed in Hong Kong’s first AM shooto competition and walked away with gold and an invitation from Rumina Sato to compete in the All Japan Amateur Shooto Championships. I was the first person to ever represent Hong Kong and when I placed I believe I was the first foreigner ever to do so. Due to this, I was able to gain a Shooto license and though it took some time, last February I fought in my first professional shooto fight and was honoured to be Hong Kong’s first professional shooto fighter.
Win or lose, dominant or close, I always look at ways to improve and critique myself. Because of this, I find it easier to deal with a loss if I feel I can focus on things to improve.
Max Leali
Overall, I would say one of the best things about this path is that I have been lucky to meet, train, learn, and compete with many amazing people from all over the world. From Chicago to London to Tokyo, I’ve been very humbled by how many awesome and dedicated athletes I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, and of course, the most recent honour that I’ve had was being nominated for the MMA Asia Awards as Rookie of the Year, which was both unexpected and humbling.
What’s Rookie of the Year mean to you?
To be able to have Rookie of the Year from The Fight Nations Asia MMA Awards would both emphasize that I’m on the right track as well as hopefully help me further my name and forge a greater path for fighters like myself from Hong Kong that hope to build the foundations of the sport to new heights in our home. To me, it’s an accolade that I am grateful to just be considered for, but also one that if attained would be hopefully a way to bring more attention to Hong Kong and help me fulfill some of my future goals.
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Do you have a signature move?
Not really. While I have certain submissions, movements or combinations I like to use, there’s no Rock Bottoms or Sweet Chin Music-like signatures that I like to do.
Every fighter needs a competitive nature; how do you handle losses?
Loss is hard no matter how the loss is dealt with. I tend to have an easier time getting through a loss if it was due to fault or error. Win or lose, dominant or close, I always look at ways to improve and critique myself. Because of this, I find it easier to deal with a loss if I feel I can focus on things to improve. In the past, I’ve had some difficult judges’ decisions and I have found those harder to get over, although once again I tend to find the good in the situation and look for the mistakes and improvements that I can make to my game.
What are your MMA plans for the future?
I would say every athlete in this sport dreams for the most part to one day attain a world championship. I have quite a few different goals that I want to achieve but all of them involve bringing back a certain level and pride to Hong Kong. I want my home to be at a much higher level than it is. Currently my next fight on September 7th; after that, we’ll see what happens and where this path leads me.
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Do you have any advice for would-be warriors?
Keep training. If you want to be good at anything it takes discipline, understanding of the craft as well as yourself and a willingness to grind. The grind sucks but I think it’s one of the most necessary things out there for whatever you want to do. You put in the time and effort and normally you should see results. Otherwise just make an effort to understand that it’s about being part of a community so enjoy it, help out, be kind, and do your best.
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