West Yorkshire's Scott Askham earns celebrity status in Poland ahead of fight in front of 45,000 at KSW Colosseum 2
The middleweight icon is scheduled to go toe-to-toe with arch-nemesis Mamed Khalidov
Last updated 28th Nov 2023
From humble beginnings in Hemsworth to fighting in front of 45,000 people in Poland, it's fair to say Scott Askham has come a long way from West Yorkshire.
On June 3, the MMA legend collides with Mamed Khalidov at KSW Colosseum 2, which is set to take place at the iconic PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw. And through his incredible performances in the cage, the Brit has gained mass notoriety among the Polish fans.
With Askham having officially touched down in the Eastern European country, he's happily posing for selfies with his adoring supporters.
Upon entering a Warsaw supermarket, he was immediately recognised by a star-struck MMA enthusiast.
Askham laughed: "Yeah, it's quite nice, actually. So I just come here and get that recognition, then go home and go back to being normal. I do enjoy that. When I was a world champion, I came here, and three people asked for photos before I even got through passport control. So yeah, it's nice to get that appreciation from the fans, and honestly, he was genuinely shocked to see me in the shop. So yeah, it was nice to see that."
Having proven his class in The UFC, the pioneer earned his shot in KSW, and from the word go, he captivated the purists with his devastating liver kicks and frightening fight IQ.
Speaking exclusively to Greatest Hits Radio West Yorkshire, he said: "I'll never forget my debut. I was fighting in the co-main event against Michal Materla. When they announced my name, I expected some boos. I don't like that some fans do that, but they do.
"However, I actually got a friendly reception. Then they announced Materla's name, and the roof came off the place, and from that moment, I couldn't wait to fight again. It hits me differently. I Don't mean in a nervous way. It's like a massive buzz. I can't wait for those moments; it's what you fight for."
In martial arts, there's nothing better than a good old-fashioned trilogy. And with Askham and Khalidov currently split 1-1, the Yorkshireman is relishing the opportunity to finally end the rivalry once and for all.
However, securing the win certainly won't be easy, as Khalidov has an entire army of passionate Poles behind him, all hoping that he can land an eye-catching knockout.
To put it simply, heading into the lion's den is enough to send chills down the spine of any man, but not Askham — it's simply not in his nature.
He asserted: "I understand the reception he gets, and that doesn't faze me one bit. I fought in front of 200 fans during COVID, and I fought him in front of 15,000 in the first fight, and to be honest with you, I preferred the 15,000. Whether the audience is making noise for me or against me, they're still making noise.
"I feel that energy of the crowd. I'm excited for this. It's a big one."
Having turned professional back in 2010, Askham has achieved more than most fighters could ever dream of.
From defeating Chris Dempsey at UFC London in the O2 Arena, to proudly lifting the KSW title above his head in Gdansk, Poland, the skilled athlete has a lot to be proud of. And on Saturday night, he'll look to add the latest chapter of his already incredible story. But no matter how much he accomplishes, he'll always be the boy from West Yorkshire.
Askham concluded: "It's a little bit surreal. I'm from a normal town, and now I'm performing on big stages. It's amazing. But I always believed that this would happen. I thought I'd stay in the UFC longer. But I feel like I've had a fairly successful career. Never as successful as I'd like it to be, but there's still a long way to go. I'm 35 years old now, and I'm ready to go. I swear, to be back training as well as I am, is just a buzz in itself. And being around the fighters that I'm with at American Top Team is really motivating."