Martial arts fighter looks forward to defending his RFC Featherweight belt
"At the end of the day, they are the most important thing in my life and they are very close to my heart.”
Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Shannon van Tonder has made his presence known in the MMA arena and hopes to go even further.
The 24-year-old started with MMA when he was 16, but he already had a background in wrestling, which he started when he was six years old.
He immediately fell in love with the sport from watching it on television and soon proved that he had a natural talent for the sport.
Van Tonder says his best memory was the SA Tournament where he fought three fights in two days.
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“It was very intense and stressful, but I’m glad of the experience,” says van Tonder.
Although he is passionate about MMA, van Tonder says his family, wife and child will always be his priority.
“At the end of the day, they are the most important thing in my life and they are very close to my heart.
“They motivate me and everything I do is really for them.”
Van Tonder will be a number one contender for the RFC Featherweight belt on February 22.
In March, he will be defending his Alpha Featherweight belt.
Although winning is important to him, van Tonder says that his performance is more important.
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“Even if I lose a match, it doesn’t matter that much to me.
“As long as I am happy with the way I performed, I am happy and satisfied.”
Van Tonder doesn’t allow a loss to get to him, but rather uses it as an opportunity to learn and improve.
He warns younger fighters that pride should not get the better of them.
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