The upcoming FFC 12 is to take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 25. The headlining match of the MMA part of the event will be the one between Tomaz Simonic and Dion Staring.

Dion Staring is one of the veterans of the European MMA scene with rich and long professional experience. He had his first professional match back in 1999 when he defeated Gülabi Akbulut in The Netherlands. He also fought under the banner of different organizations such as Shooto Holland, United Glory, Beast of the East, Slamm, KSW and Strikeforce.

Despite having his first MMA match in 1999, Staring started to approach this sport in a more serious manner a couple of years later.

“Yes, my first fight was in '99 but I fought only two times. At that time I joined the army and quit with MMA. A few years later I picked up the sport. For me is the difference that it become way more professional and bigger in the world. Only in the Netherlands it's getting smaller”, Staring said with slight disappointment at the beginning of the interview.

During the years he was slowly but safely building his career and his name in the world of MMA. He defeated famous fighters like Rodney Glunder, Peter Graham, Michael Knaap and Akira Corassani. He also fought big Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in 2009. He reached the peak of his career last year when he signed with Strikeforce. However, that did not last long since he lost to Daniel Cormier at their last event.

“Yes, my fight against Daniel Comier, it was a great event and a very big name”, commented Staring. Top fighters such as Saffiedine, Marquardt, Barnett, Mousasi, Couture, K. J. Noons and Tim Kennedy also fought at the event.

Staring said there is one fighter he would always remember as one of the toughest and most dangerous opponents.

“The fight against Ante was tough because I lost three matches and he is a big name in Croatia. The beginning was tough but I fought and won. The other fighter I want to mention is James McMweeney. I wasn't well prepared and because of that I ended up injured. I took the fight but I should have waited and prepare myself. I would like a rematch against him.”

So far Dion did 39 matches in his career and scored 29 victories.

“Of course I would change lots of fights but unfortunately I can't change the past“, stated this big Dutch fighter.

Dion now has a new match scheduled. He is to fight Tomaz Simonic in Ljubljana, Slovenia, next Friday.

„I saw his fight against Gzim Selmani. My fans can expect the same as last time, a war with a Dutch victory and the people who don't know me yet… They will after April 25“, proudly said Staring who will fight at FFC for the second time now.

„FFC is a great, professional organization and I was treated well last time. It's very serious and I love to fight over there“, concluded Staring and added he hopes for new victories in the future.