Dutch MMA veteran Dion Staring will enter the FFC ring this September again. FFC’s heavyweight champ will defend his belt in Linz for the second time. He won the title in 2014 when he fought former UFC champ Ricco Rodriguez.

Staring’s opponent at FFC 26 in Linz will be 14 years old younger Darko Stošić. The two were to fight at FFC in Springfield, Massachusetts, but the match had to be rescheduled due to Staring’s injury. Nevertheless, Stošić scored a dominant victory over Manny Murillo.

I had a couple of old injuries. I had to take some time off so the injury could recover. I am feeling much better for this fight, revealed Staring.

FFC champ is getting ready for his upcoming match in famous Mike’s Gym as well as in his own ‘Dion Staring’s Gym’.

My camp is at Mike’s Gym and at my own place “Dion Staring’s Gym”. At Mike’s gym I train with Gilbert Yvel and Mike Passenier. My coach Stuart Samson is taking care for my wrestling/ground game and Tom Derkzen is doing my cardio and strength

Staring believes that his experience will be crucial for this match, but he does not underestimate strength and conditioning.

Darko is young and talented fighter. He has a lot of skills. Every fighter has some holes in his game plan. It’s gonna be a good fight. Old Soldier vs . Young talent fighter. But experience is very important, as well as strength and cardio. It can go any way.

Forecast?

The belt goes back to the Netherlands, said the champ.

It will be ‘The Soldier’s’ fifth FFC fight. He made his FFC debut at FFC 8 when he fought Ante Delija.

I like to fight for FFC, a good big organization. I only don’t like the fact that I don’t get to fight as often as I would like to. I loved the Pride rules (soccer kicks and footsteps…) My most memorable moments? I think my fight against Ante. I had 3 big losses and was thinking of quitting. Mike, Stuart and Tom believed in me and kept me going and I won the fight and a year later the title of FFC.

One of the most famous members of Mike’s Gym is the world’s most popular kickboxer Badr Hari who is to fight in Germany tis December against Rico Verhoeven. FFC champ told us what he expects from this super match.

Badr is training at different times. I think he will win. Rico is a good fighter but Mike can motivate Badr and see a lot of holes in Rico’s game, concluded Staring.