Kamal Shalorus wants another shot at glory.

Two years removed from unsuccessfully challenging for the ONE Lightweight World Championship, “The Prince Of Persia” will renew his quest to the gold on Friday Night, 10 February.

The Iranian will square off against top contender Ev Ting in the main event of ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS, live from the Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“Ev is a good fighter, but he never fought a tough guy like me. He has never faced a fighter like me. I am going to put him in the cold water, and he has never experienced a fight in cold water,” the 39-year-old says.

“I am going to win, I am going to knock him down, I am going to choke him and, after that, I am going to go after Eduard Folayang.”

Shalorus has a clear vision and an unbreakable determination. Then again, he has always possessed that force of will, and it led him all across the globe.

Raised on a sheep farm in East Azerbaijan, a northwest Iranian province which borders Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, Shalorus grew up in relative solitude. The nearest resident lived miles away. He even half-jokes that wolves were his closest neighbor.

However, it was on the farm where, unbeknownst to him, the seeds of mixed martial arts were planted. Like other Iranians dating back to ancient times, Shalorus was drawn to wrestling. His father and older brother were wrestlers, and he followed in the tradition. In fact, wrestling was so big in their community, there was an end of harvest celebration which culminated with a grappling contest.

“When we finish the farming [season], they bring a huge plaque and people know the wrestling tournament is coming,” he begins. “Everyone from all around the region comes together, and the prize is a huge cattle, or like 10 sheep or two horses.

“Whoever becomes the champion of their area, they get the prize. For two or three days, they eat, they party, and they wrestle. It is amazing.”

Shalorus proved to be a highly-regarded wrestler. As a teenager, he made the junior squad and claimed the Iranian National Junior Championship in freestyle wrestling. From there, he traveled and represented the country in various competitions.

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On his travels, he participated at a tournament in Turkey. The Iranian, who speaks conversational Turkish, became quick friends with some of the wrestlers and accepted an invitation to be one of their sparring partners in Istanbul. Soon, his worldly outlook changed.

“I saw their city life and technology. [It was a] life I never experienced. I started to see a different side of the world, and decided to see more,” he recalls. “I stayed in Turkey almost nine years, came back home, and told my mother and father, ‘I am going to leave. I cannot stay.’

“They were scared. They cried. They said, ‘no, you stay. You are still a baby.’ But I said, ‘No, I am strong. I can provide.’ And then I left home.”

Shalorus’ grappling prowess then brought him to Greece, where he met the United Kingdom wrestling team, and just like the Turkish squad, they invited him back to England. He achieved massive success there, becoming the 2001 British Commonwealth Freestyle Champion, and the captain of the 2004 national freestyle team for the Olympic squad.

Soon thereafter, he wrestled with members of the infamous London Shootfighters Club, most notably Lee Murray and Alex Reid. The pair recognized his talent, taught him some jiu-jitsu holds and striking techniques, and encouraged him to try MMA.

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