From Street Gangs to MMA: Here is the story of Vladislav Novitskiy

Vladislav Novitskiy is living out his dreams. The rising mixed martial arts (MMA) star is set to battle fellow debutant Yanis “The Galactic” Ghemmouri of France at BRAVE CF 51: The Future Is Here this Friday, June 4 live in front of a hometown crowd at the state-of-the-art Falcon Club Arena in Minsk, Belarus.

Novitskiy enjoys competing inside the cage and having the support of the nation on his side. But even though MMA is his passion nowadays, it was not his first love.

His first love was football. As a matter of fact, he played the sport at a very high level. He had the opportunity to play for Dinamo Minsk. Most youngsters would give anything to have that dream, and Novitskiy got the chance to suit up for the beloved club.

It was a fairly typical childhood for the young Belarusian although he struggled to find the best outlet for his youthful energy.

Novitskiy took a dangerous path by associating with street gangs. He wanted to gain the respect of his peers. Furthermore, when there is the potential for danger on every street corner, he was comforted by the idea of knowing people who were watching his back.

However, one unfortunate incident altered the trajectory of his mischievous lifestyle. He lost a fight on the street that sustained him a fractured facial bone, leaving him on the hospital bed for days.

Reflecting on the hazards he went through, Novitskiy recognized that it was time to turn things for the better. He then came across MMA. Little did he know, the day he walked into the gym, his life would change forever.

His coaches saw potential in the young Novitskiy and urged him to take training seriously. That meant quitting his bad habits and vices while dedicating his time to strengthening his body and developing his skills instead.

This much-needed discipline steered him away from the life of a slacker and even brought him to national glory in MMA. Now, Novitskiy is revered in the sport by his countrymen, holding a professional record of 9-4 with seven wins by way of knockout and two via submission.

Novitskiy has completely transformed his life, and now he wants to offer hope to those who may have none. He seeks to show young kids there can be unity and friendship on the mats, as opposed to the streets.

Moreover, he aims to reach out to those who may have once headed in the wrong direction that life can change in the blink of an eye.

“It is never too late to start on your dreams. It does not matter what you have done in the past because you always have one more day to change everything and make your life meaningful,” Novitskiy shared.

A certified lethal finisher, Novitskiy will make his first global MMA appearance on the supporting card of BRAVE CF 51: The Future Is Here, which is headlined by a Lightweight encounter between Lucas “Mineiro” Martins of Brazil and Germany’s very own Marcel Grabinski.

“This is a great opportunity for me to showcase my talent in one of the best MMA promotions in the world today. I will do my best to put on a great show for the people of Belarus and the fans around the globe,” he said.

Belarus is set to be the seventh European nation that BRAVE CF has visited since its foray into the continent in June 2018.

Despite the ravaging effects of COVID-19 last year, the Bahrain-based MMA promotion remained committed to its mission to empower the European MMA circuit, holding seven events in a calendar year in the region.

The organization picked up where it left off, kicking off 2021 with its inaugural event in Sochi, Russia last January and then upping the ante with its maiden venture on Belarusian soil this Friday.

Novitskiy is admittedly blown away by the magnitude that the upcoming extravaganza in his hometown has created leading up to fight week.

“This is a milestone for Belarusian MMA because the fastest-growing MMA promotion in the world is coming to our country. I think many people are excited and waiting for this event,” he stated.

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