Edukondal Rao plans to impress the Saudi Arabian crowd at PFL vs. Bellator champ

17 February 2024

Indian MMA fighter Edukondal Rao is venturing into enemy territory when he fights at PFL vs. Bellator: Champs event in Saudi Arabia.

He talked about the fight in an exclusive interview with LockerRoom Network and one particular aspect stood out: his perspective on the unique challenge of winning in an opponent's home territory. Rao's words shed light on the mental fortitude required to thrive in such high-pressure situations and the underlying motivations that drive him to seek victory against all odds.

For Edukondal Rao, the prospect of facing an opponent in their hometown is not viewed as a daunting obstacle, but rather as an exhilarating opportunity. "Winning a person on his home ground is like winning the entire nation," Rao asserts with conviction. "Just imagine, thousands of people cheering for him, and no one is taking your name out. It's shouting when he punches, when he throws a punch, when he throws a kick... But winning over there, it's not just winning one person; it's winning the entire crowd, the entire atmosphere."

Moreover, Rao sees victory in his opponent's hometown as an opportunity to etch his name in the annals of MMA history. "Winning there is really good for me as well and good for our Indian fighters as well," he explains. "We can stand there and say, 'Okay, fine, Indians are not just talk about fighting simple games; they can fight good fighters as well.' We get some value for that."

As Rao prepares for his upcoming bout in Saudi Arabia, his words serve as a reminder of the resilience and determination required to excel in the fiercely competitive world of mixed martial arts.

PFL vs. Bellator Champs featuring Edukondal Rao will be exclusively available for streaming on FanCode's mobile app (available on Android, iOS, and TV), as well as on various TV platforms including Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Jio STB, Samsung TV, Airtel XStream, OTT Play, Prime Video, WatchO, and the official website www.fancode.com.