Looking for intensity? Meet Turkish lightweight 'Lord Pitbull'

At first glance, you might wonder if there’s a reason for you to pay attention to a fighter with a 2-2-1 record. But once you hear Murat Kazgan speak, you might take a different stance.

“I’m a world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from Marco Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu under UFC fighter Pedro Munhoz,” Kazgan told MMAjunkie. “I won the ‘Best Submission of the Year’ award in Asia. I’m training all over the world with many high-level fighters. Now I’m training at American Top Team. I don’t want to compliment myself, but ask about me with all the fighters who trained with me. They all answer just one thing: ‘He is the Lord of the Pitbulls.'”

You hear that, Thiago Alves and Andrei Arlovski?

Kazgan’s MMA career dates back to 2009, though he’s hardly been consistent in his efforts. That, however, he insists is about to change. In 2013, Kazgan (2-2-1) fought to a draw under Russia’s Fight Nights Global banner. Now, he’s returning to the promotion to face Andrei Ciubotaru (8-8) at Fight Nights Global on March 30 at VTB Ice Palace in Moscow. The card streams live on VK.com.

Murat Kazgan a.k.a. “Lord Pitbull.”

“I’m so excited to come back,” Kazgan said. “March 30 is the biggest event of the year, and I’m so happy to be part of it. I’m not here just for myself. I’m here for Turkish people and our flag. I feel all the country behind me. This is my motivation.”

Turkey’s MMA history doesn’t exactly run deep, though Gokhan Saki is currently competing in the UFC. But Kazgan believes it’s time for the nation’s scene to expand, and he said he’s comfortable leading the way.

“In Turkey, people love football, and we have world-class football teams and players,” Kazgan said. “But Turkish people have been warriors since the Ottoman Empire. Fighting is in our souls. MMA is growing up step-by-step, just like all over the world.

“I’m ready. After this fight, Fight Nights Global will understand the interest of Turks, and Fight Nights Global will want to do a show in Turkey. We would be proud to host this great organization.”

Big talk for an athlete competing in the night’s curtain-jerker, but Kazgan insists he’s his country’s most popular fighter, and he’s ready to make global waves – so be looking out for “Lord Pitbull.”

“I’m the Turkish MMA history maker,” Kazgan said. “I was on the cover of ‘Men’s Health’ magazine and ‘Men’s Fitness’ magazine, all of the newspapers with full pages, and I was a guest on the biggest TV shows in Turkey. Now it’s time to show the world who I am.”

For more on Fight Nights Global 85, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

The Blue Corner is MMAjunkie‘s official blog and is edited by Mike Bohn.