Cyril Abidi is without a doubt the most controversial fighter (as opposed to "Beast") in K-1 today. He entered K-1 in 1999, but it was not until 2000 that he really made his presence felt by scoring a huge KO victory over Peter Aerts. He's very unorthodox in the ring. This perhaps explains the reason for his K-1 win-ratio to be 50% since that fateful day he dropped Aerts. The surprising thing about Abidi's record is he beat many fighters no one ever gave him a chance against. And lost to some he should have walked through. One thing you can be always be sure of when Cyril Abidi steps in the ring: the fight is going to be entertaining as hell.

The French version can be found here.

Kakutougi: What were you like as a child, and how did you go in school?

Abidi: I was like all the other children, just a little more agitated!

Kakutougi: What sports were you interested in back then, and in which did you do well in?

Abidi: I was quite athletic and adapted well to whatever sports I practiced, but I was not really interested in one particular sport. I am still looking for the discipline that suits me the best.

Kakutougi: Once you finished school, did you have any particular career in mind?

Abidi: I had one objective in mind: to succeed at all costs, whatever the job would be.

Kakutougi: How did you get into Martial Arts and from there into kickboxing?

Abidi: I began judo at a very young age (6 years old), then karate (at 10) because my mother attempted to channel, and calm the energy I had. It was only a lot later, when I was 18 that I discovered Thai Boxing, and only then by chance.

Kakutougi: When you first became a professional fighter, what sort of goals did you set for yourself? And, did you put any time limit on achieving these goals, or even a time limit to become successful?

Abidi: In fact, I didn't get the time to have an amateur career as most fighters do before turning professional. I started right away as a professional. So, I never really set any objectives or major goals; just to win the maximum of fights and to follow my life’s objective、which was to succeed. Some success came, so it is not a question I ever really considered.

Kakutougi: What did you think about your first experience with K-1, and how did it come about?

Abidi:I fought first in Zurich for the European championship. I did some fights in Marseille where I met Jean Claude Leuyer who had fought Kaman, Greco, Shuster and some other big names, so he was someone in the scene. It is what allowed me, I think, to access K-1 in Europe. I fought Peter Majstorovic, and it was a fight that was appreciated by fans and staff when it was televised in Japan. I guess it lead me to fight for K-1 worldwide.

Kakutougi: As a new K-1 fighter then, who did you look up to

Abidi: Back then, I had a lot of respect for Peter Aerts, because he really was the best. He had lot of victories, and a lot of KO’s. He is not extraordinary physically, but I thought he had technique above the others. He is really among the ones I respected the most.

Kakutougi: Are there any K-1 fighters now you are close with, or who you have particular respect for?

Abidi: No, we are all pals, almost friends. We get along well, and there is a lot of respect between the fighters.
One of the fighters I feel the closest to is maybe Alexey Ignashov. We are about the same age, we come from the kind of the same background, even if he is from Russia and me from France, and we arrived almost at　the same time in K-1. Additionally, his manager speaks French. I guess it is probably him.

Kakutougi: Out of everyone you have fought in your K-1 career so far, who is the one you would most like to have a rematch with, and why?

Abidi: I think the one I would like to have a rematch with would be Bob Sapp.　I was contacted for the first time just 10 or 15 days before the fight. He was just arriving on the scene and no one really knew what he did at the time (in fact he didn't do much), so obviously neither did I. I never really got the time to study him or to prepare myself, and all I knew was that he was 150kgs and 2 meters tall.
The size didn’t bother me obviously, as I accepted the match. What did annoy me was more what happened in the ring.
Sapp showed no respect for the rules and just did whatever he wanted. He should have been disqualified 100 times for any number of things, but instead it's I who was stopped, while I shouldn't have lost. I think that if there were a second round, he would have suffered. It is indeed what happens with his opponents these days.
So, if I have to choose someone to rematch with, it would be him.

Kakutougi: Is there any other fighter in K-1 you would prefer to fight than this rematch?

Abidi: Yes. That would be Lebanner because there has been an ongoing rivalry and tension between us. To let you know, if everything goes well I should fight with him at K-1 Bercy (K-1 Paris) this month.

Kakutougi: You had a bit of a scuffle with him in the ring after the Paris GP 2003. What was the cause of this?

Abidi: Well the reason for this scuffle is that he has a big mouth, and instead of living his own life and keeping out of mine, he goes talking about me in magazines, saying he wants me to be knocked out, all the while pretending he was my friend. It was hard for me to understand, and then when he had his bad attitude I preferred to deal with it directly.

Kakutougi: After the Eliminations fight in October last year you asked for a Superfight with LeBanner for the Grand Prix, and Mr. Tanikawa announced the　fight the next day. What happened to this fight?

Abidi: I was later told by LeBanner that he didn't want to have the fight, so he refused it.

Kakutougi: In a recent rumor to sweep the internet, you and Lebanner have had some sort of incident in Marselles. Can you tell us what happened, and what lead up to this incident?

Abidi: After what happened in Bercy in 2003, each of us was keeping to ourselves. Then, once again, he opened his mouth to the press. This time saying that I was afraid of him in Bercy and that I went to hide in my corner..., which is absolutely not my way of dealing with things. I always accept to fight against anybody, anytime, so it is certainly not he who would scare me.
Anyway, I heard he was passing time in Marseille, in my old club, and I couldn't let the lies go on. I went to the club to challenge him, but he refused　to fight and settle things. Then there was a bit of a problem because his friends jumped me; we fought each other, and there were three then four of them attacking me. Finally, LeBanner agreed to fight alone with me, and in the end, he ate a high kick, finishing the fight.　So yes, I confirm the rumor　is indeed true.

Kakutougi: From your MMA fights, you seem to have a lot of natural ability/talent. Do you train any MMA on top on your kickboxing training?　

Abidi: The answer here will be quick and to the point. No, I don't train in MMA. Maybe I　have some natural ability but I don't train for MMA.

Kakutougi: Recently K-1 had the rules stacked against you in an MMA fight vs. Ologun. Would you consider fighting MMA for another organization than K-1?

Abidi: Hmm, yes. Why not?

Kakutougi: What are your future plans for kickboxing and MMA right now?

Abidi: I was preparing for a superfight that was to take place in Marseilles on the 29th of April* for an organisation called TK2. No to be confused with K-1, TK2 are actually kickboxing tournaments for under 78kg.
I’m also training for K-1 Bercy that will take place 27th of May.
As for MMA, I have no particular plans now.

*(this tournament has since been delayed, due to scheduling problems)

Kakutougi: You injured yourself early in the fight against Goodridge. Can you tell us what happened and how you are doing right now?

Abidi: Yes, according to the doctor’s original diagnosis I tore a ligament in my ankle. I was supposed to have surgery immediately, but because I had the fight against Ologun organized for the end of the month, I was obliged to rest for the month, not straining it at all, fight the fight and then have the surgery afterwards.
Finally, it got better on its own; the doctors did not really understand why. So I didn't need to have surgery, and since then I have been training normally. It hurts less, and I don't have many problems. A little more time and it should be healed.

Kakutougi: What gets you going in a fight? No disrespect intended, but you have lost in stand-up against Quinton Jackson, at the same time gone the distance, and won against the more awarded boxer, Botha.

Abidi: Besides money, nothing much. (laughs)
The problem is that everyone has ups and downs. There are moments in life when you feel better than others. There are also some fighters you feel more comfortable fighting with than others, and well, some things you just can't explain.
It is true I should have beaten Quinton Jackson and even Goodridge. However, I am someone who wins when you don't expect it, and, the opposite is also true. It is what a sport career is sometimes about: you have to accept a loss, sometimes against people less well ranked. After all, there is no Superman.

Kakutougi: Though your record recently has not been the best, your popularity in Japan has been soaring. In fact, in October last year when you faced Musashi, the crowd was chanting your name. What is it about you do you think it is the Japanese like so much or can identify with?

Abidi: About the popularity, more than the fighting style and the fight itself, there is the personality of the fighter that also counts. And in fact I am quite natural, and maybe people feel it. So, I think that is part of it. In Japan, I also often make public appearances; I am approached often, I accept to take a lot of pictures with the fans. Maybe this little friendliness makes them to like me, but honestly, it is a very difficult question to answer.

Kakutougi: Thank you very much for your time, and we wish you the best of luck for 2005.

Abidi: Thank you too, and sayonara!