After a rocky beginning to his amateur mixed martial arts journey, Navid Mirzaiy is finally seeing all the pieces fall into place.
Representing North Vancouver, Mirzaiy (3-6) is set to face Kenora's Phil Lauzon (2-2) in an amateur welterweight matchup featured in the co-main event slot of BFL 62, taking place Saturday evening in Richmond, British Columbia.
The 32-year-old Mirzaiy had begun his amateur career with five straight losses before turning things around with three victories in his past four outings. He enters Saturday's card on a two-fight winning run.
Mirzaiy credits much of his recent turnaround to a wrestling game that has improved dramatically alongside his already-solid striking foundation.
"I jumped into fighting just a few months into my training, and back then my wrestling was nowhere near as developed as my striking," Mirzaiy explained during an interview. "I ended up facing mostly wrestlers whose game plan was to shoot for takedowns and hold me down for three full rounds."
"That's exactly what I've been working on. Right now, I feel like my wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu have caught up to where my striking already was, and that's probably why I've been getting wins more consistently in recent fights."
Mirzaiy certainly isn't unfamiliar with going the distance—he's completed all nine minutes of seven of his nine amateur contests.
Yet despite his tendency for lengthy fights, Mirzaiy anticipates Saturday's matchup will end sooner rather than later.
"My goal is to get a finish. If he fights the way he did in the last bout I saw him in, I don't see us going past the first round," Mirzaiy noted.
"I'm looking to wrap this up as fast as I can."
Beyond his ability to endure championship-caliber rounds, Mirzaiy brings a significantly larger amateur portfolio to the table—nine fights compared to Lauzon's four.
According to Mirzaiy, those years of amateur competition have sharpened his ring awareness far beyond what he possessed early on, a development he expects to serve him well on Saturday evening.
"During my initial five bouts, I wasn't fully tuned into what was happening," Mirzaiy shared.
"These days, stepping into the cage feels almost like sparring. I'm hyper-aware of everything around me—I can hear my corner calling out, I read situations before they unfold, and I'm able to make smart choices on the fly."
Lauzon Prepared For War
On the opposite end of the spectrum, 20-year-old Lauzon has never made it past the final bell in his professional run, which features a single first-round knockout victory.
Nevertheless, despite never completing three full rounds, Lauzon insists he doesn't anticipate any trouble making that milestone.
"I genuinely feel like I get stronger as the fight progresses," Lauzon told reporters.
"I tend to find my rhythm once I've gotten heated up. Perhaps I'm starting off too cool, but I consistently perform better as the rounds add up."
Coming out of United Fighter alongside former UFC competitor Jesse Bongfeldt, Lauzon is certainly well-equipped for whatever comes his way.
Though Mirzaiy brings solid striking chops, Lauzon is convinced he possesses the upper hand across every discipline as they walk into the cage.
"Any fighter can refine a particular area, but I'd put my money on my all-around skill set to dictate how this bout plays out," Lauzon stated.
BFL 62 initially had its date set for June 8 before being moved to July 6. According to Lauzon, he had also been slated to compete on the June 8 card and was preparing to challenge Austin Batra for the amateur welterweight championship until Batra suffered an injury.
Although the matchup remains unconfirmed, Lauzon feels this bout could determine the number one contender, with the victor earning a shot at Batra down the line at a future BFL card.
"I see it as a perfect platform to build my reputation and demonstrate what I'm truly capable of," Lauzon stated.
Mirzaiy's Acknowledgments
"I want to extend my gratitude to my coach and every teammate at Lions MMA, the Battlefield Fight League for giving me this chance, Phil for traveling from Ontario to put on an exciting card, and MMA Empire for conducting this interview." Find Mirzaiy online: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
Lauzon's Acknowledgments
"I owe thanks to everyone at United Fighter, particularly my head coach Jesse Bongfeldt and several crucial sparring partners. My family means everything to me, so I'm grateful to my parents for their unwavering support." Connect with Lauzon on social media: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
