Namibian mixed martial artist Stephan Kuhn (17) recently returned home with a bronze medal from the prestigious World Championships in Dubai.
He describes the feta as both personally rewarding and an inspiration for young fighters back home. Kuhn bagged a bronze medal at the competition after he defeated Nikolozi Dzamashvili in the 97-kilogramme (kg) heavyweight division.
Reflecting on the journey, he shared that his toughest battle came way before stepping into the cage.
The African championship, held prior to the World Championship, saw him partake in the 120kg division.
However, adjustment had to be made after learning that the specific weight class was scrapped from the competition, forcing him to drop to 97kg division. “That meant cutting 22.5kg in just seven weeks,” Kuhn explained.
“It was a massive challenge both physically and mentally. But we prepared well, knowing most of my opponents would be wrestlers, so our training focused heavily on wrestling and countering their style,” he added.
Despite the demanding weight cut, he said he embraced the challenge in Dubai, where he rubbed shoulders with the discipline’s best athletes in the World. “Competing at the championship was an incredible experience. The venue was amazing. It was inspiring to see so many athletes from all over the world,” he said.
“Of course, it was stressful stepping into the cage, but at the same time, it was exciting and rewarding. The competition was tough. These are the best athletes in the world, so every fight was a challenge,” Kuhn added.
He said the bronze medal was a reminder of the importance of preparation and respect for every opponent.
“One of the biggest lessons I took away is to never underestimate anyone. Whether an opponent is taller, shorter, bigger or smaller, they can still beat you if you’re not fully prepared,” he remarked.
For Kuhn, the medal serves as a personal motivation, but he hopes his recent triumph can serve as motivation the country’s next generation.
He added that, heading forward, he hopes to go professional. Kuhn aspires to gun for a gold medal at next year’s event.
“This was a big achievement for me personally, but I also hope it inspires young athletes in Namibia. I want them to see that it’s possible to compete at the highest level and represent our country on big stages like the UFC. My goal for next year is to win gold. Beyond that, I definitely want to turn professional. I don’t know exactly when that will happen, but it’s the direction I’m working toward,” he stated.
Phillip Kuhn praised his son for his impressive showing.
He said he feels parents should be supportive to increase chances of the winning.
“I’m truly excited about him winning a bronze medal at the World Championships. It was a tough journey, especially with the extreme weight cut in such a short time. To achieve it according to the plan, we laid out was a huge task, but he managed. I supported him all the way,” Phillip remarked.
“As parents, I believe we must give our children 100% support, even when times get tough. We need to stay mentally strong for them too. Honestly, I didn’t expect him to win a medal, but someone once told me: ‘dream with your head in the sky and your feet on the ground’. We must dream big, but also remain realistic, focused and humble,” he said.
Kuhn’s coach Carlos De Soussa praised him for his resilience and great skills.
“It was the first time for most of them, fighting against experienced opponents who are exposed to high levels of equipment and training facilities. However, we gave them a run for their money at the event,” he said.
“I am proud of all of them. We managed to clinch a bronze medal, which is Namibia’s first-ever bronze medal at the World Championship. That is a great sign. It shows that, with resources, the team could achieve major things,” stated the coach.
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na