Peter Grajcar is 26 years old fighter. He trains at the world famous Tristar gym, home to GSP and head coach Firas Zahabi. Currently, Grajcar is a Canadian fifth of the welterweight and with a 5-1 score is planning a breakthrough among the world's top.
You are born Canadian, but you have roots in Slovakia. How did your parents get to Canada?
My parents immigrated to Canada and I was born and raised in Ottawa. I had been to Slovakia many times as a kid and i love it out there. I mainly visited Bratislava and Piešťany.
When did you start training combat sports?
I did tae kwon do as a kid but quit at 11 right before black belt. I stopped martial arts for few yoars and then got back into it at 18, when I started with MMA.
Why did you take time off? What did you do?
I was an athlete played soccer, basketball whole life and American football in high school too, but all the sports, although I was good, something just didn’t feel right. Then I started up MMA and instantly knew what I want to do.
Tell me about your beginnings in MMA?
I started training just for fun, an extra workout to work cardio aside from lifting weights. Started accumulating knowledge and wanted to test it out so I had a fight, then I was hooked.
After some time you moved from Ottawa to Montreal. How was that?
My move to Montreal has been a difficult time right from the start since I’m not bilingual. I don’t speak much French so it’s hard to find a stable job with good hours to keep me financial stable. Struggle with paying rent and basic living expenses in order to survive and stay in Montreal but my perseverance to continue has kept me on this path.
How if fells like to train in one of the most famous training centre in the world Tristar?
It feels amazing to be able to train at one of the most famous training centers in the world. The knowledge and skills of all the coaches here really increases your skills tremendously, not to mention all the elite training partners I have here who travel from all over the world to come and stay for fight camps. It really is a privilege and I’m thankful.
We can´t miss the biggest star. How is GSP like?
GSP is a basic down to earth guy. He carries himself like a true champion in all aspects. He’s always trying to get better and to pass on the knowledge he knows to the rest of the fighters at Tristar in order to better the whole gym.
Could you describe your training process?
I train almost every day, 6 days a week on average and when I don’t work I train twice in the day. I’m always trying to get better and there’s only one way: train as much as possible.
What is your favorite combat style?
My favorite style is the one that gets you the victory!
Are there differences between UFC fighters and fighters outside the company?
There’s not much difference we all train a lot. There’s some difference in skill level but there’s some guys outside UFC who are better than some UFC fighters so it all depends. All us pros get together each day around noon and have a group training. It’s like a family here.
Talking the training, your head coach Firas Zahabi is true legend. What is he like?
Firas is an amazing coach one of the best if not best. The skills and knowledge he has of the fight game is insane, incredibly high fight IQ. He’s a great guy and knows how to get anyone better.
Tell me something about your pro MMA career? What is your favorite matchup?
I’m 5-1 as a pro with 4 stoppages. My favorite matchup was my fifth fight because it was first title and it went to the 5th round so I was happy I got all the cage experience and still had gas left in my tank so I know I can go 5 rounds.
You have contract with ACB, which is heading to Slovakia in April. Do you planning to fight there?
I would like to fight all over the world and to fight in Slovakia, country of my parents and where my blood is from, would be amazing. Unfortunately, I just found out the other day at hospital that I’ll might need eye surgery. So April could be out of the question sadly.
What's your main goal in the cage?
My main goal in the cage is to be the best and open up even more eyes to the sport of MMA make it more mainstream.
