By ADEM SARICAOGLU
IVO Dos Santos had devoted most of his life to judo to fulfil an Olympic dream.
Now nearly six months on since the London Games, the 27-year-old Sunbury Olympian born and raised in Melbourne’s West has decided to move on.
However, unlike most athletes who take a step back after reaching the pinnacle of their sport, Dos Santos is boldly venturing where few judokas have ventured before – the ever-growing and dangerous world of Mixed Martial Arts.
“I always said I’m not going to look any further than London because it was such a big build-up and it was so difficult,” Dos Santos said.
“I was obviously still motivated and still pretty keen and I still had a bit of an interest in MMA so I trained in both.
“I set myself two MMA fights and a judo world cup tournament at the end of 2012, and I wanted to gauge how I felt leading into those events and afterward.”
Dos Santos fought highly ranked local MMA fighter Callum Lewis in December before spending the Christmas break contemplating his future.
By the New Year he had made up his mind.
“I sat back and took some time away from it all,” Dos Santo said.
“I spoke to the family, had a chat to my coaches, weighed everything up in terms of lifestyle, career, training and everything – and then by New Year’s Day I was pretty much 100 per cent.
“That was when I restarted my training this year with those goals in mind.”
Dos Santos assures he is satisfied with his judo career, but is now looking forward to the fresh challenges MMA is about to throw at him.
“I definitely did milk the best out of the ability that I have, so I certainly didn’t undersell myself throughout my judo career,” Dos Santos said.
“Essentially judo’s still my first love in terms of my martial arts career – I’m still going to train until the day I die – but I found training in MMA was similar, yet very different and really stimulating.
“Learning and almost being a novice again was something I didn’t think I would enjoy, but I really did.”
While admitting an MMA fight is more nerve-racking than judo, Dos Santos says he gets a uniquely different kind of adrenaline rush when “you’re getting kicked and punched in the head”.
Although training will be his main priority in 2013, Dos Santos is eyeing off a potential career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but is well-aware nothing will be handed to him on a silver platter.
“I’m not unrealistic enough to expect that to happen any time soon and I’m very much committed to doing this for the next four, six, eight years, as long as my body holds up.”
