Kristof Midoux : the time is now?

By Joao Pedro Tinoco, Gracie Magazine Senior Editor, 24 November 2003

Martials Arts are huge in France. The country is internationally known for the high level of its Judo and Muay Thai, with world class fighters such as Olympic Champion David Douillet and K-1 superstar Jerome LeBanner. Other traditional styles like karate and aikido have tens of thousands of practitioners. But even with all this the country hasn’t been able to establish itself in the Mixed Martial Arts world. Not until now, because this seems to be about to change.

Following the crossover of K-1 fighters into the vale-tudo world in Japan, LeBanner has been selecting the best France has to offer in order to build a powerful team. His most recent pick is 185cm, 105kg Kristof Midoux, probably the country’s number one MMA fighter. At 28 years old and with an extensive record in minor events around the globe, it seems like the time has finally come for Kristof. I caught up with him right after another training session in Menton, a tiny French Riviera city that stands between Monaco and Italy, to find out what’s up.

There has been a lot of talk in France concerning your addition to Jerome LeBanner’s team. Apparently he even spoke about it on a TV show. What is really happening?

Kristof Midoux : Jerome LeBanner spoke to a friend of mine and then called me. He wanted to meet me and see me training. I met him in Paris, showed a tape with one of my fights and he liked it. Then last week I went to his house, where he has his own training center, and he saw me training and sparring. I didn’t know him before that and I truly think he is a nice and honest man. So hopefully he will help me in the future.

And what about the rumors saying that you might fight in Japan in December?

Kristof Midoux : Yes, it’s true. Jerome is trying to put me to fight in Japan in December. I still don’t know in which event or who my opponent will be, but he gave me the ok and I’m already training for the fight.

Do you think that with LeBanner’s help France might one day become a power in Mixed Martial Arts?

Kristof Midoux : Yes, I think so. Actually in my opinion he is the only person who can take the sport to another level in France. He’s a world class fighter with a lot of experience and he knows a lot of people. Being a high-level professional fighter, he cannot be fooled, because he can easily tell who has the skills and who doesn’t. And the more people he discovers, the better for him too, because he will have a strong team and many quality sparring partners. So yes, I do think he can make a big difference.

You have been involved with Mixed Martial Arts for many years now, and even though you have fought in some traditional events like UCC in Canada and Hook n Shoot in the U.S., you never really had a chance in a big show. Do you think your time has arrived?

Kristof Midoux : I think so. I hope so! (smile) I have already proven to everyone who knows me that I have skills and that I’m not afraid to fight. So yes the time is now, I can hardly wait to step in the ring to test myself in front of a big crowd and against high-level opponents. I’ve been through some really hard times, and now I want to be able to fight for a better life.

A few years ago you had a very serious car accident that not only kept you away from fighting but almost left you paralyzed. What happened?

Kristof Midoux : I had just returned to France after the 2000 BJJ Pan-Am Championship, and my baggage was lost. Then I received a call from the airport saying that they had found my bags. I was really tired and wanted to stay home and sleep to help kill the jet leg, but since I had to go all the way back to the airport, I decided to also go train. I rented a shitty car and it broke down on the highway. I pulled over and while I was calling a friend to pick me up, bang!, a 38 ton. truck hit my car from behind. The car was completely destroyed and I broke the window and jumped outside. That’s when I felt my neck powerless. I had broken two neck bones. The doctors said I needed surgery and that I’d never walk again. I refused to accept it and left the hospital. Another doctor even told me that it was possible to recover, but it was more likely I would commit suicide after six months trying to get better. I spent two years in hell, but finally made it. I lost some mobility on my neck, and I’ve been living with some pain, but I made it. I train normally and fight professionally. To be honest I think the accident made me a better fighter, today I’m much stronger mentally.

Even though you cross-train like most modern MMA fighters, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is your big passion. How did you get so closely involved with BJJ?

Kristof Midoux : I’m a fourth degree black belt in Kyokushinkai Karate, but like most people around the world, I was impressed with Royce Gracie fighting in the UFC. Then I went to a Rickson seminar in Paris, and I wanted to see him live, touch him, feel him. He caught me in an armlock in a few seconds, I didn’t even have time to tap, he was so fast that he stopped it himself (smile). That was about six years ago. And ever since that I’ve been to Brazil 15 times to learn and train BJJ. Whenever I have a chance to go there, I go. Because in Brazil, unlike France, people want to train hard and improve.

Is it true that you can speak fluently Portuguese and also Russian?

Kristof Midoux : Yes, it’s true (smile). My first time in Brazil was really hard. And I knew that I should learn Portuguese in order to speak to all the people in the academy and not only to the master. Brazilians are very friendly, so whenever I learned a new word, I’d write it down in my notebook. I remember once this beautiful girl asked me something, and I felt really bad because I couldn’t understand anything. That’s the day I realized I HAD to learn the language! (smile) And about Russian, my girlfriend Natacha is Russian, so she helps a lot. I really like the language, and just like with Portuguese, I want to be able to speak to Russian wrestling and sambo masters.

How are you preparing for what can be considered the fight of your life?

Kristof Midoux : I’m training with the people who always helped me. There’s a big sambo academy near my house, run by Christian Bruzat, and I use it to train. I work out in Antibes, at the Versace Gym, owned by my friend Fofo, and also in Marseille with the guys from Jerome LeBanner’s team. So I spend most of my days driving around! (smile) I do BJJ, boxing, muay thai and wrestling, besides weights and conditioning. I’ll be in the best shape of my life for this fight.

Earlier this year you went to Sao Paulo, Brazil, to compete in the Abu Dhabi World Submission Wrestling Championship (ADCC). How was that experience?

Kristof Midoux : I fought Sean Alvarez and lost in the overtime. It was a good experience, but I need to learn the rules a little better and use more strategy. I always fight looking for the submission, but the level there is really high, so you need to pay attention to points. I had done well in the European Trials in Finland, where I submitted my first two opponents and lost by points in the final. Hopefully next time I’ll do much better.

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