Ola Akande:      

                What’s happening Fight Week Show people, we are back with a new one, and we are here with my brother, my guy, Black Panther. How are you doing, my bro?

Terence Balelo:

                I’m doing good. I’m good. I’m good.

Ola Akande:      

                Good to to finally have you back on the on the channel, you know? I mean, I know we’ve planned quite a few things, but timing, timing issues didn’t let it happen. But today you’re here and I’m so I’m so I’m so excited to have you all. How is how is everything going with you, man?

Terence Balelo:

                I’m happy to be back in your show. It’s always a pleasure being on the show, man. I love having me over since day one, and it’s been appreciated. I mean, yeah.

Ola Akande:      

                You’re you’re a real one, man. I mean, some of our interactions, you know, the conversations we have everything that whenever I speak to you, I always feel like, you know, everything comes from a genuine place. And, you know, your your your hard working guy and and and you put 100% into everything you do out. You know, I follow you and your insta we see your stories, we see your journey.

Ola Akande:      

                We see, you know, the things that you know that you’ve been able to overcome in terms of your career. And the trajectory that your career has had in hand is only going to one place is heading to the top. And you know, we we intend to be right there with you on that journey.

Ola Akande:      

                And we’re going to be pushing out as much as we can. We’re going to be putting you out there, bringing of putting your voice out to the people to listen to as much as we can. So let’s go back. I want to cast your mind back to, you know, the the last time that we spoke and just just taking a look back at some of the some of the fights that you’ve been involved in.

Ola Akande:      

                Right. The last one that you had was leave my thing. You, me, Mundo Mundo. I don’t want to kill his name, but. MARTIN Let’s call him. Martin Right. You had a fantastic fight with him, first round submission. But take me back to the operation for that fight. And because we’ve not really spoken since since that fight happened, what was your whole preparation going into that fight, stepping into that fight with that guy and ultimately, you know, executing the way you did because it was flawless, the way you executed a fight.

Terence Balelo:

                Distinguished opponent opponents. Yeah. So after September, I made my debut in September and I told my coach he needed that advice. Tell great. I want to get back in there as soon as possible. So the plan was to get in November and I don’t know. Those two fighters didn’t want to fight. So I was like, okay, fine, get you on a December card.

Terence Balelo:

                So he said, They’re going to get him. Is that the Birdman name? Martine’s name came up and I was like, okay, listen, this guy’s a bantamweight. Is he going to make is a guarantee that he’s going to come down south in making and break up. These coaches said that he’s going to make the weight and he’s willing to come down.

Terence Balelo:

                And I was like, okay, that’s that’s on him. That’s on you coming down. That’s that’s that’s a big step for him to come down. So I took the fight. I told myself for me to be the best and for me to go out there and show everyone in my mind, the real people, the real ones, to show them that answers is to take this risk.

Terence Balelo:

                A lot of the guys in the division don’t want to take this risk. So I took the risk and I thought I fought. MARTIN And training camp was a I didn’t walk. We walked a lot of an overall we walked a lot of wrestling. What were the now striking Just making things up the fall. And then they fights just to show that I’m not just a guy in those games.

Terence Balelo:

                Like, you know, people are like and some of the people as well. Training went well and just two weeks before the fight a wrestling practice I, I thought my arms MCO and that also kind of all the physio though the physio told us it’s so great and but it could get worse now. It could get worse if he kicks it kicks me against the leg or something happens, I lose my knee again.

Terence Balelo:

                And so two weeks to prepare for Martin. I did a lot of rehab. I did a lot of physical therapy, went to my physio, did a lot of that exercises to strengthen the neck. And I went out there with a mindset of I don’t I don’t care what happens, I just want to fight at UFC 100 because it was a big, big event.

Terence Balelo:

                Yeah, started to these events and to go out there and put up a show and go out and perform and get my name out there. Yeah. And even though he did kick my knee, I was like, I’m gonna take this blows. I don’t care what happens if I torments my if it goes on to ACL tear. And again, I just, I just wanted to go to fight but it’s it’s I’m without a fight.

Terence Balelo:

                I’m, I’m lost now the bar is with you. I don’t know. After every fight, I sit in a hotel and I’m like, now I’m lost. I want to play. I want to fight over.

Ola Akande:      

                The fight again.

Terence Balelo:

                So after that, I was lost and I was like, okay, I want to get in this soon as possible, but obviously had to do damage on my knee and sort of knee out. But going back to the fight, you know, the whole the old bull, that was amazing. Me, I just felt nice The whole week felt good. Even though I brought it out, I felt amazing.

Terence Balelo:

                And I told myself, Hey, actually, Scotty performing Do you Want to Be You and Rise to the occasion? And I did it and I went there to stop modeling is a nice move, though.

Ola Akande:      

                Oh, yeah. I mean you’re you’re face off with them was very intense. Very intense. And you challenged them a lot, trying to get in his head to make weight because you knew how difficult it was going to be for him. And, you know, if he’s generally a bigger guy coming down to your weight class, you know, making it was going to be very difficult for him.

Ola Akande:      

                And maybe that will support some of some of the energy that great some of the power that is going to bring it up to to the flyweight is that was not part of the plan.

Terence Balelo:

                To stay that that was part of the whole plan. The thing is is I I don’t play this stuff out. It just happens. It’s just happens. All I’m worried about, I’m all about the mental part of the fight. The fight game as well as know. Yeah. You wanted to beat the opponent, you know, mentally also. So I’m doing all the stuff.

Terence Balelo:

                I’m like learning from guys like Connor and guys like this and guys like Ali. So I’m meeting all these guys and starting over.

Ola Akande:      

                Guys like Johnny Bones. I see. I see you watching. I see you watching this thing the other day. And I said, What did I say to you in that, you know, on your on your, on your or your commonly your comment list. I said this. This is a great guy to learn from. I, I saw you just testing and you was there learning, focusing on what was going on and you know like you said you still learning you’re you’re in a unit.

Ola Akande:      

                You in a great way. I learned from from the best especially from from your coaches that’s been with you from from day one in 2000, 19 when you when you made this journey, people forget how young you are in this sport to be fighting at the level that you’re fighting it back. And it’s crazy to to be doing that.

Ola Akande:      

                You know, at just 22 years old. It’s incredible. I can’t you know, I can’t. I can’t crazy enough. Let’s go back a little bit and take a look back at how your entry into into me because taking short notice fights and and I know you’ve had a few of those. You know, taking short notice fights what what’s the what’s the difference in in in that mentality in the psyche of take your shot not to fight because you don’t you clearly do not have a full camp or you don’t have a camp at all in some cases and you just go straight into the fight.

Ola Akande:      

                How how does that how does that differentiate from taking the shot look just like to as opposed to having a full camp in a fight?

Terence Balelo:

                So so for me, taking the shotgun set up basically would just be like I always am, always in. I’m always trained. So outside of my fighters, I’m always with my training is in coach. I’m always putting in the work to stay in shape. So when an opportunity comes, I’ll take it with both ends. Yeah, but they’re going to fight.

Terence Balelo:

                Sometimes it’s. It’s what? It’s more it doesn’t give you a lot of stress. And I mean, because you taking a fight, a full camp fight is a lot of stress going through it constantly. One of the fights preparing for a fight, starting the opponent. So I know this fights. You just enjoy just going in. So if you believe in yourself and you trust in your coaches and the team and you try to use you deep it and you will and you are the best.

Terence Balelo:

                Take each other’s fighting out in for all. And you know, look what’s going on this fight despite still that is a lot of guys who took on fights and became world champions in it. Yeah but so I’m all about taking that risk all I’m just saying that. Oh well, sure. No is a matter if they know what calls me now and ask me in two weeks time or one week’s time, I’m taking it.

Terence Balelo:

                You’re ready?

Ola Akande:      

                Yeah. But I love I love that mentality. It’s incredible, you know, from from from from somebody of your background, your your your your, your heritage and having that mindset, you know, because that’s elite mindset. You want to be the best and, you know, shut notice, call out or shut, notify or shut notice of us. It’s not going to be it’s not going to stand in your way.

Ola Akande:      

                You’re always going to take take that chance. I know you’re very, very family orientated. You know, I speak to you a lot in private. And the amount of times that you speak to me about your grandma, your grandparents, your grandma, your granddad, and the influence that they have in your life, bringing you up and on and on and, you know, going, supporting you with this career that you’re not, even though they might not like it because they always feel worried for you.

Ola Akande:      

                And that’s that’s only normal. Any parent and grandparents brother is going to feel like that But you know they’re supporting you in the journey that that you’re in right now. Can you can you tell the people, you know, the plans that they’ve that they’ve had on you, you know, what they’ve done for you in terms of, you know, want to give your your family some training.

Ola Akande:      

                So please tell us about, you know, your upbringing in general.

Terence Balelo:

                You know, so I grew up I grew up on a farm a lot with my parents. My mom was mostly working in college, so she was blessed with an internship to make money. It was you can send it home for us. Yeah. You were growing up on a farm. Yeah. Sorry. It it it’s. It’s super nice. I mean, it was living.

Terence Balelo:

                It. It was. It was like living in paradise on a farm.

Ola Akande:      

                Yeah.

Terence Balelo:

                A lot of it on the farm. I’m like, Is this a grown up? My grandparents on it is amazing. It was amazing. It’s always amazing. Just see what they went for. Me or my sister or my cousins. Mm hmm. Just give us all a great life. And just to show what? It doesn’t matter where you come from that anything in everything that you want to achieve.

Terence Balelo:

                What’s up with you being you trusting yourself, Believe in yourself if you pray. So just growing up with them is amazing. My grandma is one of my my biggest supporters. I love her to bits that were to bits. I don’t know. I’m a strange boy sometimes.

Ola Akande:      

                You.

Terence Balelo:

                Know, Sometimes you support me too much even to go now. I know. Yeah, come on. But I’m 22 years old. Come on. Don’t bother me so much.

Ola Akande:      

                Oh, man.

Terence Balelo:

                I want to do a lot for. Well, I want to. I want to give that for before she was born. So, yeah, I want to. I want to do a lot of things for my grandpa as well. He’s also been a big love brother, so I want all of the I know I’m to do all of them for my mom as well.

Terence Balelo:

                My mom is also amazing person even though she have an input, but she’s oh my God, You know, loved the basement.

Ola Akande:      

                Fantastic. Fantastic. And it’s so good to, you know, because it’s it’s all well and good talking about this stuff when you’ve eventually made it and but like when you on come up the way your you’re on the come up right now you know appreciating what family and having good people around you. It goes a long way in having a successful career you know you say is the bedrock of of the and a good foundation to to to keep you up to keep you grounded as you as you elevate in your career.

Ola Akande:      

                So, you know. Thank you for opening up about that that that’s really, really important and it gets people to see the sort of person that you are, you know, outside of the cage as well as when you turn it on. And you’re going to be smooth when you’re you know, when you’re in the cage. Let’s talk about let’s shift gears a little bit and I’ll go to some of the stuff that’s been happening in and around the May may scene.

Ola Akande:      

                Um, you know, we’ve we, we had EFC if you want a one of a day it was a crazy, crazy card. You know we had Nicholas one day, you know, defending his title in a fantastic fashion. We had the Strawweight title fight we’ve Adalind versus I guess what I mean, that’s love to just die. Just, you know, she’s a friend of the show, as you know.

Ola Akande:      

                Just give us a brief overview of what you thought about the card. And we know you would love to compete on that card as well because you were supposed to be on the card with with Jess. And I look Michael for four for EFC, ninth. Yeah, for 99. You are supposed to be on the card with them, you know.

Ola Akande:      

                But, but you know for some reason a lot of things didn’t happen to happen for that card. And here we are. So let me know what you thought of if the one on one and if you was just itching yourself like I could have been on the card.

Terence Balelo:

                Of course. Of course. Our eating all up, even after the fight, I called out to a couple other friends do that all green card or give me on the card match. I want to fight the French too. It is going to happen. But it is very big. But if you want to learn how to be awesome again, that was amazing to to see the up and coming guys.

Terence Balelo:

                Just put it all out there, man. It was a lot of finishes.

Ola Akande:      

                Yeah.

Terence Balelo:

                And it was super excitement and just the main card was amazing from the prelim up to the whole main event was a nick. When you went out there and just me and I knew I knew was going with, you know, I was like, okay, the quitting. Yeah. And I was like, okay, he’s a tough dude. But much respect to him, he’s OG in the game.

Terence Balelo:

                But Nicholas Young is angry and he went out and he’s a he’s a, he’s a show, he’s a showman, shows up and well, main event I love going into that I was oh, it was tricky for me because I thought, Jess is going to win that one because the Arcadia was me. Cause I said, if, if Ella’s trying to sell out too much, I’ll show me the radish the second, the third, the fourth, fourth was.

Terence Balelo:

                Yes. So they stopped the fight because of the cut in. And I was like, okay, it’s a bummer, but I truly believe she’s going to be back. Yeah. Then ever more motivated was going in there and only I think only to find your three fights, fighting in the main event. That says a lot. That’s a lot. That’s right.

Terence Balelo:

                A lot of Ella’s showed up and she got the job done, but nothing but respect both ladies in that respect for everyone. That the EFC is amazing. What they doing, man. It putting up quite great match ups and I’m I’m I’m super children super honored to be one of the fighters man and woman. Yeah I wasn’t I caught.

Ola Akande:      

                Them and it was an awesome card. I loved the card. The card was really, really good. Some real quality quality fight, some quality quality finishes, you know? I mean, the South African scene is massive. I mean, and I’m doing at least my part to bring some of that to to the UK audience, to bring that some of that to the UK viewers people people that love me over here to really, really see, you know, shine a light on, on the South African scene and show people, you know, what people are really doing over there because yeah, it’s all well and good for the guys that are really left that scene and gone on to start

Ola Akande:      

                doing big things with the UFC. But there is a they came from somewhere, you know, there’s people that educated them, that taught them, that brought them up to the standard where they can go and fight in the UFC. So we need to shine a light on where they came from and that, you know, the source of how they turned out to be, how they are.

Ola Akande:      

                And let’s look at, you know, on March four, Johnny Bonds card was one of your, you know, one of your idols that you that you really fuck with, along with Conor McGregor, people that do not know you, people that are going to follow, you know, some of your interviews, some of the, you know, the things that you’ve said about these guys, they know that you, you really, really look up to people like McGregor and, and Jon Jones career wise.

Ola Akande:      

                But when you look at the people that’s come out of Africa on that card and I’m talking about camera assignment, maybe I’m talking about Drake, the place, the how does it make you feel? I’m proud that these guys are flying to South Africa, flag on the international stage out there for the world to see and you want out.

Ola Akande:      

                Does that make you want to be part of, you know, something like that?

Terence Balelo:

                It’s it’s it’s amazing. It’s amazing to see me because I watched I watched the biggest fight. I watched Cameron’s fight and just seeing Cameron in the cage, getting a nail that was powerful. And I was literally getting Goose putting myself. I’m going to be that now. If you’re going to do what I could. Well, I’m super. Well, I’m.

Terence Balelo:

                I’m coming. This is coming from an honest place. Yeah. I’m super, super proud of what Simon is doing because he’s doing not just they paving the way they paved the way for us. They they are up and coming guys. They showing us all that there is is hope. You can get it done. If we can do it, you guys can.

Terence Balelo:

                Yeah. And we stick to to the grind. And I talked with my coach last night about it and I truly want to be there one day and I told him I’m going to be there, you know, I want to be there side those guys, the side. Simon The side. He doesn’t look at playing outside plays on my end and paved the way for the guys.

Terence Balelo:

                So what they’re doing is amazing. Think about the respect for them and and wishing them well. Put up for the future. Yeah, actually, I’m going up to that time in the ranks. I and I see the title belt also this year probably in the fight for the belt.

Ola Akande:      

                If possible for that Yemen.

Terence Balelo:

                Yeah well that might.

Ola Akande:      

                I mean there’s nothing there’s nothing to say I mean for me you know in the next in the next maybe two or three fights this before the end of this year, there’s nothing to say. You could you can get in. I’m putting, you know, for something like the No wife contender series maybe going on on the ultimate fight as a chance to really get yourself a contract.

Ola Akande:      

                You know, in the UFC, everything is possibly to set your mind to it. And I truly believe in you that, you know, you’ve got the capabilities, you’ve got the attitude, you’ve got the mentality you’ve got, you’ve got the skillset to to, to really make all that happen. You just in my you just need a break, you know? I mean, I know once that break falls on your on your lap, on your hands, you’re going to run with it and grab it with both hands.

Ola Akande:      

                I have no doubt about that. I truly believe I truly believe that will happen.

Ola Akande:      

                But before we let you go, because, you know, I’m very, very conscious of the time and I know how how how busy you are, you know, with a lot of the stuff that you’re doing. Tell us about what you’ve got coming up, what you’re involved in and you know, where what we can expect from you, you know, in 2023 in general, what we can expect for you, what you’ve got coming up here.

Terence Balelo:

                So I’ve got a fight coming up now, EFC one and three will be in eight weeks time. So it’s eight weeks and a few days to prepare. But I’ve been fighting I’ve been in fight camp since February. Yeah, because I think I dealt with through, but that didn’t happen. So I was yeah, the UFC wanted it. Well, I got to stay focused on this one.

Terence Balelo:

                I’m fighting a tough do. The tough kid is to an old scrappy guy role, but I’m going to go out and if one or three and I’m going to go out there and put this guy away, nothing but respect into making him you. But I just feel that this is my time and I’m going to stop this, too.

Terence Balelo:

                And besides did a lot of big things coming up also. So we’re looking looking to get some sponsors on board as well as upcoming fight, but not just for the fight, but long term waste.

Ola Akande:      

                No time waste.

Terence Balelo:

                Long term waste on school. I got I got a sponsor came up for me. I have a bed in this house. It’s been the owners of the guest house. They from and down where I’m from they came on board and they’re going to sponsor me for a year out. So we still we still always we still I’m still in talks with them.

Terence Balelo:

                So we’re grateful for that. And you can what you guys can inspire for me this year is just I’m all for fights for this year. I wrote it down last year, December. I said after four fights, I want to fight for the belt and I want to win the bout in the UFC and and then want to get my UFC.

Terence Balelo:

                They know what contender this opportunity and go out and get a contract.

Ola Akande:      

                So fantastic, right?

Terence Balelo:

                Bring it I’m putting it happens.

Ola Akande:      

                Oh, he’s going to happen man you just got to have faith you got believe it’s going to happen man.

Terence Balelo:

                That’s the South. So you guys can expect fireworks. We expect fireworks. He has a long history. He’s going to be the first one. Yeah. I’ll put up a show to show up when I’m on the show out again for you guys from Plastic.

Ola Akande:      

                Fantastic. Fantastic. Look, we’ve we, we. We want nothing but the best for you. We’re always rooting for you. And, you know, we love what you do. We love the way you carry yourself. We love the way that you apply your skills in. You know, in the case And long may continue and Yeah, yeah. You’ve got your your fight show on.

Ola Akande:      

                We can see it right there for up to fight shirt right there and yeah my God I love your fight shit I mean, I mean where can people get and people get one of these, you know, I mean we should be rocking one of these or you’re fighting over here in the UK.

Terence Balelo:

                But I told my coach, we’ve got this one done for my first fight right? I told my coach, let’s, let’s get, let’s, let’s get more done, let’s get more done. And we can we can start a business. Let’s begin.

Ola Akande:      

                Yeah, let’s match that up, man. You know, I mean, put some margin that women want support.

Terence Balelo:

                So I’m talking my coach again, going to sit down, we can discuss this and yeah, and once we come to the decision and can get this out there, send it to you guys and you came and I love Sanchez what I need.

Ola Akande:      

                Like forgive him. I am a I mean, we’re we’re trying we’re trying we’re trying to get out there and you know, where you can find one of these is on WW dot the fight we Shoko on all our matches on there the had the tops you know we’ve got jumpers everything is is is on the you just go go on our website on the on the on the fight we show dot com website you’re going to find the all of them but look you’ve always been fantastic.

Ola Akande:      

                We’ve also been very very generous with your time and I really, really appreciate it. You know, you’re a special guy and I wish you well. I wish you all the best from from from from the fight week. So can you tell us, you know, the before we let you go, know the people that you want to thank, your coaches, your gym, your, you know, spouses that you have, you know, family members.

Ola Akande:      

                Please, you have the floor.

Terence Balelo:

                Yeah. So I just want to give a big shout out to my my team, my coaches. ABRAHAMS If I’m cool. So I’m conditioning my training partner. I agree with Karen Jacobs. He goes as the Butcher 61 KGO, and he’s got it in for check him out. He’s done previously as well. And my and my verify is Jacob’s the troublemaker.

Terence Balelo:

                So except and not a big shout out to my sponsors Riverbend guest house boy Big Joe from the blessed bless but by God and my physio because I learned my massage said it was consider it composed the shock therapy and yeah and then the journey in the fight show as well We chatted you guys. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Terence Balelo:

                My family. Go Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, sister, cousins, Veggies. I love you guys. Thank you so much for this. Again, I’m a dynamo. I’m cool. I was going to go places. We’re going to go places for sure. Yeah.

Ola Akande:      

                And we’re going to be right there with you, man. We’ve got to be right there with you. Anyways, we’ve come to the we’ve come to the end of the show, people. If you haven’t followed Black Panther on Easter, only socials going to do that right now. We’re going to have everything. You’re not in our descriptions below. Go. Go and follow him.

Ola Akande:      

                Go and check out what he’s doing. Go to support him. And you know, all these fighters that that that put their bodies on the line for for our entertainment purposes, the least we can do is support them in this economy, show them some love. And, you know, I encourage people to to go to your page and and check check out what you’re doing and support you on that.

Ola Akande:      

                And then up until the next video, people as well as Vita where are.