CHICAGO – Norbert Novenyi Jr. sees the glowing tweets and stories, and hears the podcasts and opinions.
Being deemed the “biggest prospect” in MMA is high praise. Despite the heightened expectations that comes with such pedestal-putting tags, Novenyi (7-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) typically embraces it all – as he did Friday with a scintillating knockout of Kamil Oniszczuk (9-3 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) at Bellator 297.
“Like they say, pressure makes diamonds,” Novenyi told MMA Junkie and others at a pre-fight news conference. “I thrive under pressure. That’s what I like to do. I like the lights. I like everything. I feel like now people are understanding the level I’m on. It’s crazy to think. Someone said that I’m the best hidden secret talent in MMA. Another guy said I’m the biggest prospect in MMA. I feel like now people are seeing that.
“It took me a lot of work. I’ve been fighting since I was a year-and-a-half. I started karate and I’ve been fighting since I was a kid. Now, it’s kind of paying off. I had two-and-a-half-years of injuries and now I’m here and performing and proving these people right who supported me. It’s an absolute pressure.
The performance was exciting and flash for as long as it lasted Friday. Novenyi came out in a typical karate stance. His hands were down by his sides. After many cuts in and out, Novenyi found his target with a brutal punch and finished the fight 46 seconds after it began.
The highlight went semi-viral and Novenyi likely registered on some radars he hadn’t previously. Novenyi thinks the win could finally elevate him into a matchup against a big name.
“I had to miss out on that Charlie Ward fight (in November 2021) and that’s really annoying,” Novenyi said. “I feel like that’s a fight that I kind of need to have. It would put me on that level of competition, as well, for the title. Maybe Dublin. If not Dublin, a fight after. I want to fight at the end of the year. I want to get three fights out this year, make some money, knock some people out. Happy days. What a comeback, huh?”
Novenyi, 23, is the son of the famous Hungarian Olympic wrestling gold medalist and kickboxing champion who bears the same name. With Friday’s win, Novenyi has six finishes in seven professional outings.
Prior to the fight, MMA Junkie released a mini-documentary on Novenyi, “‘On his way to greatness’: Norbert the Shootfighter,” which can be viewed below.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.
