Maslobojevas Sends a Warning: We Dealt With One – The Main One Remains

Lithuanian fighter Sergej Maslobojevas offers a candid look into his life philosophy, advocating for acceptance of circumstances and realistic expectations. "You just accept everything as it is and live with it," he states, noting that disappointment often stems from unmet expectations, particularly those the other party is unaware of. He views these as personal issues, not the fault of others.

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You just accept everything as it is and live with it. The most painful moments are when you have very high expectations and someone doesn't meet them. Especially when they don't even know about your expectations, you invent them yourself, and then you say: 'Oh, I thought, oh, I expected...'. These are your problems, man.

Maslobojevas also shared his approach to dining out. While he admits his girlfriend Santa sometimes finds his direct criticism of subpar food uncomfortable, he believes honest feedback is crucial for businesses striving for quality. "Why do you ask then? Is it just for show, that we care, but you can go and shit with your opinion?" he questions, framing his critiques as a way to help establishments grow if they are genuinely interested in improvement. If not, he accepts their offense as their own problem.

Reflecting on success, Maslobojevas highlights the drive of athletes who come from humble beginnings. "They have that hunger: for life, for aspirations, for self-expression," he explains. He contrasts this with those who have always been provided for, suggesting that initial setbacks can lead them to abandon their goals. True success, he implies, is forged through perseverance, involving "sweat, tears, and blood."

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Why do you ask then? Is it just for show, that we care, but you can go and shit with your opinion? That's how I calm Santa too: you think it's ugly to say that, but I'm helping them grow if they really care. If they don't care, then yes, they will just get offended, and that will be their problem too.

The fighter also addressed the often-aggressive image associated with martial artists, acknowledging lingering stereotypes from the 1990s that link the sport to criminality. He notes that some potential corporate sponsors are hesitant to support combat sports, preferring activities like basketball. Maslobojevas attributes the aggressive rhetoric used by some in his field to a strategy for attracting attention, comparing it to the ancient need for "bread and circuses."

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The most successful athletes are often those who came from nowhere. They have that hunger: for life, for aspirations, for self-expression. If a person has been provided for all their life, their first failure, the first difficulties – and they immediately think, oh, maybe it's better to do something else. But not here – sweat, tears, blood. You wipe your snot and move on, because you understand that this is your chance, the key to success.

Looking ahead, Maslobojevas expressed a measured anticipation for a significant upcoming fight. He described himself as conservative and reserved, contrasting with more flamboyant colleagues. However, he acknowledged the necessity of showmanship for engagement. "If no one was showing off, it wouldn't be so interesting," he admitted. He confirmed that a highly anticipated confrontation is on the horizon, with one of the two individuals known for loud, aggressive talk already dealt with, leaving a "main one" to face. "So, Lithuania is rubbing its hands together and can't wait, and I will try to meet their expectations," he concluded.

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We still have traumas from the 90s: if you do martial arts, it means you are a criminal. There are companies with millions [in revenue] that say: we would gladly support you if you played basketball.