Tommy Strydom trains while most fighters sleep.
He wakes up at 3 o’clock each morning to train for two hours before his workday begins. The South African-born Strydom spends nine months out of the year working at a farm in Nebraska. He is one of the more than 5,000 South Africans currently working in the United States as a part of the H-2A Visa Program.
The hard-working Strydom is 2-0 in the BKFC Squared Circle. He returns to action against Corey Roberts (1-0) in a featherweight matchup at BKFC Fight Night Omaha, LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App on May 17 from Liberty First Arena.
It’s been almost a year since Strydom has graced the Squared Circle, and he’s ready to make up for lost time in Omaha. The supremely confident 145-pound contender knows his early mornings in the gym will pay off on fight night.
Strydom works so hard to give a better life to his son and mother, who live year round in South Africa. Another goal for Strydom is to help bring BKFC, the world’s fastest growing combat sports promotion, to South Africa.
But first, he’s ready to make a statement in Omaha.
“I respect my opponent for stepping into the ring with me, and doing the sport – we all sacrifice a lot to train and compete at this level – but I believe I’ll end this fight in the first round,” he says.
“If it goes to the second round, I’ll finish it in the second.”
