Austin Bailor wanted to be an entertainer. Kickboxing gave him the opportunity to step into the spotlight, with all the eyes in the arena on him. And when the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Bailor turned his passion for fighting and UFC into a tangible and competitive part of his life.
Now, after putting kickboxing in the forefront, Bailor is preparing for the biggest event of his young career. After winning the ISKA New York state 135-pound title over Andreas Quiroz on Aug. 17, the 22-year-old Niagara Falls resident aims for a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the AMA ISKA World Championships Oct.
23-27 in Vienna, Austria. “It feels amazing,” Bailor said. “I’m honored that they asked me to go.
I was kind of baffled at first when they asked me. But hard work, it’ll get you anywhere if you believe in yourself. So we’re here now.
I’m happy to be here.” Standing at 5-foot-8, Bailor got on Team USA’s radar after defeating Massachusetts’ Jayden Mazariegos with a first-round knockout in June and moved on for a state title. And while training for his fight with Quiroz, Bailor was officially offered a spot.
After one fight in Muay Thai, a unanimous win against Pennsylvania’s Vishnu Shridhar in May 2022, Bailor moved to kickboxing, starting with a unanimous win against Frank Davenport in July 2022. But on his way towards Vienna, Bailor, who has a 4-1 overall fighting record and three wins in kickboxing, adopted a training routine for all his fights, with th.