5 Things You Might Not Know About Marcin Held

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Marcin Held’s trophy room lacks only a major mixed martial arts title.

The well-schooled lightweight hopeful will kick off his 2022 campaign in the Professional Fighters League when he rematches American Top Team’s Natan Schulte as part of the PFL 4 undercard on Friday at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. Held, 30, won their first meeting by unanimous decision a little more than a year ago and enters the cage having rattled off five victories across his past six outings. He last appeared on June 10, 2021, when he wound up on the wrong side of a unanimous verdict against Olivier Aubin-Mercier and missed out on the PFL playoffs.

As Held approaches his crucial confrontation with Schulte at 155 pounds, here are five things you might not know about him:

1. He wore the prodigy label well.

Held made his professional mixed martial arts debut at the age of 16 when he submitted Mateusz Piorkowski with an armbar 4:01 into the first round of their pairing under the Abak Moto banner on Sept. 28, 2008. He went on to fight 14 times as a teenager, compiling a 12-2 record. In a grown man’s game, Held excelled as a kid.

2. The Gentle Art has become second nature for him.

The Polish lightweight holds the rank of black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Just 21 years of age at the time, Held was promoted by Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhaes in 2013. He remains true to his roots, having delivered more than half (14) of his 27 career victories in MMA by submission.

3. He prioritizes preparedness.

Held operates out of the Bastion academy, a Gracie Barra affiliate in his native Tychy, Poland. He serves as the mixed martial arts coach and works under head trainer Slawomir Szamota. Held has also spent time sharpening his skills at the Ankos MMA gym, which has been home Norman Parke, Makhmud Muradov and Michal Oleksiejczuk, among others.

4. He does not shrink under the spotlight.

The decorated grappler more than holds his own at the highest levels of mixed martial arts. Held carries a 13-7 combined record in his 20 appearances with Bellator MMA, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Professional Fighters League.

5. Resilience provides him with another layer of security.

Only two men have finished Held during his 35-fight career. Michael Chandler put him to sleep with an arm-triangle choke at Bellator 36 on March 12, 2011, and Damir Hadzovic cut him down with a knee strike at UFC Fight Night 109 on May 28, 2017.