Doragon Sports recently had the opportunity to sit down with Zejna Krantic, a kickboxer and MMA fighter who has fought across the world, including Sweden, Russia, China, Spain, Finland- you name a country, there’s a good likelihood she’s stood in a cage or ring there. Warren spoke to her ahead of her next big kickboxing bout, which takes place in Tokyo, Japan, on October 15th.
How did you first get into fighting, and when did you realise you could have a career in it?
Honestly, it’s a bit of destiny and a bit of coincidence.
My father practised martial arts in his spare time, so I always wanted to do something like that. When I was young, I remember signing up for a self-defence class. I think that first class probably paved the way for where I am now. The same gym introduced me to jiu-jitsu, then MMA and I just fell in love with combat sports.
I was also incredibly fortunate to meet my current coach and manager at an event I attended with another team. He offered to train me and let me compete abroad. I accepted, and it completely changed my life.
This meant leaving behind the life I had built in Gijón and moving to Madrid. I’ve lived here in the Spanish capital for seven years now, continually training with my coach. During all this time, I have learned so much about martial arts and competition, but, more importantly, I have also grown enormously as a person – somewhere between that first self-defence class and working with my coach, I knew I could be successful at it.
You have competed in MMA, kickboxing, grappling and other martial arts. How do you balance MMA and kickboxing?
I have competed at the elite level in MMA and have been ranked number one in the world at 52 kg by GAMMA (Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts) for seven consecutive years, a position I still hold today. Maintaining that ranking for so long is something I am extremely proud of and reflects years of discipline, consistency and commitment to improving as an athlete.
Yet that success in MMA left me with a question. I always felt that kickboxing had a very special place in my heart. I was extremely curious to see what I could do in kickboxing.
I didn’t want to spend my life wondering, “What would have happened if I had tried it?” So I decided to enter the K-1 tournament in Barcelona. I had the kickboxing fight and loved it. Since then, I haven’t thought twice about competing in it, and that’s why I’m still doing it now.
For me, switching between MMA, kickboxing and grappling isn’t really difficult. I also teach grappling and jiu-jitsu, so all of these disciplines are part of my life. Each one gives me something different, and I genuinely enjoy moving from one to another.
You represent Bosnia internationally, but you are also travelling with WKN Spain. What does representing both Bosnia and Spain mean to you?
For me, representing Bosnia and Spain comes directly from the heart. I always carry both flags with me.
I was born in Bosnia, and representing Bosnia means representing my roots, my origins and my blood. It is part of who I am and will always be with me, wherever I go.
But I have also spent half of my life in Spain, and Spain is where I found my path. It is where I met people who have been fundamental to my journey, both in martial arts and in my personal life. I have learned so much from them, and I am deeply grateful to Spain for all the opportunities this country has given me.
In fact, I had my first MMA fight and my first major championship while representing Spain. In 2019, in Singapore, I won Spain’s first historic MMA gold medal. That was incredibly important to me, not only because of what it meant from a sporting perspective, but because it represented the entire journey I had taken to reach that moment.
I don’t need to choose between the two flags. Bosnia represents where I come from, while Spain represents a huge part of the journey I have built. When I compete, my heart carries both.
This will be your third fight in Japan. What do you enjoy most about fighting there?
What I enjoy most about fighting in Japan is simply being in Japan. From the moment you step out of Narita Airport, you feel something you just don’t get anywhere else.
My experiences have been shaped by some incredibly warm and friendly people in Japan. I was able to meet Kaicho Ihara’s (World Kick Boxing Association president) family. They didn’t just shake hands and say hello; I got to spend real time with them, training at their gym and staying at their home. I’m very fortunate to have this kind of experience.
The Japanese people we have met have been absolutely wonderful, from the referees, who are always willing to help, to Kaicho, Yu, Kei, Takada-san, and so many other people who have crossed our path. I believe that, in the end, people make a place special. All of these people have made our visits to Japan even more beautiful and made life a little easier and happier for us.
But I have to say something about…Korakuen Hall. It’s a legendary fight venue. The first time I fought there was already very special, but the second time something happened that made me incredibly happy. I got into the elevator and suddenly saw a photograph of myself on the wall. It was such a wonderful moment, because I never imagined that one day I would see a picture of myself in such a legendary place.
So, I used to live in Japan…what you say makes sense. Everything feels different!
I think that is one of the things I love most about Japan: even the simplest things can become special moments. This might sound weird, but I love Japanese supermarkets! There’s one right by where my friend lives. There are so many colours, smells, and, of course, flavours! It’s a real experience.
There are so many traditions there, especially around the food – but my team and I have made our own! When we get to Japan, we eat ramen straight away! I love shoyu ramen; that savoury soy sauce broth is delicious. If we have time and there’s availability, I always like to go to Ramen Hayashi in Shibuya.
Then after a fight, my team and I go to eat French fries! Not very Japanese, but it’s our tradition now!
Your first fight with Miu LaReyna was a draw, then you beat her at Korakuen Hall. How did it feel to finally get that win?
I came to Japan to enjoy the experience, learn, and make the most of the opportunity, and I have great respect for Miu, who has far more experience in this discipline than I do.
In the first round, she landed a high kick that knocked me down. I got back up immediately and felt fine, but obviously the knockdown cost me points. From there, I believe I worked my way back into the fight and came away feeling I put on a good performance.
I completely respect the judges’ decision, but personally, I felt that I finished the fight stronger and caused more damage over the remainder of the fight.
The second fight was different. After that first experience, I understood my weaknesses, and I worked extremely hard on my clinch and my knees. I came into the rematch much better prepared, and this time I got the win.
It was a really beautiful feeling, and I also want to thank Miu LaReyna’s team for both fights and for the experience. In fact, after the last fight, I told her that now we need a third one… but this time in MMA!
Now you fight Sayaka at Korakuen Hall. What do you expect from her, and how will this fight be different?
I feel very honoured to be fighting Sayaka. She has 22 professional fights, and I have had the opportunity to watch her compete several times at Korakuen Hall during my previous visits to Japan.
It is a huge honour to share the ring with a fighter of her experience and background. I am also very grateful to have been invited back to Japan and allowed to face an opponent of this level.
For me, coming to Japan isn’t simply about fighting. It is about enjoying something I truly love, surrounded by people who I know share that same passion and respect for martial arts.
Of course, I am going to give everything I have and compete with all the preparation and heart that I have put into this fight. I hope both Sayaka and I can perform at the level needed to give the audience a great fight and a great show.
At the end of the day, that is what I want most: to enjoy the experience, respect my opponent and make sure the people watching enjoy our fight as much as we enjoy being part of it.
Looking back at everything you have done so far, what is the achievement you are most proud of?
If you ask me what achievement I am most proud of, honestly, I don’t think first about the medals, belts or trophies.
I have fought very hard to take the name of MMA and my country to the highest level. When I started competing, Bosnia didn’t yet have a champion with an international career like the one we have today. Thankfully, more and more important Bosnian names are competing in major MMA organisations, and that makes me very happy.
I had the honour of winning Spain’s first world gold medal, Bosnia’s first European gold medal, and Bosnia’s first international belt. I have carried those flags with enormous pride and honour, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been the one who opened that path.
But honestly, my greatest achievement isn’t any of those titles. It is the person I have become and the person I am still becoming.
Martial arts have completely transformed me, both as a person and as a fighter. In the past, I went through very hard training sessions and suffered a lot. Now I enjoy those same sessions. I have learned to enjoy the process, the hard work and everything that goes into preparing for a fight.
And something that means even more to me is being able to pass everything I have learned on to other people. I am lucky enough to coach a wonderful team, and I know some people see me as an example or a role model. Knowing that, through martial arts, we can help someone overcome a difficult period, get through a tough time, or simply understand themselves better means so much to me.
That is why I believe the greatest achievement in martial arts isn’t winning a belt. It is getting to know yourself and, if you can, helping other people do the same.
And looking forward, what do you still want to achieve in your career? Is there one big goal or dream you are still chasing?
My biggest dream is simply to keep enjoying what I do and never to stop learning.
Of course, I would love to keep competing in kickboxing, and if I ever have the opportunity to fight for a title, that would be an incredible dream for me. It isn’t something I feel I need to chase at any cost, but if that opportunity comes, I will be ready to take it.
In the short term, one of my biggest goals for this year or next is to defend my MMA world title, the 52-kilo International Intercontinental belt, and hopefully keep it for many years.
But beyond titles and championships, one of my most important goals is simply to continue developing as a martial artist. I want to keep growing as a person, keep learning and understand more deeply everything that this path has to teach me. I don’t think there is ever a point where you can say you have learned everything. Another lesson is always waiting.
As long as I have the opportunity to train, compete, teach and learn, I will consider myself fortunate. For me, that is the real dream: not necessarily reaching one final destination, but being able to keep walking this path for many years and enjoying every stage of the journey.
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