Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam is a man with big and vicious hooks, but the Swedish slugger has a much bigger heart.
The former ONE Welterweight MMA World Champion returns to action for his middleweight debut against Myanmar icon Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang at ONE Fight Night 36: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella II on Prime Video, airing live in U.S. primetime on Friday, October 3, from Bangkok, Thailand.
For Kadestam, this opportunity is more than just another fight; it’s a chance to continue his mission to inspire the next generation.
Before the two light up the ring, here’s how “The Bandit” has been using the hard-learned lessons from his own journey to shape the future of Swedish MMA, one young fighter at a time.
Turning Tough Lessons Into Inspiration
Behind the bandana that masks his face each time he walks to the global stage lies a deeper truth – Kadestam has spent years learning to unmask his vulnerabilities and transform them into strengths.
The 34-year-old has never shied away from discussing his mental health struggles, understanding that vulnerability can become his greatest strength as both a fighter and mentor.
“The Bandit” shared:
“I really feel like without martial arts, my story would have been a really dark story. Martial arts saved me. And it continues to save me.
“Whenever I have problems, personal ones, I just go to the gym and enjoy what I do there. Thankfully, I have a lot more now outside of fighting, which I’m happy for, but I still need it.”
When personal struggles continue to overwhelm him, the familiar rhythm of training and the physical release of sparring provide not just an escape, but a path toward healing.
Rather than simply using the gym as an outlet for his own frustrations, something he often did in the past, the Swede discovered a more meaningful way to channel that energy.
Lessons from overcoming the darkest period of his life have now become the foundation for how he connects with the young athletes who walk through the doors of the gym he teaches at, Allstars Training Center in Solna, Sweden.
The transformation didn’t happen overnight, but when it clicked, Kadestam realized he had found his true calling beyond competition:
“It’s been a great learning curve. Maybe I could have done it a bit earlier, too, but now that I’m able to share my lessons with students, it’s truly a blessing.
“I’m really happy to be able to fight and use my learnings and my past experiences to help improve a fellow martial artist.”
A Natural Born Teacher Discovers His Destiny
For Kadestam, the transition from student to teacher felt less like a career pivot and more like a homecoming.
When he’s not busy in fight camp honing his craft or spending time with his fiancee, the former welterweight MMA king dedicates his time to guiding children and teenagers up to 14 years old.
The coaching role wasn’t something he stumbled into by accident. It was a calling that had been quietly developing for over a decade:
“Coaching was something I feel that was meant to be. In fact, I’ve been coaching guys and teaching and stuff like that for over 10 years, so I’ve always been doing this, and it is like a dream of mine.”
The reciprocal nature of teaching has provided unexpected benefits for the Swedish knockout machine, who boasts a perfect 100 percent finish rate in ONE Championship.
The more time he spends with young martial artists, the more he learns about himself. Each training session becomes a two-way street where wisdom flows in both directions.
While patience is tested regularly – an inevitable part of working with eager young athletes still mastering the basics – Kadestam has learned to find pride in focusing on incremental improvements rather than demanding perfection.
The Legacy Gym and Allstars Training Center fighter continued:
“Teaching does help me keep up to date with my own game, too. It’s a win-win. Seeing students happy makes your day even better. Seeing them ask questions, seeing them make a wrong move, and me getting annoyed – it’s part of the process.
“I learn a lot from them. You teach them, but you also pick up new stuff: how to improve as a teacher, a coach, and a mentor. We improve through moments like this. While teaching is not hard, it’s also not the easiest.”
Building Sweden’s Next Generation Of World Champions
Walking through Allstars Training Center during youth sessions reveals something special in the air – the kind of raw determination and hunger that veteran fighters recognize instantly.
Kadestam’s eyes light up when discussing the potential he observes in his young students. Their dedication and intensity often surprise him, reminding him why he fell in love with martial arts in the first place.
The 34-year-old told onefc.com:
“I can see [the hunger] in some guys. I even have guys I’ve been training over the summer, who were 7 to 8-year-olds, who were kind of looking crazy. You know that crazy look in your eyes when you train?
“I’ve been impressed by them. I think it’s kind of cool to see such young kids with so much drive and determination. Some of these kids might even have a better drive than me when I was that young.”
Kadestam’s optimism extends beyond the walls of the gym he coaches at to the broader Swedish MMA landscape.
He sees a country whose martial arts community continues to grow stronger with each passing year, fueled by increased participation and improved infrastructure.
Above all, “The Bandit” detects the emergence of a mindset that he believes could propel the Scandinavian country to new heights in MMA:
“MMA is really popular. We got a lot of kids coming to train. We have a lot of fighters on the amateur level fighting, and we’re doing well in the Worlds and stuff like that on the amateur level. So, we have a good community of fighters, and it’s just getting bigger and bigger by the day.
“We have some good guys that I’m sure are gonna be able to grab a title or two. And I’m sure there are other guys from other gyms heading through. Good things are waiting to happen.”
Inspiring Through Example
As Kadestam prepares for his middleweight debut against Aung La N Sang, he carries with him the hopes and dreams of every young fighter he’s mentored – and the promise that Sweden’s best days in martial arts are still ahead.
The hard-hitting warrior has now positioned himself as a bridge between his nation’s martial arts past and its promising future, using his platform to inspire the next generation through both words and actions.
He, however, knows more than anyone that learning never stops. Perfection is rarely attainable in the ever-evolving realm of martial arts, both as a student and a coach.
“The Bandit” added:
“It’s a lifelong journey. No stops. Either you walk away or you become a coach, and I don’t think I am ever going to be able to walk away from this sport.
“I’m far from a perfect coach. I’m not there yet, but I’m gonna be a really good coach one day, for sure.”
While his focus slowly shifts to guiding the stars of tomorrow, the competitive flame still burns bright within him, starting with “The Burmese Python” at ONE Fight Night 36.
He aims to spoil his foe’s retirement fight and move back down to his usual weight bracket to reclaim his ONE Welterweight MMA World Championship, currently in possession of two-division king Christian “The Warrior” Lee.
Per the Uppsala native, there’s no better way to inspire his students than having 26 pounds of gold wrapped around his waist once again:
“I want to reclaim my title. I know he’s defending his lightweight title soon. But let the champ focus on that, and I want to focus on this tough test coming up. But after that, please, let’s meet for the welterweight strap.”
Whether he reclaims his crown or continues building his country’s World Champion hopefuls, “The Bandit” has found the perfect balance between both roles.
He has discovered that true fulfillment comes from embracing every aspect of his identity and finding joy in what he does.
The Swede concluded:
“I take a lot of pride in doing what I do. I will never trade it for anything else. Zebaztian, a fighter and a teacher. It’s great. I love it.”