Ilir Latifi has major plans outside the cage.
The UFC light heavyweight contender hopes to launch a wildlife show in the future. Latifi has always loved nature and animals, he said, and wants to travel the world, see areas he’s never come across before, and visit many different animals — and let people watch it all play out.
“I’ve always said one day, I’m gonna do a Steve Irwin kind of animal show,” Latifi told BloodyElbow.com. “100 percent, you’re gonna see that. That is gonna be on another level. You’re never gonna see the things that I’m gonna do.”
Right now, Latifi’s wildlife show is mostly a dream. It’s something he wants to do. But he is hoping to take it to the next step — one step closer to reality — sooner than later.
“I have plans about that,” he said. “I just want to find the right people and team to work with, great production team to do it. I would love to do it. A lot of people would love to see it, right? I’m gonna do a crazy show.”
Latifi has already mapped out a rough sketch of exactly where he’d film — and has a specific order, too.
“Probably we will start in Africa, do the big five: see all the lions, the buffalo, the rhinos — rhinos are my favorite — elephants,” Latifi said. “Then probably do the Amazon in Brazil, see that. And Australia. There’s a lot of cool places to see. Nature is amazing.”
However, Latifi’s to-be-named wildlife show won’t come to fruition before a 205-pound title bid in the UFC.
“First we gotta win this title. I have a lot of work to do,” he said.
Latifi’s love for nature has seemingly been evident for years. The Sweden resident gained fan-favorite status for two iconic photos that were posted online. The first one was of Latifi riding a horse on a beach. It was taken about four years ago in Cape Verde, an island off the west coast of Africa, he said. He never expected it to gain such fame among hardcore MMA fans.
“I’m very interested in everything with nature and animals and wildlife,” Latifi said. “I just love taking a ride on a horse on the beach.
“I never thought [there] would be such a hype about that photo. I think it’s just like it is a natural photo, and almost a little bit raw — like some kind of ancient time, I don’t know what. But it’s a cool photo, I can admit it.”
The second photo is more recent. Latifi arguably stepped up his animal-riding game, this time photographed riding an elephant in Thailand.
“I was at an elephant sanctuary that helps elephants that have been abused and stuff,” Latifi said. “They take care of them. I was there visiting and got the opportunity to meet some amazing animals. Elephants are very intelligent; they have a great memory.”
Latifi has realized over the years that he has gained a fairly large fan base thanks to the above photos.
“I know I have a huge support around the world — not only from Sweden and Albania, but all over the world,” Latifi said. “I have a big community that supports me. I love the fans that are there. It means a lot.
“It’s cool when fans, they love you in that way. Sometimes you have great fighters, but they don’t get promoted, so people can’t see them in that way. But to be able to do that, even if you’re not promoted or if you are, that’s amazing, so I’m very thankful for that. I’m just being me.”
If anyone’s curious whether Latifi plans to one up the horse and elephant photos, it appears that there’s a good chance:
“Can you imagine seeing me riding a rhino?” Latifi asked. “It would be amazing.”