Issue 039

July 2008

Exhibiting a vicious blend of wrestling, jiu-jitsu and spiteful ground 'n pound in every contest, Cage Rage British featherweight champion Robbie ‘The Flame’ Olivier (14-8-1) is a nasty match for any fighter in the division. The Tsunami Gym representative has a habit of tearing after his opponents in the cage, stifling their offence as he relentlessly imposes his will on the fight.

In his last outing, Olivier dropped a close decision to Abdul Mohamed as he challenged for the lightweight title. However, as the Cambridge firefighter explains, his thirst for a marquee title clash remains unquenched. 

Where are you right now?

Right now I’m at home, getting ready to renovate my extension. I’ve been out all day, got back and doing some work on the house.

What do you remember from your first pro fight?

That’s going back some time now. I fought Dave McLaughlin on a UK MMA show. At that point I think he was 8-0 in professional fights. I was trying MMA, trying my hand at it, having a little go at it and got the bug after that. Back then I was almost a pure judo guy, and my judo base and groundwork paid off and I beat him by TKO with ground and pound in the second… and now we’ve ended up being teammates! I only intended to have one [fight] but couldn’t help myself after that!

What was it that drew you back into the sport after your debut?

It was the adrenaline rush, in some respects I thrive on that and that’s what keeps me coming back every time.

Which of your wins has been the most satisfying for you?

I think it would have to be my second fight with Brad Pickett. It was more relief than excitement I suppose because after the first fight, which a lot of people thought was a controversial decision, I really wanted to go out there and make a statement and win that belt. 

I had so much drive and passion about that fight; I showed that in the fight by totally dominating him and stopping any questions being asked and put that chapter to bed, if you like. So there was a huge feeling of relief after that fight. 

What is the hardest punch you ever landed?

I’d say it was a big left hand when I hit Dave ‘Speedy’ Elliot, that finished that fight, I hit him sweet. But I know I hit Brad with a big punch in the second fight because, between the first and the second round, he ended up spitting a tooth out. I think it landed on the commentator’s table actually and they did comment on it on the video, which I find quite amusing!

After losing a close decision to Abdul Mohamed at Cage Rage 24, would you like to face him again?

I’d never say never to any fight really. At the time, I wanted to hold the belt in two weight categories and at the same time I wanted to test my wrestling against another guy in the UK with good wrestling skills. Everyone expected him to be bigger and stronger and out-wrestle me. I remember feeling in that fight that I was the better wrestler. If the opportunity came up again, I probably would have it, but I’ve got my own title to defend as well.

Who do you see as the top challengers to your Cage Rage featherweight title?

I see Danny Batten and Leigh Remedios as the number one contenders. But myself and Danny probably won’t fight, being part of the same organisation and training together. And Leigh Remedios? To be honest, I have to say I feel like he’s ducking the fight with me. I know that Leigh has been asked on numerous occasions by Cage Rage to fight me but has refused every time. For some reason he doesn’t want to fight me.

What do you think that reason is?

I think he’s scared of my ground and pound, my punches. I’ve watched a lot of his fights and he rarely gets hit very hard by his opponent; and I think that he has been quite clever at choosing his opponents when it comes to their attributes; and I think he knows that I’d be too much for him. 

Have you got any message for Remedios?

Yeah, ‘Why doesn’t the self-proclaimed people’s champion come and fight the real champion?’ It’s a fight that UK fans would like to see and I think that most people would agree that it is the right path to take if he wants to pursue the world title.