Issue 167

May 2018

Birmingham's finest is proud to be a home-grown UFC star.

Do you prefer fighting closer to home in the UK and Europe?

It’s easier. I live in Birmingham, which is only a two-hour drive to London, so it’s cheaper as well. I have to pay for all my coaches to come over and book them flights and hotels! It’s 100% easier to get in my car, drive to London, fight and go home. It’s better for me and I save a lot of money, too.

Does that make you more relaxed for the fight?

Not really. I feel relaxed wherever the fight is. I’ve fought in Brazil and America, and I feel exactly the same come fight night. It’s convenient for me now to fight in the UK and I love the UK fans. I fought in London before and the home crowd was amazing. I look forward to competing again and going for it.

What was the driving factor behind finding consistency and building a winning streak?

Just structuring my training better and believing in my team. Earlier in my career I was going to other gyms, going to America to train, but now I’m doing it all from home in Birmingham and it’s working out so far.

Would you rule out going to California to train at AKA again?

I would 100% do it again, but I don’t think I’d do it in a camp. When I’ve not got a fight coming up I could go over and get some rounds in, get some work in. In training camp, I’ll 100% be in Birmingham every time.

How valuable was that experience?

I’ve trained there twice now and it’s improved my wrestling and grappling a lot as you can tell by my last two fights. I’d love to go back and get some more training because last time I was training with ‘DC’ (Daniel Cormier), Khabib Nurmagomedov, Luke Rockhold – all these top guys – and I was holding my own. It’s good to go out there and see what the difference is, and hopefully I’m doing what they’re doing.

What was it like as a Brit – not known for your wrestling – going to a gym like that? Did they target you?

They put me through the grinder. I was fighting Kamaru Usman then, and it was just wrestle, wrestle, wrestle – every day. I wanted to go home! But it made me a better fighter and 100% improved my wrestling skills. Since then, I’ve never lost.

Do you bring all that knowledge back to your training partners?

Yeah, I go out there, getting tools and bringing them back to my gym. The sport’s growing in my hometown and all the guys are benefitting from what I’ve learned.

Do you change your approach to training for each opponent?

It’s just little tweaks. I look at the opponent and what he brings to the table. If it’s a wrestling-based opponent you won’t throw a sloppy leg kick because he’ll take you down – little points like that. Apart from that, all my training is routine.

What’s it like training and sparring with your brother, Fabian?

I love it! My brother’s so good as well so it’s good to see him doing what he’s doing and fighting in BAMMA, beating these middleweights. I love training with him. Sometimes I have to go a little bit harder, just to let him know I’m the big brother! Apart from that he’s good. I’m hoping he’ll join me in the UFC and we’ll be some of the most well-rounded brothers in the UFC.

If he gets a submission or lands good strikes, do you feel the need to get him back more than other training partners?

I get him back every time! I can’t let him get anything off or sometimes he’ll get a little too big for his boots. Even if you let him get a few shots in. But he is good. I can’t see anyone in Europe beating him.