Charles Joyner is targeting another highlight reel finish when he faces Branden Guest at Cage Warriors 176.
The Light Heavyweights will meet on September 7 as Cage Warriors head to Glasgow for the second time in 2024 with a stacked card which will see Lightweight champion George Hardwick look to defend his title against Cristian Iorga.
The pair were originally meant to meet when Joyner made his promotional debut, but Guest was forced to withdraw from the contest. When Cage Warriors seemed keen to rebook the contest, Joyner jumped at the chance. He explained:
“What drew me to the match up was I was already matched up with him before, for my Cage Warriors debut, and he pulled out. So, after my quick first round knock out (at Cage Warriors 172), I thought it made sense to call him out because he is on Cage Warriors, in the Light Heavyweight division, we have been matched up before and myself and my team like the match up. We feel like it is a favourable one for me and I think he sees himself as a bit of a striker so I am keen to just turn another striker into a wrestler.”
With such an extensive kickboxing background, in his previous four fights, Joyner has expected his opponents to want to take the fight to the floor at the earliest opportunity. However, he feels Guest could want to stand and trade with him before searching for a take down, which is something the rangy 29-year-old would welcome.
“I am expecting him to be a bit nervous, a bit jittery, I think a bit anxious. I don’t think he has fought anyone like me. He has had a good amateur career but I don’t think the level of competition was really there so it is a big, big step up for him. I think he is going to think he can stand with me and he is very quickly going to realise that he is going to have to change his game plan. Then he will be shooting for my legs, trying to get a hold of me, trying to get it to the ground, where he is going to think he has an advantage but I am going to pop right back up, he is going to be knackered after that and then I am going to put the pressure on him and do damage.”
Joyner made the switch from kickboxing to MMA in 2023. The Light Heavyweight fights out of TFT MMA and credits the gym and head coach, UK MMA veteran Andrew Fisher, for his incredible development thus far and believes TFT is one of the best gyms in the country.
“I can’t thank TFT enough. I think the gym doesn’t get the respect it deserves in the world of MMA, even in the UK. I think because we are in the North East it just doesn’t get that recognition but I honestly believe Fisher is one of the best coaches in the world and I think it is going to be inevitable that he is recognised as such with the amount of talent that is coming out of the gym. We have got top fighters in top organisations that are doing well and it is a lot down to Fisher, his coaching, his mindset and his development and I think there is no better place for me to be for me MMA career.“
When discussing what how he believes the contest will play out and what another win would do for his career, the 6’8” striker laid out his long term goals and his path to ultimately signing with the UFC.
“How I envision the win going is another walk off knock out. I think that would just have me as a name on everyone’s lips. I don’t think many people are going to want to fight me after this fight but hopefully they can get me someone for Cage Warriors Newcastle. I want to get the UFC and Cage Warriors is the proven path for that. I am very appreciative that Cage Warriors want to give me this platform to be able to show the people in the UFC that there is an exciting Light Heavyweight talent coming through the ranks and I think a win here puts me on the UFC’s radar."
