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Post date: 15-Dec-2013 14:22:01
So Cagewarriors World Title fight in Dublin New Year's Eve what does this fight mean to you ?
This fight means a lot to me as it's for the Cagewarriors FW Title, a belt that I have had my eyes on for a while also my first time in Ireland and its New Year's Eve which is cool.
Your facing the current champion Jim Alers what so you know about him?
Jim is a great fighter that has good wrestling and is really dangerous on the ground. He's highly regarded and deservedly so.
Both your name and Jim's are mentioned a lot when additions to the UFC featherweight division do you see this as a winner goes to the UFC fight?
I really hope so as the UFC is were every fighter wants to be and works so hard to get to. In my eyes this is a fight that could easily have happened in the UFC. Cagewarriors put on some UFC level fights.
Your team mate Steven Ray is also on the card defending his world lightweight Title. Does that make preparation easier for you?
Yeah having Stevie on the same card has been a big help as we are both pushing each other in training and going through the same things like with dieting through Christmas. The whole team helps me though, Martin Delaney is taking time off work to help me train James and Joanne had planned on going to New York after Joanne's Invicta fight and came home early to coach me and Stevie, the gyms full of talent and there all there for each other.
How are you going to be spending Christmas with the fight a week after? Surely it won't be a normal fight camp?
Yeah Christmas is going to be spent in the gym for part of the day and any one that knows me then they will know my love for a big Christmas diner, that's what Christmas is all about for me. I will not be having that due to my diet but these sacrifices must be made in this sport. Everyone in the card will be in the same boat.
Despite being still in your mid twenties your the most experienced pro MMA fighter in Scotland with over 30 fights. What fights are you most fond off?
Well the fights that stick in my mind are one that I lost to Akiri Corrosani in Sweden that was a back and forth fight from the start to the finish and I guess I gave him a little too much respect, it was my first time on a big big show and the other fight was my first fight in Cagewarriors against Jazbutis as I had always wanted to fight on the show and I had just came back from my loss to Corassani, I faced a tough opponent who had been in with some good fighters and I dominated him. Hopefully my best fights are still to come though.
Does having so much experience prepare you for the mental side of competition ? Does it give you the advantage over guys with less fights?
I would say yeah it helps me mentally going through all the emotions in the lead up to the fight as for having the advantage over guys that have had less fights I would say no as it comes down to skill and preparation, experience can only help you so much but if the preparation isn't right then it won't make a difference. I do take confidence from the fact that I've been in just about every conceivable position or situation in 30 pro fights though.
Finally anyone you want to mention or thank?
I would like to thank my coach James for every thing he has done for me and the dinky ninjas and the guys and girl at higher level, also my management IntensitiFM, and my sponsors The Window and Door factory, Made Brave, Rev Gear, Border Biscuits, Funky gums, Toxic fight wear, Asylum gym, and also my fiancé Sarah for every thing she does for me and has to put up with.
Follow Graham at
#scottish MMA , # Scotland MMA, #Cagewarriors # Graham Turner # Scotlands MMA Broadcast
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