Interview: Jason Cooledge Ahead of Cage Warriors 69

Interview: Jason Cooledge Ahead of Cage Warriors 69
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

cagewarriors.com

On Saturday night Jason Cooledge will step in to Cage Warriors octagon to take on Brad Wheeler in a bout that has fight of the night written all over it.

A product of BKK fighter Cooledge is perhaps one the most underrated lightweights in the country having only lost to top contenders such as Brendan Loughnane, Saul Rodgers, and Jason Ball. We caught up with Cooledge ahead of Cage Warriors 69 to discuss his bout with Brad Wheeler.

Houten:You have been selected to fight on the absolutely stacked Cage Warriors Super Saturday card, how excited are you to be added to this card, and would you say this is one of, if not the biggest domestic card the UK has ever seen?
Cooledge: I'm super excited about this fight, this fight card this is with out a doubt the biggest card the UK has ever seen.

With just 2 weeks out until the fight how is your weight looking, and how has your camp been for this fight?
Everything is perfect. Weight is good, fitness is never better, and I'm in the best shape of my life mentally, physically, and technically.

You have several team mates fighting on this card, does that make staying motivated in training easier?
Motivation is never a problem.  I love it, so I always train my hardest what ever happens, but to have the whole gym peeking at the same time is awesome.

With Mason and Allen on the card who will be in your corner for this fight?
My corner, will be as always - Sean Carter, hood friend and main training partner and my BJJ coach Lee Catling who is the man at everything so I'm more then happy.

You’re fighting Brad Wheeler on the Super Saturday card, what do you think of Brad? What do you think he brings to this fight?
He is a nice bloke. I've spoke to him before, and I have nothing bad to say. He comes out fast and likes to fight so I'm really excited about this.

You were original scheduled to fight Wheeler last year, how disappointed were you to originally have to pull out of the fight, and in the back of your mind did you always know you your paths would cross at some point?
I'm really happy for this fight to happen. I knew this always would happen at some point, why wouldn't it? It's a potential Fight Of The Night on any card.

Looking back to when you were originally scheduled to fight Wheeler, how much more would you say you have improved over the last year?
I'm sure we have both improved everywhere so it will be the same [as when we were first meant to fight].

Where would you say you have the advantage over Brad in this fight?

You have lost  3 times by submission in your career. With Brad taking 8 of his 11 wins by submission is your ground game something you have focused on in this fight?
I've lost 3 fights by submission and won 6 of my 10 fights by sub so I'm not worried at all. In fact I think this is where I have the biggest advantage.
Watching Brads fights he is happy to come forward to stand and trade. Would you say a fighter like that brings out the best in you?
yeah,  him coming forward is perfect for me and really allows me to implement my game plan.

You’re 0-2 under the Cage Warriors banner, do you feel any extra pressure to win this bout than you would do normally knowing that with another loss Cage Warriors might not offer you another fight?
The only pressure is what I put on myself. I just want to show everyone at Cage Warriors what I can do as I have not shown my true potential...yet.

Finally how do you see yourself winning the fight with Brad on Saturday?
Everywhere! 

Interview: Spencer Hewitt: '2014 is My Year'

Kingdom MMA talks to Spencer Hewitt ahead of his bout with Brett Caswell
by Ben Heather - @benheather

On June the 7th, flyweight Spencer Hewitt will take on Brett Caswell on the biggest domestic fight card this year, if not ever - Cage Warriors 69 dubbed 'Super Saturday'. A blackbelt in BJJ, Hewitt, a former UCMMA champion faces arguably the toughest grappler of is career in Brett Caswell, a high-level Judo black belt who was a Commonwealth Judo Champion, as well as British Judo Champion before starting his Career in MMA. 

Just two days away from jetting off to finish his training camp at Team Alpha Male in California we spoke to Spencer Hewitt about his upcoming fight with Brett Caswell at Cage Warriors 69. 

Heather: You leave for Team Alpha Male on Saturday, can you tell us how long you are going for and what has prompted you to head over to The States? 
Hewitt: The reason I'm going is I need to go out of my comfort zone.  I want to train with the best fighters in the world to develop as a martial artist.

Will this be the first time you go to The States to train as part of a fight camp?
Yes, I've trained and competed in BJJ in The States, I also went to The Ultimate Fighter trials  but never trained MMA there.

What are you hoping to gain from your time at Team Alpha Male?
New skills and knowledge to improve in all aspects of MMA,ready for Cage Warriors 69, Super Saturday

You put to bed a tough stretch of 4 losses in a row when you defeated Cameron Else at CW64. Looking back on those loses have you identified where you were going wrong?
Yes, I was chasing the win. I was over training and was fighting when I should have been taking time out to get over an operation and injures in that last year. During the fight against Else it was clear to everyone that he gassed in the fight.

Would you say that you played it safe and cruised to make sure you got the Win?
Yes, I was in control and want to get my first win on Cage Warriors. I wanted to start 2014 with the Win.

Now the losing streak is over and you are back to winning ways what can the fans expect from yourself in London on June 7th?
You are going to see very different fighter - confident, creative and exciting - 2014 is my year.

You've had a couple of fights in Cage Warriors where you opponents have missed weight, with that in mind are you pleased to see Cage Warriors increase the penalty for missing weight?
Yes if you can't make weight it means you not really that weight class. The reason there is weight class is to make it a fair playing field and for safety.
How does it feel to be part of Super Saturday? The event which is possibly the biggest event ever in UK MMA.
I'm honoured to be part of Super Saturday. The Card is stacked, and the best fight in Europe are on this card. Graham and Ian Dean have put on another great card and it's in London which makes it more fun. Love the support of my fans in London.

Cage Warriors recently announced that they have signed a contract with channel 4. This is a massive deal for Cage Warriors and UK MMA as a whole. What are your thoughts on the new TV deal and how happy are you that people in the UK will now get the chance to see your fights on channel 4?
It amazing and will grow the sport in the UK. Cage Warriors are growing MMA in the UK and Europe and it give us UK fighters more exposure.

Your fight with Brett Caswell will be the 4th of your 5 fight contract with Cage Warriors, does that put extra pressure on your shoulders going into this fight? Do you feel you need to show a little extra or win impressively to stake a claim on a new contract?
I always want to win impressively and I'm staying on Cage Warriors. I love the show and production. I will win my next 2 fights and keep my future at Cage Warriors.

With Brett being a high level Judoka and yourself a BJJ blackbelt, can fans look forward to an exciting grappling match on June 7th?
Yes maybe there will be some exciting grappling exchanges.  I have been training with some high-level guys who expertise are judo. I am a complete MMA fighter you will see all aspects from me.

How do you see yourself winning the fight on June 7th?
Submission or KO win for me

Would you like to thank anyone or any sponsors?
Lee Pearman at Bureaulogic Recruitment for the support and making America happen, Go-Recycle, Criteria Cleaning Services, Chris, my manager at Elite MMA Agency, my amazing wife - Beelia Hewitt, mother in law - Bernie Byron, all my coaches, The Origin MMA Academy,  the MMA Academy Liverpool when I go down there they always welcome me, Team Alpha Male for having me,  all the MMA fans, Cage Warriors and Ian Dean, Graham Boylan, and a major thanks to Ross Hewitt - boxing, Marc Walder - BJJ, Peter - wrestling Jez lord - Thai boxing

Cage Warriors 69: Super Saturday keeps getting better

Cage Warriors 69: Super Saturday adds 3 more fights

by Ben Heather @benheather

When Graham Boylan first announced that Cage Warriors 69 would be Super Saturday on twitter it left the fans wondering in anticipation for more details to be announced. It didn't take long before it was announced that Super Saturday would consist of two main cards in one night, all of which takes place on 7th June at The Forum in Kentish Town, London.

Since then 9 fights have been announced including two title fights and many more with serious title implications in a number of divisions. Now 3 more fights have been announced as Super Saturday is lining up to be the biggest event in Cage Warriors history, if not the most stacked card in UK MMA history.

The event which already includes some of the biggest names in UK MMA keeps getting better. The latest additions see undefeated featherweight and the winner of our one to watch in 2014 award Arnold Allen (7-0) take on Polish prospect Marcin Wrzosek (7-2) in what is sure to be an exciting mstch up. Allen, trained by Jack Mason at BKK Fighters comes in to the match up after making quick work of his last opponent, Tobias Huber at Cage Warriors Fight Night 11 in April. While Wrzosek makes his Cage Warriors return hoping for a better result having lost to Chris Fishgold at Cage Warriors 57 in July.

Also announced is a lightweight battle between top contender Saul Rogers (8-1) and Damian Brown (10-6). Rogers comes in to this fight off the back of the biggest victory in his career when he defeated John Maguire at Cage Warriors 65 in March. On the same night in Dublin Brown lost out in a Fight of the Night performance to Paul Redmond and will now be looking to get back to winning ways against a very tough opponent.

The third fight announced is a WMMA bantamweight fight between Scotland’s Amanda Kelly (1-1) and England’s Kerry Hughes (1-1). Both women will be looking to get back to winnning ways after decision defeats to Laura Howarth and Agnieszka Niedzwiedz respectively in their most recent outings.

Tickets for Cage Warriors 69: Super Saturday are on sale now.

Cage Warriors 69: Super Saturday (more bouts to be announced; order TBC)
Stevie Ray vs. Curt Warburton – vacant lightweight world title bout
Jack Hermansson vs. Norman Paraisy – vacant middleweight world title bout
Jack Marshman vs. Bola Omoyele
Jake Bostwick vs. Simeon Thoresen
Damien Brown vs. Saul Rogers
Benny Alloway vs. Mohsen Bahari
Bruno Carvalho vs. Jack Mason
Arnold Allen vs. Marcin Wrzosek
Liam James vs. Nad Narimani
Brett Caswell vs. Spencer Hewitt
Jason Cooledge vs. Brad Wheeler
Kerry Hughes vs. Amanda Kelly

Stay tuned to Kingdom MMA for all the latest on Cage Warriors.

Jake Bostwick vs Simeon Thoresen set for Cage Warriors Super Saturday

Bostwick vs Thoresen set for Cage Warriors 69

by Ben Heather @benheather

Copyright: Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

Cage Warriors 69 has a lot of hype surrounding the event due to the recent announcement that it will have two main cards on one night and is now being named "Super Saturday" up until the past couple of days the only fight which was announced was a lightweight battle for the vacant Cage Warriors title between Stevie Ray and Curt Warburton. Now the fight card is starting to come together as a welterweight battle between two of the top competitors in the division has been added. That fight is Jake Bostwick (14-8-1) vs Simeon Thoresen (17-4).

Jake Bostwick comes in to the fight with a 7 fight win streak, with his most recent win coming at Cage Warriors 64 when he defeated Boubacar Balde. That fight was at middleweight but he is now back down to welterweight for this fight.

We recently caught up with Jake to find out how the fight came about

"My Managment (Infinity Management) got in touch with my coach Kieran Keddle about the Simeon fight and Kieran kind of accepted it before talking to me, knowing what potential it had. My coaches both Kieran Keddle and Mickey papas know I have the tools to take out Simeon and that made me want the fight more."

"I'm really looking forward to the fight also, I hope to get a great KO victory yet again. Simeon's a great opponent but this is my fight! I need this more then he does, I'm younger and more hungry for it."

As for where a win over Thoresen takes him Bostwick was staying grounded.

"I take each fight as it comes, Simeon is definitely my next step forward for sure, can't say if a title is in the picture but let's get this win first then see"

Simeon Thoresen will be fighting for the first time since his release from the UFC after a 1-2 run in the promotion. His last fight was back in January 2013 so I am sure come June 7th he will be ready to go to war as he returns to Cage Warriors. A 51 second KO win against Matt Thorpe in July 2008 was his only other appearance for Cage Warriors. A win over Jake Bostwick, ending his winning streak would show the other contenders in the welterweight division that Thoreson is back and means business.

Cage Warriors 69 takes place on June 7th as Cage Warriors returns to London once again with the event being staged at The Forum, Kentish Town. If these two fights are anything to go by it will certainly be a Super Saturday in June. Stay tuned for more news once it has been announced.