This Friday we will see Cage Fury return for Cage Fury 132 where 2 world title fights will be happening. We will see the middleweight title be on the line when Kyle Daukaus looks to defend his title. Kyle will comes up against Keanan Patershuk. Kyle is looking for his 2nd title defence. However, he is coming up against someone who has many first-round knockout stoppages. The women’s bantamweight title will also be on the line. This is when Emily Martins will take on Auttumn Norton for the vacant strap. Before his upcoming fight this Friday Combat Sports UK was able to speak to Shamel Findley. Findley will be facing an undefeated prospect, Bilal Hasan. Combat Sports UK was able to ask Shamel how he deals with fan pressure and how he thinks about this fight will go.
Shamel Findley on Last Fight
Shamel Findley faced off against Badmatsyren Dorzhiev for the vacant flyweight title last time out. However, it wasn’t meant to be with Findley, unfortunately losing due to a unanimous decision. I was able to talk to Shamel Findley and be able to ask him how he thought the fight went against Dorzhiev and what he has improved on since that fight.
“I think that fight showed me what level I’m on and that even on my worse day I don’t get beat up even by higher level opponents. It showed me that I’d never lose a fight but I can lose a competition by being outworked. I got frustrated and took myself out of that fight. I’ve improved in being comfortable being uncomfortable I welcome a dog fight gladly if it comes now.”
Shamel Findley has been able to come out of that fight a lot tougher than he went into the fight. He was able to find out what level he was on and how he could improve next time. Shamel is now able to come into the fight against Bilal and if it becomes a dog fight he will be able to handle it and keep fighting back no matter what damage Bilal may throw. Shamel may have got frustrated about how the fight went however, he can use this to motivate himself to improve.
Training Camp
Training camp is where fighters can go to improve their current ability. Fighters are also able to go and watch the tape back on their opponents. This is to be able to find out any weaknesses. Shamel will be able to go and watch the tape and be able to see what can do to get the victory. Speaking about how his training camp has gone Shamel Findley said;
“Training has been exactly what I needed mentally it’s hardened me and made me excited for hard work bc I know not many guys can go to the places I’ve been. Hassan has potential his weakness will show in his mentality going into this fight unless he’s prepared for a real chaotic and violent fight.”
This shows that training camp has been able to improve Shamel as a fighter overall. Shamel is going to go into this fight and make it a dog fight and make it violent. This is to take Bilal to places he hasn’t been before. Shamel has been working hard to improve in all areas and he knows exactly what he needs to do to get the victory. Findlay will bring Bilal into places he has never been before.
Does Experience Matter
Shamel is coming into this fight after competing professionally 9 times. This is compared to Bilal Hassan who has competed 3 times. Experience can help a fighter as it can let a fighter know what to expect from the fans from ringside and just like in Shamel’s last fight toughen a fighter up. Speaking about how he thinks experience helps a fighter he responded by saying;
“Of course I do there’s a reason for certain stats in this sport. A reason why most champions are older but not too old experience plays a huge factor in your energy expenditure, decision making, and reaction time. I’m more ready for war. I’ve been asked the questions in the cage . That’s why I have the answers.”
This shows how much experience is valued by Shamel. He knows the value of experience and has said it has been proven by how every champion has become champion. Each Champion has become champion after quite a few different fights which shows experience has helped. Each time a fighter walks in and competes he can improve his ability. This may be with stuff in which training may not be able to help without being in a fight. Fighters aren’t able to train for what a fighter will do in the octagon it is all about going into fights and seeing it first hand.
How Does Shamel Findley See This Fight Going?
Shamel is going to take on Bilal this Friday and I was interested in hearing how Shamel thinks this fight will play out. Fighters are always going into a fight with an idea of how the fight will play out. I was also able to Findley on if he had a prediction for the fight. Shamel Findley responded by saying;
“I see myself starting fast and hurting him early if he withstands that I’ll make investments and start to take him into deep waters where I know he’s uncomfortable.”
Shamel believes he will push the pace right from the start and try and damage Hasan early on. Shamel believes if Bilal can withstand him at the start then Findley will be able to push Bilal into deep waters and into places he has never been before.
Who Is Next
Fighters always have an eye on who they want to fight next. This is due to fighters always wanting to improve so normally have a rough plan in their mind on how they want to do this. I was able to ask Shamel Findley about who he wants to fight next if he can get a victory this weekend. Shamel responded by saying;
“It was brought up that the winner of the Max vs. Vilamil fight was the other contender like being on opposite ends of the bracket in wrestling lol. So whoever that is or whoever is the next guy they want to offer the belt shoot bring Galvan back he won that fight albeit some eye poke controversy and missing weight. That one has been a long time coming. Anyone of those 3 excites me.”
This shows that Shamel does have a plan of action after he can get the victory this Friday evening. If Shamel can get the victory this Friday he will be pushing for one of these fights and then eventually he will be hoping he gets another opportunity for the belt he wasn’t able to clinch.
Does Shamel Findley Deserve a Title Shot after a Victory?
Shamel will be hoping he gets the victory this Friday and hoping to perform. This is to try and get another title opportunity. The end goal will eventually be able to clinch the UFC title. However, to be able to get into the UFC he needs to get victories and titles outside. Findley was unfortunately not able to get the victory in his first title opportunity and will be hoping to get a victory this Friday. I was able to ask Findley if he believes an impressive performance would warrant another shot at the title. Shamel was able to respond by saying;
“I do. When I fight at my best I win and I finish ppl. Whenever I’ve lost it’s been by professional clock running/lay and pray. Tune in to my fight against Bilal another guy with finishes and then after my hand is raised you tell me who better deserves it more.”
This shows that Findley believes another title shot is just around the corner. Findley believes that he has the power to be able to finish people and the only reason he has been losing the fights he has lost is due to him running the clock down. Shamel Findley doesn’t know who else in his division is better than him and doesn’t believe anyone else deserves it.
Fan Pressure
Shamel Findley has been able to get 5 stoppage victories throughout his career out of the 6 victories he has had. This may put pressure on Findley to be able to get the stoppage every time he enters the octagon. I was able to ask Findley how he handles the pressure of fans who are expecting a highlight reel finish every time he steps into the octagon. Shamel explained by saying;
“No I don’t feel any pressure for a finish. In my mind that’s the only way a fight is supposed to end a true fight not a competition. No points no time. One man can’t continue.”
This shows that Shamel Findley doesn’t feel the pressure from the fans. This is due to him believing a fight should only end in a finish. Findley doesn’t believe a fight should be able to end by a decision. With this in mind he is always looking out to get the stoppage victory. Shamel will be looking to keep this going when he enters the octagon.
Featured image credits to Embed from Cage Fury FC
