Wales’s own Ben Ellis looks to right the wrong this Friday at Cage Warriors 134 after falling short to Manny Akpan in 2021. The featherweight fighter will compete for the first time this new year when faced against the undefeated Nik Bagley.
Cage Warriors 134 will go down on Friday night live from the 02 Arena in London, one night before the UFC make the 02 their home for the night. The card has been faced with adversity on fight week, with fights falling apart. Most notably, the featherweight title fight between Jordan Vucenic and Paul Hughes. Hughes was forced to withdraw due to a neck injury.
Among the madness of pull-outs, Ben Ellis’s (3-1) fight has stayed intact, much to his delight. We had the opportunity to catch up with The Mat Academy representative ahead of his fight.
Interview With Ben Ellis
Thanks for the time, Ben. Firstly, just over a week out from your first bout of 2022. How have things been since your last fight at the start of 2021?
Good and bad, to be honest, training-wise on the whole, it’s been great. I was coming off the first loss of my career on an 11 fight win streak. I got straight back to work In the gym to ensure losing hopefully never happens again. Competitively it was a nightmare; I had so many injuries /infections that three fights fell through. In my mind, I should be 6-1 now with that loss avenged, and obviously, I’m still at 3-1.
Last time around, you faced a tough loss to Manny Akpan. Is that the reasoning for the long break, just to ensure your health and mind had recovered or were you looking to get back in there before that?
Not anything to do with the loss. I was booked with Jordan Barton for June 2021. He pulled out because of covid but to be honest. My team were definitely going to have to pull me anyway as I literally couldn’t punch anything due to a hand injury, so when cage warriors offered to find a replacement, my team said no.
Cage Warriors 120 was the first loss you’ve ever faced from your amateur days to the pro-ranks. How was that to deal with on a personal note? Was there any mental barrier you’ve had to overcome, or is it a case of taking valuable lessons from it?
I absolutely hate losing. I want that rematch as it won’t matter who else I beat in the sport. Manny is going to have that over me until I beat him. At the same time, though it doesn’t eat me up at all, plenty of the great fighters in MMA have lost, so I always knew it could happen to me. I just try to train as hard as possible to make sure it very rarely happens.
On a positive note, your back and face off against the undefeated Nik Bagley. How do you feel you guys match up against each other from a stylistic standpoint?
I think we’re very similar, to be honest, not just fight styles but physically similar as well, it’s not going to be easy, but I will win. He’s doing well at the pro hut. We’ve seen him lose at amateur a few times, and I’m looking forward to beating him as well.
Where do you feel the keys are in your own game to defeating Nik Bagley on March 18th?
I need to take control of the fight from the off and bully him. He’s going to be trying to do the exact same to me so let’s see who bullies who.
If all goes well, you leave victorious with the win and un-injured. How soon would you be looking to get back in there? Is that something you’ve even thought about?
Asap really, I enjoy fighting. My life is better when I have something booked. I’m going on holiday for two weeks after this fight then when I’m back I can be ready to fight very quickly.
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Featured image credits to Ben Ellis
