Amateur MMA fighter Connor Walsh is coming into his upcoming contest at Full Contact Contender 28, eager to make a huge statement.
Connor Walsh will be one among many competing on the upcoming FCC 28 fight card, which will be held in the Bolton Arena on March 5th. Walsh will meet Ethan Ridler for the FCC amateur flyweight championship.
The fight night headliner will feature a main event between Tom Crosby and Dez Parker. They battle it out for the FCC British welterweight championship. Before that, fans in attendance will be treated to action-packed amateur and professional bouts.
I had the pleasure of catching up with “The Fly Catcher”, Connor Walsh, before his title fight on March 5th.
Interview with Connor Walsh
We caught up before your title fight at Almighty FC 21. How have things been since the last time we caught up? Have you been kept busy?
So, I’ve been keeping busy keeping my head down in training and just concentrating on getting better and improving my game in every way possible.
Suppose we can touch on the last two fights you closed out the year with. You fell short in your title fight with Choudhury. What do you feel went wrong in that fight? Because just one month after, you seemed to right the wrong and jumped back into the win column with a win over Jimmy Saddique.
So I had my fight with Shawon, which was a good fight. Unfortunately, I fell short by a short margin and managed to get beat. That s one fight that I learned a lot from. One big mistake I made in that fight was after the 4th round. I was a few rounds up. I was too confident that I won the fight for anyone that had watched it. You see me before the round started hyped up. I thought I had won the Fight and fair play to Shawon. He counted on my mistake and took the win.
Then a month after I came back after being beaten, I wanted to go again. It was against Jimmy Sadique, who we knew would be a very awkward challenge for me, and that’s what I want to do: challenge myself. Hence, I took the fight. It was a good feeling to get back in the win Column. Even though the performance wasn’t the best, and the fight was a bit boring, we still managed to get the job done.
Connor Walsh Speaks on His Activity
You’re one of the most active fighters you see. Always looking to compete month after month, it seems like. What’s the mindset behind taking fight after fight? Are you just looking at getting as much experience as possible in the amateur ranks you can? How long do you usually need to recover after a fight, or are you straight back to work?
Last year you could say I was the most active fighter on the roster, five fights from July to December. I love competing. I like the feeling of fighting someone who wants to do the same thing I want to do. That is what exits me also. Competing regularly will prepare me for the pros, with many fights under my belt. My mindset taking fight after a fight is just, so my best keep putting on good performances and keep competing against the best. Injuries after a fight are a nightmare. I’m fortunate that I haven’t had any serious, so that allowed me to fight a lot last year. I hope to do the same if I usually have two days off, then I’m back to work just to keep trying to get better and better.
You proudly claim you’re currently the best amateur flyweight in the UK. What separates you from the rest the of flyweight in the country?
I feel like I’m in the top 5 of the best in the country, and I just feel like not one of them works harder than me. I’m never out of the gym.
Connor Walsh Gives His Thought on Ethan Ridler
Your opponent at FCC in Ethan Ridler hasn’t had the best of luck at the start of his amateur career. Do you know much about him, and do you feel there’s any strength he possesses that you need to be cautious of?
Ethan, I think, is a lot better than his record. He is game, and young records don’t mean anything. Of course, it’s good to have a decent record, but it doesn’t define you as a fighter. I don’t know too much about him, to be honest, but I know I’m coming to put it on him, and I hope he will do the same.
We know you are close with a friend and teammate, Kurtis Campbell. How great is it to have him by your side, both motivating each other to succeed in the sport?
Training next to Kurtis is the best in the country. I Learn from Kurt every day. If I’m doing anything wrong, he will always help me. We are both competitive, not in the fighting bit like I get done in, but it pushes us both in other ways.
When you look at your upcoming matchup from a stylistic standpoint. How do you feel about your matchup? Would you give yourself the advantage in every department where this fight could go?
I’m comfortable with where ever the fight goes. I always will be. I train in the gym in every place where the fight could go, if it’s grappling or stand-up.
How does Connor Walsh get it done on March 5th, and why should fans tune in to watch you?
March 5th is me putting on a pace and a sharp performance. I’m coming to make a big statement.
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Featured Image credits to DN4 Photography
