Fu Dog MMA fighter, Gregor Fell, is preparing to make his first walk of the new year to the Octagon at Almighty Fighting Championship 23, which will take place at the Metrodome in Barnsley on February 19th.
In January, Almighty FC hosted their first show in 2022 in Houghton le Spring. If the last event is anything like Almighty FC 23, fans in attendance can expect a memorable night of action. The card currently consists of twenty-four fights comprised of amateur and professional action.
Headlining the sold-out Metrodome is Callum Mullen and Nicolae Pirogan. Two talented, hungry and undefeated fighters, will meet in the centre for the Almighty FC featherweight championship. Before that, a handful of the countries hottest prospects compete against one another in the hope of making a name for themselves.
One man who will certainly be looking to make a name for himself and carry on the momentum from his latest win at British Fighting Championship 1 is Gregor Fell. I had the pleasure of speaking with the young gun ahead of his third amateur fight.
Interview with Gregor Fell
Ten days out from your first contest of the year, after your bout with Darren Walker falling through last month due to injury. How have things been in terms of training and recovery ahead of AFC 23?
Recovery has been great, so there are no worries there. An intercostal muscle strain can be very debilitating, but the effects wear off fairly quickly with proper rest. Training has been back to normal in the past few weeks, so I’m fresh and ready to go.
How much time have you had to prepare for the fight with Aaron Wilmot on Feb. 19? Would you have liked an extra few weeks to sharpen up, or does it not faze you that much?
Since November, I’ve been preparing to fight, and since then, I’ve been consistently training with high intensity and frequency. Even during injury, I ensured that I maintained a high level of conditioning by doing manageable exercises. All because I knew that I’d be back soon.
Towards the end of last year, you picked up the first win of your amateur career at BFC 1 over Zak Pearson. How pleasing was it to get that first win under your belt, and do you feel having that first win bagged, there is a sense of pressure on you now?
I was very pleased to get my first win, but you can’t dwell on an amateur fight. The goal is to push on and display the vast improvements I’ve made since that fight. I am always very meticulous about performances. In the 45 seconds of my last win, it was apparent that a few details needed improving, and those areas have since been addressed. I know that I will win when I perform my best, so I am fixated on my performance. There will always be both internal and external pressures, but they are resolved by having tunnel vision and ensuring that I am centred, focused, and ready to perform when the time comes.
Gregor Fell Rewarded with Blue Belt
Congratulations on being awarded your blue belt at the end of the year. What does that mean to you that your coach is noticing the hard work you put in?
Receiving my blue belt was another testament to my hard work and consistency paying off. It’s another thing that I’m very proud of achieving, and I hope to continue translating the hard work into results.
You’ll meet the debutant, Aaron Wilmot, on the night. I assume in preparation, knowing nothing about your opponent, no tape or film, you are essentially handed a blank canvas. Is it just a case of focussing on your skill-set and strengths when prepping?
Exactly that, yeah. I know nothing about this guy, but that is not inherently bad. It’s been quite refreshing not to have footage to obsess over. That’s shifted my focus entirely off of my opponent’s preparation and on to my own. If I do my best, I will win, so the focus is on myself performing optimally.
I believe you’ve had some experience seeing how Almighty FC does things when corning teammates. How excited are you to finally compete on a show like Almighty and show a more extensive audience what you can do?
Almighty is a well-run and highly regarded show. It’s important that I make a name for myself and put in solid performances on those kinds of shows.
What are Fell’s Goal for 2022?
In terms of competition, what goals have you set yourself this year?
I have a lot of recorded goals for the year. Still, I aim to fight at least four times in amateur MMA (but hopefully more than that), medal at blue belt in grappling competition, and steadily improve and expand my skillset.
Lastly, how does Gregor Fell get it done on Feb.19? What can we expect to see from you?
Of course, I’ll be looking for a finish, but I would not be opposed to racking up three rounds of cage time if needed. The amateur ranks are all about gaining experience, so I will be soaking it all in, from warming up and walking out to performing and getting my hand raised. One way or another, I will go home with a deserved win that will further my depth of knowledge.
Follow me on Twitter at @LewisSimpsonMMA and follow us at Combat Sports UK for more exclusive content!
