Undefeated amateur Joe Ambler is eager to continue riding the momentum he has built for himself at Almighty Fighting Championship 23 when defending his middleweight championship against Ryan McNally.
Almighty FC is nine days out from their second event of the year following a successful showing in Houghton le Spring. The fights will take place in the Metrodome in Barnsley on February 19th.
Almighty promoter, Ray Thompson, has put together a twenty-three-bout fight card, which will consist of the main event showdown between Callum Mullen and Nicolae Pirogran for the pro-featherweight title.
The card will also include two amateur title fights. David Wilkinson will clash with Ben Francis at 120kg, and Joe Ambler will defend his middleweight strap against Ryan McNally. Prior to the title fights, fans can look forward to the nineteen amateur contests.
I had the opportunity to catch up with Joe Ambler before he defends his middleweight strap. Check out what he had to say below.
Interview with Joe Ambler
Ten days until the Almighty FC audience sees you defend your title in Barnsley on Feb. 19. How excited are you to get going and kick start your year in competition?
I’m excited to start this year in competition, hit the ground running and start as I mean to go on throughout the year.
How has camp been ahead of the bout with Ryan McNally? In recent fights and ahead of your upcoming title fights on AFC and FCC, what adjustments have you made in preparation? Do you go about things differently when you’re fighting/defending your title, or is it the same every time?
Camp ahead of this fight has just been the same as every other camp. I’m undefeated, so what I’m doing must be working. I’m constantly drilling the foundations and basic stuff but always learning new stuff and going over old drills/techniques. The only slight adjustment I have made is now I train at two gyms, CBKA and Submission MMA. I think this covers many more areas and is a good fit for me. Nothing to me is different. I’m the champion on AFC and will be challenging for the belt on FCC preparations for both these fights are the same, training hard, having the mindset of not being the champion and visualising having both straps wrapped around my waist.
Joe Amber on Ryan McNalley
Almighty FC 23 will be a fun one with a sold-out crowd. When were you notified about the fight, and what were your initial thoughts when offered Ryan McNally as an opponent? Are you aware of who he is?
I knew about this fight at the back end of last year. When Ryan was 5-1, we had unfinished business from a tournament, and I was pulled from the final due to injury. Since then, he talked a bit online, so I messaged ray to make this my first title defence.
I like to ask people I’ve not had the pleasure of talking to before their journey into the sport why MMA/Boxing was a route they decided to take? Why did you follow this path?
I started this by doing the Ultra MMA in Barnsley. Since then, I just carried on training and then started competing.
For those who haven’t watched you fight before. What can fans expect to see from Joe Ambler on Feb. 19?
Fans can expect me to control every aspect of the fight, whether it’s on the feet or on the ground.
What are the key principles you need to do to ensure you keep your title at AFC 23?
Everything that I have always done controlled the fight, taken it whenever I want to take it. If the finish is there, take it. If not I’m happy to go the distance.
Joe Amber Has All the Momentum
After a dominant five-fight win streak, Ryan McNally is coming off two back-to-back losses. Do you feel you have the mental edge and all the momentum leading into this one?
I don’t pay any notice to the five-fight win streak as especially his last 2/3 wins, in my eyes, weren’t against guys he should have been fighting given his record and experience, the two losses, however, I take notice of as they were guys he should be fighting given his record, and they didn’t go his way. I wouldn’t say I have the mental edge as in my mind. I know what I’m capable of and what I can perform to. Given his recent losses, I think Ryan will have a lot more on his mind coming into this. He has more pressure to perform and prove why he should be in there with me.
When preparing for a fight, are you someone who likes to study old films on their opponent, and is that something you’ve done in the lead up to this bout? If so, what do you feel McNally brings to the table in terms of threats?
No, I don’t really study my opponents. I have a quick look, but nothing major my team has a more in-depth look, and they give me feedback on possible things that could happen or what they could try to do.
Lastly, can we get an official fight prediction? How does Joe Ambler get it done at AFC 23?
I think I stop him round in round two or three.
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Featured Image credits to DN4 Photography
