Jack Slater returns to the cage at Almighty Fighting Championship 29 this Saturday after undergoing a period of inactivity from competing.
Slater is set to face Nils Goitom in a flyweight contest on Feb.25 at the Barnsley Metrodome. The Englishman made his amateur debut in 2021 at Almighty FC 21, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over Conner Scott.
Having had some time away and overcoming issues away from the cage, Slater is ready to return, and Saturday night is confident in delivering a ‘breakout performance’ for those attending and watching on pay-per-view.
We had the opportunity to catch up with Jack Slater before his return. Check out his thoughts below.
Interview With Jack Slater
It’s fight week, Jack, and your second time going through the process again. How excited and ready are you to get in there at Almighty FC 29 this Saturday?
I am extremely excited to get back into the cage. For sure, it’s been a long time coming.
You make the return to the cage after a long period of inactivity. Talk to me about the time away. A lot can change within the sport and the game’s evolution in such a short time, or is that not a concern ahead of fight night? Although you haven’t been competing, have you consistently been in the gym and training?
Yeah, the inactivity was frustrating, but I believe it did me good in the long run. Things happened. Then I relocated from Mansfield, Nottingham, over to Orpington, Kent, to live with my fiancé, so finding a new gym and team was stressful initially, but everything has fallen into place the way it should be.
Your right. The sport is forever evolving, but so am I. I’ve put in work n improved in each area of my game with the time off. I’m a different fighter. There are no concerns. We are going in there to fight and bring home the win while having fun there. I’ve been consistently training since moving. That’s one thing I never stop. I am always on the go.
Jack Slater Talks Amateur Debut
Rewinding back to Almighty FC 21, where you successfully defeated Connor Scott to kickstart your amateur career moving to (1-0). Can you remember your emotions in the lead-up, during and after post-victory? Are you anticipating going through those same emotions again, given you’ve had some time away, or do you feel having had your first bout go your way, you’ll be accustomed to managing your emotions moving forward?
Back to AFC 21, the emotions were a bit wild. To be honest, it was my first time on an actual show. I was making my debut in front of a massive crowd at the Olympia.
There were a couple of concerns before my last fight due to an injury I suffered ten days out. I split my elbow open but luckily got it steri stripped and I don’t know how, but luckily they didn’t see it in the medicals. I also fell ill with a cold 3-4 days before, but that’s nothing. To be honest, it is what it is. I was so locked into the moment that nothing was going to stop me from making my debut on the 20th of November, 2021.
Emotions are a big part of this game, and it’s hard to say they won’t be any emotions as, in my opinion, it’s just excitement. I am mentally bulletproof.
Time Away
As mentioned, so much can change in the sport itself in such a short space of time. However, the same can be said about one’s skill set. How much of an improvement can people expect to see from you on Saturday night as opposed to your debut? Where do you feel you’ve made the biggest improvements?
Within the year I’ve been out, I had two scheduled fights back in 2022, with both being cancelled, so I’ve had three camps going into this one fight, basically leading up to this moment. I believe I’ve improved everywhere on the ground on the feet, my cardio, my footwork, everything. To be honest, I am forever learning and a student of the game. There is always room to improve in the world of mma.
The approach and difference to this camp compared to my last are I’ve got a nutritionist now he’s the best in the business. Marcus James he’s helped me easily get to 57KG as I was a small bantamweight, so it was a no brained to drop down to flyweight, and I’ve never felt better.
Talking Nils Goitom as an Opponent
Saturday night, you collide with Nils Goitom who holds a 1-1 record in the early stages of his amateur career. Tell me about the matchup and your thoughts on his skill set and what you feel he brings. Any strengths and weaknesses you’ve been able to identify by his previous two outings?
Nils is a great opponent, and I’m sure he’s 2-1, but one of his wins has been put on his brother’s record on Tapology for some reason. With all due respect, Nils is better than Connor, but the result will be the same. He’s a standard Muay Thai fighter, don’t get me wrong, his striking is slick, and his ground game isn’t the best from what I’ve seen, but I’m not going to underestimate him as I hope he’s been putting in as much time in the gym as me.
You recently posted, “Don’t let this baby face fool you.”, while Nils has regularly stated: “I put this kid away”, and “ready to smash this kid.” Do you think the “baby face”, as you say, makes Nils overlook you? Can I just get your general response to Nil’s comments?
His comments don’t phase me. He said the same about the last opponent and didn’t put him away. Like I said, I’m mentally bulletproof, and yeah, the “baby face” comment was just a little reminder that not everything is as it seems and looks can be deceiving because once that cage door closes, it’s going be calculated violence. If he expects the same Jack Slater as in my debut, he is in for a rude awakening.
Slater Sends Goitom a Warning
What would you have to say to a Nils Goitom who anticipates the same Jack Slater as his debut to show up on fight night?
If he expects the same Jack Slater as in my debut, he is in for a rude awakening.
Assuming you’re looking to make up for lost time this year. How many bouts are you looking for this year? Can we expect to see you competing regularly?
I am looking to stay active this year. My aim is to get 3-4 fights in before the end of the year and the same next year, then hopefully turn pro.
How do Jack Slater and Nils Goitom unfold at the Barnsley Metrodome this Saturday? Why should we tune in?
This fight will unfold any way I want it to. In my opinion, I’m comfortable striking with him and grappling with him. I’m ready to go toe to toe and make a statement this Saturday. As I said, this will be my breakout performance, and it will be calculated, violent, calm, collected, and brutal.
Gratitude
I’ll leave you with the last words, any sponsors or teammates you’d like to thank or any last words for Nils before the cage doors closes this weekend?
I just wanna say a big thank you to my coach Brite over, eat Fordes and Team Amoah for all the time he’s put into me. He is not one of those coaches who just want to be involved in the fighter’s spotlight; he genuinely cares about the sport and enjoys the process just as much as I do. He’s as real as they get. Also, wanna say a massive thank you to my nutritionist Marcus James for helping me during camp and answering my stupid questions about the food. I wouldn’t be able to make 57 if it wasn’t for him.
Thank you to everyone who helped me prepare for this camp. You know who you are.
Thank you to my fiancé for putting up with me during this time in camp. I’ve been a handful, constantly training, tired and sometimes mardy due to wanting food and always supporting and pushing me to be a better person and athlete.
Also just wanna thank my sports massage sponsor Gregg Collins for always keeping me stay in top shape and feeling great.
As always, a big thank you to my mum and family for always supporting me.
Featured image credit to Jack Slater
