Nathan Haywood has promised to give the fans their money’s worth at Rise and Conquer 12 this Sunday.
This weekend in the Rainton Arena, Haywood is set to headline his first event in the early stages of his pro-career against Nestor Santana in front of a loud and rowdy home crowd.
The card is stacked with talent from across the country, with amateurs and pro’s aiming to steal the show. However, Haywood assures those attending he’ll bring “action from start to end”.
Prior to fight night, we had the pleasure of speaking with Nathan Haywood before his third pro-fight.
Interview With Nathan Haywood
A couple of days out until you make the walk for the third time in your professional career. Both fights have been on your home show, Rise and Conquer, for those who haven’t ever been able to fight in front of a home-supportive crowd. Can you sum up how that feels?
I think all the pre-fight emotions are basically the same, but the high you get after is defiantly much better as you surround by all your friends and family, and it sort of feels like you have all won; however, that also comes with the added pressure, of keeping a home crowd happy.
You are now 2-0 in your pro-career with two finishes. Not a bad start, right? How have you felt in there against Tomasz and Ash Wood? Has anything felt different since jumping from the amateur circuit to the pro?
It’s been a perfect start. In my first fight, I definitely felt that shock as I had a long time out, but I got through that and pushed on to the finish. I honestly believe the nerves are the same. Just the round time took a bit of adjusting to, but I feel like I really have that measured now and am confident I can push the crazy pace for 3 5 min rounds.
Nathan Haywood on Extensive Amateur Career
You had such an extensive amateur career, which I feel is so important for when fighters turn pro. What are the biggest lessons you learned in your amateur career that you feel have now benefited you as a pro?
I think my extensive armature career just made fighting and competing second nature to me. I’ve always done it, and I have also had time to develop in every area meaning at pro, I don’t have one massive flaw for my opponent to take advantage of.
I saw you spent some time gaining rounds at ACE MMA this camp. Tell us a little bit about your trip there and your rounds with the great team Shaj has.
Yeah, as you say, saj has a great team and is a great fighter himself. Aaron and the lads at ACE were super welcoming and gave us the hard spars we needed. It’s also a bit of a meet-up for a few fighters from around the northeast, so there are loads of different bodies and styles. I’ll be back to help out for all their upcoming bouts.
I believe you’re headlining your first professional event. Does that add any more motivation to you, or are you in the mindset that it’s just another fight, the first fight of the night or the last, and you don’t really care?
It’s honestly a big deal for me. Rise and Conquer is a great show, and headlining a pro card is a massive step for me. It makes no difference to the fight, as you say, but I definitely see it as an achievement and exciting.
The Path to the UFC
Assuming you have big aspirations of reaching the pinnacle of the sport. Having seen Michael Parkin’s journey and blueprint from Rise and Conquer to Dana White’s Contender Series, to now debuting at UFC and London on July 22. Does that give you a sense of belief that it can be you and the maps there, if that makes sense?
Yeah, I see myself following in Mic’s footsteps and stepping foot in the ufc cage in the not-too-distant future.
You’ll be faced with Spanish international Nestor Santana on Sunday. Have you had the chance to look into him and some footage? If so, what are your thoughts on what he offers and brings to the cage?
Not really any footage or hard to find, but I don’t think that matters. He looks like a basic striker and decent grappler, but I think my wrestling and scrambling will allow me to choose where this fight happens.
As mentioned, you are 2-0 now with two finishes. It’s known big shows and promoters want to sign finishes and entertain individuals. That said, ahead of the fight, do you go in there with that in mind looking for the finish every time, or are you under the impression of just letting the fight unfold, and if it happens, it happens?
I want finishes. I’ll never specifically look for one specific shot. However, I’ll spend every second of the fight looking to get him out of there. Hopefully, I just don’t run out of time.
Finally, let the readers know what they can expect to see when the cage door closes on Nathan Haywood and Nestor Santana.
Action from start to end.
Featured image credits to Rise and Conquer
