Rhys Robson is expects to wear his opponent Tommy Hunter down in his mixed martial arts debut at Rise and Conquer 13.
The TFT representative will make the walk for the first time in his MMA journey at the Rainton Arena on October 7th.
We had the chance to talk with Rhys Robson before the fight. We talked Rise and Conquer, his preparation, advice from teammates and much more.
Interview With Rhys Robson
Rhys, you’re all set to make your amateur MMA debut at Rise and Conquer. It’s still a few weeks away, but talk us through how you’re feeling in the lead-up. Do we have any nerves creeping in, or are they just excitement levels?
I’m feeling great in the build-up to this fight. The nerves are slowly creeping in, but ultimately, I’m confident in my skill set and excited to show it off come October 7th.
Tell the readers how long you’ve been training and, ultimately, how did you and the team knew the decision was right to make your MMA debut.
I’ve been training MMA and grappling for around two years now, but I had boxed a little when I was younger, so I wasn’t completely fresh to combat sports. I’d been wanting to make my debut for a little while, and we decided while I was helping out the lads for the previous rise and conquer that the next show was the time to make my debut.
Rhys Robson Talks MMA Debut
When making your debut, you can never be hard on yourself, as it’s all new to you. That said, what expectations have you laid down for yourself? Are you someone who’s quite hard on themselves?
I’d say I’m definitely a little hard on myself, wanting to perfect every technique and ensuring my cardio is at the level it needs to be. For the fight, I’m expecting a high pace for the entire duration, and I know as the smaller fighter, I’m going to need to be pushing that pace to eliminate his reach.
You hail from a great gym with some top fighters. Have any of them helped you with any advice in the lead-up? If so, who and what have they said?
Absolutely, I’ve mainly spoken to Dan Bainbridge and Nathan Haywood leading up to the fight, and they’ve given me advice and helped me calm the nerves around my weight and my diet. Ben Goldsborough has also helped a lot with advice on the pre-fight nerves.
Tommy Hunter
You meet Tommy Hunter on fight night. Does it feel better facing someone who’s going through all the same emotions as you? As opposed to someone who’s made the walk and is quite comfortable in the cage?
It does help a little knowing he’s in the same position as me and that it’s his first walk to the cage; however, I expect to be calm and comfortable once I step into the cage.
You’re a blank canvas to everyone outside TFT. What can we expect when you enter that Octagon on October 7th?
When I enter the cage on October 7th, you can expect an entertaining, high-paced fight in which I ultimately believe I will wear him down and find the finish.
