Ross Mcgowan is all set to make his mixed martial arts return after undergoing a period of inactivity from competition.
Despite not being active in the cage since 2021, Mcgowan assures those supporting him he’s been working endlessly in the gym, adding new tools to his arsenal and developing his skill set.
The Scot is set to face Tselmuun Gere on Saturday, 29th April, at Goliath Fight Series 3. The rising Scottish promotion, run by MMA coach Steven Harris and UFC lightweight Chris Duncan, is set to take place at the Lochgelly Centre, Lochgelly.
Ahead of his return, we had the opportunity to catch up with Ross Mcgowan, who’s raring to get back to work and make up for the lost time. Hear what he had to say below.
Interview With Ross McGowan
Goliath Fight Series 3 is just around the corner as you prepare to make your mixed martial return. Talk to me about how it feels to be preparing for a fight again, have spent some time on the sidelines.
It feels great to have a fight coming up. I have been in camp for some time now, and with having pullouts and shows being cancelled, I haven’t been as active as I would have liked, which has made me more determined for this show. I just can’t wait to get in there and feel that buzz again.
We last saw you in action at Cage Warriors Academy Wales 5 against Levi Batchelor in 2021. What’s the reasoning behind the long layoff, and how much do you feel a break/reset will benefit you moving forward?
Once again, I should have had at least three fights since then, but due to pullouts and shows being cancelled, it has stopped me from being able to compete but not stopped me from training. I feel like I have learned so much since the fight with Levi, so the layoff has been good for me. In a way has made me a better fighter.
In your time away from the cage, have you been in the gym training or taken an overall break from the game?
I have trained the whole time I have been away from the cage, and I’m feeling great for this bout.
Ross Mcgowan Feeling Great
You posted on Instagram, “I’m feeling great. Best I’ve felt in ages.” What do you put the shift in how you feel down to? Again, can that be tied into your time away?
I feel good because I have been training with new people and learning more about the fighting game. Getting to other gyms and training with new people will help progress me as a fighter with the different body types and styles I could come up against in the near future. The time away has played a factor in this.
You made your amateur debut in 2017. How much do you think the sport’s progressed and developed even in that time frame?
I feel like it has come on a lot, especially in Scottish mma. It just has much more eyes on it now that everyone wants to know about it or come watch.
The man welcoming you back to competition is Tselmuun Gerel, who made his debut in 2022 and had an active year going (3-0). How do you feel about returning to this matchup and his skill set as a whole?
I feel like I’ve been in with people like him before. He comes with quite a good ground game, and like Levi was (3-0) when I fought him, so I had experienced a guy like this before and picked up on the mistakes I had made in these fights, and this time around, I will be ready. I do feel like he is a good opponent and a great test for me to come back to.
Do you feel his activity, as opposed to yours as of late, will play any factor in the fight?
I don’t believe so. I feel like we both have the same amount of experience, except he hasn’t felt defeat yet, and I would like to change that on the 29th.
Mcgowan Talks Gerel’s Finishing Ability
Gerel has proven to be a quick finisher and wastes no time in there. What must you do to ensure you’re not another stat on his record come April 30th?
I have a plan in place, I’m not going to give too much away, but I have been training for his style and I feel like I have the tools to stop his win streak.
What would you have to say to your opponent who expects the same version of you to show up that did in Wales in 2021?
To that, I would say he is sorely mistaken. I am a much better version of myself from then.
Finally, leave us with your fight prediction and any last words for your opponent or anybody you’d like to thank. The floor is yours.
I feel like I will stop him in the second round and wish him luck in the fight. Also I would like to thank DMMA for all the things they do for me and the results for Forfar as well, as they have helped a lot in this camp. A big shout-out to tanned up Dundee for sponsoring me and helping pay for my camps, also all my family and friends who come to support me no matter where the fight is. You guys are amazing.
Featured image credits to Cage Warriors Academy Wales
