March 12, 2020

Interview with Nails Fight Centre’s Rhys ‘THE BRICK’ Hughes

For my first MMA UK article, I thought who better to test my interviewing skills than long time friend and teammate, Rhys Hughes. Rhys is an unbeaten middleweight amateur MMA fighter, fighting out of Nails Fight Centre, a local, likeable lad whose attitude towards life and everything he does is admirable. Here we talk about his upcoming fight, his past, and a few bits in between. Hope you enjoy. Glenn Williams: Rhys, thanks for your time. First of all, how did it all start, what got you into MMA? Rhys Hughes: I started in Nails about 5 years ago, I was overweight, unfit, but my intentions weren’t to fight at that time. But after losing 5 stone, in the first year or so, the next challenge was to make my MMA debut. The rest is history. Glenn Williams: That certainly was a challenge. Well done to you. You’ve had a good  2 active years,  currently 4 and 0, where do you see yourself in the next 2 to 4 years? Rhys Hughes: Ideally after winning the cage warriors title, I’d like to fight for cage warriors as a signed pro in the long term. Before then, next year I’d like to represent wales at the IMMAF,  both are goals I set myself and are achievable I feel. Glenn Williams: Very achievable. You train at Nails, in Port Talbot, what’s different about training at nails from all the other gyms? Rhys Hughes: The gym is special, due to the family aspect we bring. A lot of other gyms say the same, but we are like a family. Our coaches have a lot of experience,  whether it’s high-level BJJ or pro MMA they have been there and done it. Not many other gyms can say that. Also having a big fight team, with a few fighters being around my weight, that’s priceless to me. Glenn Williams: Your upcoming fight, is in Ebbw Vale, your taking a big crowd as usual, how good will it be to fight in front of such crowd for the cage warriors amateur title? Rhys Hughes: It’s gonna be awesome. I’ve got a big following, family and friends travelling from Ireland and England its huge for me, not only to fight for the title, but my first event I watched was pain pit, where my teammate Struan Croxan, fought for the amateur title, so to follow his footsteps 3 years later and headline the amateur card is something I dreamed of. Glenn Williams: Leading up to this fight have you done anything differently? Rhys Hughes: I have trained like a pro for this, I been up at 5 am, cardio, weights, then do my 8-hour shift, before going back to nails to train BJJ, wrestling, and MMA. Glenn Williams: Your opponent, Mitchell Goode, is known for his grappling, are you expecting anything different? Rhys Hughes: I’d be naive to think he’s not working on his weaknesses, but I am expecting him to try and push for a takedown. I’m happy on my back, on top or wherever the fight goes, although il be the one who decides where. Glenn Williams: It will be a good battle to watch, I’m sure.  Outside of the gym, what else do you enjoy? Rhys Hughes: At the moment I’ve started enjoying cooking. But my best mate is about to turn pro as a boxer and enjoyed an extensive amateur career, so I’ve enjoyed watching him for years. Also, love my weekends away with my girlfriend. Glenn Williams: Rhys, it’s been a pleasure, thanks for taking the time out, we wish you all the best. Rhys Hughes: Thanks. I’d like to thank all my sponsors, who can be found on my social media Rhys_hughess Massive thanks to my teammates and coaches at nails, namely Frango, Kev, and Dummer! Cheers.  

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Across the Pond Profile: UFC fighter Jonathan Pearce

When opportunity knocks in the MMA world, fighters answer the call and put their life in a holding pattern to go chase the dream. In today’s episode of Across The Pond, you will meet a savage smokey mountain bringer of doom ready to showcase what it means to be Tennessee tough in MMA’s ultimate proving ground. A professional since November 2014 and representing Fight Ready MMA And Fitness, Jonathan Pearce owns a 9-4 record in 13 professional bouts comprised of seven knockouts, one submission and one decision. Pearce earned his UFC contract on week three during season three of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series in 2019. He has gone on to finish eight of his nine victories as a professional mixed martial artist with the bulk of those wins have come inside the distance and only one of the nine having gone the full three rounds. In his MMA debut, he knocked out Noe Quintanilla in the third round. Pearce also defeated his next two opponents in Chris Wright and Anthony Morgan. Then at Valor Fights Apex Fights 10, he defeated Nickalas Marino via TKO in the second round. Pearce tapped out Damir Ferhatbegovic via rear-naked choke in round three. He defeated Omar Johnson via TKO in the second round. At Valor Fights Strikefest 2 Pearce faced Nick Baker and went on to defeat him via TKO in round two. He also defeated Dedrek Sanders at Warrior FC 140 via TKO. At Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series 3. he took on Jacob Rosales and defeated him via TKO in the third round. The win also secured Pearce the seventh knockout victory of his professional career along with a UFC contract. With eight of his nine wins have come before the final bell, Pearce certainly knows how to find and hit the hot spot with a dead-on aim!

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UFC Brasilia to take place behind closed doors

There were fears that Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 28 event was going to have to be cancelled. This came after Ibeanis Rocha, the governor of the Brazilian capital city, Brasilia, declared a ban on all large gatherings due to an outbreak of coronavirus that is sweeping the world. It now seems that the event will go ahead but with no fans. At this time the UFC has neither confirmed nor denied if this is the case. Brazilian outlet Combate is reporting that the event will take place as planned in the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium, however, the 16,000 seat arena will be empty. The Thursday media day and Friday’s ceremonial weigh-in have been cancelled with only the official weigh-in taking place. With the UK set to move to the delay stage in the fight to combat the Coronavirus, it now seems likely that the UFC London event, due on 21st March may also have to go ahead with no fans. It is widely expected that the UK government are about to ban large public gatherings within a matter of hours, with sporting events like football and MMA shows about to take a hit. UFC Brasilia features Kevin Lee v Charles Oliveira as a main event and also has Demian Maia, Johnny Walker and Francisco Trinaldo.  

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