Cage Warriors, MMA News

Madars Fleminas – “I’m going to Italy to get the win”

Aaron East

September 18, 2022

In just over 2 weeks, Cage Warriors are set to make their first trip to Italy, and is one of the most highly anticipated cards to date. This milestone of an event is packed with some of the most exciting barn-burners to make sure Ian Boylan and his team’s trip to the ‘Eternal City’ a monumental night of pure unadulterated organised violence.

One of these phenomenal warriors taking the walk on October 7th will be Madars Fleminas. On a two fight win streak in his previous 2 outings, he looks to make it a hatrick of victories on the next stop for the ‘Latvian Express’ CW144.

Madars ‘Latvain Express’ Fleminas 10-3-0 is a Latvian professional Mixed Martial Artist currently competing in the Welterweight Division, representing Hard Work MMA. A professional competitor since 2017, he has competed for Caged Steel, World Combat Fighting Championship and Cage Warriors.

I caught up with Madars as he makes final preparations for possibly one his biggest tests to date.

I’d like to start things off by thanking you for taking the time to speak with me again today Madars, and also to congratulate you on your upcoming inclusion to the CW144 card.

From what I’ve had the opportunity to see, training camp seems to be going well in the build-up to your highly anticipated return to the CW cage?

“Yeah, training camp is going great, I travel around enjoying my training. I Enjoy learning at 4th Dimension, Lockdown MMA and Lincoln Grappling coalition, plus my own gym Hard Work MMA. All the guys are getting better and we just try to push each other to another level. I’ve been down to Wales also to train with Lewis Long for a couple days, it’s been great. it’s always good when you’re enjoying what you’re doing.”

Your outings since reestablishing yourself on the Cage Warriors roster has left many fight fans in awe. Rejoining Graham Boylan’s iconic promotion back in 2021, you have strung together two phenomenal victories over Oban Elliott at CW131 and Jesse Urholin most recently at CW141.

On such a strong run of form you must be full of confidence as you prepare to go to war in the cage again?

“Confidence is not always the key, I find myself more dangerous when i dont put any pressure on myself, take one fight at a time, try to fight the best guys I can so I can see where I’m at. Winning fights is always good and it gives you that extra boost for the next one, but every fight for me is the biggest fight, and as long as I do my best out there, I will be happy. I’ve always known I’m a dangerous fighter, I always know I can take guys apart, just need to find the killer within me on the bigger promotions, it seems like I’m on the right path.”

I was lucky to be in attendance on your recent victory in London at CW141, you showcased your vast skill-set over an explosive opponent in Jesse Urholin. Now the proverbial dust has settled and you’ve had time to reflect on your victory, what did you take from your performance in the Capital?

“My performance was alright, I got a great head coach Glen Wright from Lockdown MMA, he put the game plan in for my fight. I know if I stick to it, the win will come. It was pretty straightforward, don’t let him do anything on ground and win in the striking exchanges. People sleep on my ground game because I’ve been submitted a couple times, but all of them were flukes, because I made silly mistakes. From these I learned, and going forward I proved that. Jesse is probably one of the best grapplers in the division, and i just didnt let him do anything, he got tired and i outworked him. Like I said, my performance was alright but I can always do better.”

You are set to bring your prolific arsenal to one of the most highly anticipated cards of the calendar year in Rome. Tickets sold out pretty much instantaneously.

What does it mean to you to once again don the yellow gloves in Rome?

“I knew I was going to Rome before my last fight, because match wise, Jesse wasn’t the fight I wanted, but no one else was stepping up. So I took the fight on the understanding that I could fight on the Italy card. The only question was who would I fight, I got the win so I got the hardest Welterweight in Italian MMA. I’m extremely happy to step in the cage against UFC and Bellator veteran. There is nothing that motivates me more than to wake up early and put in the work knowing I get to challenge myself against one of the best in Europe.”

You take on yet another impressive opponent in Italy’s Carlo ‘Semento’ Pedersoli 13-4-0 in Rome, as you sharpen your proverbial tools for war, what are your thoughts on Carlo in the build-up to your scheduled meeting?

“Carlo is a great striker, has a good ground game and is a southpaw. He’s everything I could have asked for to put on a great show for Italian fans. I will be there in front of him throwing down leather, and the best guy will win. I have respect for everyone, but when I’m in there, I’ll do all I can to get the win and that is never gonna change. I’m going to Italy to get the win.”

And what a barn-burner of a bout it’s gonna be, and as you said, against a very well rounded opponent.

Many exceptional warriors such as yourself have their eyes on one thing in the not so distant future, to become king of their respective division and have the title firmly around their wastes. On the run of form you are in and the opposition you have faced, the possibility of competing for Welterweight gold is not far from reach.

“For me it is never far away, I always step into the cage trying to get that shot, but I do not put that pressure on myself anymore, I know I will get there. I’m just going to keep enjoying the journey, take the hardest fights out there, and that belt will come.”

It sounds like you would prefer to solidify your claim by taking on more of what the division has to offer, are there any particular names on your list?

“There are a couple names on my list, I know what I want, I know what I can do when I’m on point. Let’s see how the fights play out, and let Ian Dean make the best possible fight for me.”

As previously stated, CW’s invasion of Rome has fight fans in high anticipation, a blockbuster of warriors will take centre stage in the ‘Eternal City’. Other than your inclusion on the night are there any matchups in particular that you’re looking forward to witnessing?