On February 5th, ECMMA makes an explosive return to action for a night of pure unadulterated organised violence that will blow the roof off of the Casino Rooms in Rochester.
An action packed line-up from top to bottom of MMA, Boxing and K1 wars will kick off for a night you’ll not soon forget.
Amongst the evening’s violent festivities will be GB Top Team’s Zach Maunder vs Blackbeard MMA’s Adam Raja. 2 explosive amateur’s will go head to head to test their skill sets and look to add to their impressive careers thus far.
I took a trip down to Great Britain Top Team to speak with one half of this absolute barn burner, Zach Maunder.
Zach Maunder (1-0-1) is an English amateur Mixed Martial Artist currently competing in the Bantamweight division, representing Great Britain Top Team. Zach has competed for Cage Warriors South-East and is set to make his debut for ECMMA on February 5th.
I’d like to start things off by thanking you for taking the time to speak with me today Zach, and also to congratulate you on your upcoming inclusion to the ECMMA February card.
“Cheers man.”
My pleasure mate.
I hope preparations have been going well for your return to the cage?
“Yeah it’s been going well mate. Brad offered me the fight nearly weeks ago now, I’m excited, it’ll be a good fight, looks like a good opponent so I’m excited for it.”
A lot of your teammates past, and present have competed in the ECMMA cage as well, great to follow in their footsteps.
“Yeah, a lot of the guys have fought on the show. It looks like a good show, a lot of good match-ups there, yeah I’m excited.”
100 percent.
Taking the fighter’s path requires dedication, motivation and many sacrifices on the path to success.
To give the fans that will be in attendance at the Casino Rooms in Rochester a little insight into your journey, what 1st allured you to start out on your Mixed Martial Arts journey?
“It was at the start of secondary school, the usual story, i got picked on a bit, hit, the usual stuff. I took up Muay-Thai at 13, I’m 19 now, then I got into MMA. Alex Lohoré who trains here, I joined the gym he was coaching at when I was 15. I trained with him for about 2 years, then had my first fight at Cage Warriors South-East in 2021. I went on to fight at CWSE again the following year, now I’m back again with ECMMA.”
Definitely a great role model, and to train here together 4 years later is quite a trip together.
Now approaching your 3rd outing as an amateur, you look to continue the new year in winning fashion. Successful in your previous outing at Cage Warriors South-East 28, you showed your desire to not let it go to the judges with a tremendous TKO fashion victory.
Can the fans come to expect this type of velocity looking down the 2023 MMA calendar?
“That’s what I’m always looking to do, in my 1st fight got called a draw vs Jack Ashman, but it wasn’t in my opinion. I think everyone watching it thought I won, but I got told after that to take it out of the judges hands, that’s what I did in my last fight and I’ll be trying to do that in this fight as well.”
“My opponent is good, so I think it will be a good fight.”
A great attitude going forward mate, as well as respect towards your opponent.
The new year will also see you take the walk to the cage with a new organisation with ECMMA. Experience is key to a successful amateur amateur career, was this notion a key to your decision to take the bout on February 5th?
“I’m looking to be as active as possible, I just want to fight and get experience, fighting different people. I think my opponent’s had 4 maybe 5 fights and I’ve had 2, I just want the experience, take the fights as and when I can and get better. That’s what I’m planning to do, take this fight and possibly fight in April also, try and get out there as much as possible.”
100 percent, the best way forward is to keep yourself active.
“Yeah, exactly.”
As previously stated, February 5th will be your 3rd walk to the cage since 2021, and you’re set to take on Blackbeard MMA’s Adam Raja. A willing and able competitor with the fortitude to take war to the later rounds.
What do you make of Adam, as you prepare to collide on February 5th?
“He’s a good fighter, I’d say the best I will have taken on, the most experienced definitely. He looks like a striker, I’ve seen him come forward a lot and he throws a lot of punches. He looks strong, the fans are gonna enjoy our fight and I think it will be good.”
It’s definitely good to take on a high level opponent, keep yourself motivated and test yourself.
“Yeah definitely. If I was to take on someone not so active, it would seem kinda pointless for everyone involved really. this guys gonna be a good fight, so I’m excited, it will be a good test for me.”
Each time I speak with the warriors at Great Britain Top Team about their respective bouts, looking through the card there is always a whole host of fellow teammates. ECMMA will be no exception, with a big inclusion by Brad Pickett’s GB Top Team.
Other than your inclusion on the night, are there any matchups in particular, no doubt some of your teammates, that you’re looking forward to witnessing?
“I’m looking forward to watching Frankie’s fight, he’s fighting the guy I was supposed to fight at Cage Warriors who pulled out against me, because I was given my opponent the week before. I think that will be a good fight for Frankie, he’ll win that fight easily.”
I’ll definitely keep an eye on that one.
It’s been great speaking with you today Zach, I wish you all the best for the remainder of your training, and I look forward to catching you in action.
“Cheers man.”
Last but not least do you have a message for the fans that will be in attendance and anybody you’d like to give a shout-out to?
“Enjoy the show, it’s gonna be a good fight for sure, and there’s gonna be loads of good fights on the card. Shout-out to my dad, who’s been taking time off work to get me to train because the train strikes have been awful. Shout-out to my girlfriend, shout-out to Great Britain Top Team and all of the guys here that help me out, it’s gonna be a good night.”
Catch Zach and many more phenomenal warriors take centre stage at what’s shaping up to be an incredible fight card on February 5th at the Casino Rooms in Rochester. Tickets will be made available from the fighters as well as from ECMMA Facebook page here, and the ECMMA Instagram page here.
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