Dean Garnett: I’ll finish Corbage in 2 rounds

On Friday, the UK’s Dean Garnett finally faces Argentinian Lucas Corbage for the HEXAGONE World Featherweight title in France’s original bullfighting ring, Beziers Arena. This follows Garnett’s comeback KO-victory at 20 seconds into round 1 at HEXAGONE MMA 6 in January.

The open-air fight night, which was rescheduled from June to this Friday 4 August, will be broadcast on TNT Sports (in UK & Ireland) and DAZN (internationally).

Commenting on his readiness to fight, Garnett said: “It’s all about peaking and not working yourself to the bone. So, with the fight postponement, I took time off and set up a new 6-week camp leading into the fight this weekend. In fact, I feel better than last time, so I believe I’ve got it right and I’m ready to peak on Friday night.”

About the fight, Garnet said: “I feel really confident. I’m pretty sure I’m going to deal with him in two rounds.”

“I’m grateful to be fighting in such an iconic area and on such a great platform. So, I’m going to be soaking it all up and enjoying it. I‘d like to thank everyone for their support and my coaches back home.”

Garnett comes into the headlining bout with a record of 10-2-1. Hailing from Liverpool, Garnett made his name across promotions such as Cage Warriors and Bellator, famously turning down his call to the UFC to meet Magomed Magomedov at ACB. Most of his wins (50%) are by submission, with only 30% left to the judges’ scorecards. A renowned coach of national youth teams and elite MMA fighters, one of Garnett’s best-known protegees is UK UFC signee Muhammad Mokaev. Garnett owns and coaches at the ASPIRE Combat Sports Academy in Liverpool.

Fighting out of Nova União Argentina, Corbage carries a professional record of 11-1. He comes from a fight team traditionally renowned for its Brazilian jiu jitsu but which also boasts international MMA names, with José Aldo its most prominent export. Corbage has 6 x 1st round finishes to his name with 36% obtained by submission and 36% via strikes over a nine-year professional career.

HEXAGONE MMA 8: FINALISED FIGHT CARD

World Featherweight CHAMPIONSHIP – Men’s 65.8kg / 145 lbs: Dean Garnett (UK, 10-2-1) vs. Lucas Corbage (11-1, Argentina)

Lightweight Bout – Men’s 70.3 kg / 155lbs:

Wilson Varela (9-5, Portugal) vs. Alisson Marreira (7-4-1, Spain via Brazil)

Strawweight Bout – Women’s 52.2 kg / 115lbs: Karla Benitez (19-16-1, Venezuela) vs. Ielo Page (7-5, France)

Featherweight Bout – Men’s 65.8 kg / 145 lbs: Jack Claffey (0-1, England) vs. Kevin Simon Césari (1-0, France)

Middleweight Bout – Men’s 83.9 kg / 185 lbs: Gyorgy Komuves (1-1, Hungary) vs. Lazaro Maza Blanco (0-0, Spain)

Catchweight Bout – Men’s 80 kg:

Frankie Rollandt (4-6, France) vs. Allan Taibi (2-5, France)

Welterweight Bout – Men’s -77.1 kg/ 170 lbs : Mathieu Rakotondrazanany (2-3, France) vs. Faudel Bentaieb (2-3, France)

Catchweight Bout – Men’s -59kg:

Boualem Sahraoui (2-2, France) vs. Shekibulah Waris (0-0, Afghanistan)