LFA lightweight Steve Collins has a tough test in fellow undefeated opponent Max Metzgar at LFA 214 on Friday night, but if his opponent thinks this fight is going to easy, well, think again.
“He thinks he can take me down. Hold me down. He’s going to see that I can grapple, bruh. I keep that in my back pocket because I know I can do it,” Collins told Cageside Press.
“I go out there and purposely strike with guys because I know that’s not where I come from. I come from wrestling. Wrestling for five minutes is tough so I rather punch on the feet than force you to take a takedown or I take this takedown after I just pieced you up.”
Collins (5-0) has shown that exact strategy in his fights. His two finishes in his pro career come via KO or TKO. One of them a slam KO over Gabriel Brown at LFA 210 in June.
“He’s going to have a rude awakening. I’m excited to see how on the feet goes with me and him,” Collins said before giving a one-word answer as to where he has a leg up in the matchup.
“Hands.”
A stand-up battle between two wrestlers might be in order at LFA 214. Collins isn’t sure his opponent can stack up against him in the striking.
“I haven’t him throw his hands for real. I’m going to make him throw his hands and see what he can do,” said Collins.
A win over Metzgar on the main card portion of LFA 214 can open up doors for Collins. One leads to more LFA success and glory. The other leads to the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
“I believe my talents could fight on the UFC. I believe I can fight Dana White’s Contender Series, but if I’m not ready I’ll fight again for LFA. LFA is still new to me. I fought three times, but it’s still new to me,” he said.
“Whatever my team and my coach decide to do that’s what we’re going to do.”
Oh, and no more YouTube prelims for Scuba Steve! Main card slot belongs to the man out of Chicago, Illinois.
“I put on a show twice I was in my head after that. I’m like ‘I got to be on the main card now. They got to put me on the main card,” he said.
“Yeah no more YouTube for me. UFC Fight Pass.”
Watch the entire interview with Steve Collins above. He faces Max Metzgar at LFA 214 on August 15 in Sioux Falls, SD.
