Factory X’s Fremd (8-2) was one win away from a UFC contract last May, but unfortunately, things didn’t go his way. That time is here again for the 28-year old. He is fighting this Sunday at FAC 12: Lookin’ For A Fight against Joel Bauman. UFC President Dana White will be in attendance filming his YouTube show, and he is bringing social media influencers, the Nelk Boys, with him.

Fremd believes with a win, he will receive his long-awaited UFC contract. Oh, and if he doesn’t, he’s not leaving Kansas without it.

“I’m not leaving Kansas. If I win and get my hand raised, I’m not leaving Kansas City, and Dana White is not leaving Cable Dahmer Arena without agreeing to give me a contract because this is something I’ve been working for since I was in high school. Since I was a junior high kid, I have always dreamed about fighting for the UFC, fighting in front of Dana White. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself to fight in front of him right now because I know eventually that is going to be my job,” Fremd told Cageside Press in an exclusive interview.

After having his five-fight win streak snapped and getting knocked out for the first time in his career, Fremd bounced back in October at LFA 116 as he defeated tough Brazilian Renato Valente via unanimous decision.

He faces another formidable opponent on Sunday in Bauman. Taking the fight on one week’s notice, Fremd says that his opponent presents another problem for him, a D1 college wrestler.

“I think it’s a good match-up. I’m not going to get any layup match-ups; it’s just how this game goes. I’m going to fight tough guys every single time, and Joel is another tough guy. He presents a different type of problem for me. In my last fight against Renato Valente, he was a Brazilian black belt, and that was my worry on the ground. We got a division one wrestler here now, and I’m excited to go out and test myself against him,” Fremd said.

Fremd plans on knocking him out brutally.

“I see myself winning by knockout in a very brutal fashion.”

Josh Fremd faces Joel Bauman at FAC 12 this Sunday, streamed exclusively on UFC Fight Pass. Watch the rest of our interview with Fremd above, where he talks about the Pittsburgh Steelers, his last fight, the Nelk Boys, and more.

The post Josh Fremd Says He Will Not Leave Kansas Without A UFC Contract appeared first on Cageside Press.

Dana White will be at Titan FC 54 later this month. White will be there as part of his YouTube series Dana White: Lookin’ For a Fight, alongside co-hosts Matt Serra and Din Thomas. The UFC President was most recently at LFA 63 last weekend, where he scouted out talent among the fighters on that card.

At LFA 63, White spoke to two fighters after they won their bouts. Gabriel Silva (brother of Erick) was signed to the UFC after knocking out previously undefeated competitor Jake Heffernan in the co-main event in just 83 seconds. Meanwhile, 34-fight regional veteran Derrick Krantz will be given another opportunity to prove himself in front of White, as he earned a spot on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series airing this summer after his knockout victory over Bellator veteran Justin Patterson.

Titan FC 54 takes place April 26, 2019 from the Xtreme Action Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Two Titan FC titles will be on the line. In the main event, former The Ultimate Fighter 22 competitor and current champion Jason Soares (12–0) will be taking on Anderson Hutchinson (7-2) for the featherweight championship. Soares was featured on our list for potential prospects for the Contender Series. The co-main event features an interim lightweight title bout between Brazilians Rafael Alves (17-9) and Felipe Douglas (17-4).

Also on the card, former Contender Series contestant Luis Gomez returns as he faces Herbert Burns (brother of Gilbert). Former UFC veterans Marcel Fortuna and Marc Stevens are also appearing at the event.

Titan FC 54 fight card:

• Jason Soares (12-0) vs. Anderson Hutchinson (7-2) – for the Titan FC featherweight title
• Rafael Alves (17-7) vs. Felipe Douglas (17-4) – for the Titan FC interim lightweight title
• Herbert Burns (7-2) vs. Luis Gomez (7-2)
• Marcel Fortuna (9-3) vs. Andreas Michaillidis (10-3)
• Ange Loosa (6-1) vs. Collin Lubberts (3-0)
• Marc Stevens (23-11) vs. Quartus Stitt (9-9).

The post UFC President Dana White Will Be A Special Guest At Titan FC 54 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Today’s generation of MMA fans most likely know Din Thomas from Dana White’s Lookin’ for a Fight, or the new Fight Pass show, Tuesday Night Contender. However, before Thomas was an extremely likable MMA personality, he was an incredible fighter in his own right.

The grappling ace made his debut in June of 2001 against BJ Penn. Ironically enough, Penn is still fighting and had a bout with Dennis Siver just two days after this interview took place.

“I wish he would retire”

“I wish [Penn] wasn’t [still fighting] honestly. What surprises me is that so many guys don’t develop any other skills in life while they fight.”

He offered one final piece of advice for Penn: “I wish he would retire. BJ is one of the best to ever do it. At some point he is tarnishing his legacy, he continues to go out there and embarrass himself.”

Din Thomas returned to MMA two years after a three-fight win streak in smaller promotions, including a win over former UFC competitor Dustin Pague. He split the final two fights of his career, but the victory was overturned to a no contest. Regardless, Thomas did not hang around too long like many fighters tend to do nowadays.

“In your head, you still think you can do it, but you can’t, it doesn’t last forever. I feel bad, there are so many fighters that can’t let go of the dream and they are holding on to something that’s just not there anymore.”

Something that has really helped the MMA pioneer in his post-fight life has been training young up and coming athletes at American Top Team.

“I will say this, I really learned the finer nuances of mixed martial arts when I started coaching full time. I still get the challenge of putting together game plans and making people better, it’s very difficult because fighters are the most hard-headed childish human beings on the planet.”

“I don’t see how Conor can be competitive in this fight”

Lately, in the world of MMA, you can’t go anywhere or read anything without hearing about the Conor McGregor-Floyd Mayweather fight. Be that as it may, when talking to one of the sport’s biggest personalities you have to delve into his thoughts on the crossover fight of the century.

“I love what McGregor has done. Coming from nothing in a short amount of time and leveraging himself into the position he is in to fight Floyd. I don’t see how Conor can be competitive in this fight at all, we have professional boxers at the gym and they don’t spar with the MMA guys for a reason, that reason is that they are just way better.”

He ended the McGregor talk with a sobering truth, “We’re talking about a guy who is 49-0. I’m not 49-0 in anything ever in my life, McGregor isn’t even undefeated in his own sport.”

As mentioned, you can catch Din Thomas on the UFC Fight Pass original series Dana White’s Lookin’ for a Fight.

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