CJ Armstrong interview

Ringkasan

Cj Armstrong is an amateur MMA fighter, representing Hybrid ARDS MMA under the tutelage of Arnaud does Santos We speak about how,why and when he joined MMA, coming up through the ranks from novice to amateur His first fight at amateur and competing for the Akuma middleweight…

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So, I'm here with Mr. CJ Armstrong. He's gonna be fighting. >> He's gonna be fighting Oh, it's the 23rd. I want to say the 23rd of August, isn't it? As well. So, you're going to be fighting Daniel. You're going to be fighting for a belt as well. It's a It's a very good fight. D is a very good fighter. Thank you very much for joining me. How are you feeling about returning to the show where you made your debut and made such a big statement to now fight for a title? >> Oh, amazing. I remember when I first won, I knocked the guy out. I was at the back with Steven and I was like, I'll be fighting for a title here. And I said like Arnold and stuff like this is I want to win my first title here. And I told the boys like I'll be fighting for a title in here. And then now I am. It's um buzzing like cuz like I never thought when I joined MA I would get this even get I never thought I'd even fight the fact even fight for a title. Like it means everything to me. Like so I've been taking it very seriously like >> Yeah. No, it's mad. Did did you obviously you're in uh hybrid arts with Arno. Um when did you come into MMA? Like like what what brought you to MMA? And because you said you didn't want to compete and then what changed your mind to competing? >> Yeah. >> What brought me to MMA? To be honest, when I was like 14, I was obsessed with wrestling doing pro wrestler. >> Yeah. >> And then he and then he went and he went to MMA and I didn't know what that was. And I was like, "Oh my god, this is real." Or I was like, "But is this actually real?" I was like, "And then after I was obsessed and then I didn't back when I was like 16 that was when and it was only Andy and he didn't have an actual spot. So was he kept on changing locations so I went once but I had no car so I couldn't commit to it. And then about not not last October, the other October, I saw they were doing their advertising again and I said there right I'm just going to start it. And then as soon as I went, I was hooked. I was obsessed with it. >> And then like once you kind of got in and you were hooked, did you did you know then you wanted to compete or or was that did that take a while to kick in or or what way did how did that come about? >> Um I I didn't know I always want I always wanted thought I could beat but I didn't know I could cuz I when I first started I just all I done was lift weights and I was like over 100 kg. I was like stiff as a board. But then one sp I was like I couldn't move on like a big brick and then after one after one sparring session Arnold came up to me and say like there's there's potential in you if you if you really want to try and that but I was only on like two sessions a week and after that I was like all right I got the gold. I don't know if he done that just to get me signed up but but I know but after that I went I just been balls of the wall just I've been training every day and then and then fit the fight came up and I was really training for it and then he offered and he says I think you're I think you're ready for it and then they put me through it and I loved it. I thought was the best feeling especially after that win. It was like the best feeling in the world like >> Yeah, the the fit to fight I really liked that and the fact that you got your start there. I what I liked about the fit to fight show and it probably benefited you going into like doing amateur fights then as well is you don't see many events that there's a huge amount of novice at usually at a show like Akuma there'll be maybe four or five at the start but Fit to Fight is predominantly novice. um is predominantly novice and but it gives you did you find that it gave you that feel for an event though before you got to Akuma because >> sometimes >> like people go to like the junior league the MMA the national or the MMA leagues in Dublin and it's like cages all over the place it's not really it's an event but it's not like Joe an event event like did that help you then going into Akuma to to deal with the what happens at an event? Yeah. Well, I only had about I only had like six months training and then I done the fit the fight and I was meant because I was novice. There was there was meant to be amateurs but the whole but so I was meant to fight really early like four like 5:00 6:00 but I don't know it just went on for ages and I didn't I didn't fight about 9:00 near 10. So which it was like it was crazy for me like fighting so late but then it got me used to it cuz when I'm on Kuma now and then and when I fought in Kum I fought late and I was used to it and then now they show up if it's title fight so it'll be one of the last ones probably so be late again so it helped a lot getting used to it and deal with the nerves in the back and stuff. Yeah, cuz cuz I think that's a whole another animal uh in itself. Like fighting is one thing, but I don't think people realize when they go from novice to amateur. Like the event is is an animal in itself because you have to get the you know you have to get your hands wrapped. You need to time when you're warming up when you're refuel like what you're refueling at what time depends if it's day of weigh in or or day before and there's so much there's so much to it. So I do feel that obviously helps you going into that which is is is a big help going forward. But with Akuma, fighting on Akuma and getting the win in the manner that you did, how did that feel for your amateur debut to like at such a big show? >> Oh, it was amazing. Like like you saw on your video, I lost it now cuz it got hacked, but I didn't know what to do. I was like the adrenaline was through me. It start just heading the cage. I just saw it was amazing cuz my whole family came and saw me. So like just to get the win and like get it finished like I made a statement and then and then the energized boys and stuff were talking about and all. So like it was good. I made a statement and that's what got me this title shot basically cuz it was good and obvious there's no better feeling like that's what I want to do again. Get on our big finish. >> I actually remember when you entered you had a massive following. I actually remember that at the cuz I think it was like a I believe it was your mother. I think she was on the Was she on the video as well screaming? She was, wasn't she? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I'll actually see because that might be still in the phone here somewhere because that would have been a year ago. So, I get an upgrade every two years. So, >> that might be still on the phone. So, it might not be lost. >> It might not be lost. >> See, when I was see after after a while at the back and you have to do like a medical again, medical again at the back. I was sitting there on was talking with the doctor just going through whatever and next thing I hear, go on my son. go on. My my mom just just shoved all the security started running through. There's a big massive curtain just busted the curtain. Just go on. I like Arnold Arnold control her. I like the guy. I met their security freaking out. She just she just free everyone out. I was funny. Like it was so funny. It >> it's good to have that support though as well because a lot of people when they go into MMA h because it's it's not looked on favorably in a lot of circles still at the moment. It's still quite like people think MMA like obviously the UC is big and all but in the grand scheme of things it is still quite niche when you think about it compared to baseball, soccer, GA, all those not well it's bigger than GA but you get me with like all the kind of big sports is still quite niche. What's it like to have the support like that from your parents? Cuz sometimes people when they go to MMA, their parents like, "Oh, I'm not sure about that. You might get hurt, but you could walk out the door and get hit by a bus." Like what what's it like having the good support? >> Oh, it's amazing. Like they hate to do it. Like me my fiance, they don't like to do it, but like they know how much like my fiance, she's been really good cuz we're moving. We're moving house at the minute. So I've been like putting training first at the minute, which probably not good thing, but she understands and she's been like so helpful about it. like they're all so supportive and they know how much it means to me and like it is a dream for me to do this stuff. Like I never thought I'd be able to do this and I know I can actually do it and then and it's like the only thing I've ever really committed to. I norally just give up on something or just say and that's not for me. But this is like the first thing I've ever committed to and actually it's all working out. So with the support it means everything to me like there my mom's just mental. >> It it's good. I'd rather have that kind of support than than than no support. I know you're thinking yourself sometimes like it's much get her back from behind the carton, but look, it's it's good to see the enthusiasm coming out though. And and you're in a you're obviously you're in hybrid. You're with Arno. Talk to us about what it's like there. You're on you're on a pretty good run at the minute. I think in your last like I want to say 15 fights. I think there was 11 wins. I think that was before that something along those lines. Um what's it like being there at the minute? cuz there's a current crop coming through now like yourselves and a couple of others. Uh Dominic Rose is someone who I've been very impressed with as well. All the stuff Mel has done on the female side of stuff as well and and fight like starting fighting so late as well. It seems to be a gym where like I know he is a coach as well, but he seems to be a real kind of mentor type person to people and someone that you can go to if you're he seems to be real close to all you. Can you can you expand on your relationship with Arno if you're comfortable? Yeah. Oh, no. Me and R were very close. Like that's like he he'd be one of the main reasons I'm even sticking. Like him as a coach. Like he's just he just he just he just cares. He just cares a lot. Like when I before I was only about 5 months in I was in a car accident and that was back when Andy and him were were coaching us and he was texting me and stuff making sure I was all right and all and all that type of stuff. But me and him, but he the way he coaches everyone soon as we move the yards being like everyone's leveled up ridiculously just because we're doing like we're just doing the same thing every week and we're drilling and he's and even his his wife as well, Haley, she's amazing too. Like she's so supportive. Like they literally treat you like your own. Like the the text you all make sure you're all right. Like you can't I couldn't fault them if I try. Like >> a real family. Everyone says we're family, but that does sound like >> a family. >> It is like all the boys are starting to peak now. Like well I when I first I be a bit bit behind. I like I would have started later on them all but now then like I can see them all like there's like Dale Meech and um Tom and Dawn like they're all starting to come through now and like it's amazing to see that cuz I've seen him at the start and now they're all me like getting class. It's just a shame I wait Dom by the should by the shoulder but cuz he was on he was on fire in the gym like smashing he throw me up in the air like what and well that that'd be a hard thing to do especially when you look at the the weight as well >> he's a freak he's an animal it's crazy like >> I find like when he started obviously his his technique wouldn't have been as good as some of the people he was fighting but what I found was like obviously his technique has got better and is very good now but what I found was that caught people out was his aggression. I don't think people expected him to be so aggressive and it caught them off guard and he's just dogged. He's like he just he was winning that. He's taking it down. He's getting the ground and pound. It was just whatever he lacked at the start for technique he made up in in heart and doggginess. And then now that's leveling up and and that's why I was so excited to see this fight especially against Alex who's a fantastic fighter cuz it's just because you can see the different stages. But um you've got this fight coming up and and you're not looking past your opponent. Are you looking to to compete again before the end of the year or are you just concentrating on on what's in front of you in two weeks or a week and a half now? At this stage, >> I'm concentrating on next Saturday because I know Daniel's good and I know he's a good gym too. The good fighters are so I know he's going to he's going to be it's going to be a good fight. But I I am I'm hoping to fight in November. Either be Chaos or Raph, whatever whichever one I get matched. It won't end. Whatever happens, I would still want to be fighting in November time and then take a we break and come back in the new year. >> Yeah, take the Christmas break because there's no I say there be no I say there's nothing worse than going to a camp over Christmas. I'd say that is probably one of the most disgusting things you could do as a fighter. But um talk to us about like obviously you're looking at Daniel and I know it's for because it's for a title you're going to you're going to look at kind of what he does good and where you might think he has deficits in but at your early stage do you do you look at the fighters more and what they're doing or are you just trying to implement your own style and and rhythm to fight >> yeah well I'll be honest yeah I do go back and watch his fights and stuff but um but it's amateur like like he'd be stupid to I think if he watches my last fight, my loss, if he if he goes back and thinks I'm that's the way I'm going to be, it' be stupid cuz there's been such a gap. I just know what we're both going to be much better. And I'll look at this fight, see if there's a we similar thing, but there's nothing this he seems all around a good fighter like. So there's nothing if it was pro and stuff, I would do I would be care more into that, but amateur people progress too much. Like you'd be surprised how much how so much someone can um progress in two months if you know what I mean. So like you'd be well better in the space of two months. >> Yeah. Like you could be a completely different fighter. That's why I always ask amateur fighters because I I would say like >> I wouldn't focus on them. I'd focus on you kind of stamp your own style and what you obviously if he is a good overhand that he chose at a certain time or something like that. >> Yeah, they defin we things like I'd say make up he throws he's always throwing leg kicks. He's always like, "Okay, there there's a we thing that we look out for." But like that's like stuff like that you can maybe say or if he's always the way he always goes for that take down. That's he always goes for it that you start you rep that out how to defend that like that type of stuff. But but that really is not really the case. I'm just like Arnold as Arnold. It's all about us yourself and about imposing what you can do and like how and your own skill sets. when you think about them too much, especially an amateur, it gets your head and then you start stressing out and freaking out and then you make it much bigger than it is. Do you know what I mean? >> Yeah. And I think if you're tailoring your style to defend someone else's style, you'll never get into a rhythm or create your own kind of fighting style and and like that. If you do go out and do your fighting style and maybe you lose or something like that, at least you go, "Okay, I can fix that, but this is how I'm going to go forward in every fight." And like I said, until it comes to pro, you're not going to go too heavy into the detail. That's when like if you're fighting for a title at pro, you might go >> get not a little bit more defensive, but you might look at those things. Whereas now, >> oh yeah, no doubt. Yeah. >> It's not something you'd look at. But obviously, so you're going to have this fight coming up in it's 10 about 10 days now. Uh it's a really really good show. How do you find how do you find the show? And I I presume you were delighted when when you got the phone call to say you were were like what how did you find how the show ran and stuff like that and and actually fighting on it with the crowd? >> Yeah, quite I love the crowd. I actually went to the la last one. I was meant to fight the last one a light heavyweight but the guy um misweight. He was like over 100 kg so I couldn't couldn't do fight. That's why I went down to light heavyweight. I went down to middleweight because I never weighed in 93. I was always 19 91. So that's why I've went down the middle weight because I have to still have to cut away a bit. But I just feel much better. But to go back on that, um, >> what' you say there? Sorry. >> Sorry. How what's your relationship like with Steven and was it like fighting the call? >> Yeah. So when I Yeah. When I was at the show last, it was like a guy called Ryan Dunn or something was fighting and he won and it was a middleweight fight and then Arnold comes up to me and pulls me aside here news. I was like, "Title fight." I was like, "Who?" I was like, "Seriously?" And he's like, "Yeah." And he said, "Ran." He's like, "You fight Ryan Dunn." And he's like, "Oh." I was like, "Fucking right." I like happy days. I was like, "No, I was [ __ ] buzzing." Surprise, obviously. But he was just saying like, "You got a big finish last time you're on the show and you were meant to fight there and he pulled out on you. So it's it's going to be a male weight. I was like I was like no problem. >> And were you finding it hard to get matched at at light heavy or was it just because you kind of coming in underweight and cuz like that if you're coming in underweight and there's boys cutting to get to it like you're going to see the difference in the size. Like what was the reason to go into middleweight? Was it just because you were weighing in so light? >> Yeah, I was weighing in so light. like um I was meant to fight on RAF but I couldn't do it but the boy in Raph was asking to meet me at 105 and I was like [ __ ] I I can't even make I barely meet 93. I was like [ __ ] me I was like but he said then he's like but then he he said something about you can still make 90 you still make 93. I like [ __ ] that's a big cut for him. But like that's the type of guys you be fighting like the way much which I didn't I which I don't care like I'm happy enough to fight anyway cause they never they never really bother me like my my debut he was over he was overweight but I still took the fight like he missed weight and I I said that's okay but just cuz just want to be smarter. I'm glad to do cuz now I'm like in the best shape I've ever been in my life to be honest with you and like I'm so much faster and my cardio's through the roof. Like I'm glad I made the decision and especially I just feel so much better now. Be honest. >> I say it does because like that as as you as you were going to go into pro that would be kind of the the weight that you you you'd have to fight because you know yourself as you go to pro and stuff means more lads are cutting. You'd have lads cutting for mad weights to come down for a weight that you're barely making. And there's a lot more >> there's a lot more variety and options I think as you come down into the lower weights like the likes of obviously this the smaller weights have a huge ones but like that middle weight has a lot more than light heavyweight and heavyweight cuz >> might be about five or six heavyweights in the country you know that sort of way and then light heavyweight is there's not too much more but middleweight you've got people who who like that might come down might come up or you could meet in the middle but how you like do you have to cut much how are you finding coming what it made. >> Get on it. Um my big my big PT call right he's been taking me he's been doing my diet SNC the strength conditioning so he's been sorting me out and like honestly I haven't been I'm not starving myself or nothing like that I mean like four meals a day they're all all packed out with protein and carbs all that all that type of stuff I feel great and not it's not a big cut I could probably make um roter weight if I'm honest but that's for pro if I ever that's down the line that's be a cut. But I could I could see myself making that down the line. But but but the I'm glad I'm just I'm glad I made down the middle weight. It's I just feel much better. Like even in the gym all I'm moving like the way I'm moving and stuff is just I feel class. I just can't wait. I'm just like cuz in the last fight I'm just I'm just dead excited now. I don't even care. It's for anymore. I just just want to go out there and perform next week if you know what I mean. >> Yeah. And like I said, I think obviously because you've come down to the middle weight, like like you said, you're still eating, but you're you're putting the right things into your body. I'd say you feel better, your energy levels are better, you feel fitter, like cardio, etc. And it'll be good to see what you're like at Middleweight. Um, I'm going to let you go and thank you so much for joining me today. Best of skill on the title fight. Is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone you want to shout out? >> Yeah, I just want to shout out again my personal trainer Clai Fitness. He's just been helping me so much over the past eight weeks and he's got me down an animal. He's got me down like an animal. So, next week as next week I can't wait to perform. Big shout out to my coach Arnold and all that training with me. It's been so much helpful and I can't wait to show the work we've all been in. >> Yeah, I can't wait to see you fight again. H I want to wish you best of skill and I will talk to you soon and thank you again for your time. >> Cheers, man. Thank you.