Jake Stanfield interview

Summary

Jake Stanfield is an amateur fighter coming out of Hybrid Ards, we speak about his upcoming fight on Wrath and having missed the last two how much it means to him to compete in front of his home crowd. we speak about how he got into MMA, what it's like to be in Hybrid and his…

Transcript (youtube_captions)

Let's go. Okay, so I'm delighted to have with me Jake Stanford. He's going to be competing this weekend at Wrath. I'm going to commentate on his fight with Kyle Hayre, which is going to be an absolute pleasure. I want to thank you so much for joining me today. It's fight week. How are you feeling? Oh, I feel great, man. I'm coming off another fight about a month ago, so just kept the box ticking. And I'm I'm ready to go again. Staying active this year. Yeah, it's it's it's just so many promotions as well that to be active on as well. How does it feel as an amateur fighter? Obviously, Wrath is going to be your home show, so you always want to kind of compete on that. But in the past 6 weeks, we've had about five shows, four or five shows. How does it feel to have those options there? Cuz like I said, you're just coming off the back of a fight into another one. How does it feel to have those options as an amateur fighter? I feel like it's actually necessary cuz as an amateur, you want to build as much experience as you can, you know? Sort of let go of maybe the the actual outcomes, you know, that can go either way, but you want to build as much experience as you can before you know you're ready to, you know, take the next step in your career. So, having all them shows is it's very important for young fighters like the to be able to get that experience. So, it's great to see it over here now building. And we were just talking there before about the amount of fighters now on the scene and the amount of talent and the amount of different people there is, so it's great to have all those different high-level fighters that you can go up against, them good shows you can be on, and all that stuff to build your experience. Yeah, no, yeah, like you said, there's there's so many good fighters. It just goes So, if you look at all the cards that have come before Wrath, and then Wrath has a fantastic card as well. Like it just shows all those cards were stacked from Vertice to Conflict to Clan Wars. Um had some very good fights on it as well, actually. Yeah. Uh then you've got Gladiator Air coming up, you've got Chaos coming up with and they seem to be booked like it just goes to show. What do you make of the level of talent that we have and the depth in on this island because you wouldn't be able to have six, seven, eight shows. You have a league down south as well with these stacked cards. Do you feel that we've got one of the higher levels kind of in Europe at the minute because I personally do. Oh, I definitely do. You just look even some of the the novices coming through. Still fighting in the shin guards and you're like these boys, they're very technically sound, you know. Whereas you even look back in the day at maybe high level amateur or pro fighting and you're like they don't have the the same technical finesse, you know what I mean? But nowadays even at the the lower sort of well, lower I should say levels, even even those boys have that technical standard and it's it's great to see that the progress of the sport and the progress of this nation as well. Yeah, it is like when I go and I watch novices, I'm like, he's not a novice. Like there's some guys and and I talked to like Will Fleury and Brian Moore and and and people Reese McKee here OG. These are the guys that are around a long time and and they said like if they were when they were 18 going into the sport with the level that they had now, they would get wiped out by what's now cuz it's just so technical now is it cuz it's whereas before it was like you were a striker that adapted and you bought into the game. Now it's just an MMA it's just MMA training. Obviously you can have your like you're you're striking in this whatever. You can do pads with certain people but it's all MMA in one and I think it's really helped accelerate the sport but this weekend you're going to be fighting this fight week. Do you have much did you do much of a weight cut actually if you don't mind me asking and how how does it how do you find the weight cuts? So well, this is a cut we had at 72 and so was the last fight. It was a cut we had at 72. So for me 72 is not a big weight cut than the hardest fight coming off a fight last month where I was just being able to stay on the ball and just keep my weight low. Be smart really with the nutrition and stuff. So I'm not going to have a big weight cut. I'm going to be going in there as fresh as possible and give myself the best chance as possible to put on a good show for everyone, which I'm intend on doing. Yeah, you didn't do a Paddy Pimblett on anyways and blow up to like 200 kilo 100 kilo straight. I've made that mistake before, so I had to learn from that one, you know. Yeah, I see it as like I I talked to Yiannis Mugele and he says a lot of fighters do that because you feel like you're restricted. You have like a lot of fighters like get a food complex that they as soon as they finish they want to eat just everything, whereas I can see why that is because if there was a cake in my house and I couldn't eat for the day I go [ __ ] mental. It doesn't know way it'd be there for the week, you know. So, I can understand understand that, but like fair play to you for being smart and carrying on. It just goes to show that your dedication and professionalism as an amateur to do that that you know right I have a fight. I can't blow up and go down cuz you know come to fight week if you were to cut so much weight going in drained. Have you ever gone in like where you've had maybe cut too much weight and have been drained and it's not nice feeling. Yeah, so actually I used to fight down at featherweight 66 and at the start I think cuz I was younger maybe making the weight wasn't too big a deal, but then as I started to get on older put on a bit more muscle maybe and fell out of it getting to that weight just wasn't possible anymore and there was a few times maybe in my last featherweight bout that I got down to the weight and I it was a big weight cut like maybe like 4 and 1/2 5 kilos and I was I was like at an amateur level like cutting 4 and 1/2 5 kilos and that was a smart move. Yeah. It's I'd say featherweight as as you're going to blow and and taper down. You know, so it's easy for me to give advice. I don't [ __ ] fight or I don't really cut weight, but it's from what I've seen and observed, you know. Kind of stay at that weight now and if you want when you go and blow kind of taper it down slowly as you're going, but you're for the right decisions for yourself, your body and your health. Fighting on Raff, what does it mean to you to fight on Raff? Because obviously it's your home show. Yeah, I'm going to I can't wait for it. That's unbelievable because 5 minutes down the road, the school that's 2 minutes away from Shorts Club where the Raff is, that's the school I went to. So, that area is like I know it like the back of my hand and all the people coming down who are going to be from the area probably know a lot of them. It'll be a great great night. And I've been to a few Raffs before and they've all been brilliant. I've got pulled out of the last two Raffs because I was injured and I finally get get that redemption, get the fight on that card, and I can't wait for it. Also, I see you must be chomping at the bit for this one. I see you have been looking for I I like the setup. I like the setup that so when people are the the fans in the cage cuz they're the cage is designed usually down kind of lower trying to look up. So, I like the fact you just especially if you've got one of those ones by the barriers, you're just literally looking up over there. And the atmosphere is so good and I'll see I'll see you're going to bring your crowd. Makwan Amirkhani when I when he was there for one of the we had two buses show up as well. So, the place will be hopping. But, talk to us about why you got why did you get into MMA? What what led you down that road? Well, it's actually it's it's a funny sort of story. Well, it's just a strange sort of story. So, obviously you're you're younger, what do you do? You got nothing really to do. So, you're just kicking about the place. We would we're actually I remember at the phone call one day and there was a group of youth workers approached us and they basically said, "Oh, we'll have an opportunity for you. We just like to try a bunch of different things, bunch of different sports, and different activities, and stuff." And one of those activities just happened to be MMA with Arnold. And whenever I done it the first time, I was like so interested by it almost and I was like there's so much here that just like plagues my curiosity that I want to I want just keep figuring out more. Out of out of all the people who wanted that, I think I was the only one who stuck with MMA, so that would be life changing, and I'm I'm really happy I found it. Fair play to And you know what? I really like the the fact that there was youth workers going around and doing that. I think that there needs to be a bit more of that around the whole country, the whole island, because it's so easy to go down these these wrong paths. I'm not saying that you were, but the fact that they're actively going out and seeking activities for younger people to do, I think it's quite good, cuz when you're young, you're you're at a loss. You don't know what to do. You end up spending your time doing nothing. But the fact that you're after getting into MMA, have you felt it's it's been Do you think any of the benefits from MMA have leaked over into personal life with structure, dedication, anything like that? What are your biggest takeaways and positives from MMA if someone was to ask you why should they join? Yeah, so if it was up to me, I think MMA, something sporty like MMA should be included in the school curriculum, almost, because it teaches like character, discipline. You meet some of the best people you're going to meet, you know. You have to show up. You have to put the work in, cuz there's no there's no hiding. You can't cheat this game. So, if you're not there actually putting the work in, and I don't know very many people who do MMA and don't fall in love with it. So, I I really think everyone should just try it at least once. The hardest part, as most people say, is starting. And then, continuing on is easy. Yeah, and now that you brought that up, I want to ask you, what was it like Obviously, you were you were intrigued and you wanted to go in, so you might not Did you have any hesitation? What like What was your kind of first time going through the door? And how Who were you greeted by? If it was I know I know we it was just I know I just He's such a good guy and he's so personable. But what was it like for you to walk through the door for the first time? Was it a bit overwhelming, nerve-wracking, or were you confident going in, or or what what was it like? Well, I think I'd say I I I I sort of someone who doesn't mind trying new things. I actually enjoy trying new things. So, I was I was just excited to go out and try. The one thing that I sort of I'd obviously seen fights before and I always thought, "Oh, I could never do that." You know, I would never I would never fight, but the more you do it then you see your friends fighting. You see, you know, people you know on the scene fighting. You're like, "If they can do it, then why can't I?" And obviously your confidence grows the more you train, too. And then I was like got that point where I was like, "You know what? I need to do this like I need to try this." And then the first time I done it I was like, "Oh, there's no feeling really like it." There is no feeling like that actually. It's It's unbelievable. So, Everyone does say that that they fall in love with and they say it about jiu-jitsu, right? And that as well. And I like cuz everyone goes for a year in jiu-jitsu you're getting whooped as a white belt. I'm like like the fact that people can go back and keep doing it after they're getting whooped the whole time and like I said when you start MMA going in the fact that you're able to stick to it and then wanting to compete is another thing. But talk to us about Arno your relationship with Arno and what he means to you and what he means to the club. Oh, with the club would be would not be what it is without him. He's honestly I know there's hard workers out there, but Arno is the hard worker, you know. Every day he's at that gym. So, he he has a he has like plans and stuff for me. And he's helped me get into coaching myself. He's helped me grow as a person, become a better fighter. The amount of time he has One thing I'll say about Arno that that really describes his character is I don't care if you've been on the mats for 30 years or 30 seconds, you're going to get the same Arno. He's going to give you the same time of day and he's going to treat you the exact same way. You know, there's no favoritism. He He's there to He's there to teach you. He's there to help you learn and grow. Honestly, one of the best people I've met in my life. Great guy. Yeah, no, I rate him highly from he gave me the opportunity obviously to come on board as a commentator. Um, and then to matchmake obviously I had to take a step back. There was a lot of personal stuff going on at the at the end of last year and the start of this year. And then when I did come back all these fights fell out. I was like, "Oh my god." He's like, "Yeah, I've had to be dealing with this." But it was the two title fights and something else fell out that I won't say now. We'll We'll find Everyone will find out once this is released I'd say, but um, yeah, no, and like that it was the fact that he gave me the opportunity as well. It's not a sort of way he said like you undervalue yourself, Joe. And until he said I kind of went, "He's all what? I kind of do, Joe. I don't know all this stuff for nothing." And then he just made me feel like you're you're you're a lot better than you think you are. And he actually helped my confidence. And then in the matchmaking and then there's a couple of matches that I've made that I'm really excited about on this as well. And he's excited for me. And it's just been I can see why every fighter I talked to from your club have have love them. And I can see why. Um, he's just such a good guy and and he's doing such a good job. And like I said, he's got plans for you, but he's got plans for every other person as well. Like he doesn't get the credit he deserves. And I don't think all coaches in general they usually get the flack when someone loses, but they don't get the credit when people are on the up and up and winning. They It's always looked at the fighter and I think that needs to be addressed. But look, you're going to be fighting this weekend. I'm really looking forward to seeing you fight and being able to commentate on on the fight and then to see you in person at the venue cuz I should be there nice and early. But I'm going to let you go. Is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone you want to shout out? I once again I want to thank you so much for your time especially on fight week. I appreciate you having me on, mate. So, obviously big shout out to the training partners cuz there's some serious talent coming up from odds. Uh, big shout out to coach Arnold obviously. His show, his promotion. It's going to be a great night. If you don't have tickets, now is the time to get them. You don't want to miss it, honestly. Roth and Schwarz, one of the best uh one of the best atmospheres I've seen. And that's not just bias, it's it's honestly the truth. So, make sure you're there to watch me, watch the lads, and yeah, I'll see you there. Yeah, if you can't make it, there's also going to be pay-per-view link which will be posted as well. I can't wait for you to get your opportunity. I'm kind of excited for you now to get the opportunity to play in the show. Uh I can't wait to be honest. So, I'm going to let you go. Thank you so much and enjoy your evening, all right?