This weekend sees one of our Competition Team head to Beyond The Cage 3 in Pudsey, Leeds. Darren Prestwood is set to fight in a Bantamweight (61.2kg) bout against Freddie Quek Richards. Freddie fights out of Fulkizan Gym with a record of 2-0, both fights ending by way of Submission.
Darren fights out of 12 Gauge MMA but trains at our sister club 12 Gauge MMA Macclesfield under Carl Burton. Darren has been with the club since day one and has fought in two previous bouts, winning one by KO and drawing the other. Known for his powerful hands and relentless grappling and work ethic, this fight is no doubt going to be extremely entertaining and enthralling.
I caught up with Darren on fight week and asked him a few things about his return to the place he loves…
Thanks for your time Daz. You’ve not fought for quite some time, tell me where your head is at surrounding your upcoming fight?
“I’m really looking forward to getting back in there! This will be my third MMA fight, my first two fights I fought at Featherweight (66KG) but I walked in around 62-63 so I’m looking forward to competing at my weight class instead. After some time out concentrating on improving my skill set, I am looking forward to testing myself”
Freddie comes from a well respected gym and is 2-0, both wins by Submission. What have you been looking into regarding your opponent?
“I have checked out my opponent with my coach and I could sit here and overanalyze his fights all day. Truth of the matter is we have both had two fights and I’m sure he’s coming in just as ready and adjusted as much as I am. He seems very skilled and I am happy he will put me to the test….as I will him. It should be a good entertaining fight, at the end of the day anything can happen in the cage!”
Having not competed in so long, how have you found your fight camp?
“My camp has been good. I have enjoyed, endured and hated some of it as you do. I have been through a lot of stuff over the last year and being able to train with the people I do and coached by Carl has really helped me focus and get through those dark times. I can’t wait to be back in there and fight but also to get some Easter Eggs down me!!”
Thanks for all your time Daz, now is your chance to thank all the people out there.
“Cheers Dan. I’d like to thank my coach Carl and all my training partners from both Macclesfield and Stockport for their support and help with my training towards this. Also to thank Head Coach Matt Thorpe for all his advice and time. I would also like to throw out a thank you to my close friends who have been there for me, supporting me through the above said dark times (they know who they are). Above all my extra special thanks to goes to my daughter Melody-Rose who is my rock and my reason for being. She thinks I’m a Super-Hero Daddy and is my motivation in everything I do”
Darren victorious in his last bout
Good luck to Darren in this weekends fight. Check back here for fight photos/videos soon.
