This Friday the 26th will see the UK middleweight Tom ‘Kong’ Watson mark his debut bout in the Canadian promotion ‘Maximum Fighting Championship’ at MFC 24.
Watson carved a career in the UK through the domestic circuit fighting on cards for ZT Fightnight, Cage Rage / Ultimate Challenge and BAMMA beating notables such as Denniston Sutherland, Pierre Guillet and John Maguire to establish a UK Middleweight rank of number 2 behind Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping.
Seeing that Bisping is now a firm fixture in the UFC the next step up for Watson had to be an international move, so now a well deserved bout will see the well rounded Watson take on the equally experienced and skilled Canadian Travis Galbraith.
Watson known for traveling far and wide to improve his skills, has trained in many notable gyms such as Nottingham’s Rough House, his own gym the Gorilla Academy, Greg Jacksons camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the home of George St.Pierre the Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada which is where he now resides.
We met with Tom recently to discuss his next opponent Travis Galbraith, his move to Canada and his UK return bout with BAMMA against Alex Reid.
How has your fight camp and preparation been for this fight Tom?
Camp has been real great. I broke my hand in my last fight so was out the whole of November and most of December so was worried how I would come back after such an injury. I tested the waters out in Holland with Semtex ahead of his UFC fight and it held up okay. I moved out to Montreal to work with Zahabi MMA (Firass Zahabi and the guys at Tristar) as I really wanted to work hard on my wrestling. I still fight for Jacksons MMA and was there for 2 weeks in the beginning of February for my fight. I get to train with so many great guys, Jardine, Rashad, Georges, Brian Stann, Nate, Denis Kang, Steve Bosse, Nordine Taleb.. the list is endless.
How is life in Canada? Are you happy you made that move, missing the UK much?
I am happy I made the move, of course its very hard for me always moving new places and being away but I feel its very important to sacrifice the comforts in life to chase a dream of becoming the worlds best fighter. One day I’m sure my priorities will change, but right now MMA is my whole life.
Can you tell us your thoughts on Travis Galbraith and how you can see that fight going? He recently spoke to the press on how he want’s to stand with you for this fight.
Travis is a solid fighter and a very hard test, he’s fought in most of the big shows and has only lost to the worlds best (GSP, Feijao, Nakamura) and many of these losses were in the beginning of his career. I’m sure he will stand with me and I’ll happily grapple with him… its MMA. These are the fights I need right now. I’ve been trying hard to get these fights for the last few years.
There are some great middleweights in MFC. Win’s against the likes of Dean Lister, Thales Leites and Travis Lutter would really lift your world rank up. Are there any of those guys you would particularly like to fight?
I just hope to Win in a dominating fashion and I would happily fight anyone MFC asks me to fight.
After this it will be BAMMA and the fight with Alex Reid. We have heard he will be studying the pressure-point skill of Marma Adi and doing some Kushti Wrestling. Does this have you worried?
Alex is filming this stuff for TV, but before the fight he’ll have at least 6 weeks at London Shootfighters, one of the top gyms in the world so I don’t really take too much notice of this TV program.
Anyone you would like to thank Tom?
TNE Management who help me get Tapout, VAS, Full tilt poker, CNP, Zahabi & Jacksons MMA and everybody please go check out my website www.tomkongwatson.com and join my twitter and facebook page for all the latest videos, blogs and news.
Anyone who wants to see Tom’s fight can do so via the MFC website where they will provide video streams for only $9.99.
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Waaaaarrrr KONG!! I read his opponent weighed in heavy so Tom get’s a cut of his opponents purse. Knocking someone out AND taking his money is just mean
[...] Tom “Kong” Watson made a dramatic entrance into the MFC (Maximum Fighting Championships) by felling Travis Galbraith1:56 into the first round with an overhead head kick. [...]