SYNDICATED INTERVIEW - COUNTDOWN TO BAMMA 7
Fraser Opie Interview by Toby Smith
Opening the upcoming BAMMA 7 card at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham is a light heavyweight tilt that promises certain fireworks, as former pro kickboxer Fraser Opie takes on once beaten judo specialist Robert Krecicki in a classic striker vs. grappler contest.
A pro for the last two years, Fraser is surely one of the most prolific fighters on the card, having fought twelve times since 2009, notching up a record of 7-5. An ex bodybuilder, Fraser took up kickboxing at Lee Asdale’s SSJ Gym in Milton Keynes in 2006 to improve his cardiovascular conditioning.
“I only got into fighting four or five years ago, originally it wasn’t something I saw myself doing. While doing the kickboxing I realised I actually really like doing this and ended up with a record of 15-1, so I thought I’d give MMA a go and realised I like it a lot more.”
Fraser likes to channel that kickboxing experience in his MMA bouts, with none of his seven professional wins going the distance, with 6 KO’s or TKO’s on his record.
“It’s mainly aggression, I put it on them right from the beginning. You’ll see exactly the same thing in September, I’m just a bit more wary of the guillotine this time!”
Fraser’s last two defeats have come via a guillotine choke, a fact that is not lost on him, and one that does not sit too well with him either.
“My weak points were definitely my BJJ and wrestling, so I brought in (submission specialist) Danny Batten with regard to that and I’m working a lot more on my ground game. With the fights that I lost I put myself in the losing position, I’ve given it to them rather than they’ve taken it from me.”
Despite the hard work he is putting in on his grappling, Fraser would definitely prefer to face BAMMA debutant and judoka Krecicki standing, but is not worried about his takedowns.
“That’s what I’ve been working on. I used to fight their fights, now I fight my fights. His judo will be a test, but will he be able to handle the pressure of being punched hard? Everyone’s good at what they do, but when they get rocked it’s a different story.”
Usually training out of the Immortal MMA gym in Milton Keynes, Fraser has been faced with unusual circumstances for his training camp due to his base being refurbished. This has actually proved helpful due to the necessity of him travelling to other gyms to face a wide variety of sparring partners and trainers, broadening his skill set to far more than just striking.
Despite his wider array of skills, however, as you would expect, Fraser is aiming for an early knockout finish on the night, letting his fists do the talking when he steps in the cage.
“Only one fight I’ve had went outside the first round, so I’m going for a first round ground and pound TKO.”
Fraser is not shy about expressing his admiration for his current employers.
“For me they’re a league above anyone else, top promotion in Europe I’d say. Hands down the best promotion in England. I’m definitely looking forward to being a title holder for BAMMA someday.”
You can follow Fraser on Twitter @THE_OMEN13
GoDaddy.com presents BAMMA 7 in association with Lonsdale and PKR.com Saturday September 10th at The National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, UK
Buy Tickets from www.bamma.com and www.theticketfactory.com
Watch it live and exclusive on Syfy (UK) at 9pm GMT and Worldwide at www.bamma.com at 4pm ET / 1pm PT
NOTES TO EDITORS
BAMMA MEDIA CONTACTS:
U.S./INERNATIONAL - Melissa Ingram 602-434-5055 Melissa@ingrampr.com www.ingrampr.com
UK MEDIA ENQUIRIES/EVENT PRESS PASSES - Liam Fisher 01922 44 33 26 media@bamma.com
High res images and interviews with fighters and BAMMA personnel are available upon request.
ABOUT BAMMA
BAMMA (The British Association of Mixed Martial Arts) is Europe's biggest and most premier MMA organization, launched in June 2009 with the aim of delivering Mixed Martial Arts events that fully capture the entertainment and sporting prowess on display in the world’s fastest growing sport. To achieve this aim, BAMMA brought together a team of highly skilled individuals with a wealth of combined experience across television production event organization, brand marketing and Mixed Martial Arts and set out to push the boundaries of MMA. BAMMA’s combination of arena sized venues, stunning fight cards and exceptional production values has led to BAMMA’s unrivalled position as Europe's leading MMA promotion. With a highly experienced team and a presenting crew that includes Michael Schiavello, each BAMMA event always delivers a highly anticipated and unique experience. For more information, please visit www.Bamma.com.
ABOUT SYFY:
Syfy is part of Universal Networks International, the global channels division of NBC Universal. United by the brand essence 'Imagine Greater', Syfy offers a unique mix of the best movies, drama series and entertainment from the worlds of fantasy, the supernatural, science fiction, and alternative science and reality. Syfy's first run premium content includes Warehouse 13, Haven, A Town Called Eureka, and Fact or Faked.
Syfy is on Sky/Sky HD 114 ( 1 Sky 205), Virgin Media 135, Syfy HD Virgin Media 165, and TalkTalk 22.
SYFY MEDIA CONTACT
ANNA MORGAN T: 44 (0)20 7631 2949 M: 44 (0)7769880328 E: anna.morgan@nbcuni.com
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