Scottish amateur MMA fighter Fraser Paterson is a man on a mission who does not intend to slow down.
Paterson will walk behind enemy lines this Sunday at Rise and Conquer 12 against Sam Brown. The bout will mark his second outing of 2023 after running through Ola Jacobsson at Budo FC 56 earlier in the year.
Sam Brown could be in for a tough night with the momentum and confidence Paterson finds himself on now. Boasting a (4-1-1) record, unbeaten in his last five, and finishing fights, Paterson is fastly becoming one of the top amateur prospects fighting out of Scotland.
Ahead of his trip to Houghton le Spring, we had the pleasure of speaking with Fraser Paterson. Hear what he had to say below.
Interview With Fraser Paterson
Sunday evening, you make your second walk to the cage this year. How are you feeling physically and mentally just months after your first victory of the year?
I feel amazing. I came out of my last fight unscathed, so I was able to get straight back to training, and I’ve had a great camp.
Last time out, at Budo FC 56, you stopped an experienced amateur with relative ease. How important was it for you to kickstart your year with a statement victory and to continue building momentum?
Ola was my most experienced opponent yet, so stopping him in just over a minute really showed I’m a serious threat to the top guys of this division.
After losing your debut in 2021, five people have tried to hand you a second loss and have failed. What do you feel about the recent success and win streak you find yourself on?
It’s simple: very few people work as hard as me, inside the gym or out. With the way my uni schedule is, I can effectively train full-time, which means I spend hours training and studying the game each day. I feel the analytical approach I take to fighting gives me a massive advantage over all my opponents.
Fraser Paterson Talks Moving to Griphouse
I know you’re now at the Grip and have been as of late. How much do you feel moving and training in Glasgow has helped and progressed your development?
It’s been great to have access to so many different training partners and coaches. At the Griphouse, there are morning classes every day, which allows me to get the volume of training I require to perform at a high level. Also, having Dean Reilly as a full-time head coach for the team is massively beneficial, as he works just as hard as any of the fighters do.
Have you allowed yourself to go through the process of fighting behind enemy lines and having the crowd on your back, or do you not anticipate that affecting your performance?
I enjoy it. Also, I was booed last time I went down south, and I silenced them in the first round – it’s a satisfying feeling, and I have no doubt it will be the same on Sunday night.
I spoke to Jamie about the atmosphere in the gym when you’re all prepping and competing on shows week apart. You’ll share the card with Jamie, but for you, how much of an added boost does that give you ahead of battle?
I actually spent half of this camp back home at the Aberdeen Combat Centre. They have guys training for MMA fights and Thai and Jit’s comps, so there was definitely a great vibe there as well. I’ll always be grateful for what they have done and continue to do for me.
Sam Brown
Sam Brown is the man you’ll face on Sunday, holding a record of 3-2. Assuming you’ve watched some tape on his previous bouts, what do you see in his game, and what do you anticipate he brings to the table?
Sam has an extensive background in Thai Boxing. He’s a Southpaw and from a very respectable team. I’ve had plenty of time to film, study and drill specific things that I think will take away his favourite weapons and give him major problems at night.
What do you feel are the keys to victory against some like Sam and the problem he presents?
On the feet, I plan to make him uncomfortable by taking away his favourite weapons, and ultimately if I can get on top, it’s going to be a rough night for him.
Finally, tell us how you envision yourself getting the fight done on Sunday and any last words you may have for your opponent.
I believe if I perform the way I do in the gym, there will be very little chance of victory for Sam Brown.
Featured image credits to Fraser Paterson
