Fraser Paterson is confident that he has the advantage everywhere in his upcoming bout with Jaffer Mukisa at Rise and Conquer 13.
Rise and Conquer 13 is set to take place Saturday, October 7th, at the Rainton Arena. Fans can expect well-matched competitive action throughout. For tickets, contract the fighters directly, or visit the promotion’s social media pages.
Ahead of his fight, we had the chance to talk with Fraser Paterson ahead of Oct. 7. Hear what the Griphouse fighter had to say below.
Interview With Fraser Paterson
Fraser, next month, you’ll make the walk once again on Rise and Conquer. How have things been since your last outing on the show earlier in the year?
Things are great! I’ve been off uni since May, so I’ve been able to focus on training full-time, which has been class.
In that win, you picked up your second straight finish. Do you feel the more you’re in there, the more you’re becoming comfortable, and that killer instinct to finish fights comes more naturally?
100%. That was a big thing in my last fight. When I was in there, it honestly felt like a slightly more intense sparring session. I feel like I gave a much truer representation of my actual skill level than I have in previous fights.
Fraser Paterson on Recent Submission Wins
The victory over Sam also marked your second straight triangle-choke submission. How rewarding is it to land that in back-to-back fights, given it’s a technique you’d be consistently and constantly drilling in the gym?
To be fair, it was bitter-sweet. It’s always nice to get a finish, especially when it’s something you’ve worked on a lots in training. But it also meant I ended up on my back, which means I made a mistake at some point. I got to mount twice in that fight, and I got rolled over twice. That’s something that should never happen.
On October 7, you’ll face Jaffer Mukisa, who also has a track record of finishing fights. Do you think this is your toughest fight to date, and how would you break down his skill set?
His record is definitely impressive, but he’s mostly fought people with poor records. The last time he fought someone like me, he was dominated for three rounds. In terms of his skill set, he seems powerful and athletic, but I think I have the advantage everywhere. I think his grappling is certainly his weakness, and he has some habits on the feet that I’m confident I can exploit. I really enjoy striking with southpaws, so don’t be surprised if I come out there and out-strike him for three rounds.
You tend to show different parts and improvements of your game every time you step in there. Although it’s only been months since your most recent bout, can we expect to see new tools on October 7?
For sure. I always aim to be able to look back every six months and be able to say I would smash that version of myself. On top of that, I spent five weeks in Thailand over the summer, where I was exposed to many different skill sets and styles and had the chance to train with many high-level fighters. I’ve been feeling on another level in training, and I can’t wait to show it.
On Paper
On paper, your amateur career looks very clean. How long can we expect to see you still competing as an amateur? You’re still very young, with loads of time, but have you mapped out an ideal path in your head? Or will that be a conversation for you and Dean when the time comes?
I’m looking to get all the experience possible at the amateur level. I’m only 18, so I’ve got all the time in the world. When I turn pro, I aim to be levels above the rest of the competition and run through everyone on my way to the UFC.
