Liam Molloy feels extremely confident ahead of his second appearance under Cage Warriors. Molloy will open a thrilling Cage Warriors 136 card on Saturday 2nd April at the BEC Arena in Manchester against Ben Rees.
The promotion is coming off an exceptional sold-out event in London just weeks ago. Graham Boylan and his team hope this weekend’s famous doubleheader will surpass Cage Warriors 134. Thanks to matchmaker Ian Dean, fans can look forward to two nights of well-matched bouts.
Liam Molloy will be returning to the Octagon for the first time since suffering defeat to Ryan Shelley at Cage Warriors 127. The Next Generation MMA athlete is in good spirits and assured he leaves Manchester with his first Cage Warriors victory.
We had the opportunity to catch up with Molloy before fight night to get his thoughts on Saturday’s bout.
Interview With Liam Molloy
Thanks for the time, Liam. We are one week out from your second appearance under the Cage Warriors banner. It’s been some time since we’ve last seen you. How’s the body and mind leading into April 2nd?
The body and mind couldn’t be better. As you said, it’s been a while, and I can’t wait to get out there and put on a show!
Touching on the last fight quickly. A tough one on your CW debut. However, a great opportunity to showcase what you’re all about next weekend. Assuming you’ve watched your previous bout back a handful of times, what do you feel went wrong?
I’ve watched it back many times, and to be honest, it was going pretty smoothly. I made a mistake and got punished. That’s the game, unfortunately. I feel I could have been more aggressive, more forward pressure and used the clinch more as I was bullying him there. But that’s gone now, this Saturday, I make amends, and the win streak towards my belt begins.
Liam Molloy Talks Previous Bout
Is there anything you addressed from the fight with Ryan Shelley that you have implemented in camp ahead of April 2nd?
There have been loads I’ve added in. I’m constantly looking to improve my game, and coming out of that fight was no different. Beast surrounds me. I’m training with the best and always evolving in the gym, and everyone will see that going forward.
A shark tank of talent surrounds you at NextGen. With the likes of Paddy and Molly leading the way on the big stage. What’s the atmosphere like in the gym right now? I imagine that’s having a huge impact on you in camp to draw motivation and inspiration from the success around you?
The gym’s bouncing. It always is! Every single person on the mat motivates me. We all push each other and learn from each other, and seeing Paddy and Molly take over the big stage shows that NextGen isn’t here to mess about. They are leading the charge, but we have a whole army coming. The takeover continues.
Matchup With Ben Rees
You’ll meet Ben Rees on fight night, who made his professional debut in 2013. What is your thought on this matchup and Ben as an opponent? Do you think this is a fight that suits you?
It’s definitely a fight that suits me, and I know exactly how it will play out. And to be honest, I think all fights suit me. That’s just my mindset. I like this matchup because we both come to finish, kill or be killed, and that’s exactly how I want it.
I like to ask fighters I’ve not spoken with before about their earliest MMA memory and how they got started in the sport. Do you have any interesting stories in that aspect?
You know what? I started boxing, and I used to love boxing until I watched a UFC card and realised a mixed martial artist would fuck them up in a heartbeat. Then I decided I’d go down and try a session at NextGen, loved it, and kept coming back. I started a couple of times a week, and as time passed just found myself there more and more. Before you know it, I’m professional and balls deep in the game. Now I get to do what I love daily and get to perform on the biggest stage Europe has to offer, Cage Warriors. It doesn’t get much better
The Pressure of Competing on the Big Stage
With Cage Warriors being such a big stage, do you feel any added pressure with that, and how do you cope with that pressure?
A fights a fight at the end of the day, the perks that come with such a big platform like Cage Warriors is great. I couldn’t ask to be on a better promotion, but the name on the canvas doesn’t matter when it comes to fighting time. It could be a back garden for all I care. I’m there locked in to do one thing and one thing only, and that’s the win emphatically.
Quoting your Instagram, “I’m going to hurt this kid”. Confidence is key to leading into any fight, but do you expect to face any challenges against Ben Rees, both physically and mentally?
Every fight offers its challenges, but as I said, kill or be killed. Put them in front of me and my jobs to put them away, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do Saturday night. Bens is just another name in my way. He will be taken out just like the rest of them will.
Lastly, you will open up the night of action next Saturday. How does Liam Molloy set the tone, and what can fans expect?
Anyone who knows me knows I’m coming to finish. I will get the show started with a bang, and my teammates will follow. Expect fireworks, expect a finish, expect violence!
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Featured image credits to Liam Molloy
