James Hoyland is set to return to the cage this Sunday at Rise and Conquer 12 after a year out of competition.
Hoyland has been quietly putting in the work behind the scenes at TFT and waiting for his moment to right the wrong of his amateur debut. The man across the cage from him on the weekend is Ben Buckley, who stands at (0-1).
We caught up with James Hoyland prior to fight night, and he’s looking at Sunday’s matchup with Buckley as an opportunity to start building a healthy highlight reel. Hear all his thoughts below.
Interview With James Hoyland
This Sunday, you make a return to the Rise and Conquer cage after a year out. How have things been since you made your debut last year on Rise and Conquer 10?
Everything’s been good since. I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person and got my head in the right space.
A lot can happen in a year in terms of the development of a fighter. Are there any reasons we’ve not seen you in there beforehand, or have you just been using the time wisely to improve before competing again?
I took the time out to make sure I felt 100% ready, confidence plays a big part, as well as skills, so I was waiting till the time was right.
On your MMA debut, you suffered a third-round loss to Kane Richards. Your debut can be a nerve-wracking thing, but how did you find the experience overall?
I felt as if it was the best thing to happen to me. Now I know what I’m getting into, I’m prepared for anything.
James Hoyland Talks Amateur Debut
Despite the result not going your way, were you happy with anything in your performance against Kane?
Definitely, the full experience was a lesson, I went into that fight with the wrong mindset, but now I don’t have to prove anything to myself. I know what I can do.
I imagine you have a burning desire to right the wrong and take home a victory for those who support you. Where can your supporters expect to see the biggest improvements in your game?
I’ve made all-around improvements. I believe I have a fully developed mma game, I train smart, and that gives me an edge.
You’ll face Ben Buckley, who’s coming off a loss on his debut earlier this March. When watching his debut back on Unity, are you looking at this as a favourable matchup to get yourself going in your amateur career?
I believe any fight is a favourable fight for me. I can adjust to any style. I believe that’s because of the diverse talent we have at TFT coming up.
Finally, before the cage door closes on you and Ben, do you have any last words for him?
Respect for taking the fight and letting me build my highlight reel.
Featured image credits to Rise and Conquer
