Jamie Mcglinchey is set to make the walk for the second time in 2023 at the Rainton Arena this weekend in Houghton le Spring at Rise and Conquer 12.]
The Griphouse fighter enters Saturday’s clash with Ben Goldsborough high on confidence and rightly so, boasting a (4-1) record and a three-fight win-streak, with two first-round stoppages.
Ahead of what Jamie Mcglinchey believes is his toughest test to date, we had the pleasure of catching up with the Scot prior to battle. Read the full exclusive below.
Interview With Jamie Mcglinchey
Fight week as your second outing of 2023 is approaching. It’s been a quick turnaround after a first-round finish at Budo FC 56. Was the plan always to try and get a busy 2023 in terms of competition?
100%. I’ve not been anywhere near active enough since my first fight through having kids and then covid. For me, now it’s about making up for lost time to achieve the goals I’ve had set since I began and making sure I do it in a manner I stand out.
Touching on your first fight of the year with Tomasz Karczewski at Budo. How pleased were you to make it to back-to-back first-round finishes and make it three wins on the bounce?
I’d be lying to say I wasn’t buzzing with it, but I’m under no illusions that he wasn’t exactly an outstanding opponent, and I knew I was levels above him. With that being said, I remember saying to myself if I really believed that, I better make sure I showed it, which I did.
Jamie Mcglinchey on Adding Strength and Conditioning to Camp
You’re looking in tremendous shape ahead of Saturday night’s clash with Ben Goldsborough. How much of a role do the strength and conditioning classes play in your preparation?
Thanks, mate! I’ll be completely honest hadn’t done any strength and conditioning prior to my last two fights. They were about improving my game, mostly for in the cage and becoming more tactically aware. This time a more athletic fighter is stepping up and adding to the better fighter that I’ve become.
You’ll make the walk alongside your teammate Fraser Paterson on Saturday. How much of an added buzz in the gym does that create both prepping together and competing on the show or does it make no difference?
It absolutely makes a difference. When everyone is all systems go, there are no easy nights. Saturday night, we have James Docherty fighting, as well as Ellis and Stephen both getting wins on Saturday there. Everyone is flying at the minute, and it’s showing.
Coming back and actively competing in 2022, you’ve looked so much cleaner, fresher and all-around better. What do you put that down to?
Having my ducks in a row outside the gym, maturity, being more aware tactically going into fights and as cheesy as it sounds, I work full time than train, leaving my two boys at home with the wife missing out on so much. So that’s added incentive not to f**k about.
Mcglinchey Talks Opponent
You’ll meet Ben Goldsborough on essentially what will be his home show. Have you thought about perhaps dealing with the mental side of fighting someone in their own backyard against the crowd?
I’m expecting it to be hostile as I walk out but having been on the other side fighting in my home town against an opponent who isn’t from here, once that cage door locks, it means f**k all. It’s me and him.
You mentioned this is your toughest test to date. What do you see from Ben Goldsborough within MMA that makes you feel like that?
He’s got a 2-1 record in MMA, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that he was fighting A-class Thai before I’d even entered a gym. He’s from a solid camp who, when up against our fighters, has always been great fights, and his only loss was against an opponent who was running rampant with fights. Unfortunately, he’s up against another opponent who is also running rampant.
You get the win on Saturday night, you move to 2-0 this year, and you are only in May. What does the remainder of the year look like for you?
Hopefully, the four-nations competition in July. But besides that, I’ll be 5-1 and chasing a title fight next. I don’t care if it’s Rise and Conquer, Almighty or On-top. One of them is mine before the end of the year. I see Budo has a new FW champion from the weekend also, so who knows?
Finally, can you leave us with your official prediction? How does Jamie McGlinchey get it done at Rise and Conquer 12?
My prediction is Jamie McGlinchey with his hand raised. How it’s done, my cards are close to my chest.
Featured image credits to MMA UK
