Musa Christian is ready to “showcase” improvements ahead of his professional debut at Badmofo 5 this Saturday in Barnsley.
After an extensive and successful career at the amateur ranks, Christian is all set to take the next step in his mixed martial arts journey. He leaves his amateur career at 9-4 and a bundle of experience.
April 15th, in the Metrodome in Barnsley, Gavin Lofts is the man that stands across from Musa Christian, and we had the opportunity of catching up with him ahead of battle. Read the full exclusive below.
Interview With Musa Christian
Saturday night, you make the walk for the first time this year after a little break after the European Championships. How’s the body and headspace feeling after some well-deserved rest?
I’m feeling good. The time off has allowed me to work on some areas of my game I felt needed sharpening before my pro debut, and I feel refreshed and ready to showcase my improvements.
While I brought it up. Unfortunately, your time at the European Championships didn’t go as planned. However, there must be some positives you took away from the experience as a whole. Talk us through your time in Italy.
The Europeans were funny because I was coming off a bad injury in my previous fight, in which I dislocated my kneecap and damaged my MCL and meniscus. I probably should have had longer to recover, but when an opportunity like that arises, you have to take it with both hands. I couldn’t miss a chance to test myself against the best amateurs in Europe. On top of that, it was a last-minute call-up at Middleweight which is actually two weights higher than I usually fight at. Even so, I was dominating the fight against the number 1 ranked Middleweight in Western Europe until I got caught, so there are a lot of positives to take away. Just being away fighting the best in Europe, surrounded by such high-level coaches and fighters, really adds to my belief I belong at the highest level nationally.
The Rise From the Regional Scene
I’ve watched you since I started covering the regional scene, and your progress and development have been clear to see fight-by-fight. However, how would you sum up your own amateur career to this date?
I’m very happy with my amateur career. I’ve represented my country in two different competitions, one being the IMMAFs which is the most prestigious amateur tournament in the world, and I’ve got in there with some of the best fighters in the country and beat the majority of guys I’ve stood across the cage from. The fights I’ve lost I’ve learnt from, and I think this will stand me in good stead in my pro career.
You’re currently coming off two losses for the first time since you made your amateur debut in 2018. Has that affected you in any way? Or are you in the mindset that results don’t matter at this level? It’s more about getting into uncomfortable positions, gaining experiencing and facing adversity before the pro-ranks.
Yeah, I’m coming off two losses for the first time in my career, but I haven’t let it shake my confidence. In this game, you must have the utmost belief in your own skill set and ability to win, or you may as well not show up. In fairness, the first loss came due to an injury not caused by my opponent in the last round of a fight. I was comfortably up on the scorecards. And the second, as we discussed, was in the Europeans at a higher weight, so even though I didn’t get the W, I don’t think it’s a reflection of my abilities. If anything, it’s just made me more aware of the need to look for the finish rather than dragging the fight out at times. Had I pushed for the finish earlier in both fights from the dominant position I was in, we could be having a completely different discussion right now.
Talking Gavin Lofts
Saturday night, you meet Gavin Lofts, who is 0-2 and losing two bouts on the judge’s scorecards. Have you had time to look into him and watch his previous fights? If so, what are your thoughts?
I’ve watched Gavin Lofts, and I believe he’s a very talented fighter. He’s unorthodox and tricky, and I won’t be taking him lightly. I’m expecting him to come at me with everything he’s got, as will I. In terms of his experience and record, he’s actually more experienced than me in terms of time training and competing, even if he’s not been as active. He fought a teammate of mine back in the day before every fight was on Tapology. And I’ve seen wins on YouTube from him that haven’t made it onto his Tapology record. At the end of the day, records are for DJs. I don’t pay them too much mind. Saturday night, I have a job to do, and I fully intend to complete it.
Expectations
On paper, people may expect you to steamroll Gavin due to his two losses and the will to win you’ve shown in the past. What would you say to those people?
People can make all the predictions they want. I never pay them too much attention, it’s about the fighters in the cage on the night, and all I’m focused on is turning up and putting on the best performance of my career to come away with the W.
How important is it for you to bounce back with a positive result on Saturday night, and what measures do you need to take in your own performance to ensure that happens?
It means everything to me. Quite honestly, this year has been a tough one for me personally, and I’ve sunk everything into my training and my fighting career. Saturday night, I plan to show everyone how great I know I can be. I have the utmost belief in myself and my coaches, my head coach Kev Taylor is an MMA genius, and I know if I implement the game plan we’ve worked on, I will come out with the win.
Official Prediction
Finally, can we get an official fight prediction from you and any last words for your opponent or sponsors you’d like to thank?
Obviously, I’m going to predict a win for myself and a finish. As for having a message to my opponent, I’m not one for trash talk; I’ll let my fists do the chatting. I wish him the best with his weight cut and sincerely hope he comes into the fight in the best condition because I want to fight the best version of every opponent I face.
Featured image credits to Caged Steel
