With his sights set on 11 consecutive wins and a shot at another championship belt, Calgary fighter Jesse Arnett heads to TKO 41 in Montreal on December 8 to face off against Dimitri Waardenburg in a highly anticipated rematch.
Their initial clash at Hard Knocks 46 saw Arnett (13-4) dispatch Waardenburg (13-7) in stunning fashion, securing a submission victory after just 1:29 of the opening round. Yet Arnett remains wary of repeating that outcome lightly, acknowledging he'll face a significantly upgraded opponent in the rubber match and refusing to give Waardenburg an ounce of complacency.
"I doubt I'll submit him that quickly again, but honestly, I'd be ready if I could," Arnett remarked during an interview. "I fully anticipate seeing a far superior version of Dimitri Waardenburg come out of this one."
Even with the elevated game he anticipates from his opponent, Arnett insists he's at peak physical condition and still sharpening every dimension of his mixed martial arts skillset.
Arnett feels his experience gives him the upper hand ahead of the rematch, citing four grueling matchups since their first encounter, along with a demanding professional boxing bout. He's noticed tangible improvements even since his most recent outing on September 9.
"I've tightened everything up since the Johnny Bedford bout," Arnett explained. "My kicks aren't telegraphing anymore, and I'm getting sharper off my jab. He's going to have a hard time landing clean strikes." He added, "All signs point to a knockout performance."
Since dropping Waardenburg in the first matchup, Arnett has accumulated impressive victories against Bedford (23-13-1), Maged Hammo (8-4-1), Mike Hernandez (10-2), and Darrick Minner (15-4), alongside a professional boxing triumph over a seasoned veteran.
Arnett's Training at Dunamis Bearing Fruit
Arnett has spent the bulk of his training camp at his new home, Dunamis Martial Arts, working alongside coach Jake Peacock, who believes Arnett is performing at his highest level ever.
"He looks incredibly sharp and polished, and he's added some fresh weapons to his arsenal," Peacock observed. "He's finally utilizing his strengths to maximum effect."
According to Peacock, a key emphasis of their preparation involves honing Arnett's head movement to capitalize on missed or poorly placed punches. The coaching staff believes maintaining the fight on the feet will allow them to systematically dismantle Waardenburg's "one-dimensional" approach.
"Every piece of preparation is complete—it's all in the mind now," Peacock noted. "He needs to walk in there believing he's unstoppable, and if he carries that mindset, we're confident he'll put Dimitri Waardenburg away."
The kid means business @stephanepatry @CentreBell #montreal #bigcat The journey continues #GOLD pic.twitter.com/VPd3Gx4KRd
— Jesse Arnett (@bigcatsreal) December 5, 2017
A victory over Waardenburg on December 8 would obligate Arnett to remain in the TKO cage for a title defense, as his contract required a minimum of two fights.
While Arnett refuses to look beyond the immediate challenge, his prospects appear increasingly promising for the 33-year-old, with several major promotions expressing interest.
"I can't afford to look past Dimitri Waardenburg," Arnett cautioned. "He's fighting with nothing to lose. He's already fallen to me in ninety seconds once, so if he survives to the two-minute mark, he's already accomplished something."
