With mixed martial arts making its comeback in Quebec, Montreal Fight League is clearly taking the spotlight.
In the headliner of MFL 17, local fighter Louis-Philippe Caron (1-0) is set to put his MFL amateur light heavyweight championship on the line against Ontario's Gordon Cunningham (2-0) this Saturday evening.
Preparing during a global health crisis has created unique hurdles for every competitor stepping into the cage this weekend.
The undefeated amateur Adrenaline MMA athlete Cunningham has been fortunate to train alongside his brother, a certified personal trainer, yet even a high-level fighter struggled at times to stay motivated.
"Truthfully, I get to train alongside my brother as much as possible, but not nearly as much as I'd prefer," Cunningham told MMA Empire in an interview,
"And to be even more open about it, the quarantine situation left me slipping into a rough patch. My habits weren't the best for a stretch, so getting my physical conditioning back up to fight-ready levels proved tougher than expected, but you've just got to adapt."
Cunningham moving up
The effort required to regain peak fitness, paired with the scarcity of opportunities for fighters currently, explains why Cunningham—a natural middleweight—will step into the 205-pound division for just the second time this Saturday.
"I'm not cutting water or anything like that. I'm just having a few salads here and there and going from there. I'm roughly two pounds off the limit right now, so it's pretty straightforward," Cunningham explained.
"I certainly don't enjoy the water-cutting process; it's a real hassle, but if I end up with the light heavyweight belt around my hips, I'd definitely want to chase down the middleweight crown as well."
Throughout his early amateur run, Cunningham has drawn attention for his long reach and sharp striking skills.
Still, Cunningham insists observers shouldn't mistake him for a one-dimensional fighter—he's a complete package ready to show it under the lights.
"People label me as a kickboxer, and honestly, that nickname's started to annoy me lately because I'm capable of doing it all," Cunningham shared.
"I may not be the best in every department, and my stand-up is where I really excel, but I've been wondering what it'd feel like to land a submission on a skilled grappler like Louis. If I can grab another submission victory, I think that shuts down the 'just a kickboxer' narrative."
Calling someone a "good jiu-jitsu player" is genuine praise in combat sports, but for Cunningham's opponent, Caron, it might barely scratch the surface.
Caron mentioned he'd planned to devote most of the year to jiu-jitsu competition until the coronavirus outbreak interrupted his schedule.
"After my most recent MMA bout, I shifted my attention toward Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I competed at the Abu Dhabi world championship last November, but unfortunately the outcome wasn't what I'd hoped for," Caron shared during a conversation with MMA Empire.
"Something was lacking for me, and I realized I needed to return to it, so I doubled down on my BJJ training. My 2020 schedule was packed with all the major jiu-jitsu tournaments lined up, giving me plenty of opportunities to rack up points. Then COVID hit and wiped out the key events for 2020, leaving me without much to compete in. Getting that fight offer was basically the only thing keeping me engaged."
A well-rounded fighter entering the ring
Even though jiu-jitsu is one of Caron's strongest weapons, he isn't planning to force this matchup into a ground game. He emphasized that he's ready to demonstrate his abilities regardless of where the fight ends up taking place.
Caron mentioned he trusts his conditioning, power, and versatility to carry him through whatever comes his way.
"I think that's probably the main advantage I've gained lately — I notice a lot of fighters in my division aren't in as good shape as I am. They carry extra weight around their midsection, whereas I maintain those abs year-round," Caron explained.
"Many competitors at my weight class concentrate on striking, but I've developed a more balanced skill set overall."
Researching an upcoming opponent as a rising talent can present certain obstacles, but having the right contacts can make that process much smoother.
Caron noted he's lucky enough to have one such contact in his coach, who also serves as a judge for MFL.
"It works out nicely because all my bouts are against fighters from Ontario or Quebec, so we have people who've watched them compete. Alternatively, I can observe where they train and pick up on their typical fighting style," Caron noted.
"Regarding this specific opponent, my coach was judging at the previous MFL event and watched him fight. We noticed he brings considerable striking experience and he's fairly tall. That's essentially all the intel I need to get ready."
Naturally, preparation is essential before stepping into the cage, yet there's a point where overanalyzing can become counterproductive — a pitfall Cunningham aims to sidestep as he approaches his title shot.
"To be honest, I'd prefer not to know too much about my opponent. My thinking is that when you're watching highlight reels and studying their strengths, you start anticipating their moves too much and lose sight of your own game plan. I refuse to spend my time reacting to what he does. I want to control the tempo and direct the fight to where I want it to flow," Cunningham stated.
"I've gone through numerous sparring sessions with elite fighters and trained alongside some of the top athletes in Canada. I hold no disrespect for my opponent whatsoever, but honestly, there's not much he can throw at me in this fight that I haven't already encountered in training."
Cunningham's Acknowledgments
"First and foremost, I want to thank my mom. She's consistently been my greatest source of motivation. I also owe thanks to my older brother and everyone at Adrenaline MMA." Connect with Cunningham online: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
Caron's Acknowledgments
"I want to express my gratitude to Carl Fagnant, head coach at Gym Le Local, along with my primary sparring partners (Jonathan Doucet, William Baudet)." Follow Caron on social media: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
