Saturday's card brings plenty of anticipation, but one thing is clear: Daniel Richard is looking to settle old scores.
Richard (5-3) steps into the cage to retain his BFL amateur lightweight title against CJ Strongheart (4-2) in a highly anticipated rematch at BFL 58 on Saturday evening.
The pair clashed once before at February Fury in 2016, when Strongheart submitted Richard with a kneebar in the fourth round to capture the lightweight championship.
Now 23, Richard says he's made significant improvements across every facet of his game since that loss, and he's convinced he'll walk away with the victory and the strap this time around.
"In our first encounter, I was controlling the grappling exchanges and dominating on the feet, but I simply ran out of gas," Richard explained during a recent interview. "That won't be an issue this time."
"Several years have passed since our last matchup, and I've evolved tremendously as a fighter. I don't believe Strongheart has improved anywhere near as much as I have, so I expect it to be a long night for him."
Even though Richard felt he controlled the grappling portion of their first fight, he acknowledges Strongheart possesses solid ground skills.
On the striking front, Richard sees minimal cause for concern regarding Strongheart's stand-up game and anticipates his opponent will employ a similar approach to their initial bout.
"I haven't watched him fight since I faced him, but I'm predicting he'll continue with the same grappling-oriented approach," Richard noted.
"His stand-up isn't particularly sharp, so I'm not overly concerned about that aspect."
Following his loss to Strongheart, Richard of Richmond, B.C. secured a victory over Matt Lepper to earn his BFL championship, along with adding a Muay Thai triumph to his record.
While Richard credits his overall improvement across all disciplines, he's also noticed substantial gains in his physical conditioning.
"My athleticism is certainly the most noticeable area where I've progressed," Richard remarked.
"I was essentially a teenager when we fought, and I feel my athletic ability has matured significantly since then."
Strongheart Aiming to Replicate Past Success
Despite coming out victorious in their first encounter, Strongheart, now 32, identified numerous aspects of his performance that required refinement, particularly his boxing.
Strongheart, representing Saik'uz First Nation, said he immediately began analyzing the fight once it concluded, pinpointing specific areas demanding attention.
"My boxing took a serious hit during that fight. My kicking was solid, but my punches weren't as precise, and I struggled feeling comfortable in the mid-range exchange," Strongheart admitted during a recent interview. "Since then, I've dedicated considerable time to sharpening that particular skill. I'm focused on adding more weapons to my arsenal to feel completely at ease in those situations."
Besides training at Vancouver's Tristar gym, Strongheart has invested heavily this camp with former One FC champion Bibiano Fernandes and ex-UFC competitor Jeremy Kennedy.
Though he trains regularly in his home territory, Strongheart undertakes the lengthy journey south to train alongside Fernandes and Kennedy, ensuring he extracts maximum value from his preparation.
"Every couple of weeks, we make the trip down to train at a higher level with them," Strongheart shared.
"They're able to evaluate us and identify precisely what needs work, and we carry those lessons back north, maintain peak conditioning, and continue drilling the specific techniques they pointed out."
Strongheart anticipates Richard will press forward aggressively, mirroring their previous encounter, but claims he's prepared countermeasures.
He understands Richard intends to engage in the clinch and brawl, something Strongheart welcomes wholeheartedly.
"He's hungry for this fight. He's eager for revenge," Strongheart declared.
"I grew up on a reserve. I'll step in and throw down—that's the way I know how to fight."
Strongheart's Acknowledgments
"I want to extend gratitude to my coaches Karm-j Manhas, Bibiano Fernandes, and Kajan Johnson, as well as my sole sponsor in Prince George, Reflex Supplements."
