Pace and aggression. That's the mindset driving Curtis Demarce forward right now.
Demarce (18-14) is set to face Bellator MMA stand-out Darren Smith Jr. (16-10) at welterweight during Saturday evening's card at Teofista: Fight For The Troops in Brandon, MB.
After suffering a razor-thin split-decision loss to Neal Anderson at Unified MMA 35, the 31-year-old says the setback pushed him to rediscover the high-octane approach that fueled his early career accomplishments.
"I realized during those matches I could easily take fights to judges, but I need to attack with more intensity," Demarce explained during a recent interview.
"I relied on a much more offensive style back in the day. After that loss, I've tracked down that energy once more. I've recovered the mindset I used to carry, and I believe I've sparked that inner drive again."
Even though nearly a year has passed since Anderson handed him the loss, Demarce described the period following that bout as particularly challenging, battling a string of injuries that kept him from returning to the octagon and mounting a comeback.
While the final eleven months may have felt discouraging, Demarce maintains the time away served its purpose.
"When life got difficult, it allowed me the space to recalibrate and address the specific areas I needed to improve, fine-tuning my technique where necessary," Demarce shared.
"Now that I'm healthy and fully recovered, I feel great. That year genuinely transformed me and reignited my competitive spirit. I expect fans will witness that transformation this weekend."
Hometown Nerves
Though Demarce has resided across multiple cities in North America during the past few years, he's returned to Brandon — a place he hasn't yet had the chance to compete in during his 32-bout professional journey.
Demarce admits he's starting to feel a wave of nerves he hasn't experienced in a while, even though he's thrilled to finally step into the cage surrounded by family and friends.
"It's ironic, really," Demarce explained. "For my first ten fights, I never got nervous. After twenty bouts, that fluttering excitement faded away."
"But now, just a week before this card, those butterflies are back. I think it's because I know the stakes — I'm performing right here in front of my community, my friends, and my family in the town where I grew up. That makes it special."
The matchup was initially set up with Gilberto Aguilar, but Aguilar had to pull out less than a week before the event, creating an opening for Smith Jr. to step in and headline the show.
No matter who he's facing, Demarce says he's riding the momentum of one of the strongest training camps of his career, and he's eager to put on a show Saturday night.
"Training in my hometown for the first time gave me access to incredible support and resources," Demarce noted.
"I've never felt better physically, and I've approached this camp with more seriousness than ever before. I'm ready."
Demarce's Shoutouts
"I want to thank everyone contributing to making this event happen, and everyone who's sponsored me." Follow Demarce on social media: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
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