After falling short against Chris Kelades and dealing with a fractured hand, Keegan Oliver (6-6) is set to step back into the octagon on January 13, facing Hardeep Singh (9-3) at BFL 53.
Oliver's matchup with Kelades on September 9 marked the second occasion in three bouts where he fractured his right hand, yet he confirmed it has completely recovered and is ready for competition.
"I've been wrapping my hand differently during training and haven't had a single issue," Oliver shared during an interview. "When I returned after breaking my hand previously, it remained tender in practice. Now, it never bothers me."
At 28 years old, Oliver faces 43-year-old Singh after claiming three wins in his past four outings, including victories over unbeaten fighters. Meanwhile, Singh hasn't competed since 2012, something Oliver acknowledged makes preparation tricky.
Related: Alberta Flyweight Rankings
Keys To Victory
Oliver anticipates Singh will be fierce and launch an aggressive start during the opening three minutes, though he believes the fight shifts in his favor afterward. He's counting on his superior fitness to overwhelm Singh after such an extended absence from the sport.
"I'd probably rank among the most active fighters in Canada, including my boxing schedule," Oliver noted. "I typically compete four or five times each year."
Since the event takes place in Coquitlam, B.C.—just 40 minutes from Singh's home base in Vancouver—Oliver recognizes he can't afford to let the contest reach the scorecards.
He's felt cheated by judges far too often before and understands he won't receive a decision in favorable territory near his opponent's hometown.
"I know they're not handing me a decision in British Columbia, so I have to end this fight. I understand how this business operates," Oliver explained. "I won't rush in recklessly or panic, but I know exactly what needs to happen. I need to finish this fight."
The Coach's View
Oliver has spent most of his camp under Vince Gentile at Dynamic MMA, and Gentile feels Singh committed a major error selecting Oliver as his comeback fight after five years away.
"They need to do their homework," Gentile stated. "Keegan has been in three-round wars against elite competition. They're picking a 28-year-old who's just now reaching his prime."
Oliver's last four opponents hold a collective record of 27-11, with Kelades being the most recent—a former UFC competitor.
Throughout Oliver's pro career, four of his six wins have come via stoppage, including three by knockout.
Gentile described Oliver as more driven than ever to return and make amends for his latest defeat. According to Gentile, every aspect of Oliver's skill set is sharpened, and the only task remaining is stepping through the ropes.
"It's game time now," Gentile declared. "Enough is enough. Time to go out there and trade blows."
