There's a championship belt hanging in the balance, but Jordan Noseworthy insists he's got nothing to lose.
The Grande Prairie fighter Noseworthy (3-2) steps into the cage against Calgary's Eric Stevens (4-2) in pursuit of the XFFC amateur light heavyweight championship at XFFC 22 on Saturday night in Grande Prairie, Alta.
Facing one of Canada's elite amateur competitors, Noseworthy, age 27, sees this matchup as a chance to benefit either way.
"Honestly, I feel like I've got no downside here—it's a win-win scenario," Noseworthy told reporters.
"I'm climbing up a weight class and stepping up against the best competitor in the nation, so let's go."
Noseworthy recently fell to Lorenzo Celis at XFFC 21 when the XFFC amateur middleweight title was on the line, marking his very first shot at a belt.
Getting called back for another title opportunity so quickly after taking a loss caught him off guard, but he appreciates the second chance at redemption.
"I felt honored and humbled by the invitation, and I intend to make the absolute most of it," Noseworthy shared.
"When's my next shot at a title if I blow this one? Probably never. You don't lose consecutive title bouts and still find yourself being considered. This is it now. This is the real deal."
Every victory in Noseworthy's record has been secured through strikes inside the opening round—a pattern he trusts will serve him well against Stevens.
Besides holding a five-inch edge in height, Noseworthy also boasts a longer reach compared to Stevens, giving him additional openings to unleash his striking arsenal.
"My striking was hidden in my last outing, but in amateur MMA, I can throw punches and kicks with the best of them," Noseworthy pointed out.
"I may not have flashed it against my last few opponents, but my hands and kicks are sharper than most of the competition."
Stevens Brings Relentless Toughness
During his amateur run, Stevens has demonstrated the mental toughness required to survive grueling battles.
That same grit and determination is what the 29-year-old considers his advantage heading into this clash.
"I've got heart. He probably does too, but mine runs deep along with my dedication. It takes a massive effort to get me to quit," Stevens said.
"I'm physically strong too—I lift heavy and move concrete around all day."
Stevens enters Saturday's card on a three-bout winning streak, having gone the full distance in each one.
With this bout potentially stretching to five rounds—and noting that Noseworthy has never progressed beyond the midpoint of the second round—Stevens believes his endurance and experience could prove decisive.
"My cardio and conditioning are dialed in. If we reach the final bell, we reach the final bell," Stevens remarked.
"I train that stuff every single day. I know I'm ready; I'm not about what he's preparing."
Stevens' latest triumph came at the gold medal match of the 2019 Canadian National Amateur Championships, where he claimed a unanimous decision victory over Will Grieve to capture the light heavyweight national title.
Now he's targeting his second consecutive belt on Saturday, inching ever closer to turning professional.
"Landing this belt gives me even more reason to pursue the pros. Winning that next championship would open up such a great door," Stevens explained.
"I'm hooked on this sport, so I might as well start getting compensated for it sooner or later."
Noseworthy's Acknowledgments
"I want to extend a huge thank-you to everyone on my team and coaching staff at Stanley Boxing, plus my family and friends for standing by me through it all." Stay connected with Noseworthy online: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
Stevens' Acknowledgments
"I'd love to acknowledge Russell Peel at Muteki MMA, Brad Cardinal and Justin Basra at Cardinal MMA, and all my training partners." Stay connected with Stevens online: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
