THE HELIX WILL tomorrow night be packed to the rafters as Dublin gets behind Cage Warriors welterweight champion Cathal Pendred.
The 25-year-old SBG fighter, who is set walk out with the belt proudly draped over his shoulder for the first time having defeated Gael Grimaud in London back in March, was due to defend it in front of a home crowd at DCU.
However, Britain’s Che Mills failed to make the 170lbs weight at this afternoon’s weigh-ins meaning the European title will no long be on the line. Nevertheless, Pendred is be desperate to stretch his seven-fight unbeaten streak (6 wins, 1 draw).
“My opponent has missed weight and the fight is now a non-title fight. I’m a bit disappointed, but nothing changes really… it’s on!! #MyTime” he tweeted today.
Pendred and his SBG team-mates have been leading the way for the sport in Ireland and ‘The Punisher’ could be soon joining Conor McGregor in the UFC
Since finishing a degree in analytical science last year, he has been able to focus solely on training and has improved immensely from one fight to the next. Speaking to TheScore.ie earlier this week, Pendred believes he is as ready as he will ever be.
“I’ve been training hard for the past 8 or 9 weeks – twice-a-day,” he says. “I’m just chilling out now and getting ready to get down to business.
“To be honest, I’ve put in as much work as humanly possible and am feeling confident and 100% ready. I don’t cut any corners when it comes to my training. Even when I leave the gym I’m still thinking about it and going over things in my head. I’m constantly improving my game.
“MMA is so diverse that you have to keep getting better. You can never tell yourself you’re good enough now.”
30-year-old Mills is an experienced opponent whose last four fights came in the UFC (2 wins, 1 loss, 1 no contest). Pendred looks likely to face his biggest test to-date but says he wants to take on the best as he strives for the top.
“I could’ve had an easier route but I’ve never taken that when it comes to my MMA career. I want to constantly test myself and show that I’m improving. This is just another guy and another step. I know I will beat him and will prove that on Saturday.
“Like I always say, it’s all about my training. I don’t focus too much on my opponent. It’s not a good idea to as you are concentrating too much on things out of your control. Che is a stand up fighter. He’s well-rounded but I feel like I’m better than him everywhere.”
With his recent fights having gone the distance, Pendred reveals his plan is to stop Mills before the final bell rings.
“I want to go in there and prove I’m on a different level to him. I’d love to get in and get out early. It’s what I’ve been training to do and what I’m planning to do.”
Watch the promo to Cage Warriors 55:
YouTube credit: themmaclinic
Although he won’t be looking any further than tomorrow, the UFC is ultimately where he sees himself and a place on the card for the event on August 17 in Boston (where Pendred was born) would be the perfect debut.
“I know for a fact that there are eyes on me. I’m at the top of the food chain when it comes to Europe. It’s nice to know that but when fight time comes I’m not focused on that as it’s just a distraction.
“As long as I keep winning like I have been the UFC is inevitable.
“I’m not looking past Saturday but I’ve said for awhile that I’m ready to move on to the UFC. That has always been my goal and I’m eager to do it. That’s no disrespect to Cage Warriors – the reason I joined up with them was because they said they were a stepping stone to the UFC.
“I got into into the sport to compete against the best in the world and that’s the UFC. As great it is to be Cage Warriors champion, and it is an absolute honour, it was always one of the steps and not the end goal.”
Last summer, Pendred was blown away by the support at The Helix when he saw off veteran David Bielkhedan. Demand for tickets has been huge and the atmosphere should be electric.
“It was unbelievable. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like that. I think there were 2,000 there but with the noise being made it sounded like 10,000.
I’m expecting even more this time around. There’s a lot of hype behind this event and tickets have been sold out for awhile. Cage Warriors even readjusted things to get more seats in as the demand was so high.
“More people know what’s going on this year so it should be even better.
“All my family and friends will be present and from the feedback I’m getting on Twitter there will be a serious number there. I don’t know how they are going to fit them in but I can’t wait to raise the roof when I get my hand raised.”
