ACB 54: Robert Whiteford Ready To Wham, Bam, KO Nam Phan
ACB 54: Robert Whiteford Ready To Wham, Bam, KO Nam Phan
Former UFC fighter Robert Whiteford returns to action Saturday, March 11, at ACB 54, promising a vicious knockout on his way back to the Octagon.
The countdown to ACB 54 is on, and with just three days remaining until the big night, Scottish mixed martial artist Robert Whiteford is prepared to throw down in his second fight since leaving the UFC.
Whiteford last fought at ACB 47: Braveheart, when he defeated the Frenchman Kevin Petshi via unanimous decision in Glasgow, Scotland. Having taken some time off over the Christmas season, the American Top Team man is eager to get back in the cage, and this Saturday, March 11, he does exactly that when he faces fellow UFC veteran Nam Phan.
Speaking exclusively to FloCombat yesterday, Whiteford explained how the fight came to fruition and how Phan had been a guy he had asked the ACB brass to fight.
“After my last fight in ACB, they wanted me to sign a multi-fight contract, but I wasn’t keen to get back in that mindset where I had a boss who told me who I had to fight, when I had to fight and what day," Whiteford said. "I just wanted to be a free agent and fight on my own terms, for whoever offered me the best money.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ0hQsOBfrl/" hide_caption="0"]
“The guys at ACB, Paul [King] who runs the European side of it, have been super cool and just told me they’d be having this Manchester show and that it was an option for me. It nicely fitted in with when I wanted to fight, so we agreed to it and then it was just down to finding an opponent. They came back to me with a few names, but I wasn’t really excited by them—I just wanted big fights.
“I left for America anyway to prepare and just said to them I wanted an opponent that was a big fight. They then asked me who I wanted to fight and I suggested Nam Phan—I didn’t even know if he was still fighting, but I remember watching him in the UFC, and he was an exciting fighter. They then went away and he agreed to it, so that was that.”
Since leaving the UFC, Whiteford now feels like he’s in a different place mentally with his fighting career. Relieved of the burden of fighting under the banner of the biggest promotion in the world, Whiteford says he will have a different attitude walking into the cage Saturday night and that it should bring out the best in him.
“I’m not taking the fight game as seriously as I was pre-UFC,” Whiteford said. “That said, I really don’t think my life has just changed all that much. It’s still same s*it, but on a different show. It’s just mentally, I think, the way I approach fights—I’m still taking my training as seriously, but I’m just not putting all this pressure on myself to go out there and chase the fifty ‘G’ bonus and that s*it.
“My training has improved a lot and my sparring sessions have got a lot better. I’m just getting back to the way I used to fight before the UFC and I think I just got caught up in s*it like game planning and fighting in a certain way and I used to think about my opponents way too much. Now I’m just going to go out there and enjoy the fight, you know—go out there and have a scrap.”
Free of the constraints he was feeling when fighting in the UFC, Whiteford now promises a big performance at ACB 54 when he faces Phan in Manchester. The Scotsman said he was going out there to make a statement in the way only he knows.
“I think my last performance in ACB against Kevin Petshi, I didn’t perform at my best—trust me I’m never taking another fight at 140 pounds. The weight cut just killed me,” Whiteford said. “You didn’t see my true self, but this time I’m hoping and expecting Phan to want to stand and have it out with me, you know?
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BRS_uCjhk4G/" hide_caption="0"]
“If that’s the case, let the best man win. I know I definitely hit harder than Phan and I don’t think he’s going to be able to take my punches. I’m looking to take him out quick—hit them hard, tap them quick and steal the headlines.”
Whiteford’s urgency to grab the headlines and put on a great performance are all with one idea in mind. Yesterday it was announced that the UFC will return to Glasgow July 16, and Whiteford believes this is his chance to give his best shot of getting on the card.
“My ambition is to get back to the UFC, and I’ve never hid that from anyone,” Whiteford said. “I’ve spoken with the UFC regarding getting back there, and they’ve told me they are coming to Scotland this year. I’ve got to get another win if I even want to think about getting on this card in Scotland.
“I can only hope that [UFC Matchmaker Sean] Shelby is going to watch these fights and take note, you know? I’m looking to take Phan out by knockout, get it viral, and then that makes it even more of a case for me getting back in there.”
Whiteford last fought at ACB 47: Braveheart, when he defeated the Frenchman Kevin Petshi via unanimous decision in Glasgow, Scotland. Having taken some time off over the Christmas season, the American Top Team man is eager to get back in the cage, and this Saturday, March 11, he does exactly that when he faces fellow UFC veteran Nam Phan.
Nam Phan a man in demand
Speaking exclusively to FloCombat yesterday, Whiteford explained how the fight came to fruition and how Phan had been a guy he had asked the ACB brass to fight.
“After my last fight in ACB, they wanted me to sign a multi-fight contract, but I wasn’t keen to get back in that mindset where I had a boss who told me who I had to fight, when I had to fight and what day," Whiteford said. "I just wanted to be a free agent and fight on my own terms, for whoever offered me the best money.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ0hQsOBfrl/" hide_caption="0"]
“The guys at ACB, Paul [King] who runs the European side of it, have been super cool and just told me they’d be having this Manchester show and that it was an option for me. It nicely fitted in with when I wanted to fight, so we agreed to it and then it was just down to finding an opponent. They came back to me with a few names, but I wasn’t really excited by them—I just wanted big fights.
“I left for America anyway to prepare and just said to them I wanted an opponent that was a big fight. They then asked me who I wanted to fight and I suggested Nam Phan—I didn’t even know if he was still fighting, but I remember watching him in the UFC, and he was an exciting fighter. They then went away and he agreed to it, so that was that.”
Feeling free to fight his way again
Since leaving the UFC, Whiteford now feels like he’s in a different place mentally with his fighting career. Relieved of the burden of fighting under the banner of the biggest promotion in the world, Whiteford says he will have a different attitude walking into the cage Saturday night and that it should bring out the best in him.
“I’m not taking the fight game as seriously as I was pre-UFC,” Whiteford said. “That said, I really don’t think my life has just changed all that much. It’s still same s*it, but on a different show. It’s just mentally, I think, the way I approach fights—I’m still taking my training as seriously, but I’m just not putting all this pressure on myself to go out there and chase the fifty ‘G’ bonus and that s*it.
“My training has improved a lot and my sparring sessions have got a lot better. I’m just getting back to the way I used to fight before the UFC and I think I just got caught up in s*it like game planning and fighting in a certain way and I used to think about my opponents way too much. Now I’m just going to go out there and enjoy the fight, you know—go out there and have a scrap.”
Looking to get Phan out quick and make a statement
Free of the constraints he was feeling when fighting in the UFC, Whiteford now promises a big performance at ACB 54 when he faces Phan in Manchester. The Scotsman said he was going out there to make a statement in the way only he knows.
“I think my last performance in ACB against Kevin Petshi, I didn’t perform at my best—trust me I’m never taking another fight at 140 pounds. The weight cut just killed me,” Whiteford said. “You didn’t see my true self, but this time I’m hoping and expecting Phan to want to stand and have it out with me, you know?
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BRS_uCjhk4G/" hide_caption="0"]
“If that’s the case, let the best man win. I know I definitely hit harder than Phan and I don’t think he’s going to be able to take my punches. I’m looking to take him out quick—hit them hard, tap them quick and steal the headlines.”
UFC Glasgow earmarked
Whiteford’s urgency to grab the headlines and put on a great performance are all with one idea in mind. Yesterday it was announced that the UFC will return to Glasgow July 16, and Whiteford believes this is his chance to give his best shot of getting on the card.
“My ambition is to get back to the UFC, and I’ve never hid that from anyone,” Whiteford said. “I’ve spoken with the UFC regarding getting back there, and they’ve told me they are coming to Scotland this year. I’ve got to get another win if I even want to think about getting on this card in Scotland.
“I can only hope that [UFC Matchmaker Sean] Shelby is going to watch these fights and take note, you know? I’m looking to take Phan out by knockout, get it viral, and then that makes it even more of a case for me getting back in there.”