For FloCombat via LionFight.com

By Scott Zerr

Jordan Smith has the hometown advantage, but he’ll still have to do quite a lot to rip the Lion Fight world cruiserweight title from the hands of Chip Moraza-Pollard this weekend.

Yet, Smith is confident he can pull off dethroning “The Surgeon” from his championship perch. The London fighter will get that opportunity in his own backyard at Muay Thai Grand Prix presents Lion Fight 39 on Saturday at the Indigo at O2 Arena in London.

Lion Fight’s first venture outside the United States and with its partner MTGP will air live worldwide on FloCombat at 7 PM local time and 2 PM ET/11 AM PT in the U.S.

As the headliners for the massive card, Smith and Moraza-Pollard will fight for both reigning champ’s Lion Fight belt as well as the vacant MTGP title. That’s the kind of opportunity that Smith couldn’t pass up.

“I’m a businessman at heart and two for the price of one sounds like a good deal to me,” said the 25-year-old who sports an 11-0 record.

“I’m enjoying the journey to becoming a household name in this sport so as you can imagine I was over the moon to hear I would not only be fighting for one but two titles.”

Should Smith come away with the victory over Moraza-Pollard on Saturday, both fighters are committed to engage in a rematch with both titles on the line. If required, the rematch will take place in early 2018 and in the United States.

Moraza-Pollard (5-0) claimed Lion Fight’s world title with a five-round verdict over Paul Banasiak in a Fight of the Year candidate and brings a wealth of overall experience into the upcoming showdown. But Smith isn’t fazed in the least by his opponent’s background or fast rise to the top.

“I see him getting frustrated with the fight as the rounds progress, puzzled with the movements, and it ending in a stoppage,” Smith said.

“No one is unbeatable. I think having that mindset could creep into comfort. I’m never comfortable. I’m always pushing my mind and body to be better than yesterday. I will say one thing, come fight night I will put everything on the table and show the world Kru Sam’s Formula.

“There’s always pressure, whether it be a little or a lot. The most important thing is how you balance it, and at KO South, [head instructor Kru Sam Nankani] has always kept us grounded. Even when we win titles big or small, we’re back to business in the next couple of days training as usual.”

Three other MTGP titles will be on the line at Muay Thai Grand Prix presents Lion Fight 39 including the world featherweight bout which will see Lion Fight’s Amine “The Moroccan Freak” Ballafrikh take on MTGP’s Dean James. Lion Fight middleweight contender Eddie Abasolo will also make the trip to London to take on Jersey Pinto.