On March 20 undefeated British hopeful Brett ‘The Pikey’ Johns will be flying the flag of Wales at the Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Alabama as he makes his North American MMA debut against California’s Walel ‘The Gazalle’ Watson. At TFC 33 both men will bid to become the top 135-pounder in one of the USA’s most respected domestic promotions when they meet to decide who will become the Titan Fighting Championships Bantamweight Champion.
Brett Johns (10-0) was drafted in by Titan FC as Europe’s no.1 bantamweight, having claimed the prestigious Cage Warriors title in April of 2014, and was immediately matched against UFC veteran Walel Watson (13-7), a fighter who’s raw fighting talent has allowed him to fast track his development as a mixed martial artist and take on a selection of the world’s best competitors, despite starting his MMA journey much later than most.
Watson featured on this week’s episode of the MMA Plus Podcast and claimed to know everything there is to know of his opponent, however, he conceded, much time has past since Johns was last in action, and it’s anyone’s guess as to how the Welshman has used that time. Nevertheless, Watson believes that any advances made Johns in the past year will simply not be enough come TFC 33.
“I pretty much know everything about him,” Watson explained, “when I looked up his name a lot of information popped up on him on Google, so it was easy for me to learn about him a study a little bit. At the end of the day, I don’t expect to see the same Brett Johns that won the Cage Warriors belt because he hasn’t fought in a year, so he’s had a year himself to sharpen his skills and change things up, it’s gonna be a whole different guy and I’m ready for whatever he brings.”
Watson’s understanding of his abilities is a perfect recipe for confidence; while Jiu Jitsu serves as his favourite aspect of MMA, bringing him the most success with a total of eight submission victories, ‘The Gazelle’ feels that his striking is what bothers his opponents the most
“Most guys never stand with me, I think Anthony [Gutierrez] was the first guy willing to stand with me. Nobody ever tries to stand with me, as soon as I start tapping them a little bit, they want to take me down and I expect the same thing from him, but like I said, it’s been a year since he fought so who knows what’s happened in that year.”
Watson began his MMA career with a standout 8-2 record that lead him to the UFC in 2011. The San Diego native left the promotion in 2012 after a four fight stint that saw him take just one victory in contrast to three defeats, including a decision loss to current UFC Bantamweight Champion T.J. Dillashaw. However, Watson began his MMA career during his mid 20’s, and had spent far less time developing his skills than the average fighter.
Now, Watson believes that youthful mistakes have been exterminated from his game, and having gone 2-0 in Titan FC with a pair of submission victories, ‘The Gazelle’ feels that his true potential is beginning to surface, and that it cannot be stopped.
“I hate to sound like I’m cocky or anything like that, but I just feel like where I’m at right now in my career and life, I hold all the tools to win, I hold all the tools to beat myself. Even with the losses I’ve had in my career, those guys didn’t beat me, I beat me. That’s why I lost those fights, I made mistakes, mistakes that I’m not gonna make anymore because I’m six years in now and coming into my own.
“At this point in my career, I’m gonna go in there and impose my will, and that’s all there is to it.”
As a natural born athlete and competitor, Watson strives to be the champion of whatever he faces. The 30-year-old explained how the Titan FC championship was his goal from the moment he joined the promotion, and that this is the same wherever he fights, whether it be Titan FC or the UFC.
“To be crowned the Titan FC Bantamweight World Champion means everything to me right now.”
Check out the full interview on this week’s MMA Plus Podcast with Walel Watson’s interview beginning at the 23:48 mark.
