Undefeated bantamweight Ed Arthur (5-0) has called for a showdown with Ultimate Fighter Season 18 veteran Mike Wootten (8-0).
On Nov. 29 Arthur claimed the Superior Challenge bantamweight crown with a unanimous decision victory over Martin Akhtar in Sweden. With another win in the bag, the Hemel Martial Arts product recently told MMA Plus that he plans on heading back to British Association of Mixed Martial Arts, hopefully in February, and that his sights are set on undefeated TUF veteran Mike Wootten.
“Next year I hope to be fighting on [BAMMA],” Arthur explained. “Nothing’s signed yet but I would love to be fighting on there again, hopefully in February I believe. I don’t want to talk much about it because I don’t know the full situation yet, I’d rather wait and see what happens with that one. I love BAMMA and hopefully they want me back.
“I want a fight with Mike Wootten. I said I wanted that fight in February, I’ve been calling for it. I think that would be a good fight. I don’t think just because of his name and The Ultimate Fighter that it should be out of my reach, I personally think I’ll win that fight and dominate it as well.”
Fighting out of the Liverpool MMA Academy, Wootten made his BAMMA debut in September and secured a rear-naked-choke submission over Antoine Gallinaro in the second round at BAMMA 16.
While still in the early stages of his professional career, Arthur strives to face the most credible opponents that are available with a plan to ‘make them look average’, and he’s happy to embrace a contest that may see him as the consensus underdog.
“I’m a fan of his, I’m a fan of these guys that are real good fighters, that’s what makes me want to fight them. I want them to doubt me, it makes me run faster, it makes me train harder – I love shocking people.”
Wootten is in action this Saturday, Dec. 6 at BAMMA 17 in Manchester where he takes on Frenchman Peter Ligier (4-0).
Photo by Mark Blundell
