Jake “Brutal” Bostwick will enter the cage this Saturday at ACB 47 knowing a win against fellow UK standout Danny Mitchell could result in a big move many fans have been calling for.
Over the past 18 months there has been a growing movement calling for the UFC to sign Bostwick and despite an active 10-fight win streak spanning six years, it has yet to materialise.
A 10-year veteran of the UK scene, Bostwick made a rocky start to life as a professional mixed martial artist, losing seven of his first eleven contests before embarking on his current undefeated run.
“After my seventh loss to John Philips I told myself that I can’t continue to do this to my family or myself anymore. I decide I was either I was going to give the sport a proper go or that was it for me. I dedicated myself 100 percent into training in the lead up to my fight with Marvin Arnold Bleau and as a result I stopped him in 0.32 seconds of round one.
“I proved to myself with that victory that I was cut out for this and as a result I went onto win 14 of 15 fights with my only loss coming at Light-Heavyweight [to] Mike Edwards but I learnt a lot from that defeat and since then I haven’t looked back.
“I didn’t really have the guidance I needed at the time. But once I started winning I gained more confidence in myself and also more people wanted to start working with me.”
For Bostwick, it was that hard work and dedication which has seen him tear through the domestic scene which has set a collision course with his ACB opponent, UFC veteran Danny Mitchell.
“If I beat this guy, I will send out a big statement as he has competed in the UFC. He will be the second former UFC fighter I have defeated as I previously defeated Simeon Thoresen who was 17-3 at the time we met, I’ve also knocked-out Denniston Surtherland who was ranked number five in the UK at the time and who has stopped a UFC vet.
“This is a UFC level bout so if I beat him I defiantly feel like I’ve earned my place there but I won’t beg for the recognition I deserve. Don’t get me wrong I want it but if I don’t get it won’t stop me as I believe my time will come regardless I just have to wait and see what happens after the fight.”
Danny Mitchell will enter the ACB cage fresh off of a first round twister submission win over fellow Team Titan C.J Meeks at Bellator 158. But despite this Bostwick doesn’t feel like he has a score to settle on behalf of his teammate.
“It’s strictly business for me, nothing personal. We’ve actually has bit of banter on Twitter about it, I’ve got a fight to win and so does he its as simple as that really. Let’s battle it out and sees who wins, then we can shake hands afterwards and move on with our respective careers and that how it should be so there is nothing there its just strictly business.”
From time to time Bostwick has split his time between London and the famed American Top Team. However, for the first time he has spent the entirety of his camp in Florida, mixing with former UFC Welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and coach Mike Brown.
“This was my second trip there and the first time I’ve spent my full camp at American Top Team and I can’t even put into words how I have benefited from the experience.
“I mean ATT’s reputation speaks for itself and they have managed to attract the best of the best when it comes to talent. They just signed UFC women’s Strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk who will training there for her fight with former KSW champion Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
“The level of training I received there was phenomenal, where as in England I may have had four or four great training partners. Over there I had 50.
“As a result my wrestling has gone through the roof, my submission defence has improved greatly and even my striking has improved along with my overall conditioning. So I’ve seen improvements in all aspects of my game and I can’t wait to showcase what I’ve been working on in front of fans at The SSE Hydro.”
Tickets for ACB 47: Braveheart at the SSE Hydro, Glasgow are available here from Ticketmaster.
