Andy Young wanted to make a statement against Dominique Wooding at BAMMA 28 on Friday. The interim-flyweight title was on the line and a chance for Young to set up a rematch with the man who handed him his last defeat, Rany Saadeh. But Young sees himself as the champion after his victory.
Young and Saadeh met at BAMMA 26, in Dublin last September, with the flyweights putting on a fight of the year contest at the 3Arena. The Nothern Irish fighter gave everything he had against the German, and did himself no disservice, but was unable to get the nod on the judges’ scorecard.
“In my mind,” started Young, post-fight with MMA Plus. “I am the champion so if Rany wants to fight me he can come to me, he can be my title defense. Everyone knows I’m the champion right now so we can see where he wants to go from there.”
Young stays patient en route to third round submission
Going into the third round it seemed like it was a round apiece between Young and Wooding. But when asked about chasing the finish, Young said he was just getting into his groove by the final stanza.
“It wasn’t really in my mindset at all. He was up on the scorecards, but I’m normally a slow starter. I like to feel out for a while and the first round or so was a bit of give and take,” said the Northern Irishman.
“He was a very tricky opponent. It took a while for me to make the adjustments I needed, but by the third round I was more ready and I was able to let the hands go and secure the finish with the rear-naked choke.”
Although Wooding had a severe experience disadvantage, something that Young pointed out before the fight, he wasn’t surprised by the youngster’s skillset. He felt that the occasion might have gotten to the young flyweight.
“I knew he was a very talented fight and a very skilled fighter, I just thought the moment would be too much for him,” he said.
“To go from the shows he was fighting on to BAMMA and for a world title here in the arena I thought it was going to be too much, but he handled it brilliant and I was very, very impressed so a great opponent and a great fight.”
