Lewis Long wants a crack at Karl Amoussou‘s Cage Warriors Welterweight title, but even if it doesn’t come to fruition, Long has another future in the sport, as a coach.
The MAT Academy fighter was in attendance at last night’s Cage Warriors Academy Wales show in a coaching capacity and was part of a successful team that left Newport having gone 3-0 on the night.
The highlight of the night for the Pontypridd-based team was undoubtedly Aaron Khalid, who came away with a second-round submission win over Phil Wells in the main event.
On his teammate’s performance, Long said:
“It’s harder work cornering, than it is fighting! But I mean, what a finish. Aaron always seems to stop them in the second.
“Phil Wells is a tough opponent and, in the first round it was back and forth, maybe going in the way of Phil, but to come back and get an early stoppage in the second, I couldn’t be more proud.”
The main event was the third assignment of the night for the MAT Academy team, which consisted of Long, Arash Shojaei and Joey Brincat. Prior to this, Josh Ellis was in action, making his professional debut, and defeating Poland’s Daniel Hodor by submission in round two. Earlier in the evening, Ben Ellis made his amateur debut. Long was optimistic about the potential that both men possess, saying:
“Josh Ellis, who won the IMMAF world’s in 2015 ended up having a late replacement, a very tough Polish kid (Daniel Hodor) who liked to work off his back and again, a mature performance. You know, defending the triangles, armbars, everything. His hips were snaking, he used the cage to control and, it was a very very mature performance, especially when it’s so easy to sink into a triangle when you’re trying to lay waste to someone on the floor.”
As for Ben Ellis, who defeated Franco Tenaglia by way of TKO in the third, Long said:
“He just showed his class, but liked to take too many shots to the face, but you know, he got that from somewhere laughs
“Yeah I mean, he’s a talented boy, he’s got a lot to come. He seems to be comfortable everywhere, just in the gym, progressing so quickly with everyone around him. He just needs to keep his hands up and not get caught with silly shots, but I’ve never been one to do that like you know laughs
“The future of the MAT Academy is great like, I’ve got another three guys fighting next week and it just shows things are going well you know. Smash!”
As well as cornering fighters, Long has been in action himself recently, fighting Ryan Scope last weekend at Made for the Cage 23. That fight, which he won by rear naked choke, serves as a platform for Long, who wants a shot at the Cage Warriors title:
“I thought, no offence to Scope, but I thought it was going to be a tougher match. I mean you build up someone so much with a 10-0 record, especially beating the likes of Ali Arish, I especially thought his wrestling would be tougher, but I think being in the pocket, and just breaking him in the first round.
“He’s only got good things to come of him but for me, I’m going, I’m f****** flying now, time to smash.
“I only want the best fights, and Karl is in the way of the belt at the moment. I keep saying online, he’s got my belt! People keep tagging him in it you know so, it’s a fight that makes sense you know. We’re both finishers, both explosive fighters, both don’t like going out of the first round, so I can’t see why it can’t happen.”
If the fight does happen, Cage Warriors 83 is perhaps a bit too soon for the fight to take place, but with Lewis Long, never say never:
“I’ll fight wherever. I’m a fighter, whenever I get the match, I’ll take it and run really you know.”
