With Edgar and Maynard battling for the UFC lightweight gold this weekend, JOE has a look at an Irish equivalent lightweight title fight on the Cage Contender XI card.
By Fergus Ryan
You may have read earlier in the week that the Cage Contender heavyweight title is up for grabs at Belfast’s Kings Hall Complex on 8 October. The co-main event that night is the lightweight title fight, which is of particular interest to JOE.
Combatants for the lightweight strap are JOE’s featured fighters – SBG’s ‘Magic’ Myles Price and ‘Stormin’ Norman Parke of Next Generation (formerly IMMA). The winner will undoubtedly go on to greater things. But the loser will not become any less of a fighter and both will continue to push the boundaries of achievement for Irish MMA.
There is a bit of previous between the two as Norman gave Price his first loss back at Cage Contender III in 2010. Price went on to capture the Cage Contender lightweight title in July 2010 and a collision course was set for a re-match.
JOE caught up with ‘Stormin’ Norman recently to talk about his upcoming bout with the ‘Magic’ man Price. You can tell Norman is genuine about something when he describes it as “100 per cent”. When we inquire on how training has gone, he says: “100 per cent mate. Training’s been great.”
I might not be the best grappler but I do have nine submission wins and I’ll be looking to ground and pound if we end up on the floor.
Having suffered a series of cancelled fights and injury set-backs since his last win in November 2010, Parke is definitive on whether he’s ready to step into a title fight. “I’m not underestimating Myles at all but I’m over my injuries now and I know I’ve got the tools to get the win, 100 per cent!” he says.
Parke is complimentary of Price’s ability and feels that he was hard-done by in his August loss to Chris Stringer.
“I saw Myles fighting at Clan Wars and to be honest I don’t know what fight the judges were looking at because I thought Myles edged that fight (Price lost a decision to Stringer at Clan Wars 8). He pushed the pace for the three rounds and was constantly looking for the takedown.”
While Price has had some injuries and cancelled fights to deal with himself, he has fought three times since capturing the Cage Contender lightweight crown over a year ago. Though Norman has been relatively inactive, he has caught the eye of prominent US MMA website Sherdog, featuring in their “10 European Prospects Worth Watching” in August. He was also interviewed on MMA Junkie radio recently in the run-up to Saturday’s fight.
The bout could be billed as the classic “Striker versus Grappler” match. Norman has a judo and amateur wrestling background, while Price started his martial arts career as a kick boxer. Yet come Saturday, you might find Price pushing for takedowns and Norman looking to trade leather.
“I expect the first round to be about feeling each other out,” says Parke.
“Myles might feel he has something to prove because of our first fight and him being the champion. I reckon he’ll be pushing the pace and be looking to shoot for takedowns.
“I might not be the best grappler but I do have nine submission wins and I’ll be looking to ground and pound if we end up on the floor. Having a good ground game is one thing but it’s a whole different ball game trying to execute your ground game when you’re getting strikes to the face. I’ll be looking to finish the fight if we’re still there in the second or even third round.”
Norman is conscious that Price is one of four current Cage Contender champions from SBG and has nothing but respect for the opposing camp.
“I’ve 100 per cent respect for John Kavanagh (head coach) and his fighters at SBG; they’re one of the best teams in Europe. I’m just looking forward to getting back competing; I’m really looking forward to the fight, 100 per cent!”
Norman wanted to thank all his coaches and training partners at Next Generation, his apparel sponsor Stayonflux and his management at KO Dynasty. He would especially like to thank his fiancée Amanda, for all she done for him.
There are still some tickets available for the event, but not many, on Premier Tickets. The event will air on Setanta Sports Ireland on Friday, 14 October at 9:15pm and on Sky Sports 2 on Tuesday, 18 October at 10pm, then again on Sky Sports 3 Wednesday, 19 October at 2am.
Special thanks to Chris Del for connecting us with Norman.
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