Wales’ MMA World Champion Jack Shore, from Abertillery, joined up with Dragons Rugby for training ahead of his Cage Warriors World Title fight on the night of Judgement Day (Saturday, April 27th) Voila Arena in Cardiff.
Wales’ own world bantamweight champion Shore is headlining Cage Warriors 104, Europe’s leading MMA promotion – for one of the biggest night of MMA combat in Welsh history with seven Welsh fighters on the card.
The big fight will follow Saturday’s huge double derby Judgement Day contest with the Dragons up first against Scarlets in the Principality Stadium (kick off 3pm)
Cage Warriors 104 will be a showcase of Welsh MMA action as another six fighters from Wales appear on the card and will look to bring home big wins for the Welsh crowd and excite the thousands in a packed Viola Arena - home of the Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey Team.
Shore believes the best is still to come from him as an MMA fighter. “I started when I was six-years-old, with kick boxing then onto jiu jitsu when I was 12 with my father and have done MMA training ever since. My first MMA fight was at 17 - I’m 24 now and have won 12 amateur fights and then 10 as a professional.”
“I believe I still have more to give, the best is yet to come from me. I’m young and the body is feeling fit and healthy. I’ve got good coaches, and you’ve got to have a good fight IQ, to fight smart – I like to entertain the crowd and get finishes but if you take too much damage in this sport it can be short-lived. The aim is longevity and to keep winning.
“My immediate ambition is the defend my belt on Saturday (April 27th) at the Viola Arena in Cardiff in front of a big Welsh crowd. Then hopefully a move up to UFC. There are no easy fights there, you’re competing against the top 30 guys in the World but I’ll work hard to get top spot there as well.
“For now, it’s all about defending my World Title defending against Scott Malone, who has a very good record – he’s a Commonwealth judo champion, it’ll be a tough fight but one I am confident in. I respect and appreciate how good my opponent is, but I am 100% confident in my skills and my preparation and it will be another win.”
Shore is respected as a well-rounded fighter with the ability to strike, clinch, grabble and says he lets his instincts take over and will take the fight as it comes on the evening of rugby’s Judgement Day in the Welsh Capital.
“It’ll be a good Saturday, the fight is looking to be a sell-out and Judgement Day brings a lot of sports fans into Cardiff anyway. A lot of the rugby boys and rugby fans will be crossing over then in the evening, it’s a big day for them in their sport and then they can come and watch me put it on the line for Wales.
“I played rugby as a kid and my Uncles are into it and my strength and conditioning coach is a big rugby fan. You can’t not enjoy rugby when you live in Wales. It’s been great to be down here at the Dragons training facility, it’s been a privilege to meet the squad and I appreciate them letting me train down here with them. There’s some big guys out there and it’s eye-opening seeing what they lift – pretty much my body weight (60Kgs) for fun! “
Dragons hooker Richard Hibbard, wished Shore the best of luck on behalf of the whole squad.
He said: “I appreciate the sport, what it takes – it’s too mental for me though and can’t get my head around it!
"It’s really tough, you can’t be good at one thing anymore - chatting to Jack you realise in MMA you have to be good it all. Maybe I’d have tried it in my younger days, when I thought I was tough!”
Tickets for CW104 are still available HERE - with the Viola Arena in very high demand, fans are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.
To see more from Dragons training with Jack Shore - and an interview with Ross Moriarty - watch Scrum V on BBC on Sunday, April 21.
A lot of the rugby boys and rugby fans will be crossing over then in the evening, it’s a big day for them in their sport and then they can come and watch me put it on the line for Wales...
