Ever since winning his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in February in Macon, Torrez Finney has been looking for his next chance to step back into the arena of competition.
After weeks of searching, that time has arrived. Finney, a former two-sport standout with the Greyhounds, will take on Jake Zogg on June 11 at Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge, Tenn. Ticket and event info is available at FIghterTix.com
“It’s been hard to find an opponent,” Finney said. “Even when we’d offer up more money for the purse, they still said no, but I really wanted to fight and get back in there, and I said, ‘give me anybody, the weight class doesn’t matter,’ so that’s what we’re doing.”
For Finney, that’ll involve moving up a weight class to fight in the heavyweight division. In doing so, there won’t be the task of dropping weight down to around 185 pounds. Rather, since the typical range of the heavyweight is around 206 to 226 pounds, having to cut weight isn’t a factor this time around for Finney. Of course, a heavier
Of course, a heavier weight class means a bigger opponent. That does not rattle Finney.
“One thing that we’re big on is that size does not matter, it’s the skill,” Finney said. “I’m not too worried about what size he is.”
It won’t be Finney’s first time going against bigger opponents. At times as a wrestler or football player at JCHS, he wrestled up in a higher weight class and also frequently went up against 300-pound offensive linemen from the defensive line position.
“Size doesn’t faze me much,” Finney said. “The mindset is the same for me; I’m going in to dominate. If I go in and do what I always do and have no fear, I feel that I can beat anyone if I am on my game.”
One key focus for Finney as the match approaches continues to be striking – the delivering of hits from the hands, knees, elbows and legs. Significant strikes are defined by the MMA as “strikes landed when fighters are not in a clinch or grounded position.”
“One thing I’ve been working on is my striking,” Finney said. “I work on it literally every day, but I know what I can revert to so that I don’t have to use it early and can save it for when the time comes.”
So, could that be an advantage against a heavyweight foe? Finney thinks so.
“Lots of times, guys can come out early and gas themselves,” Finney said. “That’s the beauty of being patient and not rushing.”
At the end of the day, June 11 marks what Finney and his team have worked on since February – getting back into the ring.
“All I have to do is go in, step on the scale, get in the cage and do my thing. I finally get a chance to fight again and have a great chance to put on a show for the fans,” Finney said. “I don’t know how many more times I will get a chance to fight locally in Macon or Chattanooga. If I keep winning, different opponents will come on biggest stages. Right now, I just want to get wins under my belt.”
