Torrez Finney gets his second turn in the Dana White Contender Series on Aug. 20, entering the cage against Cameron Rowston. It’ll be a bout full of familiarity for the former JCHS football and wrestling standout.
Finney, who tips the scales at 5-foot-8, will face off against Rowston, who is 6-2. The middleweight division match will be part of the card for week two of the contender series and broadcast on ESPN+.
Finney, however, is unbothered by those numbers. After all, from his time as a Greyhound and in his 8-0 fighting record, he has simply battled through it.
“A lot of people see height. He’s 6-2, but anyone who has known me, especially from Jones County, knows that height does not play a factor when it comes to Torrez Finney,” Finney said. “I don’t see height. I just see that you are taller than me. I have a lot of attributes that play into it when I face guys taller than me.”
A native of Australia, Rowston is 8-2 but has not fought in the last two years and just twice since October of 2020, the same timeframe in which Finney has gone 8-0.
“He’s a solid opponent. He trains in New Zealand. He’s from a tough gym and definitely has good coaches and will definitely have a good game plan,” Finney said. “But I really believe what I will bring will be hard for him to deal with. I think it’ll be hard for him to deal with me consistently. I really love the matchup.”
Another factor that Finney will have in his corner? Familiarity.
Last October, he fought in the Dana White Contender Series in Las Vegas. That means that on Aug. 20, the pre-fight lead-up and environment won’t be anything new for Finney to adjust to.
“Every fighter will have nerves, but those nerves of being on that stage, that’s no different than the last two fights,” Finney said. “The blessing of being able to wrestle in state championships and playing in those big football games. Those help me because I know I can perform in highstakes situations.”
That situation of next week’s bout will be like last October in Las Vegas, where a win could earn Finney a UFC contract. Finney is quick to note that everyone who has won their second contender series fight has received a UFC contract.
“If I do it a second time and win, it’ll be inevitable,” Finney said. “Everyone who’s won a second time has gotten a contract; it’s inevitable.”
