For Torrez Finney, last week’s goal was winning a UFC contract on Tuesday and celebrating with those at home on Thursday and Friday.
Finney’s first-round TKO win against Abdellah Er-Ramy in front of an ESPN+ audience last Tuesday didn’t just move him into the history books as the first fighter to go 3-0 in the Dana White Contender Series, but it also earned what he had been striving and working for – a UFC contract.
There was no doubt about the status of Finney’s contract quest this time, as White, the CEO of UFC, nodded in approval following both Finney’s win and celebratory dance in front of him.
“To finally get it and in that fashion, it was beautiful to me because I completed the story,” Finney said. “To win in three different ways, it’s a thing of ‘you can’t write this better in a book.’ I was telling (Dana), give me all of those middleweights and I’ll dance all over them. Someone had said that this was the hardest-earned UFC contract, so to come out on the other side, that’s a blessing.”
But Finney’s win only began a full span of days last week for the former JCHS football and wrestling star.
By the latter half of the week, Finney was back close to home for a media event in downtown Macon on Thursday and for a visit to Jones County High School around midday on Friday where, with a UFC camera crew following him around, Finney visited with some of his old teachers and coaches and also reminisced about his time as a Greyhound.
“To see all the old teachers and coaches, it’s so heartwarming,” Finney said. “This is family here, and I love everyone who has played a part in my journey.”
Finney also spent time with friends and family while back home in addition to a brief appearance at Friday’s homecoming football game against McDonough.
“These last three days have been some of the wildest you can imagine,” Finney said. “To finally get over the hump, it’s been one of wildest things ever.”
Jacob Crook, who coached Finney as a wrestler as JCHS, was among those alongside him during his time at the school Friday. He says that current students both knowing of Finney’s success and seeing a camera crew follow him around can do nothing but motivate them.
“It motivates them to do a lot of things. If you don’t work hard, you will never succeed,” Crook said. “It proves a point that if there’s something you want to succeed in, you have to work hard to be successful in it.”
A UFC contract in hand, Finney’s next step is to work on skill development ahead of an expected pro debut in early 2025.
“It’s hard to get there, but it’s hard to stay there,” Finney said. “Thats the goal. To stay there, you have to win.”
