Berik Focused for Cage Rage’s First Female Fight
Matthew Freeman Mar 7, 2008
Fans attending Cage Rage Saturday at the Wembley Arena in London
will get a feast of fights that would make any promoter proud.
Not only will the United Kingdom get to see one of its favorite home-grown heroes, Robert "Buzz" Berry, face the legendary Ken Shamrock (Pictures), Jean Silva (Pictures) will also challenge the much vaunted and unorthodox Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) for the Cage Rage featherweight world title.
None of those bouts, however, have equaled the hype surrounding
Aysen Berik's meeting with Aisling Daley -- Cage Rage's first
female fight.
Daley is a very competent fighter. Trained in both jiu-jitsu and muay Thai, she would be a stern test for any female competitor in her weight division. She is also associated with the expanding Caged Steel gym and has both the power and technique one would expect for such a high-profile fight.
Training with her brother Sami, a veteran of many Cage Rage battles and the recent owner of one of the most brutal knockouts seen in the history of the London organization, Aysen Berik has been working on her standup and her ground work.
"If it goes to the floor, then so be it," Berik said, "but I am looking to dominate the fight by keeping it standing. I want to make the game mine and keep it standing. That is where I have my best advantage."
Daley is known for being a tough competitor on the ground and on her feet, but Berik is confident her hands will gain her the win.
"I have been training with Sami for a while in martial arts, and I am prepared for anything," she said. "The way he has taught me is to have controlled power whilst using the least energy. I am a street fighter. To strike and attack is where I feel most powerful. Striking comes naturally. I have always felt confident in my ability [to strike] and I have never backed away from a fight."
"Her training was evolved around refining her punch and mainly her mobility," said Sami Berik (Pictures). "I put loads of emphasis on footwork so she can be comfortable with moving around and blend it into a punch rather than being too static. I worked a lot on the mechanics of a strike, so she could punch from what ever angle or position she's in."
Confidence is clear when she discusses her first professional fight in front of the always vocal Wembley crowd.
"I feel possessed," Berik said. "I am focused on the fight. I am not thinking about the event or the crowd; to be honest, it is all irrelevant. I am adapting my game to the cage, where it is safer. A street fight is to the finish, but in the cage it is a sport. There is a referee, rules and you can tap out. A lot of guys I talk to say they wouldn't have the guts to debut on a big show like Cage Rage, but I want to do it to give women more confidence, to be an ambassador not only for the female side of the sport but for women in general. The game is not just about power but ability."
Although Berik enters the fight as an unknown, she is determined to make an impression. She also wants to follow the path her brother chose: to be a fighter and make this a career no matter how hard the prospect.
She has all the traits of a Berik: motivation, striking prowess and a massive dose of unorthodox style. Debuting on the United Kingdom's largest show (Showtime, 10:30 p.m. ET/PT) is a real test, which is what both Beriks look for in their fights.
"She will experience a lifetime over a brief few moments," said her brother. "She's going to see where she stands with her fighting in respect to MMA. The result is just the conclusion. The fight is about enjoying rather than surviving the experience.
"I worked loads on her composure, so she can keep a balance frame of mind but still push herself to the limit. The force runs strong in my family."
Not only will the United Kingdom get to see one of its favorite home-grown heroes, Robert "Buzz" Berry, face the legendary Ken Shamrock (Pictures), Jean Silva (Pictures) will also challenge the much vaunted and unorthodox Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) for the Cage Rage featherweight world title.
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Daley is a very competent fighter. Trained in both jiu-jitsu and muay Thai, she would be a stern test for any female competitor in her weight division. She is also associated with the expanding Caged Steel gym and has both the power and technique one would expect for such a high-profile fight.
In contrast, Berik is an unknown quantity, and it is this factor
that could prove to unravel her Irish opponent.
Training with her brother Sami, a veteran of many Cage Rage battles and the recent owner of one of the most brutal knockouts seen in the history of the London organization, Aysen Berik has been working on her standup and her ground work.
"If it goes to the floor, then so be it," Berik said, "but I am looking to dominate the fight by keeping it standing. I want to make the game mine and keep it standing. That is where I have my best advantage."
Daley is known for being a tough competitor on the ground and on her feet, but Berik is confident her hands will gain her the win.
"I have been training with Sami for a while in martial arts, and I am prepared for anything," she said. "The way he has taught me is to have controlled power whilst using the least energy. I am a street fighter. To strike and attack is where I feel most powerful. Striking comes naturally. I have always felt confident in my ability [to strike] and I have never backed away from a fight."
"Her training was evolved around refining her punch and mainly her mobility," said Sami Berik (Pictures). "I put loads of emphasis on footwork so she can be comfortable with moving around and blend it into a punch rather than being too static. I worked a lot on the mechanics of a strike, so she could punch from what ever angle or position she's in."
Confidence is clear when she discusses her first professional fight in front of the always vocal Wembley crowd.
"I feel possessed," Berik said. "I am focused on the fight. I am not thinking about the event or the crowd; to be honest, it is all irrelevant. I am adapting my game to the cage, where it is safer. A street fight is to the finish, but in the cage it is a sport. There is a referee, rules and you can tap out. A lot of guys I talk to say they wouldn't have the guts to debut on a big show like Cage Rage, but I want to do it to give women more confidence, to be an ambassador not only for the female side of the sport but for women in general. The game is not just about power but ability."
Although Berik enters the fight as an unknown, she is determined to make an impression. She also wants to follow the path her brother chose: to be a fighter and make this a career no matter how hard the prospect.
She has all the traits of a Berik: motivation, striking prowess and a massive dose of unorthodox style. Debuting on the United Kingdom's largest show (Showtime, 10:30 p.m. ET/PT) is a real test, which is what both Beriks look for in their fights.
"She will experience a lifetime over a brief few moments," said her brother. "She's going to see where she stands with her fighting in respect to MMA. The result is just the conclusion. The fight is about enjoying rather than surviving the experience.
"I worked loads on her composure, so she can keep a balance frame of mind but still push herself to the limit. The force runs strong in my family."
