Epstein Pursues Another Cage Rage Title
Marauding brawler Mark "The
Beast" Epstein (Pictures) is a former Cage Rage champion at
both heavyweight and light heavyweight.
Recently he dropped to middleweight, and now the fighter from London is eyeing a challenge of Matt Ewin (Pictures) for Cage Rage's British middleweight title and the unprecedented chance to become the promotion's first champion across three weight divisions.
However, the 24-fight veteran shows no sign of suffering from nerves in the run up to Saturday's bout in Birmingham, England.
"It would be great to be able to take the title," he said. "If it happens, it happens. I hope it does. I've trained hard for this -- it would be lovely if it does.
"He's a good fighter," Epstein said of Ewin. "He's more experienced than me, and I normally don't fight that many people with more experience. He's got great wrestling. His standup's OK. I think mine's better, but I'd say maybe he's got the edge with the wrestling."
Certainly most observers expect Ewin to follow his tried and tested game plan, which has seen him hold down, frustrate and overwhelm opponents on numerous occasions. Epstein is all too aware of this effective -- if not awe-inspiring -- strategy, having fallen victim to U.K. legend Ian Freeman (Pictures) in a similar manner.
"I learnt a lot from the Ian Freeman (Pictures) fight. I won't accept being on my back; I won't have it," Epstein growled. "I hope it don't happen, you know, but I'm gonna be fighting from every position. Maybe he wants to worry about if I get top position."
This has long been a major concern of fighters as they step up to face Epstein. He has made a name for himself as a ground-and-pounder with spite in both fists.
Cage Rage British middleweight champion Matt Ewin (Pictures) does not appear to be concerned in the slightest, however, by the prospect of losing his title in a ground fight with his naturally bigger opponent.
"I'm not worried at all," Ewin said. "My last fight that I had with Andy Costello (Pictures) -- he was a heavyweight, come down to middleweight -- when I fought him, he was 97 kg on the day of the fight."
Costello's weight advantage caused few problems for the Gloucester tough guy. Ewin took him to the floor and controlled the fight with little trouble.
"He's the top judo bloke in the country, and I submitted him in about three minutes, so [Epstein's] size doesn't bother me," Ewin explained.
Brimming over with confidence in all ranges, Ewin appeared comfortable with the prospect of engaging on his feet with the challenger. Yet he also remains determined to take the fight into his domain.
"Mark doesn't really come with anything direct," Ewin said. "He's more of a brawler. If I can get inside that, land a few shots, take him down, it'll be fine. This is going to be the best fight that people have seen for a while. I've trained hard for this one, so it's going to be a very explosive fight. If he lasts the first round, I'll be surprised. There'll be no punches held back, so I hope he lasts."
As you might expect, Epstein sees the contest panning out very differently. He appeared confused by Ewin's prediction of winning within the opening five minutes of the bout.
"I don't see how he's really gonna win in the first round," Epstein said with an air of bewilderment. "I think I've got a lot better chin than him, and if he wants to bring it on in the first round, that's cool. I think I've got heavier hands, so I'll put him to sleep."
Recently he dropped to middleweight, and now the fighter from London is eyeing a challenge of Matt Ewin (Pictures) for Cage Rage's British middleweight title and the unprecedented chance to become the promotion's first champion across three weight divisions.
However, the 24-fight veteran shows no sign of suffering from nerves in the run up to Saturday's bout in Birmingham, England.
"It would be great to be able to take the title," he said. "If it happens, it happens. I hope it does. I've trained hard for this -- it would be lovely if it does.
"He's a good fighter," Epstein said of Ewin. "He's more experienced than me, and I normally don't fight that many people with more experience. He's got great wrestling. His standup's OK. I think mine's better, but I'd say maybe he's got the edge with the wrestling."
Certainly most observers expect Ewin to follow his tried and tested game plan, which has seen him hold down, frustrate and overwhelm opponents on numerous occasions. Epstein is all too aware of this effective -- if not awe-inspiring -- strategy, having fallen victim to U.K. legend Ian Freeman (Pictures) in a similar manner.
"I learnt a lot from the Ian Freeman (Pictures) fight. I won't accept being on my back; I won't have it," Epstein growled. "I hope it don't happen, you know, but I'm gonna be fighting from every position. Maybe he wants to worry about if I get top position."
This has long been a major concern of fighters as they step up to face Epstein. He has made a name for himself as a ground-and-pounder with spite in both fists.
Cage Rage British middleweight champion Matt Ewin (Pictures) does not appear to be concerned in the slightest, however, by the prospect of losing his title in a ground fight with his naturally bigger opponent.
"I'm not worried at all," Ewin said. "My last fight that I had with Andy Costello (Pictures) -- he was a heavyweight, come down to middleweight -- when I fought him, he was 97 kg on the day of the fight."
Costello's weight advantage caused few problems for the Gloucester tough guy. Ewin took him to the floor and controlled the fight with little trouble.
"He's the top judo bloke in the country, and I submitted him in about three minutes, so [Epstein's] size doesn't bother me," Ewin explained.
Brimming over with confidence in all ranges, Ewin appeared comfortable with the prospect of engaging on his feet with the challenger. Yet he also remains determined to take the fight into his domain.
"Mark doesn't really come with anything direct," Ewin said. "He's more of a brawler. If I can get inside that, land a few shots, take him down, it'll be fine. This is going to be the best fight that people have seen for a while. I've trained hard for this one, so it's going to be a very explosive fight. If he lasts the first round, I'll be surprised. There'll be no punches held back, so I hope he lasts."
As you might expect, Epstein sees the contest panning out very differently. He appeared confused by Ewin's prediction of winning within the opening five minutes of the bout.
"I don't see how he's really gonna win in the first round," Epstein said with an air of bewilderment. "I think I've got a lot better chin than him, and if he wants to bring it on in the first round, that's cool. I think I've got heavier hands, so I'll put him to sleep."
