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Jul 11, 2008
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Cage Rage Set for Saturday
Friday, July 11, 2008
LONDON -- Phil Baroni (Pictures) was all business Friday ahead of his Cage Rage 27 clash with U.K. up-and-comer Scott Jansen (Pictures).

"I always feel under pressure," the Pride and UFC veteran said of tomorrow night's bout. "It's a big fight for me. It's my first fight at 170, at welterweight, and it's very important I win this fight. I prepared as much as I could and I'm ready to put on a good fight."

Asked if he felt that the drop in weight would affect his performance, Baroni replied without hesitation: "I'm the same size that I was when I was fighting at 185. I'm just as fast, just as big, just as strong and we'll see when I bust him up."

"I feel in good shape," said Baroni's opponent, Londoner Scott Jansen, who is facing the toughest test of his professional career. "I'm looking forward to the fight. It's a great honor to be fighting him. Hopefully I'll get over the nerves. A fight is a fight."

However, with a record of 3-2, the young Londoner is a mere novice in comparison to the 10-10 Baroni, whose career stretches back to 2000.

"He's going to be pumped," Jansen said. "He's going to come in pumped. He's a legend of the game, but I'll be a nightmare for him. He ain't a machine -- he's gonna go down one way or another. If I don't put him down in the first round, I'll put him down in the second."

Robert "Buzz" Berry will have a rematch Saturday with Neil Grove (Pictures).

"I'm feeling confident, obviously, but I'm a totally different fighter [than] the first time," said Berry, who's been training with Neil Owen and UFC signee Neil Wain in Doncaster. "I'm more relaxed, more confident. My weight has come down a little bit more. I'm fighting at about 17 stone."

A three-hour round trip from the Sunderland fighter's home, Berry swears every journey to train in Doncaster has been worth it.

"The training down there has come on a huge level," he said. "Neil Owen used to train over in Brazil with the Gracies. Training with him has been a big thing for me, and I'm a much better fighter as a result.

"Yes, he's a big lad," Berry said of his South African opponent. "Yes, if he catches you with his punches, he's going to knock you out, or do damage. But in that last fight, I put him on his arse with a left hook. If I catch him with a right, who knows what might happen."

Responded Grove: "If he comes out after the last fight thinking that he's going to beat me, he's got another thing coming. I've been training at the Sure Grip gym. [Head trainer] Dan [Buzzorta] is a very experienced jiu-jitsu fighter. He's very good at stand-up fighting and he's helped me with my fitness, which has improved quite a lot since the last fight. He's going to either punch me very hard or come up with something new."

Former K-1 kickboxer James McSweeney (Pictures) looked relaxed ahead of his clash with Mustapha al Turk (Pictures) for the Cage Rage British title.

"I have concerns going into every fight, but at this level, everyone is a well-rounded fighter," the Dutch-trained striker said. "So I trained every aspect of MMA. My background is kickboxing, but I've been fighting MMA a long time as well, so if it goes to the floor, no problem."

Al Turk is focused on the title.

"I don't mind who I fight just as long as I get that belt around my waist," he said. "It would have been nice to fight Tengiz [Tedoradze, who beat al Turk previously], but hey, anyone will do. It could be anyone. I want that belt -- that belt is mine!"

Cage Rage British featherweight champion Robbie Olivier (Pictures) was walking around at 80 kilograms eight weeks away from his title defense against Ashleigh Grimshaw (Pictures).

"Motivation in training was getting the weight and, obviously, fighting Ash, who is very well rounded," the Tsunami gym fighter said. "I think Ashleigh is quite underestimated among British fans, probably because he's not had that many fights and not many people have had the chance to see him."

After faring extremely well with wrestling expert Abdul Mohammed in the heavier lightweight division at Cage Rage 24, Olivier appeared confident of his skills.

"Wrestling, in any MMA match, is the link to the fight," he said. "So as I can impose my game plan well, I should come out with a win. But it could be on the ground or standing, so we'll see what happens."

Pancrase London challenger Ashleigh Grimshaw (Pictures) was in a buoyant mood: "I've trained hard for this fight. I've been out to the American Top Team. I spent four weeks out there training with the best guys. It was a good experience. I like to think I'm quite ready."

Although he knows that Olivier is an excellent grappler, Grimshaw was undeterred.

"Personally, I'm not too shabby a grappler myself," he said. "To say we are about even would be about right. Our wrestling is possibly even as well, but he's relentless. The guy's a cardio machine, but at the same time, I ain't been slacking. To look past me would be a mistake. I've trained with some quality guys."

Card:

* Phil Baroni (Pictures) (77 kg, 169.7 lbs) vs. Scott Jansen (Pictures) (77 kg, 169.7 lbs)
Neil Grove (Pictures) (126.4 kg, 278 lbs) vs. Robert Berry (Pictures) (110 kg, 242 lbs)
James McSweeney (Pictures) (101 kg, 222.2 lbs) vs. Mustapha al Turk (Pictures) (111 kg, 244.2 lbs)
John Phillips (Pictures) (84 kg, 184.2 lbs) vs. Tom Watson (Pictures) (83.8 kg, 184.4 lbs)
Stav Economou (Pictures) (125.7 kg, 276.5 lbs) vs. Piotor Kusmierz (112.5 kg, 247.5 lbs)
Ashleigh Grimshaw (Pictures) (65.8 kg, 144.8 lbs) vs. Robbie Olivier (Pictures) (65.8 kg, 144.8 lbs)
Cristian Binda (Pictures) (63 kg, 138.6 lbs) vs. Brad Pickett (Pictures) (66 kg, 145.2 lbs)
Eva Liskova (55.5 kg, 122.1 lbs) vs. Aisling Daley (56.9 kg, 125.2 lbs)
Jason Young (Pictures) (70.2 kg, 154.2 lbs) vs. Francis Heagney (Pictures) (70.3 kg, 154.6 lbs)
Mark Brown (76.7 kg, 168.7 lbs) vs. Wessley Johnson (74.3 kg, 163.5 lbs)
Jody Cottham (Pictures) (70.5 kg, 155.1 lbs) vs. Umidjon Mavlyanov (Pictures) (70.2 kg, 154.2 lbs)
James Elson (Pictures) (83.2 kg, 183 lbs) vs. Dave Van Gasse (84 kg, 184.2 lbs)

* Sherdog.com incorrectly reported the weights of Phil Baroni and Scott Jansen as being 176 lbs.









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