Chris Fishgold on Makwan Amirkhani: 'I'm Really Gonna Enjoy Putting Me Hands on His Chin'

For Chris Fishgold, fighting has never been personal. Though that might still be the case, it seems that his opponent's pre-fight behavior has irked the Scouser, at least a little bit. Fishgold is set to face fellow featherweight Makwan Amirkhani this Saturday on the main card of UFC Stockholm.

He tells MMA Fighting that Amirkhani has been "putting s--- about me and messaging stuff and then getting [his] mates to send me stuff." This behavior has left Fishgold eager to clash with "Mr. Finland" on Saturday. "He's a bit immature, so, yeah, I'm really gonna enjoy putting me hands on his chin."

The 26-year-old trains out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool, a gym that owns a bit of a rivalry with Ireland's Straight Blast Gym, the home base for Amirkhkani (and Conor McGregor). Asked if his matchup with Amirkhani is a continuation of that tension, Fishgold dismisses his opponent's association with SBG. "I see it as just fighting an idiot who's been to about a hundred different gyms and just settled on there."

In regard to Amirkhani's talents, Fishgold pulls no punches at his upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship opponent. "Let's be honest, this kid got dropped twice by Jason Knight. You know what I mean? You'll see Saturday night, anyway."

Fishgold (18-2-1) predicts that despite Amirkhani's recent training modifications, he'll revert to his wrestling ways, a strategy that will play into Fishgold's hands. "I see him coming out there thinking he's a boxer, being dead cocky, maybe trying to throw a flying knee. I see us in exchange, me catching him and you always go back to what you know and trying to wrestle and just stay boring like the five decisions he's got in the UFC. That's it. I'm a black belt on the ground, none of his other opponents were. And I can bang obviously, so, you know, whatever he wants to do, he's getting it."