ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Aug. 15, 2012) – The theme playing out for Kris McCray’s main event showdown against Chris Curtis next weekend at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City has become a common refrain in combat sports.
You have McCray (8-3, 1 KO), the more established of the two who’s looking for one more big win to put himself back in the conversation among the sport’s elite, facing Curtis (7-2, 4 KOs), the younger, relatively unknown fighter with nothing to lose who’d love nothing more than to spoil the party.
“I’m the guy who’s supposed to lose. I’m never give a chance to win a fight, yet I win them,” said Curtis, a Cincinnati, Ohio, native who’s won seven of eight fights since losing his professional debut in 2009. “I’m always the sacrificial lamb.”
Curtis will look to defy the odds again on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012 when he faces McCray in the three-round welterweight main event of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “War On The Shore” mixed martial arts show at Resorts.
This will be a homecoming of sorts for McCray, a self-proclaimed “military brat” who was born in Germany, raised in Virginia, and has since relocated to New Jersey following his stint on Season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter reality television series. He now lives in Toms River, which is an hour from the Boardwalk, and trains with 13-time Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) veteran Frankie Edgar, a relationship he built through his experience on TUF 11.
Since the UFC released him from his own contract in April of 2011, McCray has worked diligently to get his second chance, winning each of his last three fights by decision, including an impressive win over submission specialist Ailton Barbosa at the Bellator Fighting Championships 65 event at Boardwalk Hall in April. One more win could punch McCray’s ticket back to the UFC.
“I never got the chance to do what I wanted to do when I was there,” said McCray, who took advantage of his wild-card reentry onto TUF 11 and advanced to the finals, where he lost to Court McGee by submission. “That’s my main reason for wanting to get back – to prove I belong on that level.
“I’m hoping they’ll give me a call soon and show some interest. If not, it’s not the end of the world. I’ll keep looking for fights. It’s not over for me yet. My goal is to fight the best in the world. I’m definitely looking to get back, so I’ve got to get this win and look good doing it.”
Curtis’ goal is to spoil the homecoming and perhaps launch himself into the spotlight. Since losing to 2010 M-1 Selection champion Tom Gallicchio in May of 2011, Curtis has won his last two fights, including a unanimous decision win over previously-unbeaten welterweight Andrew Trace in his last bout in October.
According to Curtis, the layoff won’t be a factor, nor was there any hesitation on his part when presented with the opportunity to fight a more active, experienced opponent in that fighter’s backyard.
“Some people might ask for a tune-up,” Curtis said, “but I’m a fighter. This is what I do.”
These challenges have become a motivational tool, fueling Curtis to achieve what others think is impossible.
“What’s funny is my buddy texted me the other day and asked me if I ever visit Tapology,” said Curtis, referencing the popular MMA website where fans are allowed to register, pick winners of upcoming fights, and build their own custom rankings.
“I never look at any of that stuff, but I looked up this fight and [the online poll] says I have a [six-percent] chance of winning. I’m always the underdog, and there’s nothing I love more than going to someone else’s hometown and knocking them out. The crowd gets quiet. That’s the best feeling in the world.
“They look at you like you’re supposed to be there for their guy to get a win, but I won’t lay down for anyone.”
Curtis considers himself a “stand-up” fighter, which is evident by his four knockouts in seven victories, yet he continues to hone his craft, working with Cincinnati boxers Danny Calhoun, a heavyweight who recently won his professional debut in July, and cruiserweight Dante Craig, a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team.
“Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you should neglect it,” Curtis said.
As the underdog next weekend, Curtis will not only have to deal with McCray’s hometown fans, but he’ll also have to brace himself for what McCray describes as “more ammunition” in his arsenal since he began working exclusively with Edgar. McCray made the move five weeks before his UFC 122 fight in Germany back in November of 2010 (a submission loss to Carlos Eduardo Rocha).
Slowly, but surely, McCray is absorbing Edgar’s tutelage, and the difference has been evident since McCray reemerged last November following his release from the UFC.
“I had good, hard-nosed training in Virginia, but we didn’t have those UFC guys who put pressure on you everyday,” McCray said. “I needed that extra step.
“I like Frankie’s style. He’s a really good boxer – a real poised, humble guy – and I want to take that into my next fight. I need to stay confident in my game and put some pressure on [Curtis]. I want to make it fun for the fans.”
More importantly, McCray says, he’s learned to be more patient, developing from a “brawler” who always tried to score an early takedown to get the fight started into more of a technical fighter with enough skill and savvy to withstand three full rounds. Edgar has also taught McCray the science behind the sport, including what to eat and even how to cut weight prior to a fight.
“When you’re in the cage with guys who can weather your initial storm you end gassed by the third round. Then what do you do?” McCray said. “I had to take a step back in terms of trying to force things, and that has opened things up for me in the later rounds where I’m still aggressive but can now also do the things I need to do to win. I think I’m starting to understand it now, and it’s becoming more fun.”
Given everything he’s had thrown at him, McCray is accustomed to having to rely on second chances. On TUF 11, he lost his first fight once he gained entry into the house, but made it back onto the show as one of two wild cards. From there, he won three consecutive fights to reach the finale. A return trip to the UFC would be the latest comeback story on McCray’s resume, but first he must get past Curtis, who’s planning on crashing the party.
“Some people never make it, so I’m glad I did, but I’m not just happy with getting there,” McCray said. “I want to be consistent in my game and get back as fast a I can.”
Tickets for “War On The Shore” are on sale now at $45, $65, $75 and $125 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.cesboxing.com and www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Resorts Casino Hotel Box Office. Showtime is 8 p.m. (EST) with doors opening at 7.
The undercard of “War On The Shore” features another homecoming of sorts as White Plains, N.Y., native Mike Stewart (8-3, 3 KOs), one of the rising stars in the light heavyweight division, seeks his fourth consecutive victory. Stewart shot to the top of the rankings in the northeast after submitting Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Greg Rebello – the previous No. 1 – in February and highly-rated contender Cody Lightfoot a month later. After back-to-back wins in Rhode Island, Stewart hit Resorts in June and destroyed Eric Tavares via first-round knockout in just 42 seconds.
On Aug. 25, Stewart will face 26-year-old Slidell, La., veteran Eric Thompson (7-15, 4 KOs), who is searching for back-to-back wins for the first time since September of 2007.
Also on the undercard, Bricktown, N.J., lightweight Kevin Roddy (12-14-1) will face Brazilian Fabio Serrao (4-2) – fighting out of the city of Manaus – with Roddy seeking three consecutive wins for the first time since 2006; welterweight Joe McGann (3-1, 1 KO) of Franklin, Mass., will battle Lester Caslow (8-7, 3 KOs) of Belmar, N.J.; and Philadelphia’s Rami Ibrahim (1-1) will take on fellow bantamweight Keyon Wilkins (0-2) of South Hill, Va.
Featherweight Jason McLean (6-5, 2 KOs) of Perthamboy, N.J., will face Corey Simmons (1-1) of Defiance, Ohio. Light heavyweight Gemiyale Adkins (7-3, 3 KOs) of Philadelphia will also be featured on the undercard in a separate three-round bout. Adkins has fought for Bellator, losing to Jay Silva in May of 2011, and also lost to McCray in his last bout in November.
– CES –
If You Enjoyed This Article Please Comment. Support us by following our twitter and our facebook fan page. It is the best way to stay up to date on local MMA! Any news you would like us to share email us at westernmassmma@gmail.com. Thanks!