We recently caught up with three Elite MMA fighters (Mike Eaglin, Adrian, Yanez, and Alex Stephens) scheduled to fight on the card this Saturday. They’ll be joined on the card by fellow teammates David Cruz and Alvin Amana so the team has been hard at work. Here’s their thoughts on their upcoming bouts prior to this Saturday.
“Big” Mike Eaglin Ready to Show Improvement in Second Pro Fight
This Saturday night, 28 year old Elite MMA fighter “Big” Mike Eagin gets his opportunity to step back into the cage for the second time. He debuted this past May at Legacy Amateur Series 2 against Kaileb Cummins, losing a decision but not his desire to challenge himself and compete.
“I’ve always like challenges and competing I guess. MMA is one of the hardest sports to prepare for and even after the training is done, it’s still unpredictable. I’m always training so it’s a way of life for me. I’ll always be lifting, running, or competing at something. I guess there has to be a goal at the end and actually competing is it. Like I said, the challenge is the main thing.”
Balancing life between studying to earn for degree in information systems security and working at Fed Ex, Eaglin has been working hard with his teammates for this Saturday nght.
“It starts with Eric and Hai at Elite,” he told us. “Robert and Pat have also been helping me a lot also with my boxing technique so I’m always getting quality instruction. I’ve also spent some time boxing at Savannah’s with my man Tim Knight. Plus all my brothers that are preparing for fights later this year – we’re all getting as ready as can be. I just want to fight to the best of my ability and showcase my talent.
My opponent is a good fighter and a tough guy but I’m determined. I train to win the fight anywhere so it doesn’t matter where it ends up as long as I win.”
High-Schoolers Alex Stephens and Adrian Yanez Ready for MMA Debuts
Whether it’s work and school or time at the office versus time at home with family, life is all about balancing priorities. For two of Elite’s newest young fighters Adrian Yanez and Alex Stephens, an early life lesson on balancing priorities has them plenty busy heading towards this Saturday night.
“When not training, I’m either trying to cram in some studying or catch up on some much needed sleep,” Stephens told us. Adding to that, Adrian says his life outside of the gym is almost all spent studying or with his family. “I’m cool with that,” he says.
The two young fighters were attracted to the thrill of MMA competition for vastly different reasons.
For Stephens, it was a discovery that MMA could prove to be the best outlet for his aggression. “I’ve always been attracted to rough sports,” he mentioned. The lifelong hockey fan and native Canadian logged the most penalty minutes in his league and even got suspended for punching a referee when he was younger. Since maturing a little bit and moving to Houston, Alex has tried other sports but said that soccer and tennis just didn’t cut it for him. MMA just made sense.
As for Adrian Yanez, the Baytown-trained fighter began training for two different reasons. For one, he’s always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a boxer. Also, he was overweight and wanted to find an activity that would help him become a healthier person. MMA is helping him accomplish both of those goals and prove his doubters wrong in the process.
“I’ve always wanted to fight. That’s one goal I had set for myself when I first started at Elite. It’s like a dream coming true. A lot of people said I couldn’t do this so I’m going to enjoy proving them wrong.”
Moving forward, both Alex and Adrian are extremely excited about stepping into the cage with their opponents for the very first time at the Legacy Amateur Series this Saturday night. More importantly, they’re both really focused on winning.
“I’ve seen some stuff on him, Adrian says about opponent Nico Escheverry of ACS. He looks tough, strong, and heavy-handed. I’m glad that I got this type of fighter. I’m always up for great challenges. I think my biggest strengths would be staying cool, calm, and collected. I know what I have to do, I know that I have to do it well, Its going to be a great fight. Not going to cocky, but I’m very confident in myself. My prediction is my hand getting raised at the end of the fight.”
Readying to step into the cage with GB North Houston’s Kody Williams, Stephens also feels ready. “You know, even though it is my first fight Im not too nervous,” he says. “Nothing is going to happen that i haven’t already seen. I train with great stand up guys a swell as incredibly grapplers on a weekly basis. When we get in there we are going to do exactly what I do every night in training down at Elite, and that is get in the cage, fight and push the pace. I’ll do everything I can to win. I expect to either win or get stretchered out at the end of the night.”
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