LONGVIEW, TX, May 30, 2012 – Next up in focus for XKO 15 is East Texas fighter Josh Foster of Team Jorge Gurgel Texas.
Ever since debuting as an amateur in November 2009, this fighter has shown flashes of brilliance in the MMA cage – such as his blistering knockout of Terrance Ferguson at XKO and his performance in his last fight – a triangle choke submission over ADCC-qualifier and BJJ brown belt J.J. Holmes. Yet for all his brilliance at times, Foster still hasn’t “broken through” to the top level. There are no titles and no glory yet for him but that’s something he hopes to change as he moved into the latter part of 2012.
“I am always motivated to win,” Foster says. The main desire has always been to move up to the next level of competition. He wants to take smart fights but also wants to take tough ones.
He’ll face another tough challenge in Brazilian Top Team’s Matthew Jones this Saturday night at XKO 15.
This will be his first light-heavyweight fight since mid-2011. Typically making the cut down from 220 lbs. to make the 185 lbs. middleweight limit, it’s somewhat of a relief for him – especially considering his schedule.
“I work all day then I try to juggle training and family so it’s very hard,” he says about his day-to-day life. With his plumbing job keeping him busy sometimes 60+ hours a week and with 4 kids to look after, training has been a challenge but he feels good. He knows he’s continuing to grow as a fighter.
“I feel good (heading into this fight). My Jiu-jitsu has been my strength in the past and it allows me to stand and strike without any fear of going to the ground. I am at home there. We always are improving on the ground game, but really working on the striking. My coach tells me fighters are responsible for two things. making weight and fighting. So I don’t listen to the hype, or the logistics involved in getting fights, promoting my brand etc. I just train, make weight and fight. That’s how I can focus. I just want to stay disciplined, loyal, and chase my dream.”
Regarding his fight with Jones, the Longview native is respectful but supremely confident in his ability to get the win this Saturday night in Arlington.
“I respect any fighter that will get in the cage and put it all out there. I really don’t know the guy, but I know he is 2-2 so he will be hungry. I try not to focus on that stuff much. I think I will be the bigger guy at 6’3″ tall. After I rehydrate I should be around 215lbs. so I will feel strong, not having to cut all that weight. I know my Jiu-jitsu is clean. My last two wins at XKO were Submissions over top grapplers in Hayward Charles and JJ Holmes. My ammy boxing record was 10-0, and I have never even been knocked down. I am confident in me, so my opinion of him doesn’t really matter, except to say I respect him stepping up to fight me.”
“If he wants to stand and bang, I will stand and bang, If he wants to go to the ground I will be happy to fight there, but if he makes a mistake, he will be on my highlight reel. Truth is I always want the brutal knockout! I may buy him a beer after the fight, but during the fight I will have bad intentions.”
Fighter Acknowledgements
I want to thank my family for their support, and my coach/ manager JC Cox for always being there for me since the beginning. I want to Thank Jorge Gurgel and all the JG team in Cincinnati for always being available to me, and leading us in the right direction. I want to thank my local teammates for helping me grow as a fighter, and I want to thank our sponsors, Ink Armory, Fast Signs, Titan, and I want to thank XKO for providing me a place to prove myself. I would also like to ask publically. If I win this fight, and remain undefeated at XKO… how about that title shot. just sayin.’