(Photo:Ben Smith | Credit: Tom Slezakowski – WWRBD)
The Main Event of the evening at UCMMA 37 saw Big Ben Smith take on Chris Harman in a Light Heavyweight bout. Ben took the win in quick fashion and spoke to us after the fight.
Knowing Ben when he was at Team Titan, we wondered what made him make the move to London Shootfighters and how training is going for him since the move.
I moved to Shootfighters in August after spending the last four years at Titan with Mickey. I felt that my training was becoming a bit stagnated because I didn’t really have any big guys to train with which was making it hard to prepare for fights. It was a difficult decision, as I had won all of my fights under them, but it just felt as though it was time for a change. My good friend Karlos (Vemola) had moved to Shoot himself a couple of years previously for the same reasons and had seen some big improvements to his game, so he suggested I do the same. I left Titan on good terms though and have a ton of respect for Mickey and the guys down there. As for Shootfighters, it has been very hard going down there, as their work ethic is very intense. For me, that’s how I love to train, and I embrace it but I can understand why it is not for everyone. I’ve made big improvements in all areas since I’ve been there and I feel that I’ve got myself back on track!
Chris spoke to us before the fight and told us how he was honoured to fight Ben but also very honestly said that he would struggle on the ground. Was Ben aware of this and what did he know about Chris before he fought him?
I’ve seen Chris fight a few times and he impressed me when he fought my pal Mark Potter. I train with Mark sometimes, and he is a beast to fight standing, so for Chris to do as well as he did deserves respect.
It’s widely known that Chris is a stand-up guy and dangerous on his feet. That being said it is also widely known that the ground game is his Achilles heel so I knew he wouldn’t fancy the fight going in that direction.
Judging from what Ben has said already, taking Chris to the ground was the best plan of action, so did the fight go how Ben planned and can he talk us through the fight from his eyes.
The fight went exactly as I had visualised it. I knew he would want the fight standing and as much as I’ve been doing a lot of boxing training over the last year, it would have been foolish to engage in a boxing match with someone whose strength is on his feet. I feel that I’m a fairly good level grappler, so I took the fight where I knew I’d be at my best. I’d had a long time away from the cage, so wanted to make sure I got the ‘W’.
I felt I controlled the fight from start to finish. My only regret is that I could have made more of a fight out of it for the fans with some ground and pound. As it was very early in the fight though, you run the risk of getting reversed or losing a scramble because your opponent is still relatively fresh, so I submitted him when I saw the chance.
Ben has been back and forth between Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight of late so has he settled at Light Heavyweight or is he likely to fight at Heavyweight again.
For now I’m happy at LHW, the weight cut this time was the easiest yet and I feel much more explosive at this weight. If Shoot have their way I’ll be down at middleweight before too long, but that’s not something that I’m up for just yet! (I like my food too much)!
We would like Ben to tell us how he has evolved since he started out in the sport back in 2008.
Like I said before, I think I stopped evolving for a couple of years as my training was limited. But now I have a new team and training partners around me and a new drive and focus, I feel that 2014 is going to be a big year for me. Watch this space! ;)
To finish off we want to know if Ben has his eye on any other opponents. Having seen Ben in action against some great opponents in the past, the one he has his eye on for the future will definitely be a fight the fans will love.
I think me and Nick (Chapman) needs to happen at some point as the first time we were supposed to meet I got injured and the second time he got injured! It is a fight a lot of UCMMA fans would like to see, and I think it makes sense. There’s no beef between Nick and I but we both agree it would make a great fight. Obviously, my ultimate goal is to work up to a rematch with Carl Kinslow for the title as I would like the chance to avenge my loss to him at heavyweight earlier this year. Carl has been underrated by a lot of people, but I actually went to train with him after our fight and he is one tough dude! That would be another great fight!
Congratulations to Ben on his win and we certainly look forward to hearing the Big Ben Chimes a lot more in 2014. And a fight between Nick The Headhunter Chapman and Big Ben Smith is definitely one that UCMMA should get on!
By Suzy Athey
