Andre Winner shaping up for BAMMA 10

Winner vs. Sinclair

© Marc Wickert www.knucklepit.com

Special thanks to Izzy Carnwath

 

 

Well big things are happening in London at the moment with the spectacular opening of the London Olympics today kicking off a few weeks of sporting thrills and spills.  But that’s not all, folks!  Less than a month after the Games have come and gone “sleepy London town” will be roaring again when Europe’s leading MMA promotion, BAMMA, erupts at Wembley Arena on September 15.

Already a chock-a-block card has been announced with multiple titles on the line including Rob Sinclair vs. Andre Winner for the BAMMA World Lightweight Title and Jack Marshman vs. Andrew Punshon for the BAMMA-Lonsdale British Middleweight Title, with more bouts to be announced.

Since signing the dotted line for BAMMA 7, Team Rough House representative, Andrew Winner, has been thrilling fans with his sledge hammer fists and brutal ground game.  On September 15 Andre will be looking to relieve Rob Sinclair of his BAMMA Lightweight Title in what is expected to be a major showdown.  As BAMMA’s Head of Talent Relations, Jude Samuels, says: “Both fighters are spectacular strikers at the height of their game.”

Knucklepit was please to catch up with Andre Winner to ask him about his victory over Diego Gonzalez at BAMMA 8 and his thoughts on BAMMA 10.

Andre, did your bout with Diego Gonzalez go pretty much as you expected?

Yes, my bout with Diego went as I had planned though I had wanted to get a finish.

You seemed to have him in damage control for a lot of the fight.  Were you surprised it went the distance? 

I was a little surprised that he made it to the end, but I think if I had pushed it a bit more I could have finished the fight.

Halfway through the final round you landed a high kick to Diego’s head from your lead foot.  Did you see a change in his resolve after that strike? 

I don’t know if I saw a change in him but it definitely made me up the pressure on him.  We spent a minute or so against the cage.  He had his chance and it was my time to push the action the way I wanted.

Your game is primarily based on Muay Thai, but you showed again that you possess exceptional positioning skills on the ground.  Do you have a wrestling background or have you picked up those skills elsewhere? 

I love to strike but this is MMA so I’m constantly training to expand my skills in BJJ and wrestling.  Really, my grappling is something I have always worked since the beginning.  Of course, Victor Estima is my BJJ coach, and I’ve had a lot of help from Judo Jimmy Wallhead, Charles Libor and Paul Barton.  Paul Daley brings over Kenny Johnson from time to time and so I try to pick up as much experience as I can.

How is your training going for BAMMA 10? 

My training for BAMMA 10 is going well.  I’ve had my ups and downs, but I’m confident I will be on fire come September 15^th.

Who have you been training with at Team Rough House for BAMMA 10? 

I’ve been training a lot with Jim Wallhead and a lot of the guys he has brought through like Craig Turner, Rich Goddard, Dean Trueman, Matt Hallham, and Matt Howard.  Of course there are my two main coaches, Victor Estima and everyone at GB Nottingham, as well as Chris Pyatt and Michael Winner at home in Leicester.  For the upcoming fight a lot of my sparring will be with Jim Wallhead, Paul Daley and Charles Libor.

Do you believe representing Team Rough House gives its fighters a psychological advantage against opponents? 

I don’t know if it does and I don’t care if it does or not.  Hard work in the gym and the cage is going to win my fight; and I’m not looking to scare people with a team name.

Have you been training at Mike’s Gym in Holland this time? 

No, I’ve not been over to Mike’s gym this time, but it’s somewhere I will definitely return to in the future.

Do you anticipate your title match with Rob Sinclair to be a stand-up broadside?

I think we’re going to be on our feet for a large part of the fight, but I’m ready for wherever it goes.

Do you have a prediction for this bout?

I don’t like to predict but I can’t see it going 5 rounds. 

Your sponsors?

I’d like to thank my sponsors, Maximuscle, Booster and Meesha Graphics. 

Buy tickets for BAMMA 10 here: http://bit.ly/NgTpvN

BAMMA is brought to you in association with Lonsdale.

For Knucklepit’s interview with Andre Winner Part 1 click HERE.