An American who has trained in Holland, Mike Connors earned a chance to compete for USA East through impressive training sessions with the world's best strikers.
M-1 Global employee Fabrice Deters had never heard of Mike “The Machine” Connors when he walked into a local Dutch fight gym several months back. But he couldn’t believe what he saw in Connors and saw a superstar in the making.
Unfortunately for the rugged Connors, coming from the small Rhode Island MMA scene hasn’t provided him with the exposure needed to draw bigger opportunities. The shows Connors had been fighting on were so small that his unblemished 14-0 record has been ignored by most major fight finders.
But Connors’ decision to put his life on hold and venture to Holland in a quest to work with the world’s best kickboxers has paid major dividends, as the impression he left on Deters was memorable.
When M-1 Global officials were left scrambling for a replacement after USA East light heavyweight Logan Clark was forced to pull out of his Aug. 16 M-1 Challenge fight with a knee injury, Deters recommended Connors.
Impressed with the 24-year old’s 14-0 MMA record, 22-0 submission grappling record, and his 168-6 amateur record, M-1 decided to add “The Machine” to the USA East roster. And now the kid from the smallest state in the U.S. will get the shot to compete on the big stage he’s waited his whole life for.
“I am very honored to have gotten the opportunity to fight for a promotion as big as the M-1 Challenge,” Connors said during an exclusive interview with M-1Global.com. “This is a an opportunity of a lifetime and a chance to break out on HDNet and show I can bring it anytime. I am from the smallest state in the U.S. (Rhode Island) and it’s very hard to find opportunities like this. I feel really lucky — it’s a dream come true for me!”
But the road to potential fame and fortune will not be an easy one traveled, as Connors not only is fighting on short notice but he must take on Team Benelux’s Jason Jones, one of the most feared strikers in the M-1 Challenge.
Connors knows the challenge that lies ahead but he’s looking forward to returning to Holland to catch up with old friends Alistair and Valentijn Overeem (who will act as one of Connors’ cornermen) and put on a show not only for them, but all the fans in attendance.
“I am really looking forward to my fight,” said Connors. “I have a very tough opponant in Jason Jones and I believe we both have a style of fighting that will be very entertaining for the fans. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if we had the fight of the night. It’s going to be a battle come Sunday and I know we both won’t back down.”
