Ross Petifer Interview

Young Lions

Finally the UK fight scene is getting some of the recognition it deserves, with 4 British Lions competing in the last UFC and a steady flow of foreign fighters competing and losing to British Fighters it may be time for the MMA world to stand up and take notice. As well as current world class fighters the UK has a healthy crop of up and comers, the Young Lions series is will be about these, the future of UK MMA perhaps the leader of this young group and the most promising is Ross Pettifer.

Born and raised in Nether edge, an area that produces 95% of drugs in Sheffield, Ross has been no stranger to fighting

"I used to get in fights all the time, I found myself facing a kid with a gun one time" Ross told me, "when I asked him why he was going to shoot me he said 'because you're a big white kid.' There’s a lot of different races around here and I guess some people can't get along with anyone different." Ross talked his way out of that one then hit the kid with a rock "It was in a park there were no bricks about" but it was another violent encounter that made Ross quit the streets and start training hard.

"I saw a friend of mine smash a kid with a brick and explode his face since then I've stopped hanging around and getting in fights"

While Ross had a tough childhood he's not just another up and comer who went from fighting a lot to competing in MMA, he was sure of what he wanted to do from a young age. "After watching a UFC video one day I told my mom and Dad that I was going to be UFC champion" That was 5 years ago when Ross was only 12 since then he's made some headway in reaching that goal.

"I won my first amateur MMA tournament when I was 15, I competed in the Heavyweights against men." But that's not all, Ross has continued to make a name for himself on the UK grappling and MMA scene. "Did you not hear about my fight with the big guy at Dale Adams open trials event? I stepped onto the mat and I was facing this guy that was 6'6"... I beat him in something like 16 seconds"."

I asked Ross if he was scared when he saw this veritable man mountain "No I went out there and he hit me a few times then the anger took over" Known as Angry by training partners and internet forum members alike Ross explains "I’m just kidding about the anger taking over it’s just that I don't smile very much unless I'm with really good friends and my opponents have said that when fighting I look angry" Add to that Ross's penchant for threatening people on the internet with bricks and the nick name seems to fit. "I actually have a pile of bricks in my garden, they're left from when we had some work done on the house, I keep them just in case"

"I'm not really like that though, I'm actually a relaxed sort of person, I just don't smile much. I'm an emotional fighter but I fight like I am angry, but I don’t loose my composure I still know what’s going on and let my technique work. Pat Miletich, Frank Shamrock Vitor Belfort and Tito Ortiz are all emotional fighters the alternative is guys like Fred Ettish."

Still only 17 years old Ross still has a lot of heroes in the fight world, some of whom are included in his list of emotional fighters his other heroes include Royce Gracie and Leigh Remedios "Vitor, Pat M and Frank Shamrock all make me want to train hard and to be able to fight like them but with Leigh it's different. Leigh teaches me things. I've gone down to train with Leigh twice and he lets me stay in his Girlfriends House. It’s great to train with one of the best in the country, he not only shows me a lot of fighting but teaches me about the psychological side too."

When he's not training with Leigh, Ross trains with Sheffield shoot and with Wicker Thai camp for Thai boxing. "There’s a lot of good guys at Sheffield Shoot, no big names but there's a guy down there who came 10^th in the worlds strongest man, with him you have to use technique, there's no way you're matching him for strength. Peps has just come back from training with August Wallen (World Shootfighting Champion) so he's got a lot of new 'tricks' there’s Nick who’s going off to train with Chris Brennan in the USA for a month, I now also have a four man training team that I train with 5/6 days a week and that is crazy its hard as a mother fucker. I owe Greek Nick, Nick and Peps a lot they push me, and help me out a lot. You guys are lucky Pep’s doesn’t want to start competing again, but you are gonna have to deal with the two Nicks soon!"

Ross takes his Cardio and strength training very seriously too,

"I have just this week sorted out my cardio and weights, I have weights at home and enjoy running alone so I dot need to go to a gym, I do weights 6 days a week. But working on a different part of the body like Monday legs, Tuesday biceps, wed triceps, I work six different parts: biceps, triceps, upper back, shoulders, legs and chest. My cardio is getting good I am running this week a 3 mile run for 6 days I do squats sit ups crunches press ups and close hand press ups everyday next week. I move on to sprints where I do it 6 days a week 100 metre doubles x 5 then in two weeks I will do 100 metre doubles x 10 then the week before a fight I will drop back to 100m doubles x 5. I never used to worry about my Cardio before Ultimate Combat but I talked to Leigh (Remedios) and he told me he did sprints instead of long distances so I worked out how I could use them"

Ross has his plans pretty well set out "I'm studying Sport Science right now, once I'm finished that I want to go and train full time with Pat Miletich or BTT, Then I'm going to be the UFC champion. I’d love to train full time now but I have to get my education and some money"

At 88Kgs with an undefeated 9/0 MMA just like some of his favourite fighters Lee Murray record aswell as numerous GI Bjj and no GI sub wrestling titles under his belt aged only 17 Ross is certain that he will be UFC champ', I believe him.

Droc, 27 September 2002

Poscript: Ross has just signed a 3 fight deal with Dougie Truman's Cage Warriors promotion.