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INTERNATIONAL APPEAL
Watson in range of stardom on worldwide level
By MFC Staff
Tom Watson has a unique opportunity within the Maximum Fighting
Championship.
Already a top-ranked contender for the MFC's middleweight title and
one of
the most-potent strikers in the entire organization, Watson is in
position
to become something that the MFC has never had before - a truly
international star.
Because of his mass appeal and social media accessibility, Watson
has become
a popular figure in his native England and in both countries where
he trains
- the United States and Canada. His Canadian fan base in particular
has
grown exponentially thanks in large part to his appearance at MFC
24: Heat
XC but Watson is far from forgotten in his homeland or in the U.S.
While the MFC has featured countless fighters over the years in
prominent
roles and as home-town favorites, Watson has the chance to become
the first
fighter to have international drawing power.
"I've always had a bit of a following in the U.K. due to the fights
I've
been involved in," explained Watson, who will sport a 12-3 record
going into
his expected clash at MFC 26 in September.
"It was great to see the Canadian fans appreciate the humor of my
(ring)
entrance at MFC 24 and I hope to give them more of the same in
September. I
have been training in America for over three years now so that has
helped my
exposure in the States as well."
At MFC 24, Watson strutted to the ring to funky soul music all while
sporting a gorilla mask in homage to his nickname "Kong." But what's
a
stylish ring entrance worth if you don't back it up with some
substance when
the bell rings? Watson certainly did that, scoring a near-lethal
head-kick
knockout of Travis Galbraith. The first-round sudden stoppage is
most
definitely a candidate for the MFC's Knockout of the Year and
instantly put
Watson on the map as a contender and budding star.
That convincing win was Watson's seventh straight positive verdict
and was a
resounding debut, both in the organization and on North American
soil.
Watson will get his chance to show the world his talents at MFC 26
when he
steps into the ring for the first time on HDNet Fights.
 "(Against
Galbraith) I remember being thoroughly prepared for a jiu-jitsu
battle and didn't really train too much striking too be honest,"
recalled
Watson. "But years' of hard work is always there and as soon as it
landed I
knew it was over. No one can take my kicks clean on the jaw and not
get
knocked out. My coach Eric O'Keefe put together a great game plan.
We knew
what Galbraith's moves would be and the rest fell into place."
And so did Galbraith, with a crashing face-first thud to the canvas.
Should
Watson come away from MFC 26 with another victory tucked securely
into his
back pocket, he has been assured of a crack at the MFC's
middleweight crown
- an emblem that has only been worn once before when Patrick Cote
took the
honor way back at MFC 9 in March 2006.
"Of course it won't be easy but nothing worth doing in life is easy.
I came
into the MFC with the belief that I would become champion. I will
achieve
this goal," declared Watson, who is hoping the road to the title
goes
straight through Drew McFedries - his potential opponent at MFC 26.
"I really hope it is McFedries as for sure he will come and stand
and bang
with me. I have never been knocked out in 50 fights but he has big
power so
for the fans that is a great fight. I have no doubt I can do
whatever it
takes to win and put myself forward to fight whoever the MFC
decides."
One thing for sure with Watson, whatever fights await him, he will
undoubtedly do his best at creating as much hype as possible and
even fire
off a few verbal jousts at his foe. It's just ingrained in British
fighters
that part of their job is to heat up the pre-fight antics with some
ribbing
- good-natured or not. While some in the martial arts world frown on
that
behavior, it's a necessary part of the business both for the fighter
and the
organization to stand out in the crowded world scene.
Like his good friend Paul Daley, Watson isn't shy about tossing out
the
quote-worthy lines, shooting them out like a stiff jab.
"Not all British fighters are like that. Just the good ones!"
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