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Craig Edwards excited to start pro MMA career against Pedro Carvalho at Cage Warriors Academy North West
Colchester's Craig Edwards makes his pro debut on Saturday in Liverpool. Picture: ADAM BRIGHT - Credit: �Adam Bright Photography, ema
Craig Edwards is in no doubt about his career goal - ‘get paid loads of money to punch people in the face!’
And he takes the next step towards that ultimate aim this weekend, as the latest athlete from the incredible production line at BKK Fighters in Colchester makes his professional MMA debut.
Lightweight Edwards, 24, travels to Liverpool to face Pedro Carvalho at the Echo Arena at the Cage Warriors Academy North West event on Saturday.
Edwards has won five straight fights to boost his amateur record to 7-7, but in Carvalho he faces an experienced pro with a 4-3 record, who fights out of the famed SBG Gym in Ireland - home of a certain Conor McGregor.
“I feel really good,” said Edwards. “I haven’t fought since December, so I’m itching to fight!”
Of his impressive winning streak, he added: “Something just sort of clicked – I had a bit of an issue where I’d lose confidence during a fight but then it clicked into place and I could do what I wanted in there.”
Now he starts his pro career with a definite progression in mind.
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“Ultimately, like everyone, I want to be the UFC champion,” he explained. “That’s the dream, but it’s the same for a lot of people.
“I want to fight on a big Cage Warriors show this year, and this is the way in – if I can look good on this show than that will show the promoters that I can step up and fight better guys.
“I basically want to be paid loads of money for punching people in the face!”
The first face he’ll get to punch on his professional fistic journey will be that of Carvalho – and Edwards is confident he has the tools to get the job done.
“He’s moved to SBG and he’s got kind of a karate style,” explained judo black belt Edwards, who’s been training in MMA for seven years. “I’ve worked to counter that.
“I fought someone from the same gym who had a similar style last year, so I’ve got a similar gameplan.
“And I won that fight by head-kick KO in nine seconds, so that worked pretty well!
“I’m confident wherever, but my last five or six fights have played out on the feet. I think if I’ve got the right strategy, wherever the fight goes I can win.”
