South Shields MMA fighter set for Cage Warriors world title bid this weekend

Astute Adam Proctor, 24, aims to have opponent Mason Jones all worked out even before they come face to face for the Cage Warriors welterweight title bout.

The structural engineer, of Sunnirise, South Shields, works with top trainer Alex Enlund, a strength and conditioning coach and a nutritionist to keep his body in peak shape.

But he also employs a sports psychologist to keep his mind sharp – and then spends hours pre-fight studying his opponents to identify their weaknesses.

The former Harton Technology College pupil hopes the combination of body and mind will prove as potent as any quick-fire fist and feet double he will deliver in battle.

Adam, who takes on Jones, 25, over five rounds behind closed doors at Manchester’s BEC Arena, said he is feeling in good shape ahead of the bout at the weekend.

He said: “I’m prepared in every way possible, I can’t wait to go to work on Saturday night.

“I’m looking forward to representing myself, my gym and my home town in such a big fight.

“And I’m looking forward to becoming the Cage Warriors World Champion as it’s a huge checkpoint in my ambition to be world number one.

“Cage Warriors putting on this event with government approval is great for the sport.”

Adam began in mixed martial arts aged 14 and his talent has led to a number one UK ranking within the Cage Warriors professional body and a 12-1 winning record.

He trains before and after work five days-a-week and on Saturdays at the SBG South Shields gym, in North Street.

It is part of his ultimate ambition to progress from Cage Warriors to UFC, the gold standard mixed martial arts organisation, and become its best.

We need your views on how 2020 is shaping life in South Tyneside - click here to have your say

Trainer Alex, 33, a former Cage Warriors world champion at featherweight, said: “Adam is extremely dedicated and disciplined, and has a tremendous passion for this sport.

“That is proven by that fact he works full-time but also trains full-time, many other fighters just do the training.

“Adam is highly intelligent and very methodical in his approach to fighting, he always has a strategy worked out and knows what he wants to do in any fight.

“He always dreamed of being a professional athlete, and mixed martial arts was the sport he fell into – and he’s ridiculously good at it.

“He’s the most professional of professionals I’ve ever met, he’s very competitive and very driven.

“I think he can be UFC world number one, given time, and I am quietly confident he will beat Mason Jones.”

Welsh fighter Jones, the current Cage Warriors lightweight world champion, has a 9-0 professional record.

If Adam proves triumphant, he could make the move to UFC, the home of famed mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor, within the next 18 months.

The 7.30pm bout can be seen on subscription channel UFC Fight Pass.

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Shields Gazette website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.