Caged Fury 14 - Bryon McCroskey Interview
The NAAFS is one of the fastest-growing mixed martial arts companies in the United States, and they are known across the Midwest and beyond for putting on high-intensity fights featuring skilled fighters. Bryon McCroskey is making his professional debut on February 26 th for the NAAFS at their highly-touted Caged Fury 14, when he’ll be taking on veteran John Myers. Bryon took time out from training to speak with ProFighting-Fans.com Senior Staff Writer Curt Heinrichs to preview the event.
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Bryon McCroskey won the NAAFS amatuer co-welterweight championship in 2009 and the UMMAXX amatuer lightweight title in 2010. |
1. What made you decide it was time for you to turn pro after a lengthy amateur career?
I was just getting the experience, and I’m getting up there in age a little bit. I figured it was time, and I was waiting for Jason (Dent, owner of Griffon Rawl MMA Academy)’s go-ahead and I’ve been putting all of my skills together before I made that next step.
2. You were originally scheduled to fight former college wrestler Clint Musser, but he was forced to back out due to injury. Did the change in opponent change your methods of training in the past week?
A little bit, but I really try to focus on everything in my game. This isn’t the first time an opponent has been switched, so you really can’t base your training on one certain guy, because you never know what’s going to happen. Everybody’s evolving so much, they’re different every time they get in the cage. I just try to work on where my weaknesses are and try to better that.
3. Coming into this fight, do you have a different mindset since it is your pro debut?
I guess I’m a little more excited to break open some new tools. Other than that, I try to keep a cool head. I don’t want to get too excited or gas myself out with the 5 minute rounds. I’m really excited to use the new weapons, though.
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4. You train with Jason Dent and top-prospect Donny Walker every day. Does that give you more confidence coming into a fight knowing that your opponent doesn’t have that caliber of training partners?
Oh, definitely. Donny is on a good winning streak and with the experience that Jason has, they both have a lot to offer. You have to try to soak all of that up.
5. Your opponent is John Myers. Talk a bit about him and what you expect to see from him on Saturday.
He fought a couple of guys from our school, and I’ve seen one video of him. Basically, he’s really wiry and he’s a hard guy to submit. He’s a gamer. It looks like he likes to stand and bang, so it should be a good fight for me.
6. You’ve got wins by TKO and submission. What’s your favorite way to end a fight?
Definitely TKO. I’m still waiting for a KO, I don’t have one of those on my record yet, but definitely a TKO is the best way I’ve finished a fight yet. You have to take what comes your way.
7. Speaking of Caged Fury 14, do you have a prediction with how your fight with John Myers will end?
I’d like to have it end in the 1 st round with me winning by TKO.
8. Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I’d like to thank my manager and head coach Jason Dent for putting in the extra time and trust into me. I have a couple of sponsors out there; Intimidation Clothing. They have awesome clothes, I love the skulls. They also have a line of fight shorts coming out. I’d like to thank Sudden Urge Tattoos for sponsoring me, and I’d like to thank all of my fans for supporting me.
By Curt Heinrichs
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer