Just forty-five seconds into round one, Dave Legeno was totally out from a huge left hook.
The dispatcher of this massive leather tranquilizer was UK’s light-heavyweight champion, Mark Epstein. It was one of Cage Rage’s biggest knockouts on record. After this impressive exhibition of savage brutality at CR-17, Mark sent out a challenge to the winner of the Melvin Manhoef vs. Ian Freeman match to be decided later that night.
At the time of this interview, Mark is relaxing at home, enjoying a rest day from the busy schedule of preparing to defend his British title against Ian Freeman. The pair will trade blows on September 30, at Cage Rage18: Battleground.
Ironically, it was more or less therapeutic purposes that caused Mark to take up a fighting system. “I just thought it was a good way of getting rid of some stress and tension, while at the same time utilizing the discipline of training. And from a young age, I’ve always managed to get involved in scraps because I’m naturally quite aggressive,” says Epstein.
This pro MMA fighter, who also does some personal training, suggests his individuality may have contributed to his altercations on the street: “Yeah. I’m not typically English. I’m different - in colour and ethnic background. One of my parents is Jamaican, and one is English. My mother’s mum was from Waipiro Bay on New Zealand’s North Island. I’m proud of my Maori heritage.”
According to Mark’s web site, his circle of friends is also rather varied, with the list including Mike Tyson, Jenna Jameson and Tim Sylvia. But surprisingly, Epstein is a totally professional athlete and he rarely drinks. “It’s only after a fight that I’ll celebrate with a drink to relax. I’m a lager lad, and I like a cold bottle of Becks, but I don’t normally drink.”
Mark, do you still train at London Shootfighters?
Yes, I do.
Were you happy with your victory over Dave Legeno at Cage Rage 17?
I was very happy. I thought it was a night where I finished it off nice and sweet: I gave the crowd what they wanted with a beautiful knockout. I was well happy with that.
It was a huge knockout. Was it a left hook, right cross combination?
Yeah. The right kick set it up, and then the left came, and the right just followed. It was just a nice combination that I’ve worked on for many years now. But I’ve never used my kicks that much in MMA because they’re quite a high risk if you try to kick to the head or get taken down. Not that I mind the floor. It’s just that I like to keep it standing.
I knew that the left put him out straight away, and then I hit him with the right – just following through – and then I did give him a little tap on the way over as well. But it was only a little tap on the way over. Nothing malicious.
Did you line it up, or did an opening just appear?
I kinda lined it up really. I was aiming for a body kick, hoping he’d block it with his arms and leave his chin open for my left to come over the top. And it was perfect.
You haven’t won too many bouts by ankle-lock submissions. Do you like the finality of the KO?
I do have submissions, but I like to think of myself as a striker. I like to bang, and I like to go out with… I’ve been knocked out twice. My record says more than that, but it’s not. Craig Amer and Cyborg did put me out. But If you see the DVD of Cage Rage 9, where I had a fight with Mike Bisping, who just won The Ultimate Fighter 3 series, you’ll see that I slipped.
You can blatantly see my back foot slip in a patch of water, but the fight was stopped and Mike was given it as a knockout. I took Mike Bisping’s best shots and he never put me out. I don’t think he ever could, but I would definitely put him to sleep. I know for a fact that I could, and I’d love a rematch with him. He’s just signed with UFC and there’s a rumour they’re bringing UFC to England in March. If I beat Freeman and I’m still the British champion, I think for me to be the champion I need to beat Mike Bisping – once and for all.”
You’ve won your last five matches, and after your most recent victory, you called for a fight against the winner of the Ian Freeman vs Melvin Manhoef bout. However, you’ll be facing Ian and not Melvin at Cage Rage 18. Will you get to test your skills against Melvin down the track?
I hope so. I would love to. I mean, Melvin’s one of the best out there, and I don’t think I’ve got that much longer left. I don’t want to be going past my forties. Within the next two years I’d love to face up with Melvin. We’re both big hitters and it’s just who’d be more durable.
What do you expect from Ian?
I expect him to try to get me to the ground and try to punish me – look for a submission or ground’n’pound. I don’t think he’ll want to stand with me: He’s seen me knock out a few people. I know he’s got some power, but I don’t think he has knockout power like mine. I feel I have a much bigger punch. We will see.”
After Ian’s loss to Melvin, do you think he’ll really want to prove something against you?
Yeah, he’ll want to prove… He doesn’t want to go out like that. I’m not saying I’m going to do the same thing, but hopefully somewhere down the line I will get a good clean shot on him and I’ll put him to sleep. That’s what I’d like to do… or if he does want to keep it on the floor, I’ll ground’n’pound him.
What will be your strengths?
I think my punching power and my kicks… My takedown defense is quite good, and is getting better all the time. I believe my stand-up is going to be too much for him.”
Mark, is there anything you’d like to add?
Hopefully, one day, I’ll get to display my skills in UFC or PRIDE. I definitely believe I’m good enough.”
Your sponsors?
Innovation - a drum and bass music company; Eternal Fitness; and my trainers: Alexis Demetriades – the main trainer at London Shootfighters; Lee Whittington – my Muay Thai trainer of UK Warriors; and Alan Ingerfield – my personal trainer.
)
MMA Universe
