Alex Cook Joins British Bulldogs IFL Team

A Cumbrian man will be fighting against the world’s top martial arts competitors next month. Alex Cook, of St Bees, will be flying out to America with four others for the British Bulldogs Team.

He will be competing against Marcello Salazar, from the Brazilian Top Team in Connecticut, US, on December 29 in a one-off middle weight bout.

He was contacted by Ian Freeman, who is the reigning British Light Heavyweight champion for mixed martial arts, to join the team he was coaching.

Alex, who works for Carillion plc at Sellafield, said: “I was contacted by Ian Freeman to represent his British Bulldogs at the middle weight class. I obviously couldn’t turn down the opportunity so jumped at the chance.

“I have fought Salazar before, ending in a technical knockout for me, so there is much pressure on the rematch in which he’ll be more than eager to level the score.

“I’m sure I’ll show him it was no fluke and finish the job properly this time.

“I know Salazar has a great history in submission grappling so my objective is to keep the fight standing and knock him out. Which is easier said than done.

“I’m feeling both confident and nervous.

“I think channelling my confidence and nervous energy is very important and luckily I’m surrounded by people and friends that help with this.

“The support I’ve had from around the country is excellent and I’m sure I will make England, Cumbria, myself and my coaches proud.”

He said: “I train hard in the evenings and make the most of what I have available.

“I do a mixture of Thai boxing, boxing, grappling, submissions and fitness.

“Luckily my bosses and my job allow me to train when suitable, either in the mornings or lunch times, to get that extra bit of fitness training in that I miss due to not training full time.”

He said the format was different to his usual events.

He added: “It is a team based event, and that makes it different from other MMA events such as the UFC or Cage Rage, due to the fact that a whole team will fight against another team.”

He is still looking for sponsorship in preparation for the fight.

Source: www.newsandstar.co.uk