LIVE on GFL.tv http://www.gfl.tv/event/Fight/MMA/Australia-Fighting-Championship-10/2441
AFC middleweight champion Steve "Steamroller" Kennedy concedes there is "bad blood" between he and Daniel Kelly as the pair await the highly-anticipated grudge match.
Both Kennedy and Kelly added spice to the long overdue title showdown scheduled for AFC 10 on August 16, trading barbs following their respective victories at AFC 9 in Albury.
Kennedy has frequently dropped grenades in the Kelly camp, causing the latter to call the Western Australian a "d---head", emphasizing that there was no loved lost.
"That's no secret," Kelly said after his win over Ben Kelleher in the Barney on the Border.
"He's not a classy guy. I don't want to talk about it much because he's a d---head and that's all there is to it.
"He's bagged me from before I met him to when I was going to fight him and he's a said stupid, rude things and I don't want to talk about him."
After launching a post-fight tirade following his decision win against Daniel "Grasshopper" Way, Kennedy admitted he had no time for Kelly.
"There's legitimate bad blood there. He's got bad blood because I'm such a s--- talker and he's respectful and for him it's just not the martial arts way," Kennedy said.
On a big card with a huge Middleweight Title Fight Stefan Rosa isn't hiding the fact that he has a few nerves:
"Yeah mate I'm definitely nervous. I always get nervous before a fight. To be honest I still can't believe I've been given this opportunity"
Stefan is a very well rounded fighter and feels he will be comfortable wherever the fight goes:
"I guess I'm one of these modern day kids who started training everything all at once so I didn't really come from a particular martial art. I love standing and I love the ground stuff and I love clinch work . I'm happy to take the fight wherever it goes so long as it's on my terms"
On August 16 Stefan will face a very capable wrestler in Nikos Trepca but he isn't worried about a potential wrestling battle: "Yeah I'm totally comfortable against a wrestler I started my wrestling training with Billy and Ali Abdo who are both commonwealth wrestlers and I now train under Denis Kelly who also has a strong wrestling pedigree"
AFC 10 can't come fast enough for Stefan and he is hoping to put on a real show for the AFC fans: "I hope just a good old fashioned war. In my fights so far I've dominated but not been able to finish. It's very frustrating and something I'm working on. I just want the crowd to love my fights. I don't wanna win a boring fight. I wanna win wars and win in devastating fashion. I guess that's a bit of a cliche and every fighter obviously wants to win a blood soaked war in horrifying fashion. I just gotta be careful I don't end up on my back for 15 minutes which will negate a lot of my striking game. Either way I think it's gonna be a great fight. A good stylistic matchup and a great challenge. And if the fight does end up on the ground I'm excited to show what I'm capable of."
Luke Falzon comes from a Karate background and has an impressive artillery of unique striking that he'll be looking to employ come August 16. In the midst of a thorough training camp Luke is excited to make his debut in Australia's number 1 MMA promotion: "I'm feeling very nervous about the fight but i just have to trust my preparation, and give it my best on the night"
Although Luke will be making his debut at AFC 10; his experience in combat sports is impressive: "Walked into my first kickboxing class when I was 15 yrs old. Since then have trained a number of styles of martial arts but I have focused on karate. I have trained and graded in Okinawa, and also in Singapore and Malaysia. I have competed across a number of tournaments over the past few years around Australia. Currently I haven't competed for 2 years since moving to Yarrawonga Victoria, the birth of my son and opening my own club. I think my striking is a strong point and my ability to move in and out quickly and efficiently."
