One of the hottest fighters in the Ohio Valley region is set to compete for his first professional title this weekend, as Muhammad Abdullah (3-0) will take on Chris Dempsey (8-1) for the middleweight championship at Gladiators of the Cage: The North Shore’s Rise to Power IV in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Currently riding a nine-fight winning streak dating back to his amateur career, Abdullah hasn’t tasted defeat since 2010. He made his professional debut less than a year ago, and he has reeled off three straight victories, topping Jared Bailey, Tim McCavit, and Billy Poe in that time span.
Abdullah faces his stiffest test to date in Dempsey, who was a two-time All-American wrestler at Pittsburgh-Johnstown during his college days. Despite facing an opponent with some serious wrestling credentials, Abdullah isn’t fazed.
“We fully understand his wrestling abilities and we do respect them but with that being said we don’t fear it and are not concerned about it,” Abdullah said in an exclusive interview. “It’s a fight and the end of the day so that’s what we come to do. We are prepared wherever the fight goes; I’ll put his wrestling to the test and he will do the same with my stand up. But I come to fight, period.”
Abdullah has shown some flashy striking in previous bouts, including his last victory over Poe last October. Whispers around MMA events have pegged Abdullah as a breakout star for 2014, but he doesn’t concern himself with the growing hype surrounding his fighting career.
“I don’t concern myself with titles of who is hot and who is not. I’m here to fight I don’t follow rankings or who is supposed to be the new talent, I’m just happy to be fighting and building a strong team behind me.
I’m blessed to be here at Vision MMA Dayton. I came from nothing this was all a dream and we are just working hard to make it a reality. God willing it will.”
With the bout being for a title, both fighters will need to be prepared to go five five-minute rounds, a marathon if there ever was one. It would appear that the experience edge favors Dempsey with three times as many pro bouts, but Abdullah had a 12-fight amateur career and has added three as a professional.
“I’m pretty sure I’ve had more fights than him in and out of the cage,” Abdullah joked. “But we will be ready.”
Abdullah will be coming into enemy territory, as he faces the Mat Factory product, who along with his teammate Dominic Mazzotta and main event opponent Cody Garbrandt have helped to sell out the Stage AE venue weeks in advance.
The venue is sold out for Gladiators of the Cage, but you can watch the event online at www.ufightlive.tv for just $10. Also be sure to catch all of the coverage from the show here on BluegrassMMA.com.