I used to wonder why Adam Milstead (5-1) wanted to move up to the heavyweight division from light heavyweight, where he now has to face the biggest guys in the sport of mixed martial arts.
But now I realize that it’s because he really, really likes pizza.
The heavyweight mentioned pizza twice in his recent appearance on BluegrassMMA Live, so I guess that’s something that we have in common.
But that’s probably about all that I have in common with the 6’4″, 240-pound “Prototype,” who is set to take on Lewis Rumsey (11-12) in the co-main event at Gladiators of the Cage 18 in Cheswick, Pennsylvania this weekend.
Milstead comes in riding a five-fight winning streak, but he’ll be competing for just the second time in nearly two years after a pseudo retirement and injury kept him out of action for a pair of extended periods of time.
“It’s a combination of a lot of injures,” Milstead said about what kept him out of the sport. “MMA doesn’t work like boxing, you don’t move up gradually. When you when one you move way up and you’re facing a lot tougher guys.”
The 28-year-old faced the very tough Nick Smiley in his last outing, but he passed that test with flying colors, completely obliterating the big man in just 58 seconds. It was brutal, and it was beautiful.
Milstead said that the fans may have wanted to see him in action for just a little longer, but Smiley’s “shotgun blast” leg kicks prompted him to want to get out of there fast.
“My job is to get in there, win, and that’s pretty much it,” Milstead said. “Heavyweights don’t like to go three rounds. We don’t like to go any more than it takes. So if the opportunity is there I’m going to get out of the cage and go have a beer and slice of pizza.”
Now fully recovered and ready to get back in there, Milstead said that the timing was right for him to schedule not only one, but two fights.
He was offered a pivotal bout against Chicago area native Robert Morrow (23-19-1) at next month’s King of the Cage event, but he couldn’t turn a second fight down when it was offered for this weekend.
“It was definitely trying to make up for lost time yeah, but at the same time I’m trying to be patient,” Milstead said.
His patience is starting to pay off, as he recounted a story of how he was on the short list as a potential injury replacement for a UFC event earlier this summer. That fight didn’t pan out, but it’s expected that he’ll get there sooner rather than later now that he’s signed with Guardian Sports Group and the likes of managers Charles McCarthy and Ed Kapp.
Milstead has also been a regular training partner of some of the best heavier fighters in the Ohio Valley, including UFC contender Stipe Miocic, Bellator and UFC veteran Dan Spohn, and Bellator veteran John Hawk. He says that training with guys like that who will not only beat you up but will tell you how to get better has been paramount for his career.
The wait is finally over for Milstead to get back in there, and he’s planning to make the most of it this time around.
“I’m itching to get back in there and I’m chomping at the bit, I’m trying to stay relaxed but everyone is talking and it’s getting my blood boiling.”
Photo courtesy Christopher Nolan/MetCon Photos