Cardio-Flex star Shane Mitchell takes on Matt Eland in Diamondback Fighting Championship 1 main event at Adelaide Oval
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WHEN Shane Mitchell enters the cage Sunday night under the bright lights of the William Magarey Room, the heat beaming down is likely to remind him of sunny Florida for just a second.
The 24-year-old spent four months in Coconut Creek earlier this year training at American Top Team (ATT) — one of the best mixed martial arts academies in the world.
“I was in touch with UFC fighter Hector Lombard and he said come out and ATT will look after you,” Mitchell said.
“I got onto one of the managers of ATT who talked me through it and looked over my profile. “He said I was more than welcome to come train with the pro team.”
ATT has limited spots on its pro team and turns fighters away every day. When Mitchell was offered the chance to step onto the mats with some of the world’s best he couldn't say no.
“It was great, the first couple of weeks they test you out and see what you’re about,” he said.
“I was comfortable with the striking but the top level wrestlers there hand it to you on the floor.
“It changed my game massively, my ground game improved heaps.”
They say iron sharpens iron and after making the 16,000km journey back to Adelaide in June Mitchell has no doubts he is far more polished.
And the technical striker gets his chance to prove it at Diamondback Fighting Championship 1 in a middleweight bout with Queenslander Matt Eland.
Mitchell is the main event at Adelaide Oval but insists there’s no added pressure.
“I don’t let the nerves get to me too much, I just jump in there and do my thing.
“We (Mitchell’s team-mates) spar hard with each other on Fridays and I don’t think about it during the week, I don’t let it build up.
“Elland is a striker and a tough guy, he’s taller than me but I think I can score a stoppage.
“I like to pick my timing and be technical but If it turns into a gruelling fight I know I can go the distance.
“Either way I’m prepared.”
Fight fans can watch every DFC 1 athlete officially weigh in this Saturday at The Pier Bar, Glenelg, from 5.30pm.
On Sunday doors open at 4.30pm at Adelaide Oval. DFC 1 starts 5.30pm sharp.
Originally published as Shane’s been mixing it with the best in US