Teddy Stringer on Fighting in the IMMAF World Championships with Broken Hand

Teddy Stringer is the latest MMA Fight Academy prospect to make his mixed martial arts professional debut in a few days.

After acquiring much experience in 23 amateur fights, Stringer is eyeing to make a statement in his pro debut opposite Bryant Shell in a 155-pound clash at CW 155 on June 2. With several submission victories as proof of his grappling skills, Stringer aims to change the perception that English fighters are only strikers. As part of the Mola TV-sponsored MMA Fight Academy, 22-year-old Stringer praised the grappling and wrestling culture in the program, describing it as "next level," and while he admitted that he missed home, the support, coaching, and overall experience in California made it worth it. As icing on the cake, Stringer will be rewarded with a Cage Warriors Fighting Championship contract if he wins on Friday.

Stringer believes that his extensive amateur experience, including participating in multiple International Mixed Martial Arts Federation tournaments, has prepared him well for his professional career. When asked about a memorable moment from his amateur career, the English prospect recalls the 2022 IMMAF World Championships in Abu Dhabi, where he had three tough bouts that tested his will as he was forced to fight through an injury.

“It's a hard call, but if I was probably to think about one particular moment, it would be the 2022 World Championships in Abu Dhabi. I had three great fights there. I fought a Czech Republic guy on the first day, had a three-round war with him, and got the edge. On the second day, I had probably one of the most exciting fights of mine against an Irish kid. I won that fight, I broke my hand and then I went on to fight the next day the pound-for-pound No. 1 as an amateur, Ramazan Gitinov. We had a great fight. Three rounds in the bag. I had one hand broken just trying to jab him off. That was an experience and that taught me a lot about myself and, although I didn't go on to win the tournament as I lost to Ramazan, it was one of the best moments for me as an amateur ‘cause it taught me so much.”

(00:00) Intro
(00:32) His latest sparring session
(01:09) His path to MMA Fight Academy
(01:59) Praising the wrestling culture in California
(02:40) Missing home
(03:11) Preparing for Shell
(04:37) Having his family in the arena
(05:38) His experience as an amateur
(06:46) The 2022 IMMAF world championships
(07:40) Fighting in tournaments
(08:29) Keeping the mustache for his pro debut
(08:47) Outro