CFFC champion Evan Cutts believes pace will be problem for 'firecracker' Yohan Lainesse
After one of the most grueling title wins in CFFC history, you'll forgive reigning welterweight champ Evan Cutts if he's not exactly intimidated by the next test in front of him.
Sure, he knows undefeated challenger Yohan Lainesse brings some impressive tools to the cage, but Cutts also knows a thing or two about fighting vaunted strikers.
"I feel like I'm 7- or 8-1 against undefeated guys," Cutts said. "I think twice now I fought some knockout artist that was supposed to knock me out in the first round, and they did not, and they lost. I've had other fights with other tough guys before."
Coming from any other fighter, Cutts' words might ring a bit hollow. But "The Butcher" claimed his title in April in an absolutely grueling five-round contest with Bassi Hafez, and Cutts believes that performance is a true indicator of his skills.
"We were pushed to the limits, and that's I think that's exactly how I try to fight," Cutts said. "You know, I may not be the fastest or the strongest in my weight class, but I promise you, I want it more than anyone else."
With the result, Cutts now stands at 6-1 in his past seven overall appearances, with the lone loss during that run coming via split decision. Now with the CFFC title around his waist, he's hoping that the UFC is considering an invitation for him very soon.
"Winning a title in a promotion, especially one that's as deep as CFFC, it means something," Cutts said. "They're not only bringing in fighters from their little local pond, they're bringing guys from out of state. They're bringing guys from out of the country. CFFC is definitely turning into a force to be reckoned with on that regional mixed martial arts scene. I would put any of their champs against any of the other champs.
"That's one of those stepping stones to be able to go to those bigger promotions. I mean, obviously, I want to fight for the UFC. That's the ultimate goal."
Cutts (12-4) could certainly strengthen his case for a UFC bid with a win over Lainesse (6-0) in the main event of Saturday's CFFC 98 event, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Philadelphia's 2300 Arena as part of a two-night run for the promotion at the venue that includes Friday’s debut of FURY Professional Grappling.
While Lainesse is a proven knockout artist and Cutts is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, the champion doesn't really view the fight as a striker vs. grappler matchup.
"I think it's more you have a fighter that's explosive vs. a fighter in me that gets stronger as the fight goes on," Cutts said. "You have a guy that diminishes vs. the guy that flourishes. The guy that diminishes is going to come out in round one 100 percent, and I just feel like I just get stronger as the fight goes. I see his gas tank just being the biggest fall in his factor, and I almost see the fight as grinder vs explosive guy.
"I know 100 hundred percent of the time Yohan is going to gas in the second round. Watching him in CFFC, he's like a firecracker man. You know, he's explosive. He's fun to watch. He goes. He explodes, and I mean, he can still go all the way three rounds, but he looked tired, man. He looked tired last time he went the distance, and I just feel like I'm in better shape now than I was for the last fight."
At 30, Cutts thinks he's got another five or six years to chase his dream of fighting in the sport's biggest promotion. A win over Lainesse could help fulfill that goal, and Cutts promises to use the platform he earns to its fullest extent.
"This is a platform for me," Cutts said. "This is a way that I can have some influence on some young men and women that maybe don't hear those messages of hope and strength often enough – that don't hear that, hey, look, struggle is going to be real and evil exists. But the true route to happiness is being able to contend with those things that are problems within your own life.
"Whether you believe in divinity or not, I think that's a great blueprint on how to treat other people. That's my only message, man: Love yourself. Make people around you stronger. Love the people around you, and then get after it."
