Title challenger Blake Smith promises to deliver in CFFC 100 headliner: 'Expect a show'

Blake Smith still considers himself quite young in his MMA career, but he believes his passion for the sport means he knows exactly what fans expect to see.

When Smith challenges for the CFFC lightweight title, he promises to deliver exactly that.

"Expect excitement," Smith said. 'Expect a fighter that is going to come out and not be afraid to trade when they need to trade or grapple when they need to grapple. Just expect a show – that's it."

Smith (5-2) makes his promotional debut in the headlining bout of CFFC 100, which takes place Thursday and streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa in Florida. He'll challenge for the organization's lightweight title when he takes on reigning champ Zulkarnaiyn Kamchybekov (5-1) in the headlining contest.

"It's a home game," the Florida resident said. "No pressure, though. The champ has to come here to fight me."

It's a big opportunity for Smith, but one that he believes he's more than ready for at this point in his career, even if he did get a later start than many of his peers.

"I'm from Columbus, Mississippi, originally, and the first sports I did were soccer and karate for like six months," Smith said. "As you get older, you find out a little more about your family, and training just wasn't affordable at the time, so my mom just always put me in traditional sports – but I always wanted to do boxing and kickboxing. I grew up watching Van Damme movies and that old show that Felice Herrig was on and 'Karate Hottie' called 'Fight Girls.'

"I used to be in the backyard thinking I was a Power Ranger and whatnot, so I grew up with a love of martial arts. I always liked the way the human body can move, so then once I graduated high school and came back from college, I found an MMA gym, and the rest is history."

Smith currently calls Tampa's DEFWAR home, while he hones his grappling at Gracie Palm Harbor, as well. Though he got a late start on his martial arts journey, Smith said he's made up for lost time with consistency.

"I don't really believe in fight camps," Smith said. "I feel like I'm a martial artist, bro. I train all year round. Fight camps are just for fighters, I feel like, who don't really know their purpose in the fight game. No disrespect to anyone who strongly believes in fight camps, but once the fight grows near, we just ramp it up a little bit."

Smith believes he'll be ready to ramp it up on fight night, as well. Kamchybekov seeks the first defense of his title after claiming the belt earlier this year, and Smith believes their styles will match up perfectly in the cage.

"I watched a couple of fights just to see tendencies, but I let my coaches handle the rest," Smith said. "But I mean, you've got two guys who are going to come and fight.

"No disrespect to his last opponent, but I have amateurs that'll beat his last opponent. No disrespect to him, but he comes forward. He hits hard. I mean, you know, he's from a good camp out there in Philly, so the only thing I've got to do is bite down on my mouthguard and walk forward and see what's up."

If Smith delivers on that plan at CFFC 100, the headliner could be absolute fireworks. Kamchybekov's past three victories have all come by knockout, so the champion has no problem standing and trading in the center of the cage.

Smith believes it will be a memorable contest.

"If I'm locked in mentally, there's no one that can beat me," Smith said. "My mind is bulletproof. There's an old saying: 'If there's no enemy within, the enemy outside can do you no harm,' so I'm pretty locked in.

"I've never been in a boring fight, so expect fireworks."