Kendly St. Louis plans to ride hot streak into title win at CFFC 114: 'I will be champion'
Kendly St. Louis never once doubted his plan of becoming a professional fighter, but this past July, after suffering a TKO loss to current UFC lightweight Viacheslav Borshchev, he knew something had to change.
"After I lost to 'Slava,' I kind of had to get my mind together because I've never lost two fights in a row," St. Louis recalled. "I'd lost my last welterweight fight, and then I lost my first catchweight fight at 160. I mean, I already knew this is what I want to do, so it wasn't much of a question about being able to fight. It was just finding which weight class was better for me."
Following an impressive amateur career, St. Louis stood at a rather frustrating 3-4 after his first three years as a professional. It certainly wasn't the path he had envisioned.
Realizing that his weight cuts to 170 pounds hadn't been all that challenging, St. Louis opted to give lightweight a shot. He also decided to double up on his time spent in the gym.
"I was training at American Top Team Sunrise at night only," St. Louis explained. "Now I train at Fight Sports Deerfield Beach every morning and then at night, it's back over to American Top Team Sunrise."
The results have been impressive, to say the least. Since making the move down to 155 pounds, St. Louis is a perfect 3-0, with all three wins coming via stoppage, including two first-round finishes in the CFFC cage. Oh, and all of those results have come in the past nine months, alone.
St. Louis (6-4) will now attempt to take another major step forward in his ultimate dream of fighting in the sport's biggest promotions when he challenges for the CFFC lightweight title. The surging contender faces reigning champion Blake Smith (7-2) in the main event of CFFC 114, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa on Thursday, November 10.
With his career now moving in the proper direction, St. Louis is thrilled for the opportunity.
"It's a lot of excitement," St. Louis said. "I set this goal for myself a long time ago. After I went pro, I said, you know, I have an amateur title. I want a pro title, and then I want to fight for a big organization, like the UFC. Now that I'm at a good stage in my pro career, fighting for this title, I'm in the process of making it all happen.
"I've seen Blake fight and everything, but like I said, this has always been my goal. I don't personally care about what he has going on. I just know that I'm coming for that title. I will be champion."
St. Louis has watched the necessary tape on Smith heading into the championship matchup, but he makes it a point not to overanalyze anything for fear of expecting an opponent to act one way in the cage and then encountering something else.
Instead, he simply remains focused on bettering his game, and he feels the investment is paying off. Now finally settled in the right weight class, St. Louis is ready to reach the next level.
"I've been on this journey, and it would be different if I was taking easy fights, but I haven't," St. Louis said. "My last loss was against 'Slava,' who's in the UFC now, and I almost finished him. I know I'm at the same level with these guys, so I'm hoping to get that UFC call. In the meantime, I want this CFFC belt."
