CFFC 111's Raheam Forest: 'I'm only at peace when I'm at war'
Undefeated welterweight prospect Raheam Forest doesn't take anything for granted in his fighting career. After building a rather unspectacular amateur record of 5-6, Forest has been absolutely scintillating thus far as a professional, and he credits that success to relentless dedication in the gym.
"I'm always hard on myself – like even if I win, I'm like, 'I could have done this better,'" Forest explained. "I'm just hard on myself, and I'm constantly working on everything: cage work, ground, cardio, off my back, full mount, guard, submission defense. I work on everything. You've got to.
"You can't just work on one area. I want to be a well-balanced fighter, so I work on it all – mentally, physically, everything."
Forest's skills were on display this past November, when he took on another undefeated prospect in Donovan Beard at CFFC 103 and walked away with a hard-fought decision win. But rather than simply take credit for the result, Forest admits there was actually some frustration that Beard was able to take him to a judges' decision.
"I could have done better," Forest said. "I still won, but no excuses. I got the win, so I really can't say too much about it, but it was my first time going past the first round, second round, and all the way to the third. It's more experience for me, so I needed that."
Forest has been grinding in the gym ever since, looking to continue to improve in the areas he identified in that 15-minute clash. He had hoped to get back in the cage before now, but he's been finding it difficult to locate willing opponents.
"It's been tough to get a fight," Forest admitted. "I think it's around like 15 to 18 people that have turned me down, from India to Russia and all over."
Fortunately for Forest (4-0), Trevor Ollison (5-4) was willing to take on the assignment, and the two now meet at Friday's CFFC 111 event, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Mississippi's Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino. "The Man Blackie Chan" is an intriguing opponent, and Forest said Ollison's professional record reminds him quite a bit of his own amateur days, and he sees plenty of danger in the contest.
"He's a good fighter," Forest said. "He has a 5-4 record, kind of what mine looked like as an amateur, but he can win. That's the thing. He's very crafty on the ground. His striking, he's an exciting fighter. People love to see him fight, and people love to see me fight, so it's going to be some fireworks.
"It's going to be a nice fight, but he's very crafty on the ground, so I'm not taking him lightly. I don't take anyone lightly."
It's that kind of focus Forest believes will help drive him to the sport's biggest shows, though he's not in any rush and is simply waiting on the blessing of his coaches and his manager before he turns his focus to gaining an invite to the next level. Right now, it's simply about honing his craft and getting better each and every day in the gym.
"I train between two and four times a day, every day," Forest said. "When it's time to fight, I just go in there, and I just try to perform and have fun. When I'm in there, I'm at peace. I'm only at peace when I'm at war, so I go in there, and a knockout, submission, whatever happens, happens. Then I'll be satisfied."
