Kevin Pease eyes gold ahead of CFFC 127: 'I just want to rack up all the championships I can get'
Undefeated welterweight prospect is putting in the work and aims to show his level at Friday's event on UFC FIGHT PASS.
If it feels like maybe you just saw undefeated welterweight prospect Kevin Pease competing for CFFC, it's because he did. After picking up an impressive second-round submission win at September's CFFC 125 event, "Sweet Peas" is back in action just seven weeks later, looking to add another victory to his undefeated record.
"I've just kind of picked up right where I left off," Pease said. "I felt phenomenal in the fight, and every time I get back into camp, I'm always worried about, you know, how's my shape going to be? How is this going to be? But my shape was awesome, which always makes my confidence high, and I felt strong.
"I felt that experience that I got from the last fight really helped my sparring and being sharper and seeing more opportunity, so I feel great against the greatest."
Pease fought an incredibly gritty Caleb Jensen at CFFC 125, dominating in the grappling game before submitting a clearly wounded foe. Despite the impressive performance, Pease is his own toughest critic and wanted to do even better, which is why he quickly got back to work in improving his total approach to fighting.
"It's extremely tolling, but this is what the people want," Pease said. "They want guys that are active. They want guys who can fight at multiple weight classes. They want finishers. They want guys that can fight for titles, and I want to show that I can do all of that.
“I know I just need to trust myself even more. Trust that I have enough power. I'm fast enough. I'm strong enough that I can see everything coming and that I can threaten my opponents in more than one way."
Pease (3-0) returns to action at Friday's CFFC 127, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Mississippi's Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino, where he'll face a more experienced Carlton Terrance (3-3). Pease has done some initial scouting and is excited for the stylistic matchup.
"He's a 6-foot-1 southpaw like me, so I'll just be bringing out different weapons because it's not an open-stance matchup," Pease said. "It's a closed-stance one, so I'm excited to use some tools I don't get to use as often and I'm just worried about doing what I do. I see he's pretty good everywhere and he comes to fight, but I do all that, too – and more, you know? I want him to be worried about what I'm doing, what I'm going to be putting on him, more than what he's going to be putting on me."
With another victory, Pease will certainly join the conversation for future CFFC welterweight title shots, especially with the belt currently vacant following former champion Charlie Radtke's move to the UFC.
Pease knows there is still work to be done to have his name thrown in the hat for that opportunity, but he's acutely aware of the possibilities.
"I feel like my career is right on schedule," Pease said. "Right now, I'm just working my way to the belt. I want that belt, and if a bigger show doesn't come and pick me up, I wouldn't mind going for another belt, too.
"At this level, I just want to rack up all the championships I can get because I'm extremely motivated by gold belts. I love them, and the more of those I get, the more awesome performances I can put on before I get a call up to somewhere. That's what I want."
While nothing in the fight game is guaranteed, Pease certainly seems to be on the right path. With the fast-rising Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu squad serving as his home base, he regularly travels to Florida's Kill Cliff FC for fight prep, as well, and his skills progression has been apparent each time he steps in the cage.
Pease hopes to show he's upped his game once again, quick turnaround or not.
"I just feel like if I do my best, it's going to work out one way or another," Pease said. "Of course, everyone has fears of failure, but I don't think I'm going to fail because I feel like when you put everything that I put into this sport, it never denies you.
"Guys lose in MMA when they don't give their life to MMA, when they don't make the 100 percent commitment – because MMA doesn't care who you are, doesn't care about your name or how much money you have. It cares about the work, and that's what I always put in, so I have no doubt it's going to work out in the end, and I love the journey just as much as getting the wins and the results. I love the process."
Could a title shot come next with a win? Perhaps, but Pease understands the things that are outside of his control. Those championship opportunities are eventually inevitable, he believes, as long as he continues to deliver each time he steps in the cage.
"I have a lot of great people in my life helping me out," Pease said. "My mother supports me all the way, my wife taking care of our son and taking care of my home back out in Memphis, and then my sponsors, Platinum Jewelers, helping me out during camp and Let It Fly Sports Bar in Memphis, as well. Those guys make all this possible and allow me to just focus on the task at hand.
"Shout out to my coaches: Rosendo Sanchez, Said Saporov, Kill Cliff FC, the best team in the world – and then my team at Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu back at home. You know, I wouldn't even be anywhere without those guys, so just shout out to those people.
"Right now, I just want to put out another highlight tape. I just want to show that I'm ready for the title shot right now, that you can put me in that fight right now and I'll dominate whoever they put in front of me or the champion. It doesn't matter. I'm ready for anything they put in there with me, and I think a good highlight will show that."
