CFFC champ Luke Fernandez sees big opportunity in FURY Professional Grappling 10 headliner
Facing UFC vet Eryk Anders, Fernandez aims to shine: "I'm really just looking to get my name out there against a big-name opponent."
On Friday, FURY Professional Grappling returns to Philadelphia's 2300 Arena for the latest edition of the submission grappling series, and in the night's main event, reigning CFFC light heavyweight champion Luke Fernandez (3-0 MMA) will square off against current UFC middleweight and four-time FURY Professional Grappling veteran Eryk Anders (16-8 MMA).
Fernandez, who hails from nearby Lacey Township, N.J., is making his FURY Professional Grappling debut and is thrilled at the opportunity he's been presented.
"I'm excited to show what I've been working on in practice and in training," Fernandez said. "I'm really just looking to get my name out there against a big-name opponent."
Fernandez is a Dante Rivera Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu representative and a previous National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American at Elizabethtown College. He credits that wrestling base for his continued involvement in submission grappling, as well, and says his mindset as a grappler is to dominate every situation that presents itself and to stick to the gameplan from start to finish.
"I mean, it's just been a big part of my life ever since I started to get into the space of combat sports with wrestling," Fernandez said. "I think staying smart is important in grappling because one little bad move can kind of put you in a bad position, and then it's hard to really come back against a high-level opponent."
Meanwhile, Anders is no stranger to the FURY Professional Grappling mat. "Ya Boi" has competed four times for the promotion, earning a 2-2 record in those appearances, including victories against current UFC welterweight Charles Radtke and reigning CFFC middleweight champion Kyle Daukaus.
While best known for his MMA success, Anders actually credits submission grappling for changing his life.
"I just found myself walking that wrong path – drugs, alcohol, and fighting all the time," Anders recalled. "I just kind of needed something to channel my energy into something else and blow off steam in a much healthier way. It's clearly changed the trajectory of my life."
Anders' ability to use grappling to change his focus and to make better decisions for himself is a story to which many can relate and displays a potential importance of grappling as a whole, beyond simply the competition on the mat.
Returning to FURY Professional Grappling just seven weeks after his overtime win over Radtke, Anders said his motivation for this matchup comes simply from his love of the sport rather than any aim at beating another reigning CFFC champ.
"I just love competing," Anders said. "I love grappling. It's just awesome to be able to do this, get paid to do this, and it keeps you busy in between fights. It hones your skills, and grappling keeps you sharp."
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Anders trains out of Spartan Fitness MMA in Birmingham, Ala. The 17-time UFC veteran believes his chief key to victory is to remain disciplined in his approach.
"I can't make any mistakes and give up my back," Anders said. "A big, strong guy like that on your back is going to – there's consequences for that. You know, I leave my arm out, he grabs my arm, there's consequences for that, so I've got to stay sharp, not make any mistakes, and just go out there and have fun and do what I do.”
One aspect of grappling that Anders and Fernandez share in common is their approach. Both competitors like to use an aggressive, high-paced style against their opponents, and each believes that will be showcased on Friday night's event, streaming live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
"I think just naturally, I'm an aggressive person, an aggressive fighter," said Anders.
"One word: slick," Fernandez said. "Pressure, but also slick,"
