Former CFFC champ Patrick Sabatini expecting fireworks against eight-time FURY Professional Grappling vet Andrew Kochel
Sabatini, Kochel clash in intriguing co-main event at Friday's FURY Professional Grappling 10 on UFC FIGHT PASS.
On Friday, FURY Professional Grappling returns to Philadelphia's 2300 Arena with an intriguing co-main event, as former CFFC champion and current UFC featherweight Pat Sabatini returns to face another incredibly familiar face in Andrew Kochel, who makes his eighth appearance for the organization.
Sabatini, who is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Daniel Gracie, is a former CFFC champ who now makes his third appearance for FURY Professional Grappling. He has won his previous two matches by submission, taking out UFC vets Niko "The Hybrid" Price and Alex "Bruce Leeroy" Caceres.
At Friday's FURY Professional Grappling 10, Sabatini is once again aiming to perform for the fans.
"Expect some fireworks," Sabatini said. "I like getting out there. I like to try to put on the best show I can for all my supporters, all my fans, and to represent my team and myself."
In his professional MMA career, Sabatini has 11 wins by submission, which he believes is key for him this Friday. While Kochel is known as more of a pure grappler, Sabatini doesn't think his MMA career has resulted in any decline in his abilities in competitions without strikes.
"I think that experience is also going to be a key factor with this matchup, as well," Sabatini said. "I'm not just an MMA guy. I can grapple, too."
Prior to his MMA career, Sabatini was an NCAA Division I wrestler at Rider University, where he quickly adapted to the style of grappling that would help him develop into both a disciplined fighter and individual.
"I feel like it's given me a lot of self-confidence both on and off the mat, as well as taught me many life lessons both on and off the mat," Sabatini explained.
Born and raised in nearby Bristol, Pennsylvania, Sabatini is now looking forward to vocal support from the Philadelphia faithful inside 2300 Arena.
"It is awesome because I know that I'm going to have a lot of people from my hometown that are going to come out and support," Sabatini said.
Meanwhile, Sabatini's opposition has a plethora of grappling experience going into Friday's matchup. Still, Kochel sees the contest as a real opportunity to prove the skills that he owns are enough to conquer any style of opponent on the mat, not just the traditional jiu-jitsu stylists he faces on a routine basis.
"I grapple some of the best grapplers in the world, who do jiu-jitsu full-time, every day," Kochel said. "Frankly, for me, I already fight guys at the highest level of grappling and jiu-jitsu. I think on Friday night, I'm going to show that I belong competing against the best guys in the world."
Kochel has quickly developed a reputation as one of the most exciting athletes on the FURY Professional Grappling roster. His passion for jiu-jitsu came at a young age and helped ingrain a strong work ethic and a never-say-die attitude.
"I started jiu-jitsu when I was about 10 years old," Kochel recalled. "I grew up training my whole life. I figured it just made me a tougher person, in general. I think I'm mentally stronger. I think it made it harder for me to quit at things. I figured it just made me a tougher person just all-around in life."
Kochel is a first degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who already has five victories under the FURY Professional Grappling banner, including most recently a submission win over Matheus Morias by guillotine choke in December. Unique in his creative attacks, Kochel always relies on his own style of grappling to give himself the best chance of victory.
"I go out there and I always do my own jiu-jitsu," Kochel said. "I have my own way of doing things, and I always keep it and stick to that. I like to go out there and create scrambles. I like to confuse people. I'm going to go out there and jump over top of them."
Sabatini is equally capable of submitting his opponents but has a more traditional style, which should be on display at Friday's event.
"I have a mesh of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and college wrestling, and I think my favorite art that I do in the grappling world is sambo," Sabatini explained.
It's an intriguing co-main event that seems to have a real possibility of stealing the show. FURY Professional Grappling 10 streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
