Richie Lewis says CFFC debut, New Jersey homecoming were always his destiny: 'This was actually a long time coming'
Toms River native headlines CFFC 145 on Saturday, August 30 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Hailing from Toms River, New Jersey, Richie Lewis knew from a very young age that he wanted to compete in the UFC, but with a natural aptitude for wrestling that saw him eventually claim a world championship and a loving mother that insisted on a college education, "Savage" had to put those plans on hold.
Now, however, Lewis is ready to make that dream a reality, and after spending the past several years living and training in Florida, building the foundation for a successful fighting career, he's back in his home state and looking to take a big step forward in his CFFC debut.
"This was actually a long time coming," Lewis said. "I'd just been really wanting to come back to Jersey, and CFFC really wanted me to get to fight for them, but the stars just weren't aligning, and I was in a phase in my career where I was in a skill development phase, so I wasn't necessarily trying to get locked down, and it just just wasn't for me at the time. Now I'm in a different phase of my career where it's more about competition and winning championships – develop my career, making money."
Lewis did make one appearance for CFFC BJJ, formerly known as FURY Professional Grappling, back in 2022, earning a decision win over promotional stalwart Andrew Kochel. That was the event that saw Lewis and Eddy Torres engage in a heated exchange at weigh-ins, and it seemed a CFFC debut inevitable. Instead, it took almost three years to finally make it happen, but Lewis says the circumstances are absolutely perfect now, from the promotion to the venue to his recent work with the team at GTGym.
"Now I'm in the prizefighting stage of my career," Lewis explained. "So to come back home on a platform like CFFC in New Jersey at the Hard Rock – I'm training at this beautiful private facility. We have everything. I have all the resources here.
"It was just was a culmination of the right things happening at the right time and me being in the right place in my life, and I'm going all in, and I need Jersey behind me, and that's just what I want to represent, man."
Lewis (6-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) will look to take a massive step towards his UFC dream when he squares off against a fellow promotional newcomer in Benny Orozco (5-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC), who brings a three-fight win streak into the contest and has earned submissions in four of his five professional victories. The two clash in the main event of CFFC 145, which takes place at New Jersey's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
The night's main card streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS following a preliminary card that streams exclusively at OnlyFans.com/cffcmma.
Lewis will always have his wrestling pedigree as a base, but he believes he's now fully developed as a mixed martial artist and brings more than that to the table.
"I mean, no one could go toe-to-toe with me with the wrestling," Lewis said. "I don't want to give too much away on my of strategy and stuff, but I mean this kid comes to fight, and if he's going to come to fight me, he's going be in for a world of f-cking trouble.
"I'm focused on a finish here."
So while it seems this CFFC debut perhaps should have come years previously, Lewis believes his performance will show fans it was worth the wait. Everything has come together for this moment, where a raucous crowd is expected, and "Savage" is looking to shine in the spotlight.
"It sure feels like destiny," Lewis said. "I don't know how many people are coming out for me, but it might be the whole cageside. I don't know yet. We don't just come with general admission, you know? We bring the ballers out.
"I'm going to come in there August 30, Saturday night at the Hard Rock, and I'm going to be a f-cking rock star. I'm going to feel that energy in the room. I'm going to use it to propel me, and I'm going to f-cking multiply it and give it right back to the people – and then they will know."
