Ben Coyle says pay attention at CFFC 145: 'No other flyweight is really doing what I'm doing'
Coyle has eyes on CFFC title, UFC invite with another big finish on August 30 in Atlantic City
Ben Coyle is a man on a mission, and he has no problem telling it exactly how it is.
"It's UFC or bust, man," Coyle said. "I didn't get into this to say I did it. I have a newborn. I need to make money for my family, and this is how I do it.
"I'm not good at anything else. I don't have a backup plan. I didn't go get a degree in anything. This is what I've been good at since I was a little kid, so absolutely, that's the goal, man."
Coyle has been doing his part to reach that goal as of late. Four straight wins, four straight stoppages, and 5-1 in his past six outings overall. Impressive stuff, but not the full story, Coyle is happy to explain.
That 2023 loss on his record, he'd appreciate if you'd take a moment for a closer look.
"I want to set this straight," Coyle said. " they talk about that one loss that I have out of the six. I flying kneed that kid in 14 seconds. When he took a bad shot, his knees never touched the ground. We freeze-framed it, we sent it all back. The ref made a terrible call. Everybody agreed it was 14 seconds.
"I put him to sleep. How are you going to call me the loser?That's rough, man. I dropped him – flying kneed him – and put him out cold."
In reviewing the footage, Coyle has a point – though a no contest would probably be the most appropriate correction. As far as Coyle is concerned, it's six straight finishes, and he's planning on plenty more.
"Amateur and pro, I've never seen a decision," Coyle said. "It's kill or be killed for me, always. You better finish me. You better knock me the f-ck out. You better choke me out because if not, it's going to be a rough night.
"Man, I'm aggressive. I do things that in real time, I'm willing to take risks that most people aren't. It puts me in the position to get the knockouts that I do. No other flyweight is really doing what I'm doing on the regional scene."
Coyle's current run is incredibly impressive, but some early stumbles have prevented him from getting a look from the big show at this point in his career. Coyle makes no excuses for that 1-3 start to his professional run but actually takes pride in the recovery he's mad since that point.
"I was on a 1-and-3 skid coming off a head-kick knockout," Coyle said. "I had so many little variables in my life that were plaguing me at the time, and not that I want to make any excuses, but it just wasn't the best time in my life.
"I went on a three-fight skid and then came back and got six finishes in a row. That's something that's not really talked about either. I was forgotten about. I went from a very, very highly touted prospect as an amateur to somebody that was forgotten about as a pro, and now everybody's got to keep their eyes on me, and everybody's had to eat their words with me, and that makes me happy as sh-t, man."
Coyle (6-4 MMA, 3-2 CFFC) will look to extend that streak when he returns to action at CFFC 145, which takes place at New Jersey's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on Saturday, August 30. There, he takes on Oscar Jurado (4-2 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) in a bout that streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS following preliminary bouts on OnlyFans.com/cffcmma.
Coyle is promising another explosive appearance.
"I've never thought, 'Oh, let me see if I can skate away with a nice win here and just get a three-round decision and just get to the next spot," Coyle said. "No, that's never it. I want make sure my fans are excited. I want to make sure I put somebody the f-ck to sleep. I want a finish. I want a beatdown."
Another victory, and a CFFC title shot could linger in Coyle's future. Reigning titleholder Bilal Hasan is currently recovering from injury, and there's talks of a possible UFC invite, as well.
Coyle doesn't want to look past the task at hand but says he doesn't really care who he faces on his way to his own UFC call. Just line them up, and he'll do what he does best, and the rest should take care of itself.
"I think the flyweight division's coming up again, but it was dead there for so long, and I think that they're lacking in people like me who are outspoken, who will say what they want and aren't afraid to get into a full-blown fist fight," Coyle said. "What I produce as a fighter, it's the image they want. That's all I care about, is finishing people.
"If you can buy tickets and show up and support, thank you, but if not, just tune in. It's going to be a violent fight."
