Chris Foster returned to the MMA cage last year after being away for over a year due to injury and he will be looking for his second straight win on April 10 as he will meet Saul Almeida on the preliminary card of WSOF 20.
Foster (8-3) has won five of his last six fights, including a 19 second TKO victory against Taylor Trahan at CZ 51: Thanksgiving Throwdown. It was his first fight since losing to current UFC fighter Rob Font in CES MMA.
Every fighter will tell you how they learn much more about themselves in defeats than wins and for Foster, there is one major takeaway he has from the defeat to Font in 2013.
“It was a big learning experience,” Foster said. “It was a big fight. One of the biggest fights that I have had and I was very nervous heading into the fight. Since then, I have learned how to channel my nerves and calm myself down before big fights like that.”
On April 10 at WSOF 20, he will meet a veteran in Almeida who is currently on a four fight winning streak. Almeida has competed in Bellator previously and two of his last three wins have come by stoppage in the first round. This is a big fight for Foster and he is looking to make the most out of it as he is currently attempting to become a corrections officer.
“I am always looking for a challenge and the next big fight,” he said. “Saul Almeida is definitely a big challenge and I do not know how long I will be in the fight game so I want to get as many big fights as I can. Definitely a great opportunity and I am looking forward to it.”
What are some of the challenges that Foster sees in his upcoming opponent? The main challenge has to go with the lengthy that Almeida beings as he is 6’1.
“He is a very lengthy and long fighter. I have not really fought a tall fighter like that. His jiu-jitsu game is very good from what I heard and he is a grinder. He likes to come forward and he does not back off. He is a pressure fighter and I like that.”
Foster views this fight as a huge opportunity to take my career to another level in this sport and push himself to the next level. He can see the fight going various ways, but they all end up with him walking away with the victory.
“I feel it could go many different ways. I feel like I am very strong on the ground with my wrestling. I am really good with my stand up. I am just expecting to put on a really good show and entertaining fight for the fans of the sport.”