The Titan FC debut of Cody Bollinger did not go according to plan as he was defeated by Andre Harrison and he will look to get back on track tonight when he meets Freddy Assuncao in a featherweight bout at Titan FC 34.
Bollinger (17-4) has alternated wins and losses in his last four fights and just like every fighter, “The Cali Cowboy” learns more about himself in defeats.
“It’s hard and a roller coaster of a life living this career,” Bollinger told The MMA Report. “You can not sit on the past like that and dwell on it too long. I had my time to reflect and hopefully I will learn a little bit from it and it’s all about Freddy right now.”
With that being said, what did Bollinger learn from his defeat to Harrison at Titan FC 33?
“I think I was too calm as weird as it sounds. I usually come in really aggressive and really fast paced in my fights,” he explained. “I have been working a lot on staying calm and comfortable in there because I noticed in previous fights that I would throw these big hard shots and miss. Be off balanced and have to take a couple of extra steps. It was not very technically sound and I noticed the calmer I was, the better the technique was and I think I was just too calm in that fight. I have been trying to balance and going back and fourth. Keeping the aggression with the calmness and comfortableness. It’s a weird mix, but I have been trying to balance it.”
This will be the first time that Assuncao steps into the cage for a fight since January of 2014. With that fight taking place so long ago, is Bollinger counting on a fighter that may be anxious to make something happen in the cage?
“I am definitely counting on that and that’s his style anyways from what I have seen. I got to see him live in WSOF once. He is a tough, aggressive, always moving forward, explosive, throws ten punches in row and clinches type of style. I am counting on that anyways and hopefully his nerves kick in and is a little anxious from not fighting in almost two years. We will capitalize on that and if not and a totally different fighter that’s fine. I have my own game plan. Got my own style and I am not looking to change it for anyone.”
In the buildup to Titan FC 34, several fighters on the card have talked about making a statement to the mixed martial arts community. For Bollinger to make a statement, he knows he needs to get a finish because a decision over Assuncao does not help him.
“Just go out there and be technically sound. Stay busy, active, and be creative. I have a lot of creative stuff and I do a little bit of it in my fights. Every fight I draw up some weird stuff and it always lands for so reason. I am going to be looking to have fun and keep the aggression. I always have fun in my fights, but lose the aggression half way through the fight. An impressive win for me — balancing the calmness and aggression. Having fun and opening up and being creative. Obviously, a finish. I am going to need a finish. A decision win for me over Freddy does nothing for me. As big as his name is and as tough as he is, beating him by decision doesn’t help me. I am going to need a finish to put a stamp on this fight to let people know I am still here.”