BANGOR, Maine — “The” Ryan Sanders was pleased with the outcome of his last nationally televised mixed martial arts bout, a second-round submission victory over Luis Felix in January at the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
What the Young’s MMA fighter was less than enamored with was the cageside perception that Felix verbally tapped out only after suffering a knee injury.
“We both know how the last fight really ended,” Sanders said.
The controversy surrounding that first meeting will only fuel the emotions when Sanders and Felix meet again June 10 as the main event of CES 36, which also will be held at the Twin River Casino and televised as part of AXS-TV’s “Friday Night Fights” series.
At stake will be Felix’s CES lightweight (155-pound) title.
“I wasn’t happy with how it ended last time, and now I get a chance to prove that what happened wasn’t a fluke and wasn’t an injury,” Sanders said. “I’m also happy because this time I’ll have a full camp to prepare for Luis, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge he presents because he’s the No. 1 guy in New England.”
Sanders (10-7, one knockout, eight submissions) took a nontitle fight against Felix at CES 32 on 10 days notice after the original opponent pulled out because of injury.
This time, he’ll have eight full weeks to get ready.
“I’m going to be in the best shape of my life, and we’re going to have a chance to get a game plan together, and hopefully implement that game plan and take him apart and get the win,” said Sanders, now ranked second behind only Felix among New England lightweights.
“When you go in on 10 days notice, you don’t really get the chance to dissect your opponent — you just fight. But when you get eight weeks to prepare, you get to implement some things against what you think are chinks in his armor.”
The 6-foot-1 Sanders will seek to use his height and reach advantages against Felix, who comes from a wrestling background.
“It’s a contrast in styles,” Chris Young, Sanders’ trainer, said. “Ryan usually is a lot different than his opponents. He has a unique style, so it’s very hard to mimic the way Ryan fights.
“Felix is a shorter, stouter, a wrestler-boxer and a left-handed fighter. Ryan switches stances and is longer and taller and more of a jiu-jitsu guy on the ground, so their styles are very different.”
Felix (14-9, five KOs, five submissions) will be able to devote his full training camp to Sanders.
Last time, the Providence, Rhode Island-based fighter who has fought on 11 previous CES cards was preparing for a shorter opponent who specialized more in wrestling. Sanders provided a quite different challenge on short notice.
“I know he’s going to come out better this time because he’ll have the same amount of time to prepare for me as I’ll have to prepare for him,” Sanders said. “It’s just that I’m working harder and putting more time in the gym than I ever have, and I’m more confident, too.
“My head’s in a great place, and that’s a key to fighting — that mental part. I feel unstoppable right now.”
Sanders will enter the bout with a three-fight winning streak since dropping from the 170-pound welterweight division to the lightweight ranks. That run includes a five-round, split-decision victory over Lucas Cruz last October at the Portland Exposition Building to win the Toe2Toe lightweight belt.
Adding a second regional title belt on June 10 would only add momentum to Sanders’ quest for continued upward mobility within the MMA world.
“When you first start fighting, you always want to be taking another step up the ladder, and this is just another step in the right direction,” he said. “It gives me a chance to show my skills on a national stage and let everyone else know I’m ready for these fights and that I’m ready for the next step up in competition.”
