Updated 10/04/2012 05:06 PM
Local MMA fighter on big PPV card Saturday night
This Saturday night will be one of the biggest events of the year for Mixed Martial Arts fighting. A pay-per-view event in Providence, Rhode Island will feature the debut of former WWE star Dave Bautitsa. But fans locally will be keeping a close eye on one of the fighters on the undercard, where Watertown's Marc Stevens will fight. YNN's Brian Dwyer talked with Stevens about the opportunity to shine on such a big stage.
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WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- A recent loss leading to eight weeks of training harder than ever before.
Watertown's Marc Stevens is just days away from getting his chance to show the world what he can do in the cage as part of CES 13 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
"It's a good fight," Stevens, who's record is 14-7, said. "I'm back at 155 where I belong. It's a fight I should win. I've been training super hard. I'll get back on the winning track after that close loss."
Stevens has been working with all sorts of coaches and experts, including former Binghamton University All-American wrestler Justin Lister.
It's hours and hours of non-stop wrestling and non-stop sparring. Lister says he's pouring on the heat and doesn't feel sorry for what Stevens has been going through.
"That's my point, to push him to that breaking point and have him put past it. Every time you break through that, he's one-up more mentally," Lister said. "That's the whole game of winning, that mental aspect."
"Getting beat up, getting your head smashed into the mat over and over and over again. Getting taken down over and over and over. It's mental toughness. It's physical toughness. For me, that's what wins fights," Stevens added.
Eight weeks of also sacrificing on some of his favorite things, mainly food. He's on a strict 2,000 calorie diet until fight night.
"I don't get to have ice cream every day. I love ice cream. I love pizza. I don't get to have any of that stuff. I put all that stuff aside and then I go out, put on a show and win and I bring it all back here to Watertown."
Stevens understanding how important Saturday night will be. The entire MMA world will have its eyes on the main event, featuring the debut of former WWE star Dave Bautista.
All those eyes, will be watching Stevens a few fights before. It's the kind of exposure that can catapult careers.
Stevens is also scheduled to fight in November for Bellatore. That bout will air on MTV-2.