Question: Is Josh Fremd’s next victory a step towards redemption or simply another paycheck?
The air hung thick with uncertainty after Josh Fremd’s last UFC outing. The decision loss to Andre Petroski was, he admitted, “super boring.” A palpable frustration lingered in his eyes as he stepped out of the octagon. His mind raced, questioning where to go next. Then, a lifeline – an opportunity against Abdul Razak Alhassan at UFC Vegas 98. It wasn’t the fight he’d hoped for, but it was a chance to regain momentum and silence those who had questioned his ability to compete in the Octagon.
“I didn’t care who it was,” Fremd announced, “I just wanted to get back in there.” The fighter’s voice held an eager crackle as he spoke of the anticipated brawl. He knew Alhassan sought a knockout, and that both fighters were hungry for victory.
The bout would be an explosive display of striking prowess. “We are going in there and try to take each other’s heads off,” Fremd said with conviction. “We aren’t going to wrestle, it’s going to be a good fight.” He knew Alhassan’s success against wrestlers fueled his own confidence. “I feel like I have advantages in many places so I’m excited about the matchup.”
Fremd acknowledged the wrestling threat posed by Alhassan, but held firm on his conviction of being the superior striker. “One of us is going out,” he vowed, a hint of ruthlessness in his voice. “I’m either going to come out on my shield or I am going to knock this guy out or I’m going to submit him.”
He’d learned from the last fight; he yearned for action and excitement. “I won’t go into too much detail,” Fremd explained, “But I am very disappointed in my last performance, that was the most boring fight I’ve ever been in and I just want to go out there and I want to show what I am capable of.”
If Fremd manages a win at UFC Vegas 98, he admitted, his next steps were unclear. But the victory would be more than that; it would be a lifeline, ensuring he’d stay afloat in the unforgiving world of professional MMA. “I’m not thinking past that,” he said, voice steady. “I’m just thinking about the fight. Any win in the UFC is good, but against him would do me benefits.”
The question now shifted to how this victory would reshape his career.