Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres ready for Brave CF debut
Brave CF is one of the fastest growing MMA promotion in the world, and in late 2018, they signed one of the top free agents in Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres. The signing meant that Brave CF was a legitimate promotion and fighters wanted to fight there.
For Torres, after fighting in what is thought as the pinnacle of the sport in the UFC, signing with Brave CF was a dream come true.
“The big thing is I had a background with them,” Torres said. “I knew most of the guys there. When everything played out, that when I was released from the UFC, Brave wanted me. They wanted me when I was with Titan. It was a new promotion and I didn’t know what would happen next, and out of nowhere, it is now one of the biggest promotions in the world. I wanted to be a part of that.”
Being a part of that is exactly what Torres gets to do. He will be in the co-main event in his Brave CF debut against undefeated Swedish fighter, Amir Albazi. Torres knows Albazi is a tough competitor, and it will be a tough fight for him.
“I know he is a great fighter, I’ve talked to people who know him,” he said. “He is phenomenal at jiu-jitsu, and he is great on top. His style is wrestling, to take you down and beat you up with submissions and ground and pounds. I think that is an exciting type of fight because I like to stand and trade. I do have a good wrestling background and I think it will be hard for him to take me down.
“But, it is a two-style fight. He is more of the ground fighter and I’m more of the standup fighter. It really depends on what style will take over this contest,” Torres continued. “It’s exciting because Brave isn’t trying to give tune-up fights they are giving me top level fighters right away. 11-0 vs 8-1, Bellator vet vs UFC vet so it is a huge contest. I believe in the Philippines, out of the 10 fights, everyone is from a different country so it’s like we are representing our own country.”
Ultimately, with a full training camp to prepare for his debut, Torres is confident in his ability. He knows he has what it takes to become a world champion in Brave CF and it all starts in his debut against Albazi. However, he isn’t sure how the fight will play out.
“Honestly, I don’t know. He is a very aggressive fighter,” Torres said. “He hasn’t lost before, and I lost my last fight. I’m looking to redeem myself and push the pace. I want it to be known, that one, you won’t be able to take me down, two, if you do take me down you will regret it. And, three, I’m out here for blood. I’m trying to be the double-weight-class-champ and he is in the way.”
For now, Albazi is standing in his way as he mentioned. Torres knows given he has fought in the UFC, 19there is a target on his back. He knows fighters want to beat him to show the rest of the world that they are a force to be reckoned with. Ultimately, Torres doesn’t plan on that happening.
“100 percent. The thing too is that I’m not a UFC vet who is older or past their prime. I’m 26-years-old, I’m very useful and not even entering my prime,” he explained. “I have already stated I want to be Brave’s first ever double-champ and this what all these guys want to do is stop me. You see me on all these big podcasts and shows where I’m promoting myself so if they want that, they have to get through me.”
Right now, the focus is on the fight and training. The training camp is well underway and he will travel to the Philippines earlier than normal to accustom himself to the time zone and culture. Even with all that, Torres is excited to fight in the Philippines. He understands how important martial arts is to the country, and can’t wait to make the walk to the cage in his Brave CF debut.
“I can’t even imagine the crowd, especially when Stephen Loman walks out,” he said. “You don’t have to be Filipino for them to like you as long as you put on a great show. It is an amazing thing and that is what I’m most looking forward to.”
Although ‘Shorty’ Torres has yet to make his Brave CF debut, he is already seeing the difference in promotions. Torres believes he is much more respected in Brave CF and can’t wait to start off a long successful career with the promotion on March 15.
“For me, it really is a cool thing to finally be respected as a fighter,” Torres concluded. “I have done so much as a fighter as an amateur, in Titan and am a UFC vet but wasn’t given that much of a chance to shine. Brave is making up for that.”
