Photo by Mikhail Valentin/XFC MMA
Kenny Cross Excited About The Future After XFC 43
Interview with Kenny Cross above
Kenny Cross took some time to talk with MyMMANews the Sunday following his big win at XFC 43. The lightweight picked up a second-round win over Jarel Askew to move him to 12-3 in his career. Xtreme Fighting Championships (XFC) is not a new promotion, but what they are doing is new to NBC Sports Network. Bringing MMA back to the network is likely bringing a lot of new eyeballs on a roster that is sure to gain attention in 2021.
Cross was motivated and happy to be on the journey he is taking with the XFC on NBC Sports Network. This was displayed by the energy he had to do the interview while wearing some XFC swag driving his car on a Sunday afternoon. “Through all my experiences this was the most fun I’ve ever had,” Cross said when asked about how he wound up with the XFC. He added, “The whole process you know? Leading up to the fight, press conference, weigh-ins, the actual fight, the all-around experience was amazing.”
Cross’s victory over Askew has him advancing in the lightweight tournament. If you missed his finish, you can watch it here. He and Tom O’Connor, who also won during the FITE TV prelims are now scheduled to face each other next. Cross said they were all in the same area leading up to the event and that he enjoyed the interactions with other fighters. “Even being around you know; potential opponents, future opponents, it was cool. Different approach to the fight game,” Cross said of his experience and he did speak with O’Connor before XFC 43.
During the post-fight interview during the broadcast, he was told O’Connor was his next opponent, so when asked about any interactions leading up to when they could potentially be facing each other, Cross said they spoke, “a couple of times. He asked me about my Contender Series experience, backstage before the fight.” Cross added, “I like the kid. I think he’s really cool.”
However, in the cage, there are no friends and despite any build-up, both men have a job to do. With their eyes on winning the lightweight tournament, Cross says, “It’s a tournament bracket. You’re gonna get to know these guys and that doesn’t change the outcome of the fight. I’m going in there. You know there’s no friends in this sport.”
Cross is now focusing on MMA full-time and with the opportunity, XFC is giving him on NBC Sports Network, the future seems bright. If he is on their next event which is said to be in February of next year, Cross had a message for his sponsors and supporters, “In two months we go back to war and I can continue to put my name, my reputation tied with yours. We can continue to put on for each other. So, yeah; I’m excited for the future.”
