The Grind with Aaron Jeffery
Regional mixed martial arts standout Aaron Jeffery is determined to make it to the big stage no matter what it takes.
Having fought for some of the biggest regional MMA promotions in the U.S. and even headlining his last three regional outings, which all resulted in wins for Jeffery, what else would you expect from the former middleweight champion in Cage Fury Fighting Championships? The long-time premier regional MMA promotion from the east coast has been a hot bed for talent and major feeding promotion for the UFC, Bellator, and ONE FC, and that is exactly what happened here once again as Jeffery recently signed to the Scott Coker led Bellator MMA.
Always one to stay busy, Jeffery has already made a successful CFFC title defense earlier this year in January when he defeated Rex Harris by decision but wants to be even more active with Bellator.
It is that grit and signature grinding style that has taken Jeffery to where he is now and add in impressive 11-3 pro record, and the 29-year-old Canadian fighter receives plenty of attention from fight promoters.
Jeffery typically trains in a few top gyms in the U.S. but has spent months at a time in Vegas for fight camps. However, this most recent fight camp he spent most of his time in his home country training at Aegis MMA and Niagara Top Team in Canada.
“Nothing overly specific. I tend to focus on my own skill set rather than a heavy focus on my opponent,” is Jeffery had to say when asked what his game plan was.
Jeffery states that he did focus on more wrestling defense and looping punches based on some of his opponent’s previous performances but was “surprised he didn’t attempt any leg shots” in their fight together.
All three of Jeffery’s losses have come from opponents who are now currently in the UFC, so you know he is right on the brink himself. Jeffery is also one of the few fighters invited to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series, a weekly fight show case that UFC president Dana White holds a few times each year where fighters compete with one another to earn a UFC contract, on more than one occasion. Both times Jeffery lost, and his opponent eventually went on to earn a UFC fight contract. His second appearance on the Contender Series he lost a decision to Caio Borralho, who did not earn a UFC contract that night. Jeffery also holds wins over two fighters who were on the Contender Series at another time (Bruno Assis and Collin Huckbody), and a TKO win over current UFC signee Andre Petroski who is 2-0 in the UFC.
Jeffery has not taken the easy road in his career and does not plan on it anytime soon. He also knows how close he is to making the big jump, stating, “there have been so many articles written about me that are like ‘fighters on the doorstep’ or ‘one more and they’re in.'”
Jeffery has continued to stay active and knows if he continues to stack up wins that the big promoters will start calling. Jeffery stays as focused as ever with his weekly regime, “it’s like eat, sleep, train, literally,” and says, “Monday through Friday I’m in the gym twice a day, Saturday once.”
With one win already this year, Jeffery is “hoping to get at least two more fights this year” and added “three would be even better.”
