Three-time World title holder Bruce "The Preacher" MacFie (centre) assisted with training for the upcoming Cowra MMA fight night.
Cowra mixed martial artists were given special tution from one of Australia’s best exponents of stand-up fighting on Monday night.
Multiple World and Australian title holder, Bruce “The Preacher” MacFie put participants through a rigorous kickboxing workout in a bid to sharpen their skills for the upcoming “Adrenaline Rush” fight night in Cowra featuring local MMA fighters and kickboxers.
Australian Muay Thai royalty greeted Cowra mixed martial artists on Monday when Bruce “The Preacher” MacFie dropped in for a training session.
Here to impart his expertise to students in preparation for a planned Cowra MMA “Adrenaline Rush” fight night on September 15, no-one is better credentialed than the Brisbane-based three-time World and multiple Australian title holder when it comes to striking.
With 143 professional fights under his belt and 87 wins (30 plus by way of knockout), MacFie is a 17-year middleweight veteran of the kickboxing ring having mixed it with the toughest men in one of the most uncompromising sports on the planet.
MacFie shot to international prominence in 2007/2008 as part of The Contender Asia reality series airing to 400 million people across the continent and is renowned for his aggressive fight style and instantly recognisable by his myriad of hair-colours on Fox sports Muay Thai broadcasts.
“I get treated like a celebrity when I go away from Brisbane so I really enjoy it,” he said.
“People have only seen you on TV, so it is good to meet fight fans in person.
“I have been trained by so many good people, I am happy to pass on my knowledge of nearly 150 fights. Where I’m at, I believe, is the best of everything - it’s not just one person’s view.”
Currently out through injury, MacFie refereed Muay Thai fights in Orange on Saturday at the Conquest 2 fight night, where two world titles were up for grabs and he’ll be staying in the area for a further two weeks conducting seminars and training sessions.
MacFie said most of the central west MMA gyms seem to take down based - Judo, jujitsu, wrestling.
As MMA requires a proficiency in many disciplines he’s just helping out with what he knows - stand-up.
“I’m training both gyms who will oppose each other on the Cowra MMA fight night and showing them the same things, therefore they’ll be on the same level,” he said.
“What they do with it, it’s up to them. Teaching someone something once doesn’t automatically mean that they will walk away a better fighter.”
The 34-year old believes he still has a few carefully selected Muay Thai fights in him.
However, he won’t be stepping into the cage as a novice MMA fighter.
“I feel that I am passed my day of giving it a go and trying something new,” he said.
“Because of my success in Muay Thai, I can’t have an easy MMA fight and I don’t see the point in jumping in the deep end and getting beaten by a lack of experience. I have worked hard to build a formidable reputation and I’m not going to throw that away.”
MacFie feels that he has been blessed to have longevity in the sport where injury can force good fighters into premature retirement.
He credits commitment and dedication combined with an amazing ability to recover as the secret to his success - definitely not luck.
But why was the boy raised in a Christian family drawn to the sport?
“I just love punching on,” he said.
“It’s fantastic pushing boundaries and limits but this is my thrill seeking. Some people jump off cliffs or go parachuting for their thrill, but Muay Thai fighting is my adrenaline rush.”
Cowra’s September 15 “Adrenaline Rush” fight night details released in coming weeks.
