Boasting a perfect 8-0 professional record, Jack Shore is one of the hottest prospects in Europe. He will get his chance to add a prestigious title to his resume when he takes on Omer Cankardesler for the vacant Cage Warriors bantamweight title at Cage Warriors 97.
In his last fight, Shore faced a UFC veteran Vaughan Lee and won the fight by a unanimous decision. Unfortunately, Shore broke his hand in during the fight which ruled him out of a potential title fight against Brian Bouland. Bouland faced Ilia Topuria in a fight that would determine SHore’s next opponent. Topuria scored a first-round submission win but missed weight the day before and was thus ineligible for the title.
Cage Warriors then announced that Shore will be facing Polish prospect Jakub Wiclacz for the vacant title. However, Wicklacz was forced to withdraw from the fight in early September and was replaced by German veteran Omer Cankardesler. Despite the several opponent changes and a general feeling of uncertainty over who he will face, Shore remains fully focused on winning the title.
“It is what it is. I’ve people pull out on me on four days notice. That’s why I don’t ever gameplan too much, I don’t ever really worry about my opponent to an extent where it can affect me mentally because pulls out in MMA always happen.”
With Shore seemingly being the face of Cage Warrior’s Welsh expansion, many would understand if the young Welshman was feeling the pressure. On the contrary, Shore is embracing the increased media duties as well as the support of his Welsh crowd.
“I don’t ever struggle with pressure. If anything I think the extra fans and the extra buzz around the event I’ll thrive off that. I always take a big crowd support wherever I go so this time it will be like nothing they’ve ever seen before. Come fight day, my eyes are on the prize.”
At a first glance, Shore’s new opponent’s record is not spectacular but Shore is not overlooking Cankardesler whilst still remaining confident in his own abilities.
“He is very experienced, he’s had double the amount of pro fights I’ve had. He is decent everywhere. He can strike, he can grapple, he can wrestle and most of his wins have been by finish. So he has that ability to put people away so I’m not looking past Omer but I think I’m better in every area and I think come fight night everyone will see that.”
Although he is unwilling to call his shot, Shore is looking to get back to his finishing ways when he steps into the cage on 29th September.
“I just predict the victory and a finish. I don’t know whether it will be a knockout or a submission but I’m confident that I will get a win and I’ll also get a finish. My last fight went the distance so I’ll be looking to go and get this one done inside the twenty-five minutes.”
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