Sam King is quickly earning a reputation as being something of a quick starter.
In less than a year since King made his amateur mixed martial arts debut, the Regina product is undefeated in three bouts—including a stunning first-round knockout and two impressive first-frame submission victories.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, King, a standout wrestler while at Archbishop M.C. O’Neill High School in the Queen City, emphasized that he isn’t surprised by his early success in the world of mixed martial arts.
“Not at all,” the 21-year-old featherweight offered when asked if he was surprised by the success that he has found in the sport. “I spend time in the gym—I’m there every day. I work hard. I’m not surprised by the success—I’ve been putting the time in for it.”
“Sam puts in the time. He’s at the gym every day,” Miles Anstead, an undefeated professional mixed martial artist who has trained with King for much of the past two years, noted earlier this year.
“Sure, he’s definitely a natural, but he puts in the time … He’s a very committed guy.”
King is confident that he will add to his resume and bolster his reputation at Saturday Night Fights 6—where he is to take on Alberta’s Ian Odland in the card’s main event in Regina on Dec. 1.
King is hoping for another fast finish—“I want fights to go as quick as they can,” he offered with a laugh—but he is adamant that all that matters is picking up another victory regardless of how long it takes.
“Ideally, my hand will be raised,” the always confident King said with a slight laugh. “If it lasts two rounds then I’ll be in it for two rounds. We train for longer than two rounds at our gym.”
Ed Kapp is a Regina, Saskatchewan-based freelance journalist. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations were obtained firsthand.
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