SHEM ROCK AIMS FOR REDEMPTION AGAINST AL-SELWADY AT UFC LONDON
“I’m here to win, I’m here to fight and I’m here to get paid.”
haqueme ‘Shem‘ Rock is keeping things simple for his UFC return at UFC Fight Night: London on March 21st.
Rock (12-2-1) will take on Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady (15-4) on the 21st of March and is determined to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss in his UFC debut last year.
Looking sharp in his preparations, Rock has been refining both his striking and ground game ahead of fight week, and we caught up with him after a recent session to discuss his mindset.
Sharing the card with Next Generation MMA teammate Luke Riley, Rock believes the energy from the crowd will fuel their performance, with a strong travelling support expected on the night.
Having fought in the European promotion Oktagon previously, Rock often found himself competing away from home, but this makes little difference to the proud Liverpudlian aside from fan support.
He said: “Fighting in London is the same as fighting abroad to me - I’m a scouser, Liverpool’s home.”
Rock believes it made sense for the UFC to recruit him and fellow UK talent as the promotion continues to expand its presence with deeper regional representation and high-action cards.
Hinting that injuries hindered his last performance, ‘Shem’ is now looking to get back in the win column and secure a bonus.
Focused on making an immediate impact in his return, he added:
He said: “I’m here to win, I’m here to fight and I’m here to get paid.”
For Rock, UFC Fight Night: London is more than just another fight - it’s a chance to make a statement.
He said: “My only goal is to go out there and kill the guy in front of me.”
Doubling down, he promises us action: “The Shem Show is back, make sure you tune in because I’m coming to kill Kareem.”
With the fans behind him and a clear redemption narrative driving him forward, Shaqueme ‘Shem’ Rock is ready to make a statement on the London stage and reassert his place in the UFC.
Henri is a reporter with experience covering a range of combat sports events and fighters across the UK scene. He has previously written for independent newspapers and has regularly covered promotions including Cage Warriors, PFL and Kingdom Combat Championship. His main focus is MMA, with additional interests in boxing and bare-knuckle boxing. He specialises in fighter interviews, pre-fight features and event reporting. Henri tries to bring genuine passion for combat sports into his writing. He enjoys being close to the action as well as capturing the build-up, bringing coverage to the fans who want to stay informed or learn more about what goes on behind the scene.
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