Jaleel Willis
Record: 11-2
Age: 27
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Memphis
Next Fight: Saturday vs. James Horne at Summit FC 34 in Tupelo, Miss.
Background: [autotag]Jaleel Willis[/autotag]’ journey through MMA is an improbable one. He never intended to be a fighter, but that’s the direction life swung him in. Working at a T-shirt stand at a local fair, Willis stepped into his first fight the day of the show. Against all odds, Willis won. The victory lit a fire under the Tennessean. He delved deep into MMA, and his success continued. Willis won his first eight pro fights, competing in Bellator and WSOF prelims along the way. In the span of three fights, Willis lost two fights against Kyle Stewart and Harvey Park. Both were LFA headliners. Since then, Willis has won back-to-back fights by unanimous decision.
The Skinny: Fighting on a scrappy regional scene, Willis hasn’t had a ton of finishes. While he could improve in that department, he dominated in making fights ugly, wearing down his opponent and picking him apart. His success in the wrestling and ground-and-pound department is undeniable. Let it be clear: Willis is a very good fighter. He’s just lost at the least ideal times. It’s unlikely the bad luck will continue the next time he reaches such a peek. A win Saturday could set him up for a next-level fight, whether it be in the UFC, Bellator or Dana White’s Contender Series.
In his own words: “I think the way I get ready for fights (makes me stand out) – my preparation. … My idea is, if you give me a date to prepare for him, my team and I will have a game plan together. Like Jon Jones and his team, we’ll pick this fighter apart or at least have it to where I’m comfortable enough to implement the game plan and keep it going from there.
“We absolutely know the Contender Series is within in our reach. It’s been within our reach before, but I’ve had blown opportunities. With that being said, I could sit back and wait. I’d be coming off (three) wins. When they start matching up Contender Series, I firmly believe I’ll get on. The bottom line is I want to perform. When I get my time to shine in front of (UFC matchmakers) Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby, I want them to see I’ve grown. This isn’t the same Jaleel they’ve seen on the prospect lists over the past couple of years.”