Terrion Ware Has BAMMA USA Title and a Trip to the UFC in His Sights

If there were a fighter riding such a high as bantamweight Terrion Ware is heading into the March 28 BAMMA USA: Badbeat 12 show, you would be hard pressed to find him.

Having won five fights in a row, with finishes in four of them, Ware has rebounded nicely off only the second loss of his career, which came against Jared Papazian a year ago.

“After the Papazian loss, the biggest thing for me was just getting into focusing more on what I do as opposed to what my opponents are doing,” said Ware. “I think that’s been the biggest change is that I’ve just been working smarter and have won my last five fights.”

Another factor in Ware’s success has been that since his pro debut in June 2012, he’s fought 12 times. And it’s that constant fighting that has helped develop his game more than just mere training.

“(My schedule) allows me to be active and I think it’s definitely helped,” he said. “I think you learn more in the cage than you do in the gym.

“Training is training, but fighting is definitely different. Getting a lot of looks, getting a lot of fights has grown my experience and helped me a lot as a fighter.”

Because Ware (10-2) has performed so well of late, he’s earned a 135-pound title shot against Eric Winston (5-1) at Badbeat 12 in Commerce, Calif., on March 28.

Ware told MMAWeekly.com that this upcoming fight would be the toughest challenge he’s faced in a while.

“He’s well-rounded; he’s athletic and is going to be my toughest fight since Jared (Papazian),” said Ware of Winston.

“I think the advantage that I hold is in my speed, my stand-up, as well as in my conditioning. This is scheduled to be a five-round fight and if it goes that far, I think I can push the pace and wear him out. Keeping it on the feet will definitely be to my favor.”

While Ware is focused on the task at hand, he admits that it’s hard not to think of what winning the BAMMA USA bantamweight title could mean to his career.

“I try to not think about it for the most part and put more pressure on myself than I already have,” said Ware. “If I think about it, it’s for a title, and people who have won the BAMMA USA title have gotten the call to go to the UFC. So it’s kind of hard to ignore it, but I feel like I balance it pretty well.”

Should Ware continue on his current hot streak, making his step up to that next level could very well happen this year.

“Winning the title for them was one of my goals since I first started fighting for BAMMA USA,” said Ware. “I like the way they put on a show. You definitely get eyes watching you fighting for them. Now that the show’s going to be on (Go Fight Live) PPV, now you’ll have more people paying attention.

“Hopefully if I win this title I will get a call from the UFC. If not, hopefully I’m just another fight or two away.”