Eric Moell Intends to Continue Blazing His Trail at XFC 23 in Kentucky

To say that flyweight prospect Eric Moell is off to a fast start in his pro MMA career is an understatement. In three fights over the past year, Moell has spent more time walking down to the cage than he has in the cage itself.

“I think when you add it up; I’ve spent like four minutes as a pro in the cage,” said Moell. “That’s what I try to do, get in and get out as fast as I can. I’m always looking for the finish. I don’t know if it’s exciting for the fans or not, but I want to get in and get out and stay healthy.”

Moell had a bit of a more conventional start in his amateur career, going 4-1 before winning his first three pro fights, though his approach hasn’t changed at all through the transition.

“I don’t see much of a difference,” he told MMAWeekly.com. “On paper it’s supposed to be a difference in the quality of fighter, but I’ve tried to do the same things in there (that I did as an amateur).

“We pretty much game planned and went in there and executed it perfectly. I have a very aggressive style. I don’t like to wait. I go in there and push the pace and take whatever’s there – the knockout, the submission – whatever’s available to me.”

Moell’s standout performances earned him a shot at Friday’s XFC 23 event in Louisville, Ky., and he couldn’t be happier.

“My manager gave me the call and told me he got me on the card and I plan on taking full advantage of it,” he said. “It’s getting broadcast on AXS TV, so a lot of people are going to get to see me perform. So I’m really putting everything into this training camp and I’m ready to get it done.

“The interviews and media and stuff like that motivate me to work harder. I don’t think it’s any pressure. It’s a big opportunity and I’ve got to seize the moment.”

Moell will be facing Team Curran product Joey Diehl in what could easily turn into the Fight of the Night.

“He’s got a solid ground game and his stand-up is definitely flashy and wild with a lot of flying knees and is always in your face,” said Moell of Diehl.

“I’m going to try to focus just on myself and do what I’ve planned and not try to worry about what he’s going to do. I’m going to push the pace and attack from every angle and fight him everywhere; on the floor, in the clinch, against the cage, everywhere.”

Not only has Moell’s career moved fast inside the cage, but he’s making equal speed of the moves in his career and finds himself now in the spot he’s been working the past couple years to get to.

“Between my coaches, my manager and I, we had planned on staying pretty active this year and work towards getting into a bigger promotion like the XFC, luckily it happened a little bit sooner than expected,” he said. “We’re fortunate for that and I’m excited to have this fight and keep moving forward.”