After returning from a 16 month layoff in 2010, it didn’t take long for Garett Davis to make his presence felt throughout Canadian MMA, as the veteran proceeded to score four more wins and win the KOTC Canadian Welterweight Championship. Unfortunately for the accomplished grappler, however, his run came to an abrupt end in July, 2011, when he was struck by a car while driving his bike. Now, after spending another 18 months on the sidelines, Davis is set to return.
“It
definitely was a rough road back,” said the 35 year-old Davis, who will look to
defend his belt against Elmer Waterhen on November 16th, at KOTC Canada’s
“Stand and Deliver” card. “For a year there I didn’t think I was every going to
train or fight again. Then this past July, a year after my accident, my physiotherapist
started having me go a little bit harder with my treatments and I started
feeling a bit better.”
After
a year of setbacks and disappointments, things started turning around for Davis
as this summer came to end. Not only was the Vancouver fighter starting to
recover more rapidly, but after heading to his home province of Newfoundland,
Davis completed one of his crowning achievements.
“I
started teaching jiu jitsu classes and ended up getting my black belt from
Denis Kang,” said Davis. “I became Newfoundland’s first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
black belt. So I was feeling pretty good, and when I got back from there in
September, I went to see my doctor and got permission to start sparring again.
Got in there; my body felt great, and I feel better than I’ve ever felt. I’m
ready to go.”
“I
was into my twelfth year of training,” Davis added, when asked if he suspected
he might receive his black belt from Kang. “I felt I put in my time, but it was
a great time and a great place to actually get it while I was in Newfoundland. It
was just phenomenal...It was one of the greatest days in my life.”
Now
Davis will look to complete his comeback when he takes on Waterhen on November
16th. Waterhen will be returning to the welterweight division, after competing
at middleweight for sometime, where he secured the KOTC Canadian middleweight
belt.
“I’ve
fought a couple of guys like Elmer before, with losing records, but a lot of
time the record doesn’t really show what’s going on,” said Davis about
Waterhen, who submitted Mike Froese in March to defend his middleweight title.
“A lot of the guys he’s lost to were champions. Elmer’s a very experienced and
very tough guy. He’s not to be taken lightly...I’m training for the best
fighter in the world.”
“I’m
ready for this,” Davis furthered. “When I won the KOTC belt it was against the
current 185 pound Canadian champion at the time, Ryan Chiappe, and I just went in there
and did my thing. I came out with submission of the night, submission of the
year and fight of the night. I plan on having the same type of showing against
Elmer.”
Waterhen
has also been involved in many memorable wars, and it will be interesting to
see what type of strategy he tries to employ against the BJJ black belt.
“I’m
pretty sure his team--I’ve fought on the same card as him a few times--they
know who I am and they know what I’m about,” said Davis. “I’m pretty sure he’s
going to want to keep the fight standing and finish me with strikes...It’s no
secret what my game is. I don’t hide it. I’m going to take him down and submit
him. It’s a simple as that.”
Tickets
for “Stand and Deliver”, which will be hosted by Edmonton’s Mirage Banquet, can
be purchased by heading to ClubZone.com or at the Wild West Shooting Centre.
www.goatpr.com
