New beginnings for humble ‘Hater’

Even before his last fight, taken on a few days’ notice against Ultimate Fighter contestant Mick Bowman, Malone urged people not to call it an upset if he pulled off the win.

In the end he didn’t, and it sparked a flurry of discussion in the Scottish MMA community with many calling on Malone to think carefully about his next opponent and to start working on turning around his 1-4 pro record.

It appears his coaches at the Griphouse, where Malone trains with the Dinky Ninja Fight Team, agreed and they are lining up more competitive opponents for the 19-year-old lightweight.

Malone will square off with Hostile Territory fighter Adam Stevenson tonight (Friday) at Alloa Town Hall, an opponent who represents a clear step down in pedigree from Bowman, but not a step down in desire.

Despite that losing record, Malone is a scalp for anyone in Scottish MMA and Stevenson is a dangerous opponent with bags of heart.

And this time there is no smack talk from the fighter known as ‘The Hater’ -- no declaration that he will destroy his opponent. Just a steely determination that a new chapter in his career is about to get under way.

Days after his defeat to Wolfslair product Bowman at On Top 2 in Glasgow, Malone and DNFT team mates Brian Hyslop and Robert Whiteford jetted off to Brazil for what was supposed to be a six-week holiday, punctuated by some training at Brazilian Top Team.

But the trio were made to feel so welcome at one of the world’s great MMA gyms that the holiday instead turned into a six-week training camp.

Halfway through the camp, Malone was offered the fight with Alloa-based Stevenson after the original opponent pulled out injured.

It was another short-notice fight, but one that Malone and his team felt was the perfect way to start chalking up marks in the win column.

Malone said: “The fight against Bowman was such short notice and I had been preparing for a different fight, so I think it threw me off and messed with my head a bit.

“He was such a high level opponent and I didn’t have the time to prepare.

“This fight with Adam is also short notice, but I was training hard in Brazil anyway and I know a lot about Adam’s game.

“I was in great shape when I got offered the fight and I had decided after the Bowman fight that I wanted to concentrate on proving myself to be one of the best fighters in Scotland.

“This fight gives me the chance to start proving that.”

It’s no secret that training for six-weeks with Brazilians will have resulted in a marked improvement in Malone’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills, but he says that even his already incredible wrestling ability has improved.

“Sometimes in Scotland I don’t get to spar with top wrestlers, but in Brazil I was up against guys at UFC and Strikeforce level every day,” he said.

“My wrestling has come on a lot too because of that and I think my whole game has gone up a level.

“The level these guys are at is sensational.”

Such is the anticipation ahead of this scrap -- a classic match-up between a grappler and a stand-up fighter -- it has been elevated to the main event at Alloa Town Hall.

Malone isn’t making any cocky declarations that he’s going to annihilate his opponent, but he is promising a great fight.

“Adam is one of the nicest guys in Scottish MMA and we get on well.

“But by the time the fight happens, all that goes out of the window and we will both be going for it.

“I know what he’s good at and that stand-up is his strength. He’s also got good cardio and he’s a tough guy.

“But his weakness is on the ground and that’s where I’m very good.”

Also on Friday’s card is an intriguing heavyweight bout between Rab Truesdale and Joe Nugent, who has previously fought as light as welterweight.

A host of semi-pro fights also promise to deliver excitement at a venue that arguably produces the best atmosphere anywhere in Scottish MMA.

A limited number of tickets are available on the door for Friday’s Hostile Territory Fight Night at Alloa Town Hall. Doors open at 5.30pm.