Guyana has what it takes for international stage – Cave
Police Lance Corporal Ijaz Cave was part of a two-man Mixed Martials Arts (MMA) team to represent Guyana in the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Championship in Abu Dhabi last week.
Despite Cave and his teammate Corwin D’Anjou not having favorable results the Police Officer is not only grateful for the exposure but also for those who supported their journey to Abu Dhabi.
Lance Corporal Ijaz Cave sports the Golden Arrowhead on his way to his MMA bout last month.
Speaking with the Force’s Corporate Communications Unit, Cave reviewed their competitive trip, while highlighting that Guyana has the potential to be right up there with the world leaders in the sport.
“I was given a bye into the quarterfinal where I competed against my Swedish counterpart. The fight was interesting, everything was in my favour until a simple mistake which, I mean, I got caught off guard,” the beaming Lance Corporal said in an interview on Thursday.
He continued on the experience, saying, “There’s a lot that I’ve learnt from that experience just going there, because the level of the competition over there is much greater and higher than we would normally expect in Guyana, but the experience was a wonderful experience.”
With whatever tricks of the trade that he was able to pick up in Abu Dhabi, Cave expressed his willingness to share with other mixed martial artists in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and around Guyana.
“I’ve come back with a lot of experience now and I could actually share it, with the other fighters from the Guyana Police Force and other clubs. I’m 100% willing to share knowledge that I would’ve gained from this World Championship,” Cave noted.
When quizzed about the level of competitiveness in Guyana as compared to the international stage, Cave highlighted that there is an obvious distance between the two, but posited that Guyana has what it takes to stamp its mark on the international MMA circuit.
“In Guyana we train hard and everything, but then we got to improve a bit more. Getting to that competition, I think that I did enough and I deserve to be in that league, I don’t think we’re that far behind, but there’s a lot more for improvement in Guyana here.”
He further stated, “There’s room for improvement, but we Guyanese can compete with anyone. We can compete with any other country. We’re there.”
Looking at the 2022 calendar, the Lance Corporal is currently on the fence about participating in an upcoming MMA in-house bout at the Police Sports Complex on February 26. However, while Cave is eager to step back into the octagon in Abu Dhabi later this year for another IMMAF Championships, he is also willing to try his hand at the World Police Games.
“As long as I’m healthy, fit and so on, definitely I’ll be part of it,” the lawman said.
Cave and his fellow Guyanese MMA fighter Corwin D’Anjou came up against Sweden’s Robin Enontekio and Ireland’s Adam McEnroe in the light heavyweight and welterweight classes respectively at the recently concluded championships.
