Shannon Ross set for fight on Dana White’s Contender series
3 min read
Aussie flyweight Shannon Ross is just a day away from a potentially life-changing fight, but it was almost off the table, if not for the help of a humble postie.
Ross was supposed to leave Queensland for Las Vegas last week, but his passport was lost in the mail the previous Friday – leaving him scrambling for a solution.
« We were hunting and hunting, me and my wife were going to different post offices and depots – you wouldn’t believe the issues we’ve had with this, just getting here, » he told Wide World of Sports.
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The unsung hero in Ross’ potential rise to the UFC could be an Australia Post worker named Steve, who made an 80 kilometre drive to save the day.
« We got the passport back on the Thursday afternoon – the guy that found it actually drove it to Brisbane airport and met us at the airport gate so we could get out of there, » Ross said.
« Absolutely massive – Steve from the Molendinar Australia Post – he went all the way out to get it from where it was … then drove it all the way back in. »
After some more flight dramas in Los Angeles, Ross finally arrived in Sin City two days ahead of his fight on Dana White’s Contender series – which serves as a de facto audition for potential UFC fighters.
« I’m getting very used to it right now, these little speed bumps, » he laughed.
« We’re ploughing through them. »
The 33-year-old exchanged the Steeden for the octagon a decade ago, and hasn’t looked back.
The former Tugun Seahawks fullback first walked into an MMA gym in 2010, having become interested in the UFC after renting tapes from Blockbuster, and instantly impressed his coaches.
« I’m only a small guy – I fight at 57 kilos and usually walk around at 64, 65, and tackling big Maoris and big front rowers wasn’t too good on my body, » he said.
« I stopped playing footy, I went to a gym just to stay fit and the coach saw a lot more in me than I did. He signed me up for a fight and said ‘you have to fight, or leave the gym’.
The ultimatum worked – Ross won the fight and has gone on to record 13 professional wins, becoming champion in both the Eternal MMA and Nitro MMA promotions.
But, as the full-time mechanic admits, only a step up to the big leagues will allow him to focus solely on fighting.
« I’m a father, I’ve got four kids, a mortgage – that obviously doesn’t pay itself. And fighting on the Australian local scene, that obviously doesn’t pay too much, » he said.
« Even fighting for the Australian titles that I’ve won, it’s a couple of thousand dollars – and over a ten-week camp, you break that up, you’re not getting anywhere with that. »
Ross said this is the first time in his career that he’s taken multiple weeks off work to focus solely on fighting.
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« I’ve had some sponsors come on board and really back me and help me, and get the things that come first and worry about the training and stuff later. And works been really good with giving me the time I need, so I’m really grateful for that as well.
« It’s a hard gig. It’s almost like two full-time jobs, and the family as well, but I’m doing it – and that’s where the confidence comes from.
« I can beat the best guys in the world with no time off work, so imagine what I can do with five weeks off? »
Ross will fight on Wednesday afternoon Australian time, against Brazil’s Vinicius Salvador.
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