Despite a main event title bout against William "Bubba" Bush at the April 9 Legacy Fights event in Houston, Artenas "Machine Gun" Young immediately opened the door when Shark Fights came knocking with what he described as "the opportunity of a life-time."
Young told Dominic Velando that upon arriving in Albequerque to begin his month-long training camp with Greg Jackson's camp and Keith Jardine's Mean 1 fight team, Young asked his manager to reach out to Shark Fights on a whim. The Amarillo-based promotion is set for a high-profile event in Lubbock on March 11 to be televised on HDNet. Just two hours later, Young's manager came back with news that Shark Fights was in need of a middleweight and also promised an appearance on a June fight card.
After a tune-up work out, Young (4-2) and his management immediately went over the match up with Shark Fights-veteran Kyle Bracey (4-1). Within hours, the contracts had been signed.
Within a few more hours, Young received a text from a fellow Houston fighter who had been asked by Legacy Fights to replace Young.
Then, Legacy Fights promoter Mick Maynard told TheCageDoor.net last night that Andrew Craig will replace Young. "“If Artenas can avoid injury or any type of long term state mandated suspension there is a very good chance we can still have him compete on the card; with the possibility of getting a title shot later on,” Maynard said.
Young seems to effortlessly gravitate toward big fights, an ability that surely comes from his limitless confidence. The Strike-force veteran told USCombatSports.com before being pulled from the Legacy title fight, "[The Shark Fights deal] happened within 30 minutes. Boom. The next thing you know, [Shark Fights] needed an answer...I prayed on it, I took a deep reath and I realized, hey, this is why I train. This is what I asked for. It fell in my lap. Take the fight and you can still fight in April. You'll be just fine."
Ultimately, Young is just fine indeed, as he is still in the Legacy title picture, and wining his Shark Fights debut against Kyle Bracey surely won't hurt.
Despite the eagerness with which Young and his camp signed with Shark Fights, they also exercised extreme caution going into this match. Young's last fight ended in a stunning knock out loss in November to Jarred Taylor that was nominated for US Combat Sports' 2010 KO of the Year and has clearly taught "Chico" a valuable lesson.
"I made about six or seven phone calls within 30 minutes, got everybody on the line pulling up information [about Bracey], digging deep," Young said. "I have to protect my career. It's not about protecting myself physically. There's nobody out there right now on my level that can hurt me."
Young claims that the spinning-back fist and finishing blows that cost him the Worldwide Gladiators Championship title to Taylor didn't hurt him. It certainly derailed the hype train, though. Young believes that the shocking defeat was all part of a greater plan.
"When we were backstage, instead of getting warmed up, there was tons of people back there. It was like a pre-fight party going on," Young said. "There was no focus for [that] fight. So that's what I learned. That before you get to the big leagues, and before big shows start coming at you, you better learn what it's gonna take to be succesful in this business. And that's what I feel like that fight did for me: it gave me that focus of being a true professional and made me realize-- you better take it serious. Every single fight."
Faith and ambition have formed Young's belief that not only was he destined to lose in order to gain a valuable experience, but that Bracey will serve his purpose in propelling Young's career.
"I think Kyle Bracie is, unfortunately for him, is just where he's supposed to be at right now," said Young. "He is the guy I'm supposed to beat and he's just there, man. He's got to do his job. He's got to do his job and show up so I can do mine."
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