An Interview With Bellator Bantamweight Callum Ellenor

An Interview With Bellator Bantamweight Callum Ellenor

By Arwen Sheridan

On the September 25th Bellator bantamweight Callum “Cal Pacino” Ellenor (8-2) will step into the cage in Dublin’s 3Arena. He is set to take on Ireland’s own James Gallagher (9-1) Ellenor is going into with over forty MMA fights under his belt. He is not at all intimidated about taking his place in the main event of what is becoming known as the Jimmy Show. He has never been stopped, and all of his victories have come by way of either TKO or submission.

Ellenor got his first taste of combat sport at the age of twelve when he began boxing competitively. Racking up 26 fights, before leaving the sport at age seventeen. Not long after this, the Sunderland native became involved with MMA. Training with Andrew Fisher, who is still his coach to this day, in a tiny backroom.

His interest in MMA had been tweaked years earlier, when he watched the UFC with his dad, who was working shifts. Growing up in Sunderland, however, he didn’t have an opportunity to get involved himself.

“No one really knew what MMA was where I’m from. When I saw an opportunity to train at that gym, ‘I thought I will pop in and give that a try.’ That was it, I just fell in love with it.”

Part of the appeal with MMA, having come from a boxing background, was that it allowed him to be a complete novice again.

This sense of novelty awakened a new drive in the young man. Before long, Cal Pacino, was taking on amateur fights. Winning the SFC featherweight title in 2011, before making the decision to go professional.

Ellenor made is pro debut in 2012 at the age of 20. He came up against Nathan Thompson in SFC 6, securing the win by submission in the first round. After this win, the English man took some time away from the fight scene to deal with family commitments. When he returned to the cage in 2016, it was as if he had never been away.

“Eventually I went back and it was the best thing I ever did, taking that little break, because it was what I needed to refresh myself. At the time I was just doing it as a hobby. Even when I went pro, I never thought of it as a career…Straight away when I started fighting again, I realised how far I could get.”

He won his next four fights convincingly, with two submissions and a pair of TKOs added to his tally. Ellenor has always had a desire to travel and he was afforded the opportunity to fight in Johannesburg on EFC in 2017. He took the fight at short notice at catchweight and agreed to take on South Africa’s Gareth Buirski.

This was to be the first loss of Ellenor’s career and to say it was controversial would be an understatement. The loss came by way of split decision, after what looked to be a dominant performance by the away fighter. Eventually three new judges were empanelled to re-score the bout, and they did so in favour of Ellenor.

However, as there was deemed to be no foul play, they could not overturn the result.

“I should have the same record as James, I should be 9 and 1…I took it on the chin and just accepted it.”

Ellenor became a fan favourite in South Africa following the Buirski fight, ultimately leading to him being signed with EFC. His next fight for the promotion was to come against “The Poster Boy of the Organization,” Faeez Jacobs, in Cape Town. Ellenor took another South African scalp, by way of submission, late in the first round.

Next on Ellenor’s agenda was the EFC bantamweight world title. Standing in his way was Luthando Biko, another fighter hailing from South Africa.

“It was a good fight, it was a good one to watch, but I had cut so much weight. When I got out there (Cape Town) there was a water shortage, so there were no baths. I had to work the weight off to bantamweight. The night before, I was in the sweat suit, killed myself for hours in the gym…Spent the whole night in the gym.

“Then in the morning, we had to drive somewhere to try to find a bath. The bath couldn’t get hot enough, so there was kettles. It was an absolute nightmare.”

Ellenor missed the start of the weigh in, but eventually made weight. He felt drained going into the fight and he was to lose it by way of decision. Ellenor was very philosophical as he recounted this story. He believes the poor weight cut cost him the title, but that everything happens for a reason.

On the back of the defeat, he has engaged a nutritionist and is chalking the experience down to part of a learning curve. Perhaps a cautionary tale for any young fighters out there!

After his South African adventures, Cal Pacino signed a four-fight deal with Bellator. His first fight with his new promotion was to be against fellow country man Nathan Greyson. Ellenor and his partner were expecting a baby boy in the run up to this fight. Although they had more or less settled on the name Tommy Rubin (after boxing legend Rubin Carter) their little girl Jessie kept insisting the baby’s name was Tommy Grayson.

The couple agreed that should Ellenor defeat Grayson in his Bellator debut, their daughter would get her way. In the first round of the fight, Ellenor executed a submission by rear-naked choke and Grayson secured a new namesake.

With so many submissions on his record, you would be forgiven for overlooking Ellenor’s striking background. I asked him how he had honed his grappling to the point of becoming a submission specialist. His response was elegant in its simplicity. He immersed himself in it. Rolling with the best people he could find, and like a sponge, absorbing everything.

“I feel like if I immerse myself in something, I can really be good at it. That’s what I feel like grappling is for me. I feel like it’s problem solving. I am not the most academic person ever…Jiu Jitsu is a thinking game.”

Looking forward to the fight against Gallagher, Ellenor is under no illusions. He understands how fiercely loyal the Irish fight fans can be. However, his time with EFC has made him no stranger to “hostile environments.” He maintains that being “massively underestimated” going into the Dublin show, will only play into his hands.

“I am going to go in there and lift the roof.”

James Gallagher is as divisive as any Irish fighter, except perhaps McGregor. He has a very loyal following, but equally a lot of vocal detractors. Ellenor, however, has nothing but respect for his opponent.

“I think he’s a really good fighter. I think he deserves to be where he is. It’s because of his level that he is there, but I just think I am better.”

This fight is a huge opportunity for Ellenor. Not only will it give him the chance to showcase his skills, but a successful outcome should put him in the position to renegotiate his contract.

“I asked for this…This is what builds a legacy…That (adversity) is what makes a fighter…When it’s all said and done, you only get a small window of time to do this.”

Ellenor is not just fighting for himself. He is fighting for his kids and for the youth of Sunderland. He wants to give them something to look up to. An example that if you work hard, you can be more. Growing up, local role models were hard to come by and Ellenor hopes he can become one for the next generation.

Cal Pacino’s ultimate ambition is to fight in Madison Square Garden. Bellator 227 could well prove to be a stepping stone in that direction. The card is absolutely stacked. Ellenor is looking forward to a great night of fights, highlighting Myles Jury, Peter Queally and Benson Henderson as stand outs.

Ellenor wanted to thank his team, Team Fish Tank, his trainer Andrew Fisher, Fuel Prep for looking after his nutrition and his sponsors. He wanted to give a special mention to East Coast Jiu Jitsu in Ireland.