The Predator primed for Proving Grounds title

It has turned into a family affair for the Farmers.

Twenty-year-old Jesse "The Predator" Farmer, from St Louis, looks to improve his 5-1 record against Roy Davis Saturday night with a title on the line. Farmer, fighting out of River City MMA, and Davis, fighting for Fearless Combat, will meet in the middleweight division on the Proving Grounds Grand Prix card Saturday night at the South Broadway Athletic Club where they will fight for the Proving Grounds Fight League middleweight title.

Farmer brings excellent wrestling and muay thai skills into the cage. He has a solid grappling background and possesses solid wrestling. Farmer, looking to springboard his career, is coming off a 14-second first-round knockout win over Dan Schaab on December 1st at the Inner Circle Blood & Ice event. Farmer is the younger brother of former Proving Grounds welterweight title holder Ronnie Farmer, who retired in December with a 4-2 record. The older Farmer feels Jesse has a bright future and it was a good time to focus on the direction of his mixed martial arts career.

"Jesse takes the time to train; he is passionate about being a fighter and has the drive to win," Ronnie Farmer said.

Both Farmer brothers are known for their strong wrestling skills. But Jesse is the opposite of Ronnie, who preferred to ground and pound. Jesse, a right-handed striker, enjoys the stand up game and in his last two fights he has shown he has power in both hands Farmer sets up numerous combinations working off his left hook.

"Rick and the guys at Seven Corner Roads have helped me substantially with my standup game," Jesse said. "I'm a wrestler by heart and now that I'm getting more fights, the more my standup improves. I'm comfortable with my standup and do whatever it takes to win fights."

Farmer is coached by Eric Clarkson, wrestling coach Jon Stottler and his older brother Ronnie. The younger Farmer has the proper attitude towards training and being a versatile fighter moving forward. He makes the time to train and improve in multiple disciplines. He has also spent time training and honing his ground game at Anaconda MMA.

Farmer - with the help of his brother Ronnie - added a more structured diet and workout routine for this fight. These are the little intangibles that help fighters get to the next level. At this stage in his career Farmer is just worried about his next fight. Although in the future he would entertain the thought of turning professional. In the meantime, he is confident taking one fight at a time. He knows facing good competition during your amateur career will lay the foundation for a professional debut and career.

"I have a no quit attitude when it comes to training and preparing for fights," Jesse Farmer said. "I train 100-percent for every fight and can honestly say I leave it all in the cage on fight night."

Farmer said his training is right on cue and he expects to be victorious on Saturday.

Proving Grounds GP will be held at the South Broadway Athletic Club Saturday, March 23. Doors open at 6 pm. Amateur undercard starts at 7pm. Main event card starts at 8:30 pm