By Andy Cotterill
At one point several years ago Calgary’s Jesse “Big Cat” Arnett looked like a shoe-in to make it to the world’s premiere mixed martial arts organization, the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
He had flirted with the promotion a few times, but says that when the call finally came he was denied an exit from the Canadian promotion under which he was contracted.
In 2018 Arnett was riding high on a 12-fight win streak including two over UFC veterans and was broadly considered to be one of the best fighters in Canada.
Then two losses came. The first was to Nate Maness who currently fights for the UFC, and then to fellow Canadian Josh Hill who now fights for Bellator.
For many fighters this could have signalled the end, but for Arnett, this was just the beginning of a new chapter.
During the onset of COVID times the majority of mixed martial arts around the world came to a standstill, but in the United Arab Emirates the fight game was still going strong, and it was here that Arnett found a home.
Since January 2021 he has fought there four times, and in May he became the UAE Warriors Featherweight Champion.
This Friday night Arnett will be defending his belt for the first time, in a rematch with the man he took it from, Jordan’s Ali al-Qaisi, at UAE Warriors 33 in Abu Dhabi.
“I love a good grudge match.” Arnett laughed when speaking with MM-eh earlier this week from his hotel on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, one of the seven emirates within the UAE.
A grudge match that stems from how their first fight ended, a Doctor stoppage for a cut on al-Qaisi’s forehead that led to excited pandemonium in the cage as an incensed al-Qaisi expressed his disdain and anger over the outcome.
Arnett said that initially he thought the fight was stopped prematurely, but upon seeing al-Qaisi up close during his tirade he changed his mind.
“As he’s yelling at me the the blood is pulsing out and it’s hitting everybody.” Arnett said.
“His forehead was hanging out. Any more shots on that would have been bad news because the artery got sliced. That was dangerous if we kept going. If I finished him a little bit later he wouldn’t have been able to fight this week, that’s for sure.”
The duo next met face to face earlier this week at the fight hotel and shook hands, and Arnett told his opponent “Hey man, no bullshit, but best man win, and that’s it.”
During that meeting Arnett said that he got to see where the cut had been, and although it looks like it was cared for impeccably, two months is probably too early for al-Qaisi to be fully healed enough to fight.
“They did a good job cleaning it up because they have the best medics in the world out here, but one or two more punches I’ll guarantee that that thing gets opened up again, and I’ll even say early. I’ll say first round.”
Arnett says that during the first fight al-Qaisi surprised him by being better on his feet than expected.
“Probably out of every one I fought, and I fought some guys at the highest level, he’s probably the best with his movement and the best with this distance management. Even though he’s not hitting me or hurting me he’s really good at pulling off by inches and making you miss a little bit.”
This doesn’t bother the Canadian, however, as he feels that he has the answers to any problems that al-Qaisi may pose.
“I feel I am the better fighter and this Saturday. I’m going to prove it again.”
Jesse Arnett will be cornered by Ali Charkie and Cody Arnett