Veretennikov arrives with a record that includes 10 knockout wins and just one submission finish. Despite that clear leaning towards the striking arts, Williams said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Kazakh turns to his grappling as soon as he gets a taste of the Detroit native’s thumping punch power. And if it does play out that way, he said he’s more than ready.
“I’m super excited, and there ain’t no telling, you know?” he said.
“One day, they’re a striker. The next day, they get in there, they get touched, and they turn into a grappler. So I’m just prepared, wherever the fight goes. I’m just prepared to go out here and do my thing and have some fun out there.”
For a fighter with natural one-shot knockout power like Williams, it can be easy to become obsessed with chasing the finish. But as he has matured as a fighter, he’s understood that to get the KO, the rest of your game needs to be on point, too. That knowledge has powered his work in the gym as he continues to round out his game, which, he says, will only make him more dangerous.
