Young out to scratch seven-year itch

Shane Young is returning to the UFC octagon with renewed excitement.

It has been almost two years since the Kiwi featherweight made the walk to the cage under the bright lights, and longer since he competed in front of a crowd.

But as he prepared to meet undefeated American Blake Bilder at UFC 284 in Perth tomorrow, Young said: “I feel focused, I feel excited; I haven’t felt this excited for a fight since I was a teenager.”

The 29-year-old will welcome Bilder (7-0-1) to the UFC, with Young (13-6, 2-3 UFC) out to end a tumultuous chapter of his career.

After making his debut at short notice against now featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, Young put together backto-back wins but had his momentum stopped by injury.

After more than a year on the sidelines, he returned in late 2020. His initial opponent was forced to withdraw a week out from the bout, the replacement fighter missed weight and ultimately knocked Young out in the first round. He was back in March 2021, and members of the team he was travelling with caught Covid-19. There was concern he would be unable to fight. He was cleared but lost a unanimous decision. “I feel everything happens in cycles of seven,” Young said. “For the first seven years of my career, I was undefeated. The last seven years have been the most tumultuous in my career, and I feel the next seven years are going to be the big payoff. That’s why my body feels excited; my spirit knows what’s about to happen.”

While sidelined for an extended period, Young makes his return in great shape after working with strength and conditioning coach Steve Pipe, something he said has made a significant difference.

The card will be headlined by one of the biggest fights in UFC history, as Volkanovski — the promotion’s No 1 pound-for-pound athlete — looks to add the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev.

Young said fighting on the undercard of the man he faced in his UFC debut, as well as returning in Perth in front of a close-to-home crowd were all “good omens”.

“I know what I bring. I’m going to work my game plan and look for a dominant finish.”

Fellow Kiwi Justin Tafa returns from injury in a heavyweight bout against Parker Porter, while Young’s City Kickboxing teammate Tyson Pedro will also be in action.