Lee Wieczorek: Loss has taught me lessons (From Echo)

Lee Wieczorek: Loss has taught me lessons

12:13pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in Sport By James Colasanti

LEE WIECZOREK said he had learnt valuable lessons after losing a close fight with UFC veteran Curt Warburton on the judges’ decision in front of 5,000 fans at Wembley Arena.

The 28-year-old from Billericay never felt he was in danger of being stopped in the Octagon on Saturday night’s BAMMA 10 event.

But he admitted he was frustrated at letting Warburton dictate the rhythm of the fight.

“I’ve had a bit of time to think about it now and I did not perform to the best of my ability,” he said.

“He was tough and skilful and I was on the back foot too much, when I should have been going forward.

“And now I’ve realised I was stuck in a rut with the rhythm of the fight, and that was a mistake.

“But I was never close to getting finished, and I know I can be in there with that level of opponent now.

“So it was a learning curve, even though it was very disappointing.”

Warburton was given a unanimous 30-27 decision by the judges at ringside following three bruising rounds which he managed to control without dominating the unbeaten TSG lightweight.

Wieczorek, a railway worker, now plans to rest and recuperate before deciding on his next move in the Octagon.

“I’m not sure what I want to do for the rest of the year,” he said.

“What Saturday has shown me is that I can hang with these sorts of guys, but I need to be thinking more when I’m in there to change the fight when I need to.

“But I know I do not want an easy fight next; I want to get back in there with a similar level of competition and put the frustration of this fight behind me.”

The event was screened live on Channel 5* and in the headline event Burnley’s Rob Sinclair successfully defended his BAMMA lightweight title against Leicestershire’s Andre Winner in a split decision after five rounds of brutal stand-up.