Matt Fowler Coleman Concepts interview on Scrap 7 and ADCC

The Matt Fowler Coleman Concepts interview with Brandon Coleman covered Fowler’s November 22 Scrap 7 match in South Carolina, his goal of winning an ADCC Open gold medal and his plans to climb a bigger mountain. The Asheville, North Carolina, grappler also explained how kickboxing at American Top Team Asheville led him to jiu-jitsu.

What did Matt Fowler say about jiu-jitsu and kickboxing?

Matt Fowler began training at American Top Team Asheville after a college friend introduced him to the gym. He started with kickboxing and had a fight after about 11 months, but MMA rounds exposed his interest in improving on the ground. Once he tried jiu-jitsu, it became his main focus.

From Bruce Lee movies to American Top Team Asheville

Fowler grew up watching Bruce Lee movies, but did not begin martial arts training until adulthood. While he was in college, a friend who trained at American Top Team Asheville brought him to the gym. Fowler, who is from Asheville, described the area’s natural surroundings as one of the things he loves about home.

The shift from kickboxing to jiu-jitsu

After his kickboxing fight, Fowler wanted to get better at groundwork during MMA rounds. Jiu-jitsu felt more natural to him than striking, and he said he fell in love with it soon after starting. He has now trained primarily in jiu-jitsu for almost five years and has nearly given up striking.

He does not treat the later start as a mistake. Fowler acknowledged that beginning at 12 might have made him better by now, but said people find their path at different times. For him, starting in striking was part of finding the sport he wanted to pursue.

What did Matt Fowler say about rock climbing and the outdoors?

Matt Fowler called rock climbing his biggest interest outside MMA and jiu-jitsu. He enjoys its physical challenge and believes the grip strength, upper-body work and flexibility involved carry over to grappling. He also makes room for quieter outdoor activities, including paddleboarding and hiking with his dog.

Rock climbing and a possible Denali expedition

Fowler enjoys different kinds of rock climbing and the adrenaline that comes with it, while emphasizing that he wants to climb safely. Denali is a mountain he would like to attempt someday. He described that kind of climb as a major undertaking that would require focused preparation, much like a competition.

That preparation would compete with time spent on his jiu-jitsu goals, so Denali remains an ambition rather than an immediate plan. When Coleman asked about Mount Everest, Fowler did not commit to climbing it; he spoke instead about his interest in taking on a large mountain.

Hiking, paddleboarding and running

Not every outing needs to be a major climb. Fowler likes paddleboarding on a lake and hiking with his dog, and he regards a hike as a form of active recovery. He said he is thankful that his body lets him pursue activities that matter to him.

Running is less enjoyable while he is doing it, though he values the feeling afterward. Fowler uses it for cardio and as a leg workout because he considers his legs a weaker part of his body. He said the first mile feels manageable before the rest becomes a grind.

How is Matt Fowler preparing for Scrap 7 in South Carolina?

Matt Fowler is treating his November 22 appearance at Scrap 7 in South Carolina as a serious training camp. It will be his first superfight in a cage, a format he expects to feel different from the tournament competitions he regularly enters. He is working on cardio, conditioning and technique for one match.

Earlier Carolina Combat League superfights

Fowler has previously taken part in two superfights with Carolina Combat League. He enjoyed them and wanted an opportunity to compete on a Scrap card. Unlike his familiar tournament-style events, a superfight puts the attention on a single match, which brings him more nerves and excitement.

A first match inside a cage

The cage is new to Fowler, and he said that adds to his interest in Scrap 7. He wants to win and put on an exciting match. With no further tournament matches to save energy for, he plans to give everything he has to this one contest.

He described his preparation as unusually focused, covering conditioning as well as technique. Although he competes often throughout the year, he said repeated tournament appearances do not produce the same feeling as a superfight. That distinction is part of why this opportunity matters to him.

What mountain does Matt Fowler hope to climb in 2027?

Matt Fowler wants to climb a mountain around 14,000 feet in 2027 as a step toward larger objectives. He has not yet hiked a peak that high, though he said he has hiked the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River. A peak in Colorado is one possibility he mentioned.

Fowler wants to build experience before attempting something more demanding. His approach is to see how he handles a 14,000-foot climb, then decide whether to go higher. He would welcome a larger accomplishment, but does not want to skip the first step.

The mountain goal also has to fit around competitive jiu-jitsu. Fowler said a major expedition such as Denali would demand its own concentrated training period and take time away from his goals on the mats. For the coming year, gaining experience at greater elevation is the personal objective he identified.

Why does Matt Fowler want an ADCC Open gold medal?

Matt Fowler wants an ADCC Open gold medal in 2027 after progressively improving across the three or four ADCC Opens he believes he has entered. His closest result came in Atlanta in May, when he reached the bronze medal match, lost it and finished fourth. Gold is now his principal competitive goal.

Fowler has competed in Newbreed events and superfights, but sees an ADCC Open title as the next level for him. The Atlanta result showed how close he had come to the podium without giving him the medal he wanted.

He also intends to keep taking superfights whenever he can. Still, when Coleman asked what he most wanted to achieve in the coming year, Fowler gave the ADCC Open goal priority. Fowler put that ambition plainly:

I want that gold for adcc.