After frustrating end to 2020, Jack Shore has his sights set on a big year in 2021

Jack Shore had hoped that 2020 would be the year he made his mark on the UFC bantamweight division, but circumstances out of his control have forced that plan to be pushed back a year.

Former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion Shore (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) signed with the UFC in 2019 and claimed a first-round rear-naked choke win against Nohelin Hernandez on his octagon debut at UFC on ESPN+ 18 in September 2019. He then returned to action on “UFC Fight Island” in July and made it two from two with a third-round submission finish of Aaron Phillips, again by rear-naked choke.

But his hopes of making a quick turnaround to squeeze in another fight before the end of the year were dealt a blow when a combination of factors left him stuck at home in Wales without a fight and rearranging his plans.

Shore had jumped back into camp following the win over Phillips, and was booked to face Khalid Taha in Las Vegas at UFC on ESPN+ 40. But problems getting his visa for his first fight on U.S. soil prevented him from making the trip as he was forced to withdraw from the matchup.

“We had a delay with the visa, so I went to the embassy, and, for some reason, they shut down for the day – I think it was for an emergency,” he explained.

“They sorted me an appointment for last Monday, so it would have been around 10 days later, but that was when I was due to fly for the Nov. 7 fight. I wasn’t able to get out there on time, so the UFC said they’d push me back to the 21st and they were going to work on an opponent. Unfortunately, nothing came of it since. They did have a name but unfortunately, he was injured, and it didn’t come off.”

It means that Shore, who has effectively been in camp for the last 14 weeks, will only have the one fight to show for his efforts in 2020, when he’d originally hoped to compete two or three times in the UFC during the calendar year. Now the 25-year-old is taking a considered approach to his next move and plans to return in the first quarter of 2021 fresh, rested, and ready to kickstart a big year.

“To be honest, I’ve been in camp a long time, so physically and mentally my body is going to need a rest,” he explained. “Obviously, I’d like to enjoy Christmas with my family and my girlfriend, so realistically I think it’s going to be the new year before I fight. My coaches have put a lot of time into me, so they’re going to need some time to relax, as well. It’s just one of those things, I’d love to jump the gun and get straight back in there January or February, but at the same time, I’ve got to be smart, as well. I can’t just keep training now and push myself to burnout and get in there and not be 100 percent. So it is a tough spot that I’m in, but guys have had a lot longer layoff than I’ve had, so it’s just about staying patient, trusting in the process and seeing what opportunities come up.”

Looking at his current situation in the UFC, Shore said that he’s in a tricky position, with his record and reputation, combined with his unranked status, making him the sort of fighter others may prefer to avoid.

“I’m in a bit of a spot, to be honest,” he admitted. “I’m not ranked, so it’s tough for me to ask for a ranked opponent or someone who’s on the verge of being ranked, because I don’t have a number next to my name. However, at the same time, I have got that undefeated record and a little bit of hype behind me, so I’m not really a fight people are busting to take, if that’s not blowing my own horn. The division is stacked from top to bottom. I’m very fortunate now to be in a division that’s full of killers. Every single fight is going to be a competitive fight, whoever you’re in against. It’s a shame I’ve only been able to get one fight in this year, when I would have liked to have got three fights in and be pushing for a ranking spot.”

With Shore looking to put a tricky 2020 behind him, the Welshman is staying positive and said that he is ready to keep a busy schedule to push himself toward a spot in the rankings by the end of next year.

“I want to earn my spot. I want to earn my ranking if I officially get one eventually,” he said. “After this year, come March time, I’ll be raring to go and I’ll be ready to fight every couple of months. I really do want to have a big year next year, and if that means fighting whoever they put in front of me, that’s what I’ll do.

“By December next year I want to have had at least three fights and three big wins. If that doesn’t earn me a ranking, then I want to be in a spot where for the year after I can push toward the top 10. I’m a very respectful guy and I appreciate how good the division is, but I’m not here to make up the numbers. I’m here to cement myself as one of the best in the division. So in 12 months’ time, I’d like to think that a lot more people are talking about me.”