"I can't think like a fan and get stuck into the hype - it wouldn't serve me well in the fight."
He rates 25-year-old Auckland-based professional fighter Israel "Style Bender" Adesanya as the man to beat on the night. "He's a cut above the rest," Williams said.
Adesanya, whose titles include WKBF New Zealand cruiserweight and light-heavyweight champion and IKBF New Zealand Super 8 champion, is the first Kiwi to compete on kickboxing's biggest international stage, the Glory World Series.
Adesanya's ritual for fight day is "get bald, and just relax and do whatevs".
"I feel awesome. I've had my mind on this since April. I've jumped a few levels up on my training. My strategy is to whoop any man that stands in front of me that night ... pretty basic."
Fellow Auckland fighter Slava "Scarface" Alexeichik also carries a host of titles under his belt. The current HKMTA South Pacific Super-middleweight and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion and former WKBF NZ super-middleweight and light-heavyweight champion is set to make waves in this weekend's eight-man. "I feel very confident. I have done all the work if not more and come prepared. All I have to do now is make sure I can put it all together on the night."
Alexeichik's fight day technique includes relaxing and watching movies.
"I like to watch my old fight DVDs. [It] takes me on a trip down memory lane, plus there are some good older fights of the generation before me, like Choppa [Shane Chapman], Jan [Antolik], and Tony [Angelov] that really get me in the mood for a good punch-up."
Hailing from south Auckland is WKBF cruiser and super-cruiserweight champion, Pati "Arsenal" Afoa.
Afoa also looks set to spend his Saturday preparing for war by being in relaxation mode.
"I just chill and hang with friends and family for good vibes."
The 36-year-old is aiming to come out on top in a potential rematch from last year's eight-man with North Shore's Jamie "The Kyokushin Kid" Eades.
"I'm bringing full arsenal this time," Afoa said. "[I've had] good preparation [and I'm] ready mentally and physically, and I feel excited to fight a pretty awesome line-up."
Eades, a 26-year-old originally from Wellington, is the current WKBF and WMC pro champion, and former amateur TBA super-cruiser and WKBF cruiserweight champion. He has a wealth of experience in tournament-style competitions thanks to karate.
Eades' dream match would be with Adesanya in the final.
"Israel and I have fought twice before and have a win apiece, both on split decisions. A rubber match in the final would be poetic."
He's also keen to be pitted against Masterton 23-year-old Zane "Hybrid" Hopman.
"Zane beat my brother a few years back and has a good record, including a gold medal at the world champs," Eades said.
Hopman is revelling in the chance to be amongst the country's best, and the opportunity to show fight fans what he has to offer.
"Whatever is placed in my path I will take head on." Fight day preparation for him includes "good music and good food ... [and] lots of naps and stretching".
Hastings-based fighter Andrew "Bulldog" Banham doesn't have a particular routine on fight day.
"I like to spend some time visualising the fight I want to have, but try not to focus on it too much either; just going out and doing something to take your mind off the fight for a bit can help because that day can go pretty slowly if you're playing the waiting game," the 38-year-old former WMC and WKA NZ cruiserweight and WKA South Pacific light-heavyweight champion said.
"It's hard to have a strategy going in when you don't know who you're fighting, but if you try to conserve energy for later fights you may lose and it's all for nothing, so you have to take 100 per cent effort into every fight."
Current WMC North Island heavyweight champion, Pukekohe-based Zack "Fearless" Fatamaka, 27, is taking a similar approach.
It's his first eight-man tournament. His strategy is, "fight 100 per cent with no holding back".
His fight day routine is going to include "lunch at home with my kids and partner".
