In the weeks leading up to Sean McCorkle’s first bout since parting ways with the UFC, the man they call “Big Sexy” is confident going into his next match, but nevertheless realistic when assessing his options in the sport after July 23rd.
Prior to his run in the Octagon, McCorkle, with nine wins in as many opportunities on Indiana’s regional circuit, earned a spot in the UFC’s heavyweight division.
Although McCorkle won his first match in the Octagon—a first-round submission victory over Mark Hunt at UFC 119—the Indianapolis native went on to drop bouts against Stefan Struve and Christian Morecraft and was, to the surprise of many, subsequently released by the promotion.
While McCorkle, a self-proclaimed “glass-half-empty kind of guy,” was doubtless disappointed in his run in the UFC, he is looking forward to his first match outside of the Octagon—a main-event bout against Mike Hayes on July 23rd under the Championship Fighting Alliance banner in Miami, Florida.
“I only fought for the UFC three times for a total of about 14 minutes, so I didn’t really get a chance to get too used to it,” said McCorkle in an exclusive interview with Ed Kapp, “Well, hopefully the nerves will be gone for the most part for this match—at least to the level they are before a UFC fight. When you fight in the UFC, if you don’t perform, every fight could be your last with them—the pressure in the UFC is enormous.”
Despite the fact that McCorkle still has to cut nearly 30 pounds to meet the 265-pound weight-limit—a weight-cap that admittedly mystifies “Big Sexy”—the former UFC-heavyweight is more than confident that, come July 23rd, Hayes won’t have anything to special to offer the near six-year veteran of professional mixed martial arts competition.
“I don’t think he poses anything that I haven’t faced before. With only four losses—all coming by decision—in 20 fights, he’s obviously not an easy guy to finish. Which will make it that much more impressive when I do it early.”
Although McCorkle insists that he feels he belongs in the UFC, he is nevertheless aware that there are no guarantees in mixed martial arts and further insists that to get “Big Sexy” back into the Octagon, the circumstances would have to be right.
“I think an impressive win over Mike is definitely a big indicator that I belong in the UFC. I believe he’s close to breaking in the UFC, himself,” said McCorkle. “I think I’m just a few wins away from getting back to the UFC, though. The big thing for me will be the matchup—if and when I’m invited back. I’m not interested in coming back for a terrible matchup, just to lose and get cut, again. I want to make sure that I can stay for a while before I come back.”
Even if he doesn’t get the call, McCorkle insists it’s not his loss.
“Absolutely, [releasing me was the biggest mistake the UFC has ever made],” joked McCorkle. “If they’d kept me, Dana White and the Fertittas would be millionaires by now.”
For mixed martial arts fans on Twitter, don’t forget to follow Sean “Big Sexy” McCorkle at http://twitter.com/#!/bigsexymccorkle and Ed Kapp at http://twitter.com/#!/EdKapp
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