On the sport’s biggest stage, the next step is always the most important of a fighter’s career. For Daniel Cormier, the aforementioned step will be his first as a UFC fighter and it will come with more expectation and attention than most have warranted in their Octagon debut.
Living up to the hype isn’t the issue for the former Olympian because he asked for the pressure. The Louisiana native could have easily entered the UFC fold with a mid-tier opponent and taken precautions to ensure the next chapter of his career was an all but guaranteed smooth transition.
But if you know anything about Cormier, then you understand his pursuits are motivated by a level of self-expectation to compete and achieve at the highest levels imaginable. And rather than test the waters of his new home in the UFC heavyweight division, the AKA-trained fighter is jumping directly into the deep end of the pool.
It’s Cormier’s desire to find out exactly where he stands amongst his peers and in order to clearly gauge his progress as a mixed martial artist, the 34-year-old wants a battle tested challenger who has stood where he one day hopes to be.
This Saturday night in San Jose, “DC” will square off with former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir in the co-main event at UFC on FOX 7. It is a matchup which pits one of the sport’s fastest rising heavyweights against a man who has proven to be one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.
The war of words between the two men in the pre-fight build-up has the tension meter running hot and with the stakes high for both heading into San Jose, the stage is set for Cormier to makes his first impression with the UFC fan base a memorable one.
“I’m just excited,” Cormier said. “I’ve been waiting and working really hard for this opportunity and it’s finally here. Some people never get the chance to get what I’m about to get – not only fighting in the UFC but on FOX. Co-headlining a big event against a former UFC champion, I couldn’t ask for more. I love big time competition and I’m just pumped up.
“Frank has talked and talked and he just does it over and over. He just likes to talk and I’m not sure if he actually thinks I’m not very good or he’s just trying to convince himself that he’s not in over his head. I don’t exactly know what the purpose is or his motivation behind it, but I’m a pretty level-headed guy. I’m not going to be so pissed off; I’m going to lose myself in this fight. I’m going to keep my head about me but that’s the beauty of our sport. He can talk and say whatever he wants, but on April 20th, he has to go inside that cage and back all those words up. If you don’t then it doesn’t look very good on your behalf.
“Obviously that aspect doesn’t bother Frank very much because he talked against Brock Lesnar and got his ass kicked,” Cormier added. “He’s still talking about Brock as a matter of fact. He talked about Shane Carwin and got beat up too. He’s still talking about Junior dos Santos after Junior beat him the way he did. Obviously talking trash and getting his ass kicked does nothing to his pride. I guess he can go out there and get beat up on and still feel pretty good about himself the next day.
“Normally you get beaten up on and it humbles you but that doesn’t seem to be the case in Frank Mir’s world. I don’t quite understand it, but at the end of the day he has to get in that cage and try to back all those words up he’s said about me.
“His comments actually show me he has no earthly idea what’s coming at him. It’s going to be a high pace. He’s going to have to wrestle. He’s going to have to grapple and I won’t give him any place to rest. I really do think he has no idea of what he is in for. The first mistake of fighting is not being respectful of your opponent and his comments have proved he doesn’t respect what I bring to the table. I respect Frank Mir as much as any person in the world for his skills, accomplishments and everything he has done. I’m not sure he feels the same way about me and that is going to make it a big eye opener when we step in that cage on April 20th.”
Since the early days of mixed martial arts, wrestling and jiu-jitsu have been two of the most dominant disciplines in the sport. Over the years there have been stretches where one has bested the other and vice versa, but as MMA and the fighters who compete have evolved, competitors from each discipline have been forced to adapt to the intricacies of the other. With Cormier vs. Mir, the highest levels of both wrestling and jiu-jitsu will be on display. That being said, Cormier believes the man who is the better all-around fighter is the one who will emerge victorious this weekend in San Jose.
“The game changes and it’s much harder for a person with dominant skill to be successful and remain successful,” Cormier said. “We watched Georges St-Pierre fight recently against Nick Diaz and he beat him everywhere. He not only out-wrestled him but took it to him on his feet when they were standing. That is what you see nowadays. The guys who are at the top of the sport and continue to keep their spot there have no glaring holes in their games.
“Just because a guy is really good at jiu-jitsu doesn’t mean I have no jiu-jitsu. Whether or not I’m a white belt in jiu-jitsu, I’ve been grappling my entire life and jiu-jitsu is a form of grappling. I’ve done it my entire life and I understand positioning. I understand where my arms are. I understand where my feet are. Obviously we all make mistakes and when fighters make mistakes is when they get submitted. But if you look back at a lot of his submissions they aren’t very recent. I’m comfortable fighting him anywhere. I don’t think it’s my wrestling that will nullify a guy’s jiu-jitsu; I think it’s my understanding of grappling.
“The game changes but the rules aren’t much different,” Cormier continued. “You don’t get triangle choked if you don’t have one arm in and one arm out. That’s a fact. It’s harder to armbar you if you don’t put your hands on the mat on opposite sides of a guy. I think that is where you would see a lot of wrestlers get submitted a few years back because we would take people down and put our hands on the mat. Well don’t put your hands on the mat and it makes it a lot harder for a guy to armbar you or lock up a kimura.
“It’s all about hand positioning and posturing to do damage. You have to recognize where you can do damage. Listen, if I’m in Frank’s guard he has a better chance of doing something to me rather than if I was in half guard or in side control. There are some positions I can get myself to where I’m a little more safe. It’s not as easy as just taking a guy down and submitting them. Just like Josh Barnett told me. He said back in the day you could get leg locks and knee bars easy because nobody knew how to defend them. That isn’t the case anymore. We train in all positions and prepare for everything that can happen. Guys are way more skilled in all situations and that’s the truth. There is no way around it.”
As Cormier prepares to begin the next chapter of his career, it’s easy to forget that there aren’t very many chapters which have preceded it. He made his Strikeforce debut in September of 2009 and three and a half years later, he will step in against a top-ranked heavyweight for his UFC debut. Granted, in that short amount of time he wrecked shop through the Strikeforce Challengers Series and went on to win the Heavyweight Grand Prix, but on the larger scale, Cormier is very much a work in progress.
But it’s the process of that progression and the ingrained attributes which have carried over from his storied wrestling background which have allowed the former Oklahoma State standout to make such a large impact in a short amount of time. By all intents and purposes, Cormier is a workhorse who isn’t afraid to test himself against competition that resides at the level he desires to be.
It may seem like a bold move to some, but for Cormier – it is the only way he knows how to operate.
“I’m coming up on four years in this sport and I’m not sure if that’s considered young, but when I fought “Bigfoot” Silva I hadn’t even been fighting for two years yet,” Cormier said. “I hadn’t even been in the sport for two full years. I’m not talking about time training or having an amateur career. I had wrestled, took a year off to work in an office, started training in September and then I started fighting. Three weeks later I was fighting for Strikeforce.
“I fought a guy in Silva who is getting ready to fight for the UFC title and had been fighting for less than two years when we stepped into that cage. You have to improve with your competition. I didn’t have the luxury of an amateur career or a background in standup. I have a background in wrestling and I took those things and applied them to mixed martial arts. I took my work ethic and my ability to train consistently and applied it to what I’m doing in mixed martial arts.
“As my competition has gotten better, I hope that I’ve gotten better in the process. My coaches and people who see me on a daily basis have all told me that every time I step in to fight, I have looked better than the last time. That means something to me. The fans have noticed an improvement from fight to fight but the people around me every day see all the little things I’ve improved at since I began. Consistency is key — but it is developed in the training room, not just in the cage.”
“This is a dream come true,” Cormier concluded about his UFC debut on Saturday night. “It’s awesome. I wanted to put myself in a position by winning fights, being as impressive as I can be, and competing at the best I possibly can so that when I did get to the show I wasn’t opening events on the preliminary card where people are just getting into the arena. I wanted to be there when the energy is up, it’s late in the card and people are excited to watch me and another great fighter fight. Or me and another person they recognize fight.
“This is the ideal situation and what I have prepared myself for. This is what my manager DeWayne Zinkin, Bob Cook and my team at AKA prepared me for. We all set a goal that when I reached this level I would be fighting in big fights. This is exactly the situation and scenario we envisioned. It is exactly where we think I need to be at this point in my career.”
On the sport’s biggest stage, the next step is always the most important of a fighter’s career. For Daniel Cormier, the aforementioned step will be his first as a UFC fighter and it will come with more expectation and attention than most have warranted in their Octagon debut.
Living up to the hype isn’t the issue for the former Olympian because he asked for the pressure. The Louisiana native could have easily entered the UFC fold with a mid-tier opponent and taken precautions to ensure the next chapter of his career was an all but guaranteed smooth transition.
But if you know anything about Cormier, then you understand his pursuits are motivated by a level of self-expectation to compete and achieve at the highest levels imaginable. And rather than test the waters of his new home in the UFC heavyweight division, the AKA-trained fighter is jumping directly into the deep end of the pool.
It’s Cormier’s desire to find out exactly where he stands amongst his peers and in order to clearly gauge his progress as a mixed martial artist, the 34-year-old wants a battle tested challenger who has stood where he one day hopes to be.
This Saturday night in San Jose, “DC” will square off with former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir in the co-main event at UFC on FOX 7. It is a matchup which pits one of the sport’s fastest rising heavyweights against a man who has proven to be one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.
The war of words between the two men in the pre-fight build-up has the tension meter running hot and with the stakes high for both heading into San Jose, the stage is set for Cormier to makes his first impression with the UFC fan base a memorable one.
“I’m just excited,” Cormier said. “I’ve been waiting and working really hard for this opportunity and it’s finally here. Some people never get the chance to get what I’m about to get – not only fighting in the UFC but on FOX. Co-headlining a big event against a former UFC champion, I couldn’t ask for more. I love big time competition and I’m just pumped up.
“Frank has talked and talked and he just does it over and over. He just likes to talk and I’m not sure if he actually thinks I’m not very good or he’s just trying to convince himself that he’s not in over his head. I don’t exactly know what the purpose is or his motivation behind it, but I’m a pretty level-headed guy. I’m not going to be so pissed off; I’m going to lose myself in this fight. I’m going to keep my head about me but that’s the beauty of our sport. He can talk and say whatever he wants, but on April 20th, he has to go inside that cage and back all those words up. If you don’t then it doesn’t look very good on your behalf.
“Obviously that aspect doesn’t bother Frank very much because he talked against Brock Lesnar and got his ass kicked,” Cormier added. “He’s still talking about Brock as a matter of fact. He talked about Shane Carwin and got beat up too. He’s still talking about Junior dos Santos after Junior beat him the way he did. Obviously talking trash and getting his ass kicked does nothing to his pride. I guess he can go out there and get beat up on and still feel pretty good about himself the next day.
“Normally you get beaten up on and it humbles you but that doesn’t seem to be the case in Frank Mir’s world. I don’t quite understand it, but at the end of the day he has to get in that cage and try to back all those words up he’s said about me.
“His comments actually show me he has no earthly idea what’s coming at him. It’s going to be a high pace. He’s going to have to wrestle. He’s going to have to grapple and I won’t give him any place to rest. I really do think he has no idea of what he is in for. The first mistake of fighting is not being respectful of your opponent and his comments have proved he doesn’t respect what I bring to the table. I respect Frank Mir as much as any person in the world for his skills, accomplishments and everything he has done. I’m not sure he feels the same way about me and that is going to make it a big eye opener when we step in that cage on April 20th.”
Since the early days of mixed martial arts, wrestling and jiu-jitsu have been two of the most dominant disciplines in the sport. Over the years there have been stretches where one has bested the other and vice versa, but as MMA and the fighters who compete have evolved, competitors from each discipline have been forced to adapt to the intricacies of the other. With Cormier vs. Mir, the highest levels of both wrestling and jiu-jitsu will be on display. That being said, Cormier believes the man who is the better all-around fighter is the one who will emerge victorious this weekend in San Jose.
“The game changes and it’s much harder for a person with dominant skill to be successful and remain successful,” Cormier said. “We watched Georges St-Pierre fight recently against Nick Diaz and he beat him everywhere. He not only out-wrestled him but took it to him on his feet when they were standing. That is what you see nowadays. The guys who are at the top of the sport and continue to keep their spot there have no glaring holes in their games.
“Just because a guy is really good at jiu-jitsu doesn’t mean I have no jiu-jitsu. Whether or not I’m a white belt in jiu-jitsu, I’ve been grappling my entire life and jiu-jitsu is a form of grappling. I’ve done it my entire life and I understand positioning. I understand where my arms are. I understand where my feet are. Obviously we all make mistakes and when fighters make mistakes is when they get submitted. But if you look back at a lot of his submissions they aren’t very recent. I’m comfortable fighting him anywhere. I don’t think it’s my wrestling that will nullify a guy’s jiu-jitsu; I think it’s my understanding of grappling.
“The game changes but the rules aren’t much different,” Cormier continued. “You don’t get triangle choked if you don’t have one arm in and one arm out. That’s a fact. It’s harder to armbar you if you don’t put your hands on the mat on opposite sides of a guy. I think that is where you would see a lot of wrestlers get submitted a few years back because we would take people down and put our hands on the mat. Well don’t put your hands on the mat and it makes it a lot harder for a guy to armbar you or lock up a kimura.
“It’s all about hand positioning and posturing to do damage. You have to recognize where you can do damage. Listen, if I’m in Frank’s guard he has a better chance of doing something to me rather than if I was in half guard or in side control. There are some positions I can get myself to where I’m a little more safe. It’s not as easy as just taking a guy down and submitting them. Just like Josh Barnett told me. He said back in the day you could get leg locks and knee bars easy because nobody knew how to defend them. That isn’t the case anymore. We train in all positions and prepare for everything that can happen. Guys are way more skilled in all situations and that’s the truth. There is no way around it.”
As Cormier prepares to begin the next chapter of his career, it’s easy to forget that there aren’t very many chapters which have preceded it. He made his Strikeforce debut in September of 2009 and three and a half years later, he will step in against a top-ranked heavyweight for his UFC debut. Granted, in that short amount of time he wrecked shop through the Strikeforce Challengers Series and went on to win the Heavyweight Grand Prix, but on the larger scale, Cormier is very much a work in progress.
But it’s the process of that progression and the ingrained attributes which have carried over from his storied wrestling background which have allowed the former Oklahoma State standout to make such a large impact in a short amount of time. By all intents and purposes, Cormier is a workhorse who isn’t afraid to test himself against competition that resides at the level he desires to be.
It may seem like a bold move to some, but for Cormier – it is the only way he knows how to operate.
“I’m coming up on four years in this sport and I’m not sure if that’s considered young, but when I fought “Bigfoot” Silva I hadn’t even been fighting for two years yet,” Cormier said. “I hadn’t even been in the sport for two full years. I’m not talking about time training or having an amateur career. I had wrestled, took a year off to work in an office, started training in September and then I started fighting. Three weeks later I was fighting for Strikeforce.
“I fought a guy in Silva who is getting ready to fight for the UFC title and had been fighting for less than two years when we stepped into that cage. You have to improve with your competition. I didn’t have the luxury of an amateur career or a background in standup. I have a background in wrestling and I took those things and applied them to mixed martial arts. I took my work ethic and my ability to train consistently and applied it to what I’m doing in mixed martial arts.
“As my competition has gotten better, I hope that I’ve gotten better in the process. My coaches and people who see me on a daily basis have all told me that every time I step in to fight, I have looked better than the last time. That means something to me. The fans have noticed an improvement from fight to fight but the people around me every day see all the little things I’ve improved at since I began. Consistency is key — but it is developed in the training room, not just in the cage.”
“This is a dream come true,” Cormier concluded about his UFC debut on Saturday night. “It’s awesome. I wanted to put myself in a position by winning fights, being as impressive as I can be, and competing at the best I possibly can so that when I did get to the show I wasn’t opening events on the preliminary card where people are just getting into the arena. I wanted to be there when the energy is up, it’s late in the card and people are excited to watch me and another great fighter fight. Or me and another person they recognize fight.
“This is the ideal situation and what I have prepared myself for. This is what my manager DeWayne Zinkin, Bob Cook and my team at AKA prepared me for. We all set a goal that when I reached this level I would be fighting in big fights. This is exactly the situation and scenario we envisioned. It is exactly where we think I need to be at this point in my career.”
For up and coming competitors in the realm of combat sports, the search for the ever-elusive big break opportunity is an ongoing journey. Where talent allows the dream to exist and skill sets garner attention, the intangible element of timing is ultimately the key ingredient in the equation.
The right fight at the right time. The perfect performance when influential eyes just happened to be watching. Or seizing an opportunity which appeared from out of the ether but was capitalized upon as if it was a moment tailor-made to launch a career.
These moments are undoubtedly few and far between and rightfully so. But in mixed martial arts – and under the UFC banner specifically – the perfect platform to take the step from the unknown shadows of regional promotions to the sport’s biggest stage is the reality show tournament of The Ultimate Fighter.
While it is certainly possible to break out using other methods, The Ultimate Fighter is a proven vehicle. Competing on the show allows a fighter to not only showcase his talents, but provides the opportunity for an athlete to make a connection with a pre-existing fan base. A successful run in smaller promotions and solid record can earn a fighter the chance to fight inside the Octagon, but several weeks of prime time visibility and fans being able to follow a fighter’s progression into the UFC is a hard situation to trump.
That being said, earning a coveted spot on the reality program is difficult unto itself. With every new season, a storm of would be competitors come from all across the nation to try out for TUF, and once evaluations are completed, a small percentage are selected. Those who are chosen to compete on The Ultimate Fighter see the opportunity the chance of a lifetime and vow to make the most of such a unique situation because they fully understand the opportunity will never come around again.
This was the mindset of Myles Jury when he was selected to compete on the 13th season of The Ultimate Fighter. Strangely enough, the 24-year-old had the same thought process when he stepped in to compete on the 15th season as well, only this time with a greater sense of urgency.
After a knee injury forced him out of the tournament during his first stint on the program, Jury earned another opportunity to compete on The Ultimate Fighter. Unfortunately, “Fury” was unable to make good on his second effort, as he was eliminated by eventual finalist Al Iaquinta in his opening round bout.
Despite the setback, the Team Alliance Member was determined to make a home under the UFC banner. And when he was invited back to compete at the The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale against Chris Saunders, the make or break moment for Jury had finally arrived, and he seized the opportunity with vigor.
When the bell sounded, Jury put his foot on the gas pedal and hasn’t taken it off since. The San Diego-based fighter needed less than a round to submit Saunders and score his first official victory under the UFC banner, and then picked up more speed as he dominated fellow TUF alum Michael Johnson at UFC 155 this past December.
Coming into their tilt in Las Vegas, “The Menace” had picked up solid momentum and was making solid strides towards the top 10 of the ultra-competitive lightweight division. None of this meant anything to Jury as he steamrolled the Blackzilians-trained fighter in route to a lopsided unanimous decision victory.
With his undefeated record intact and the grumblings of a buzz beginning to grow around him, Jury set his sights on the next obstacle on his journey. That challenge will come this Saturday night against Ramsey Nijem at UFC on FOX 7 and Jury has every intention of keeping the ship rocking full-tilt-boogie in San Jose.
“Every fight is a stepping stone and I just focus on the fight I have in front of me,” Jury said, “Whether I beat someone with a big name or an opponent who hasn’t established a name at all – to me it doesn’t matter. I’m out here living my dream and I want to make sure I’m making the most of every opportunity. I’m fighting in the UFC and it’s hard to get wins in the UFC because the best competition fights here.
“I want to put on a good performance and getting the ‘W’ is what it is all about for me. I don’t worry about momentum. I want to show that I’m getting better with each fight and that the things I’m been working hard on are paying off for me.
“With that victory over Johnson I proved that I have the potential to win fights in dominant fashion,” Jury added. “I work hard, have a great team and I’m doing everything correctly to get big wins like that. To go out there and win that way pretty much puts it on paper and shows everybody I’m capable of getting it done. I always know what I can do inside my own mind but it’s pretty cool to go out there, put a stamp on it and show the world what I can do.”
With the next step of his journey coming against Ramsey this weekend, Jury will face another opponent on an upward trajectory. After coming up short in The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Finale against Tony Ferguson, the 25-year-old has yet to revisit the loss column under the UFC banner.
The Pit-trained fighter has collected three consecutive victories and looked more impressive with each performance. The bout between Jury and Nijem will be a collision of two of the lightweight division’s brightest prospects, and Jury is amped to mix it up.
“It’s an exciting matchup,” Jury said. “I think Ramsey is underrated and he is a very dangerous opponent. I’m doing everything I can to prepare for him right now. I’m definitely taking him serious and this will be another opportunity for me to go out there and have fun. Hopefully I’ll get another win and just keep working my way up.
“I’m going to be having the time of my life out there and putting it all on the line like I always do. I go all in with my training and my lifestyle, but when I go out there to fight it’s like my craft or my art. I have no control over people liking or not liking my style, but one thing people are going to know is that I pour everything I have into this. I’m going into this fight and I’m going to throw everything I have into my performance.”
While a victory over Nijem is the primary goal in the here and now, the progression to become one of the best fighters in the world is the long term goal on the horizon. In order to accomplish this feat, Jury is fully aware that he must continue to grow and hone his skill set at a rapid pace in order to stay at the crest of the rising tide. That being said, the California transplant is staying ahead of the pack by pushing to keep his diverse skill set in constant progression. And when he steps into the Octagon, all the work and sacrifice put in will create a complex puzzle for his opponent to solve.
“Honestly it’s all kind of coming to a point,” Jury said. “I can strike. I can wrestle. I have jiu-jitsu and I can blend it all together to make a unique style. It changes with every fight. When I fought Saunders I felt my striking was going through the roof and when I fought Johnson it was my wrestling. With every fight it changes and I think that is what makes me difficult to prepare for because you don’t really know what style I’m going to bring. My style is constantly changing and evolving. It’s hard to find someone to mimic my style because it’s constantly changing.
“It’s really hard to adapt to my style because I change it up but I think I do a good job of adapting to what is in front of me. I’ve fought guys who had good striking. I’ve fought guys who were good wrestlers. I can adapt to whatever situation needs to be done.
“I’m honing my skills and getting better. As I get farther up the ladder and face better competition, that is where those little details are going to make all the difference. Those little things you do right can win you fights, but tiny mistakes can cost you fights as well. That is why I look at things one fight at a time. Each fight is an opportunity to progress my skills and gain experience so when I reach the top level of competition I will be fully prepared.”
For up and coming competitors in the realm of combat sports, the search for the ever-elusive big break opportunity is an ongoing journey. Where talent allows the dream to exist and skill sets garner attention, the intangible element of timing is ultimately the key ingredient in the equation.
The right fight at the right time. The perfect performance when influential eyes just happened to be watching. Or seizing an opportunity which appeared from out of the ether but was capitalized upon as if it was a moment tailor-made to launch a career.
These moments are undoubtedly few and far between and rightfully so. But in mixed martial arts – and under the UFC banner specifically – the perfect platform to take the step from the unknown shadows of regional promotions to the sport’s biggest stage is the reality show tournament of The Ultimate Fighter.
While it is certainly possible to break out using other methods, The Ultimate Fighter is a proven vehicle. Competing on the show allows a fighter to not only showcase his talents, but provides the opportunity for an athlete to make a connection with a pre-existing fan base. A successful run in smaller promotions and solid record can earn a fighter the chance to fight inside the Octagon, but several weeks of prime time visibility and fans being able to follow a fighter’s progression into the UFC is a hard situation to trump.
That being said, earning a coveted spot on the reality program is difficult unto itself. With every new season, a storm of would be competitors come from all across the nation to try out for TUF, and once evaluations are completed, a small percentage are selected. Those who are chosen to compete on The Ultimate Fighter see the opportunity the chance of a lifetime and vow to make the most of such a unique situation because they fully understand the opportunity will never come around again.
This was the mindset of Myles Jury when he was selected to compete on the 13th season of The Ultimate Fighter. Strangely enough, the 24-year-old had the same thought process when he stepped in to compete on the 15th season as well, only this time with a greater sense of urgency.
After a knee injury forced him out of the tournament during his first stint on the program, Jury earned another opportunity to compete on The Ultimate Fighter. Unfortunately, “Fury” was unable to make good on his second effort, as he was eliminated by eventual finalist Al Iaquinta in his opening round bout.
Despite the setback, the Team Alliance Member was determined to make a home under the UFC banner. And when he was invited back to compete at the The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale against Chris Saunders, the make or break moment for Jury had finally arrived, and he seized the opportunity with vigor.
When the bell sounded, Jury put his foot on the gas pedal and hasn’t taken it off since. The San Diego-based fighter needed less than a round to submit Saunders and score his first official victory under the UFC banner, and then picked up more speed as he dominated fellow TUF alum Michael Johnson at UFC 155 this past December.
Coming into their tilt in Las Vegas, “The Menace” had picked up solid momentum and was making solid strides towards the top 10 of the ultra-competitive lightweight division. None of this meant anything to Jury as he steamrolled the Blackzilians-trained fighter in route to a lopsided unanimous decision victory.
With his undefeated record intact and the grumblings of a buzz beginning to grow around him, Jury set his sights on the next obstacle on his journey. That challenge will come this Saturday night against Ramsey Nijem at UFC on FOX 7 and Jury has every intention of keeping the ship rocking full-tilt-boogie in San Jose.
“Every fight is a stepping stone and I just focus on the fight I have in front of me,” Jury said, “Whether I beat someone with a big name or an opponent who hasn’t established a name at all – to me it doesn’t matter. I’m out here living my dream and I want to make sure I’m making the most of every opportunity. I’m fighting in the UFC and it’s hard to get wins in the UFC because the best competition fights here.
“I want to put on a good performance and getting the ‘W’ is what it is all about for me. I don’t worry about momentum. I want to show that I’m getting better with each fight and that the things I’m been working hard on are paying off for me.
“With that victory over Johnson I proved that I have the potential to win fights in dominant fashion,” Jury added. “I work hard, have a great team and I’m doing everything correctly to get big wins like that. To go out there and win that way pretty much puts it on paper and shows everybody I’m capable of getting it done. I always know what I can do inside my own mind but it’s pretty cool to go out there, put a stamp on it and show the world what I can do.”
With the next step of his journey coming against Ramsey this weekend, Jury will face another opponent on an upward trajectory. After coming up short in The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Finale against Tony Ferguson, the 25-year-old has yet to revisit the loss column under the UFC banner.
The Pit-trained fighter has collected three consecutive victories and looked more impressive with each performance. The bout between Jury and Nijem will be a collision of two of the lightweight division’s brightest prospects, and Jury is amped to mix it up.
“It’s an exciting matchup,” Jury said. “I think Ramsey is underrated and he is a very dangerous opponent. I’m doing everything I can to prepare for him right now. I’m definitely taking him serious and this will be another opportunity for me to go out there and have fun. Hopefully I’ll get another win and just keep working my way up.
“I’m going to be having the time of my life out there and putting it all on the line like I always do. I go all in with my training and my lifestyle, but when I go out there to fight it’s like my craft or my art. I have no control over people liking or not liking my style, but one thing people are going to know is that I pour everything I have into this. I’m going into this fight and I’m going to throw everything I have into my performance.”
While a victory over Nijem is the primary goal in the here and now, the progression to become one of the best fighters in the world is the long term goal on the horizon. In order to accomplish this feat, Jury is fully aware that he must continue to grow and hone his skill set at a rapid pace in order to stay at the crest of the rising tide. That being said, the California transplant is staying ahead of the pack by pushing to keep his diverse skill set in constant progression. And when he steps into the Octagon, all the work and sacrifice put in will create a complex puzzle for his opponent to solve.
“Honestly it’s all kind of coming to a point,” Jury said. “I can strike. I can wrestle. I have jiu-jitsu and I can blend it all together to make a unique style. It changes with every fight. When I fought Saunders I felt my striking was going through the roof and when I fought Johnson it was my wrestling. With every fight it changes and I think that is what makes me difficult to prepare for because you don’t really know what style I’m going to bring. My style is constantly changing and evolving. It’s hard to find someone to mimic my style because it’s constantly changing.
“It’s really hard to adapt to my style because I change it up but I think I do a good job of adapting to what is in front of me. I’ve fought guys who had good striking. I’ve fought guys who were good wrestlers. I can adapt to whatever situation needs to be done.
“I’m honing my skills and getting better. As I get farther up the ladder and face better competition, that is where those little details are going to make all the difference. Those little things you do right can win you fights, but tiny mistakes can cost you fights as well. That is why I look at things one fight at a time. Each fight is an opportunity to progress my skills and gain experience so when I reach the top level of competition I will be fully prepared.”
At 27 years old, Gegard Mousasi has competed on some of the biggest stages in combat sports. The Dutch-Armenian fighter has collected championships in multiple organizations and in multiple disciplines around the globe, and with so much success on his resume; it is hard to imagine the biggest challenge of his decade-long career is yet to come. But when he makes his long-awaited UFC debut on Saturday at UFC on FUEL TV 9, he will finally get to test his skills on the most prominent proving ground in all of mixed martial arts.
It is an opportunity Mousasi has been waiting for, but one that will be twisting and turning all the way up until fight night.
The next chapter of Mousasi’s career was originally set to kick off against surging light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson on Saturday in Stockholm, Sweden. It was a highly-anticipated matchup that would have featured two of the most highly-touted 205-pound fighters on the planet, but ultimately a fight which would never come to pass.
Unfortunately, Gustafsson suffered a cut above his left eye in the final week of preparation. When news of “The Mauler’s” injury broke, it set off a chaotic storm of speculation as to whether the Team Alliance fighter would compete, or if the UFC was going to have to find a replacement.
Dana White tweeted out hope to the fans. Wanderlei Silva dropped an ill-timed April Fools’ Day joke. And with his signature unaffected demeanor, Mousasi awaited word as to who he was going to face.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gustafsson’s cut was inspected by the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation and the organization’s doctors refused to give him medical clearance to fight. With Mousasi now without an opponent for the card’s main event, the organization tapped Gustafsson’s training partner Ilir Latifi to step in for the main event on Saturday.
While the obstacle standing in his path may have changed, Mousasi is coming into the fight with everything to prove.
Despite being a former champion in the now-defunct Strikeforce organization, to a large portion of the UFC fan base, the only fights that matter are those that take place inside the Octagon. It is a condition of the fight game he has come to understand, and the circumstances at hand are not enough to tip what has become his signature stoic demeanor.
In Mousasi’s mind, none of the outside factors will affect the fight. It doesn’t matter that he will be competing in front of a passionate Swedish crowd who is there to support his opponent. It doesn’t matter that he is facing a new challenger on four days’ notice. To put it simply: the only thing that matters to Mousasi on fight night is what happens when the cage door closes.
“I have a fight. Other than that, I don’t care much about anything else,” Mousasi said. “I’m going to fight and make sure all the hard work I put in wasn’t for nothing. Having my opponent change doesn’t bother me because I trained for a fight. This is not rocket science. I already had a fight with a different opponent but this is the opponent I have to accept. I didn’t choose my first opponent either. The UFC wants this fight and I will fight. ”
Throughout his career, Mousasi has never shied away from testing himself. The Strikeforce transplant has competed in multiple weight classes as he’s tested his skills in a variety of different professions under the combat sports banner. His experience and success in boxing and kickboxing have made Mousasi one of the most feared strikers in all of mixed martial arts. His understanding of spacing and footwork allow him the unique ability to close the distance on his opposition at will.
While Mousasi’s striking and jiu-jitsu are proven to be dangerous, the one aspect of MMA he’s struggled with in the past is wrestling. In fact, the only fight Mousasi has lost in the last seven years came from his inability to neutralize the wrestling of Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal when the two men competed for the Strikeforce light heavyweight title.
It is a skill set Mousasi has worked diligently to improve, and that progression is going to be tested on Saturday against Latifi. “The Sledgehammer” uses a power-wrestling style and the 29-year-old will be looking to utilize those tools in his UFC debut.
“Latifi is much shorter than Gustafsson and is a wrestler,” Mousasi said. “Alexander was a tall striker and this will be a much different opponent. But I train all aspects of the fight. It’s not like I only trained boxing or kickboxing. It’s going to be a good fight. His wrestling won’t be an issue.
“I always go for the finish and I always come to fight. He is a good opponent and we are going to have an exciting fight.”
Mousasi was originally coming into the main event in Sweden as an underdog, but with the shake up and change of opponent, he now finds himself on the opposite side of the risk factor. Mousasi is on a mission to become the best light heavyweight fighter in the world, and failing to perform against an unknown commodity in Latifi would greatly hinder that progress. Nevertheless, Mousasi believes if he deserves to be labeled as a top fighter, then he should be able to best all comers, and that is what Saturday night is all about.
“There is pressure on me to perform,” Mousasi said. “It’s a high-risk fight. I have a lot to lose and he has nothing to lose. But I believe in my abilities as a fighter and if I can’t perform, it is my own fault. I believe I am a top fighter, and if that is true, I should be able to fight anyone and win.”
At 27 years old, Gegard Mousasi has competed on some of the biggest stages in combat sports. The Dutch-Armenian fighter has collected championships in multiple organizations and in multiple disciplines around the globe, and with so much success on his resume; it is hard to imagine the biggest challenge of his decade-long career is yet to come. But when he makes his long-awaited UFC debut on Saturday at UFC on FUEL TV 9, he will finally get to test his skills on the most prominent proving ground in all of mixed martial arts.
It is an opportunity Mousasi has been waiting for, but one that will be twisting and turning all the way up until fight night.
The next chapter of Mousasi’s career was originally set to kick off against surging light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson on Saturday in Stockholm, Sweden. It was a highly-anticipated matchup that would have featured two of the most highly-touted 205-pound fighters on the planet, but ultimately a fight which would never come to pass.
Unfortunately, Gustafsson suffered a cut above his left eye in the final week of preparation. When news of “The Mauler’s” injury broke, it set off a chaotic storm of speculation as to whether the Team Alliance fighter would compete, or if the UFC was going to have to find a replacement.
Dana White tweeted out hope to the fans. Wanderlei Silva dropped an ill-timed April Fools’ Day joke. And with his signature unaffected demeanor, Mousasi awaited word as to who he was going to face.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gustafsson’s cut was inspected by the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation and the organization’s doctors refused to give him medical clearance to fight. With Mousasi now without an opponent for the card’s main event, the organization tapped Gustafsson’s training partner Ilir Latifi to step in for the main event on Saturday.
While the obstacle standing in his path may have changed, Mousasi is coming into the fight with everything to prove.
Despite being a former champion in the now-defunct Strikeforce organization, to a large portion of the UFC fan base, the only fights that matter are those that take place inside the Octagon. It is a condition of the fight game he has come to understand, and the circumstances at hand are not enough to tip what has become his signature stoic demeanor.
In Mousasi’s mind, none of the outside factors will affect the fight. It doesn’t matter that he will be competing in front of a passionate Swedish crowd who is there to support his opponent. It doesn’t matter that he is facing a new challenger on four days’ notice. To put it simply: the only thing that matters to Mousasi on fight night is what happens when the cage door closes.
“I have a fight. Other than that, I don’t care much about anything else,” Mousasi said. “I’m going to fight and make sure all the hard work I put in wasn’t for nothing. Having my opponent change doesn’t bother me because I trained for a fight. This is not rocket science. I already had a fight with a different opponent but this is the opponent I have to accept. I didn’t choose my first opponent either. The UFC wants this fight and I will fight. ”
Throughout his career, Mousasi has never shied away from testing himself. The Strikeforce transplant has competed in multiple weight classes as he’s tested his skills in a variety of different professions under the combat sports banner. His experience and success in boxing and kickboxing have made Mousasi one of the most feared strikers in all of mixed martial arts. His understanding of spacing and footwork allow him the unique ability to close the distance on his opposition at will.
While Mousasi’s striking and jiu-jitsu are proven to be dangerous, the one aspect of MMA he’s struggled with in the past is wrestling. In fact, the only fight Mousasi has lost in the last seven years came from his inability to neutralize the wrestling of Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal when the two men competed for the Strikeforce light heavyweight title.
It is a skill set Mousasi has worked diligently to improve, and that progression is going to be tested on Saturday against Latifi. “The Sledgehammer” uses a power-wrestling style and the 29-year-old will be looking to utilize those tools in his UFC debut.
“Latifi is much shorter than Gustafsson and is a wrestler,” Mousasi said. “Alexander was a tall striker and this will be a much different opponent. But I train all aspects of the fight. It’s not like I only trained boxing or kickboxing. It’s going to be a good fight. His wrestling won’t be an issue.
“I always go for the finish and I always come to fight. He is a good opponent and we are going to have an exciting fight.”
Mousasi was originally coming into the main event in Sweden as an underdog, but with the shake up and change of opponent, he now finds himself on the opposite side of the risk factor. Mousasi is on a mission to become the best light heavyweight fighter in the world, and failing to perform against an unknown commodity in Latifi would greatly hinder that progress. Nevertheless, Mousasi believes if he deserves to be labeled as a top fighter, then he should be able to best all comers, and that is what Saturday night is all about.
“There is pressure on me to perform,” Mousasi said. “It’s a high-risk fight. I have a lot to lose and he has nothing to lose. But I believe in my abilities as a fighter and if I can’t perform, it is my own fault. I believe I am a top fighter, and if that is true, I should be able to fight anyone and win.”
It has been two years since Akira Corassani has competed in front of a crowd in his home country of Sweden, and the hard-hitting featherweight is looking to make his return a memorable affair.
Corassani will step back onto the sport’s biggest stage on April 6 when he squares-off with Robbie Peralta at UFC on FUEL TV 9 in Stockholm. The opportunity to fight inside the Octagon for a passionate crowd in his native country is something he could have only imagined a short time ago, when his mixed martial arts career was just getting underway. But now that dream has become a reality for the Renzo Gracie Combat Team fighter and he has every intention of making good on his second showing under the UFC banner.
“It is a dream come true,” Corassani said. “If you were to mention UFC in Sweden eight years ago, people would have laughed at you. Even going back five years ago, I would sit around with my friends and watch UFC on television. To see how big the UFC has become in Sweden and the fact that I get to fight on this card just shows that anything is possible. It shows how much work Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and the people at the UFC have put into taking this organization worldwide. The Globe Arena is one of the best arenas in the world. The UFC coming to Sweden is a dream come true for the fans, fighters, and everybody involved.
“Swedish people are very passionate to begin with. Whether it is soccer, hockey, music—whatever, the Swedish people are very passionate about supporting their fellow citizens. But I was actually kind of surprised how fast the events sold out both last time and for this card. The first event sold out in an hour or two and was one of the fastest sellouts in UFC history. The Globe Arena has hosted some of the biggest names in entertainment and the UFC comes there and sells out that fast? That is really saying something. It shows how passionate the Swedish fans are.”
The 30-year-old New York transplant edged out Andy Ogle via split decision in his Octagon debut at UFC on FUEL TV 7 in England last September. The fight was not only his first official victory under the UFC banner, but marked the end of a layoff due to injury which sidelined him for the nearly two years.
While defeating “The Little Axe” was a solid first step in his UFC career, Corassani plans on leaving no questions on the table against Peralta this Saturday. He believes it is going to be an action-packed affair and Corassani is excited to mix it up with the 27-year-old Californian.
“It was an amazing feeling to get that over with and get a win in my UFC debut,” Corassani said. “To come back after such a long layoff and get a win to start out my UFC career was amazing. It got me excited and made me look forward to the new battles coming my way.
“I think I matchup with Peralta amazingly. He’s tough and he comes to bang. That’s the way I love to fight and I’m not a guy who backs down. He doesn’t like to back down either and that opens things up for an amazing fight. I think I have all the tools to beat him. I use my range better and I have better wrestling and jiu-jitsu than he does. My boxing and Thai boxing is better as well. If he shows up in great shape and brings his ‘A’ game, then the fans have an amazing fight to look forward to.
“People are going to get everything they paid to see in this fight,” Corassani added. “I always bring it. There hasn’t been a single fight in my career where people will say it was a boring fight. I’m a showman, an athlete, and everything people want to see. I’m going to bring it in this fight the way I always have.”
While the bout with Peralta is the immediate focus for Corassani, the quest to develop his skills is at the foundation of his motivation. Mixed martial arts is a dog-eat-dog sport where the fighters who continue to progress will rise and those who become stagnant fade away.
That being said, Corassani also fully understands the UFC is where the best of the best step in to compete. And with knowing he is going to face the best fighters in the world, there is nothing about his development Corassani takes lightly. With the team of trainers, coaches, and fighters he has surrounded himself with, Corassani believes he is taking the correct steps to ensure he will be fighting under the UFC banner for a long time.
“The best part of my development has been the MMA aspect and putting everything together,” Corassani said. “I am more well-rounded than I’ve ever been and it feels like everything in my game is falling into place.
“I’ve always had natural power, but now that I’m training with Mark Henry, my power is beyond what it has ever been. He has shown me the correct way to transfer my power from left to right. I’m actually scared to be honest. I’m scared of what I can do. But you have to be well-rounded if you are going to do well in this sport and I believe I have a lot of weapons.
“You see some guys in this sport where they will shoot for a takedown because it is all they have. They will come up short on maybe one or two attempts, then you can see it in their eyes where they are like, “Holy s**t, what am I going to do now?’
“This is the highest league in MMA and you have to make a statement every time out. You either perform or you are out. That’s how it is. The UFC and the fans aren’t going to come around and pat you on the back like your mom or dad. This is the highest level of the sport and you better go out there and perform because that is what people expect. People don’t want to see a fighter coming out there and getting tired. They want to see good fights and you have to go out there to make a statement. “
It has been two years since Akira Corassani has competed in front of a crowd in his home country of Sweden, and the hard-hitting featherweight is looking to make his return a memorable affair.
Corassani will step back onto the sport’s biggest stage on April 6 when he squares-off with Robbie Peralta at UFC on FUEL TV 9 in Stockholm. The opportunity to fight inside the Octagon for a passionate crowd in his native country is something he could have only imagined a short time ago, when his mixed martial arts career was just getting underway. But now that dream has become a reality for the Renzo Gracie Combat Team fighter and he has every intention of making good on his second showing under the UFC banner.
“It is a dream come true,” Corassani said. “If you were to mention UFC in Sweden eight years ago, people would have laughed at you. Even going back five years ago, I would sit around with my friends and watch UFC on television. To see how big the UFC has become in Sweden and the fact that I get to fight on this card just shows that anything is possible. It shows how much work Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and the people at the UFC have put into taking this organization worldwide. The Globe Arena is one of the best arenas in the world. The UFC coming to Sweden is a dream come true for the fans, fighters, and everybody involved.
“Swedish people are very passionate to begin with. Whether it is soccer, hockey, music—whatever, the Swedish people are very passionate about supporting their fellow citizens. But I was actually kind of surprised how fast the events sold out both last time and for this card. The first event sold out in an hour or two and was one of the fastest sellouts in UFC history. The Globe Arena has hosted some of the biggest names in entertainment and the UFC comes there and sells out that fast? That is really saying something. It shows how passionate the Swedish fans are.”
The 30-year-old New York transplant edged out Andy Ogle via split decision in his Octagon debut at UFC on FUEL TV 7 in England last September. The fight was not only his first official victory under the UFC banner, but marked the end of a layoff due to injury which sidelined him for the nearly two years.
While defeating “The Little Axe” was a solid first step in his UFC career, Corassani plans on leaving no questions on the table against Peralta this Saturday. He believes it is going to be an action-packed affair and Corassani is excited to mix it up with the 27-year-old Californian.
“It was an amazing feeling to get that over with and get a win in my UFC debut,” Corassani said. “To come back after such a long layoff and get a win to start out my UFC career was amazing. It got me excited and made me look forward to the new battles coming my way.
“I think I matchup with Peralta amazingly. He’s tough and he comes to bang. That’s the way I love to fight and I’m not a guy who backs down. He doesn’t like to back down either and that opens things up for an amazing fight. I think I have all the tools to beat him. I use my range better and I have better wrestling and jiu-jitsu than he does. My boxing and Thai boxing is better as well. If he shows up in great shape and brings his ‘A’ game, then the fans have an amazing fight to look forward to.
“People are going to get everything they paid to see in this fight,” Corassani added. “I always bring it. There hasn’t been a single fight in my career where people will say it was a boring fight. I’m a showman, an athlete, and everything people want to see. I’m going to bring it in this fight the way I always have.”
While the bout with Peralta is the immediate focus for Corassani, the quest to develop his skills is at the foundation of his motivation. Mixed martial arts is a dog-eat-dog sport where the fighters who continue to progress will rise and those who become stagnant fade away.
That being said, Corassani also fully understands the UFC is where the best of the best step in to compete. And with knowing he is going to face the best fighters in the world, there is nothing about his development Corassani takes lightly. With the team of trainers, coaches, and fighters he has surrounded himself with, Corassani believes he is taking the correct steps to ensure he will be fighting under the UFC banner for a long time.
“The best part of my development has been the MMA aspect and putting everything together,” Corassani said. “I am more well-rounded than I’ve ever been and it feels like everything in my game is falling into place.
“I’ve always had natural power, but now that I’m training with Mark Henry, my power is beyond what it has ever been. He has shown me the correct way to transfer my power from left to right. I’m actually scared to be honest. I’m scared of what I can do. But you have to be well-rounded if you are going to do well in this sport and I believe I have a lot of weapons.
“You see some guys in this sport where they will shoot for a takedown because it is all they have. They will come up short on maybe one or two attempts, then you can see it in their eyes where they are like, “Holy s**t, what am I going to do now?’
“This is the highest league in MMA and you have to make a statement every time out. You either perform or you are out. That’s how it is. The UFC and the fans aren’t going to come around and pat you on the back like your mom or dad. This is the highest level of the sport and you better go out there and perform because that is what people expect. People don’t want to see a fighter coming out there and getting tired. They want to see good fights and you have to go out there to make a statement. “
Seven years is a long time to wait, but Eddie Wineland is ready to reclaim what he believes is his. In 2006, the Indiana-native became the first ever WEC bantamweight champion by defeating Antonio Banuelos via first round knockout. This June at UFC 161, Wineland will have the opportunity to compete for the 135-pound strap once again when he squares-off with interim UFC champion Renan Barao in Winnipeg.
The Brazilian phenom has been a wrecking ball in the bantamweight division, as he’s collected five consecutive victories inside the Octagon since coming over from the WEC, bringing his current unbeaten streak to an unbelievable 33 straight. In his most recent showing at UFC on FUEL TV 7, Barao defended his interim title by submitting surging young talent Michael McDonald in the fourth round of their tilt.
In defeat, “Mayday” became yet another example of what happens when you fail to solve the puzzle Barao brings to the table. But for as challenging as this task has proven to be, Wineland believes he has what it takes to get the job done, and will be carrying momentum of his own when the two bantamweights collide on June 15.
The former WEC bantamweight title holder is coming off dynamic back-to-back victories over top competition in Scott Jorgensen and Brad Pickett. Following his win over “One Punch”, Wineland was hoping to get a top ranked opponent for his next outing, but when the UFC came calling with a title shot against Barao, the 28-year-old mixed martial artist / fireman could barely contain himself.
“It’s funny because I was at the firehouse when I got the text,” Wineland said. “When I read the message I ran into the kitchen, kicked the chair, threw my phone, and started screaming. It is the most excited I’ve ever been to get a fight. It is the fight that everybody wants and the one that every fighter at 135 pounds is trying to get to. Everyone wants that championship fight and right now I’m sitting in that seat.
“I think the UFC knows I come to fight and put 100 percent into it. My last couple of performances came against top-ranked guys and I won both pretty decisively. I’m very excited to get the opportunity to fight for the title.
“I won the first WEC bantamweight belt and when Zuffa took over I lost it,” Wineland added. “I think it’s just me coming back to claim what’s mine. If you trace the lineage, the UFC belt is technically the first WEC belt. It was my belt originally and I’m coming back to get it.”
The matchup between Barao and Wineland will feature two of the most dangerous fighters in the bantamweight division. Both have shown the ability to finish their respective opposition in consistent fashion and each possesses the power to end a fight with one clean shot.
While Wineland acknowledges the problems in dealing with a versatile skill set the likes of what Barao brings to the table, the New Breed Academy-trained fighter also believes his boxing and wrestling are the perfect neutralizers for Barao’s attacking style.
“I think I’m a bad matchup for [Barao],” Wineland said. “I don’t believe he’s fought anyone like me and vice versa. I’ve never fought anyone like him but I feel I pose more problems.
“I’m not trying to give up too much of my game plan, but I throw a lot of straight punches and he’s been open there in the past. The fastest way from point A to point B is a straight line and that is something we have been training for years. I do have a brawler style if need be, but I’d like to keep it technical, pick him apart, and take him out when it’s time.”
With a long-awaited title shot providing the ultimate motivation, Wineland is looking to make this year the best chapter of his career. That being said, stepping into the Octagon to compete for the bantamweight strap is a stark contrast to where things appeared to be heading two years ago.
After a disappointing 2011 where he dropped back-to-back outings against Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez, Wineland rebounded in impressive fashion by notching victories in both of his showings in 2012. The momentum has his confidence at an all-time high, but rather than describing the swing as a return to form, Wineland feels his success is the result of everything finally falling into place.
“When I first started training with my strength and conditioning coach about four years ago, he told me we weren’t training for the fight six weeks down the road, we were training for two years down the road,” Wineland said. “It all makes sense because all of my numbers have gone up consistently. Everything has gotten stronger and faster and has fallen into place. It’s almost exactly as he said. Here we are four years later and everything is falling right where it needs to be.”
The bout against Barao may be sitting on the horizon months from now, but this hasn’t stopped Wineland from lighting the fires of war. In addition to his time preparing in the gym, the Chesterton-based fighter has applied his own version of “war paint” by growing a handlebar mustache.
The look harkens back to the days of bare-knuckle shipyard dust-ups and has Wineland itching to put up his dukes and let the fisticuffs fly.
“I have three months of work into it and another three months to go before the fight,” Wineland described about his mustache. “I think it should be pretty gnarly by then. I’m going for the 1920’s gentlemanly toughness. It‘s that ‘I am super-nice but I’m tough as sh**, so don’t mess with me’ look.”
Seven years is a long time to wait, but Eddie Wineland is ready to reclaim what he believes is his. In 2006, the Indiana-native became the first ever WEC bantamweight champion by defeating Antonio Banuelos via first round knockout. This June at UFC 161, Wineland will have the opportunity to compete for the 135-pound strap once again when he squares-off with interim UFC champion Renan Barao in Winnipeg.
The Brazilian phenom has been a wrecking ball in the bantamweight division, as he’s collected five consecutive victories inside the Octagon since coming over from the WEC, bringing his current unbeaten streak to an unbelievable 33 straight. In his most recent showing at UFC on FUEL TV 7, Barao defended his interim title by submitting surging young talent Michael McDonald in the fourth round of their tilt.
In defeat, “Mayday” became yet another example of what happens when you fail to solve the puzzle Barao brings to the table. But for as challenging as this task has proven to be, Wineland believes he has what it takes to get the job done, and will be carrying momentum of his own when the two bantamweights collide on June 15.
The former WEC bantamweight title holder is coming off dynamic back-to-back victories over top competition in Scott Jorgensen and Brad Pickett. Following his win over “One Punch”, Wineland was hoping to get a top ranked opponent for his next outing, but when the UFC came calling with a title shot against Barao, the 28-year-old mixed martial artist / fireman could barely contain himself.
“It’s funny because I was at the firehouse when I got the text,” Wineland said. “When I read the message I ran into the kitchen, kicked the chair, threw my phone, and started screaming. It is the most excited I’ve ever been to get a fight. It is the fight that everybody wants and the one that every fighter at 135 pounds is trying to get to. Everyone wants that championship fight and right now I’m sitting in that seat.
“I think the UFC knows I come to fight and put 100 percent into it. My last couple of performances came against top-ranked guys and I won both pretty decisively. I’m very excited to get the opportunity to fight for the title.
“I won the first WEC bantamweight belt and when Zuffa took over I lost it,” Wineland added. “I think it’s just me coming back to claim what’s mine. If you trace the lineage, the UFC belt is technically the first WEC belt. It was my belt originally and I’m coming back to get it.”
The matchup between Barao and Wineland will feature two of the most dangerous fighters in the bantamweight division. Both have shown the ability to finish their respective opposition in consistent fashion and each possesses the power to end a fight with one clean shot.
While Wineland acknowledges the problems in dealing with a versatile skill set the likes of what Barao brings to the table, the New Breed Academy-trained fighter also believes his boxing and wrestling are the perfect neutralizers for Barao’s attacking style.
“I think I’m a bad matchup for [Barao],” Wineland said. “I don’t believe he’s fought anyone like me and vice versa. I’ve never fought anyone like him but I feel I pose more problems.
“I’m not trying to give up too much of my game plan, but I throw a lot of straight punches and he’s been open there in the past. The fastest way from point A to point B is a straight line and that is something we have been training for years. I do have a brawler style if need be, but I’d like to keep it technical, pick him apart, and take him out when it’s time.”
With a long-awaited title shot providing the ultimate motivation, Wineland is looking to make this year the best chapter of his career. That being said, stepping into the Octagon to compete for the bantamweight strap is a stark contrast to where things appeared to be heading two years ago.
After a disappointing 2011 where he dropped back-to-back outings against Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez, Wineland rebounded in impressive fashion by notching victories in both of his showings in 2012. The momentum has his confidence at an all-time high, but rather than describing the swing as a return to form, Wineland feels his success is the result of everything finally falling into place.
“When I first started training with my strength and conditioning coach about four years ago, he told me we weren’t training for the fight six weeks down the road, we were training for two years down the road,” Wineland said. “It all makes sense because all of my numbers have gone up consistently. Everything has gotten stronger and faster and has fallen into place. It’s almost exactly as he said. Here we are four years later and everything is falling right where it needs to be.”
The bout against Barao may be sitting on the horizon months from now, but this hasn’t stopped Wineland from lighting the fires of war. In addition to his time preparing in the gym, the Chesterton-based fighter has applied his own version of “war paint” by growing a handlebar mustache.
The look harkens back to the days of bare-knuckle shipyard dust-ups and has Wineland itching to put up his dukes and let the fisticuffs fly.
“I have three months of work into it and another three months to go before the fight,” Wineland described about his mustache. “I think it should be pretty gnarly by then. I’m going for the 1920’s gentlemanly toughness. It‘s that ‘I am super-nice but I’m tough as sh**, so don’t mess with me’ look.”
The campaign is officially over and the biggest fight of Chris Weidman’s career has become a reality. Earlier this week the UFC announced the 28-year-old Long Island native would be the next fighter to challenge Anderson Silva for the middleweight crown this summer at UFC 162 on July 6th in Las Vegas.
The opportunity to face the long reigning 185-pound king is a challenge the Ray Longo-trained fighter has been dreaming about since his career in mixed martial arts began, and in every sense, facing the UFC’s most dominant champion and a pound-for-pound great is the chance of a lifetime.
Weidman understands the matchup with the fighter widely considered to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time will bring his career to a new pinnacle. If he can accomplish what 14 other men that have come before him were unable to do, a career spent as one of the sport’s brightest prospects will reach mega-watt status.
“This is the fight I have been envisioning myself having since I started in MMA,” Weidman said. “Silva was the champion when I started and I have reached a point where I feel I can beat him. Now I have the opportunity to prove to myself that I can. It’ a dream matchup and it’s an honor to fight the greatest of all-time.
“Fans are going to see a confident and hungry young guy who is going in there to win and to fulfill his dream of becoming UFC champion by defeating Anderson Silva.”
As his bout with “The Spider” became official, it brought a hectic and dramatic chapter of Weidman’s life to a close. Following an impressive victory over fellow contender Mark Munoz last July, the former two-time All American wrestler appeared to have placed himself firmly in the contender’s tier of the middleweight division. With the victory, Weidman began to lobby for a title shot, but his attention quickly shifted away from his MMA career when Hurricane Sandy severely damaged his Long Island home.
By the time he was ready to return, the window to put together a fight with Silva had closed and Weidman took a bout with Tim Boetsch at UFC 155 in December.
Unfortunately for the undefeated middleweight, a shoulder injury would force him out of the bout with “The Barbarian” and the surgery which followed would serve to keep him on the sidelines for the next several months.
The circumstances at hand could have easily knocked Weidman out of the title picture, and there were a handful of other fighters looking to step up into the role of number one contender. But as luck, fate, or the brutal reality of the fight game would have it, potential title challengers Michael Bisping and former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans were both turned back in their moments to shine.
When the chaos of the middleweight division finally ceased, Weidman was the last man standing at the ready to face Silva. To make sure his name remained in the conversation, he took to Twitter and interviews in the MMA media landscape to keep his bid for a title shot in the ears of the UFC brass.
“This is the entertainment business and you have to stay in people’s line of sight,” Weidman said. “You can’t just fight and then disappear. You have to make yourself stand out as much as possible to make sure people are constantly thinking about you. I put myself out there as much as I could and it paid off.
“Without a doubt it was crazy and I’m glad everything worked out for me. I feel like everything happens for a reason. I went through some tough times and everything ended up working out for me regardless. I need to win this fight and make the most of this opportunity. I feel like this is going to be the start of my career.”
Weidman’s journey to lock down the fight was a challenge onto itself, but now he will prepare to face the most difficult task of all. In the nearly 20 year history of the UFC, there has never been a fighter as dominant as the Brazilian champion, and the Team Black House fighter has built his legacy off making highlight reel material out of nearly every opponent he’s faced inside the Octagon.
The New York native understands the unique challenges Silva presents inside the cage, as the 37-year-old’s power and pinpoint accuracy have dealt out punishment to every man who has stood across from him under the UFC banner. That being said, defeating both the man and the mystique–and the championship gold that will come with the victory–are all the motivation Weidman needs to prepares for the greatest challenge of his career.
“[Silva] does a great job of making you feel as if you don’t belong in the cage with him before and during the fight. The key thing is to truly believe in yourself and know that you belong in there. You have to focus on what you do best. I definitely feel a lot of guys he’s faced before have been beaten before they ever stepped foot inside the cage.
“I’m expecting this fight to go everywhere. I’m not going to be desperate for the takedown. I don’t want to rely on that alone, and I’m going to be mixing it up as much as I can. I definitely feel that in any fight, you want to take your opponent where you have the advantage, and wrestling is going to be my advantage in this fight. But we’ll see how things are going on the feet. Most likely I’m going to be looking to work my takedowns and submissions, but I’m going to be very aggressive no matter where I am. On my feet or on the ground, I’m going to be aggressive.”
During Weidman’s campaign for Silva, he proposed a scenario that put the icing on the cake of what could potentially be an epic year. The number one contender told the media in Chicago, after he defeated Silva on the 4th of July weekend in Las Vegas, he would grant him an immediate rematch at Madison Square Garden in November.
The New York City venue is a landmark in combat sports. Unfortunately, at this time, mixed martial arts is not sanctioned in the Empire state, but Weidman and the UFC are hoping this situation will soon be resolved.
“Defeating Silva and then a rematch in New York would be the best year I can imagine without a doubt,” Weidman said. “I was just lobbying in New York for MMA. Hopefully this gets pushed through and mixed martial arts becomes legal in New York. It would be amazing for everything to work out timing wise and I would get to fight in my home state. That would be a dream scenario.”
The campaign is officially over and the biggest fight of Chris Weidman’s career has become a reality. Earlier this week the UFC announced the 28-year-old Long Island native would be the next fighter to challenge Anderson Silva for the middleweight crown this summer at UFC 162 on July 6th in Las Vegas.
The opportunity to face the long reigning 185-pound king is a challenge the Ray Longo-trained fighter has been dreaming about since his career in mixed martial arts began, and in every sense, facing the UFC’s most dominant champion and a pound-for-pound great is the chance of a lifetime.
Weidman understands the matchup with the fighter widely considered to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time will bring his career to a new pinnacle. If he can accomplish what 14 other men that have come before him were unable to do, a career spent as one of the sport’s brightest prospects will reach mega-watt status.
“This is the fight I have been envisioning myself having since I started in MMA,” Weidman said. “Silva was the champion when I started and I have reached a point where I feel I can beat him. Now I have the opportunity to prove to myself that I can. It’ a dream matchup and it’s an honor to fight the greatest of all-time.
“Fans are going to see a confident and hungry young guy who is going in there to win and to fulfill his dream of becoming UFC champion by defeating Anderson Silva.”
As his bout with “The Spider” became official, it brought a hectic and dramatic chapter of Weidman’s life to a close. Following an impressive victory over fellow contender Mark Munoz last July, the former two-time All American wrestler appeared to have placed himself firmly in the contender’s tier of the middleweight division. With the victory, Weidman began to lobby for a title shot, but his attention quickly shifted away from his MMA career when Hurricane Sandy severely damaged his Long Island home.
By the time he was ready to return, the window to put together a fight with Silva had closed and Weidman took a bout with Tim Boetsch at UFC 155 in December.
Unfortunately for the undefeated middleweight, a shoulder injury would force him out of the bout with “The Barbarian” and the surgery which followed would serve to keep him on the sidelines for the next several months.
The circumstances at hand could have easily knocked Weidman out of the title picture, and there were a handful of other fighters looking to step up into the role of number one contender. But as luck, fate, or the brutal reality of the fight game would have it, potential title challengers Michael Bisping and former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans were both turned back in their moments to shine.
When the chaos of the middleweight division finally ceased, Weidman was the last man standing at the ready to face Silva. To make sure his name remained in the conversation, he took to Twitter and interviews in the MMA media landscape to keep his bid for a title shot in the ears of the UFC brass.
“This is the entertainment business and you have to stay in people’s line of sight,” Weidman said. “You can’t just fight and then disappear. You have to make yourself stand out as much as possible to make sure people are constantly thinking about you. I put myself out there as much as I could and it paid off.
“Without a doubt it was crazy and I’m glad everything worked out for me. I feel like everything happens for a reason. I went through some tough times and everything ended up working out for me regardless. I need to win this fight and make the most of this opportunity. I feel like this is going to be the start of my career.”
Weidman’s journey to lock down the fight was a challenge onto itself, but now he will prepare to face the most difficult task of all. In the nearly 20 year history of the UFC, there has never been a fighter as dominant as the Brazilian champion, and the Team Black House fighter has built his legacy off making highlight reel material out of nearly every opponent he’s faced inside the Octagon.
The New York native understands the unique challenges Silva presents inside the cage, as the 37-year-old’s power and pinpoint accuracy have dealt out punishment to every man who has stood across from him under the UFC banner. That being said, defeating both the man and the mystique–and the championship gold that will come with the victory–are all the motivation Weidman needs to prepares for the greatest challenge of his career.
“[Silva] does a great job of making you feel as if you don’t belong in the cage with him before and during the fight. The key thing is to truly believe in yourself and know that you belong in there. You have to focus on what you do best. I definitely feel a lot of guys he’s faced before have been beaten before they ever stepped foot inside the cage.
“I’m expecting this fight to go everywhere. I’m not going to be desperate for the takedown. I don’t want to rely on that alone, and I’m going to be mixing it up as much as I can. I definitely feel that in any fight, you want to take your opponent where you have the advantage, and wrestling is going to be my advantage in this fight. But we’ll see how things are going on the feet. Most likely I’m going to be looking to work my takedowns and submissions, but I’m going to be very aggressive no matter where I am. On my feet or on the ground, I’m going to be aggressive.”
During Weidman’s campaign for Silva, he proposed a scenario that put the icing on the cake of what could potentially be an epic year. The number one contender told the media in Chicago, after he defeated Silva on the 4th of July weekend in Las Vegas, he would grant him an immediate rematch at Madison Square Garden in November.
The New York City venue is a landmark in combat sports. Unfortunately, at this time, mixed martial arts is not sanctioned in the Empire state, but Weidman and the UFC are hoping this situation will soon be resolved.
“Defeating Silva and then a rematch in New York would be the best year I can imagine without a doubt,” Weidman said. “I was just lobbying in New York for MMA. Hopefully this gets pushed through and mixed martial arts becomes legal in New York. It would be amazing for everything to work out timing wise and I would get to fight in my home state. That would be a dream scenario.”
On the sport’s biggest stage, the next step is always the most important of a fighter’s career. For Daniel Cormier, the aforementioned step will be his first as a UFC fighter and it will come with more expectation and attention than most have warranted in their Octagon debut.
