Ramsey Nijem – Finishing Fights is the First Priority at 155

“Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.” – Oscar WildeSimply put, it was a rookie mistake. On June 4th in the season 13 final of The Ultimate Fighter, Ramsey Nijem fouled up his UFC debut with a first round TKO loss to Tony Fergus…

UFC lightweight and Ultimate Fighter alum Ramsey Nijem“Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.” – Oscar Wilde

Simply put, it was a rookie mistake. On June 4th in the season 13 final of The Ultimate Fighter, Ramsey Nijem fouled up his UFC debut with a first round TKO loss to Tony Ferguson. Nijem got too excited, said goodbye to his gameplan and just started exchanging punches with Ferguson. Even the best of fighters forget themselves the first time they’re in the Octagon, especially in the main event. But the key to a fighter’s future is to recognize the slip up and learn from it, and Nijem has done just that.

“It was definitely a big rookie mistake,” admits Nijem. “I let my pride get in the way instead of sticking to my gameplan. I didn’t play to my strengths. I played into someone else’s strengths. I didn’t even try to take him down once. When we hit the ground, I tried to stand right back to my feet to continue on my feet. I think part of it is that I hit him a couple times and I felt some good connections. I saw I stunned him a little bit, so I got a little fired up. I have a kill switch, which is good sometimes and gets me in trouble other times.”

At 23 years old, let’s chalk Nijem’s mishap up as a factor of youth. The former NCAA Division I wrestler from Utah Valley University was the youngest fighter in the house and, arguably, the least experienced, having only competed for two and a half years prior to the show. Nevertheless, Nijem’s greenness didn’t hold him back as he ran through the TUF competition to get to the finals. The problem wasn’t training or preparedness; Nijem got sidetracked trying to prove something in the fight and not just trying to win it.

“I had a really good training camp and I felt ready,” tells Nijem. “I had worked a lot on my standup, but I got caught up in the moment and forgot what got me to the dance. I started reading what people had been saying on the internet that I couldn’t standup with him or I would get knocked out. Leading into the fight, I definitely had a chip on my shoulder and a little bit too much pride.”

What got Nijem to the dance is his wrestling, coupled with his ability to finish. During TUF 13, Nijem tapped Charlie Rader and Clay Harvison with rear naked chokes and TKOed Chris Cope to propel “Stripper Ramsey” to the finals. Nijem’s 5-2 pro record adds another pair of rear naked choke victories and a TKO win from local shows in his hometown Orem, Utah. Wrestlers are accused of only muscling their way to decisions, and Nijem is looking to disprove that by building an Octagon career on stopping opponents.

“I’m looking to finish all my fights,” asserts Nijem. “I don’t just want to be a wrestler who grinds out decisions. It’s boring for the fans, but it’s awful to do yourself. It isn’t very fun to out grind someone. I’m always trying to finish my fights because that’s what people want to see. You can be a wrestler, but you can be exciting as a wrestler.”

Now, he has the opportunity to get back to his previous winning ways against Roufusport product Danny Downes at UFC 137. On October 29th, Nijem will make his second debut in the UFC by changing weight classes: welterweight to lightweight. Awaiting Nijem at 155 pounds will be the 8-2 “Danny Boy”. The Marquette University alum is mostly known for his standup, especially coming from a highly touted gym overseen by kickboxing legend Duke Roufus.

“He’s got a good record and he comes out of a good camp,” explains Nijem. “I’m going to be dropping down to 155 and I’m going to be pretty big for 155. I feel like I’m going to have the athletic edge on him: size, strength and explosion. Obviously, I think I’m going to be the better wrestler/grappler. He’s a tough kid, but I watched Jeremy Stephens take him down and manhandle him. I think I’m a better wrestler than Stephens. That’s obviously the plan going into this fight.”

To prepare for the Downes bout, Nijem has been battling in a couple pits – literally. Nijem cuts his training time between John Hackleman’s illustrious “The Pit” in Arroyo Grande, California, and its sister school “The Pit Elevated” in Orem, Utah, which is run by Jason Mertlich. Nijem is sharpening up his fists and feet under Hackleman, and strengthening his submissions and ground control under Mertlich. Plus, Nijem is working with friend/TUF winner Court McGee, housemate/former opponent Harvison, as well as some of Hackleman’s best kept secrets like The Pit black belt Luke Riddering.

“I’m training with John Hackleman at The Pit, which is a prestigious camp,” says Nijem. “We kind of do it old school out here. We’re outside, it’s nothing fancy, it’s just hard work, just sweat and blood. Back home, I have Jason Mertlich, who is a jiu-jitsu black belt, so I’m always working with him to improve my submission game. He has really good combat style jiu-jitsu (Four7). You’re never really lying on your back, you’re on top and it’s a vicious style of grappling. I do think I’ve made more progress by leaps and bounds working with my coaches John Hackleman and Jason Mertlich. Obviously after my last fight, I’m a grappler/wrestler and that’s my strength, so that’s what I’m going to stick to in this fight. I’m going to put him against the fence, beat him up and take him to the ground.”

Lastly, Nijem is poised to get his first W in the Octagon, but, most of all, this fight is another opportunity for him to do what he enjoys doing the most: fighting. “If I was wealthy and retired, I would be doing the same thing I’m doing now: training for fights and fighting,” affirms Nijem, who honestly loves fighting and is pursuing it as a career because it’s fun and he wants to win at it. “I hope people see the passion and the competitive drive in me. Once I get in there and we start fighting I’ll be having fun and I enjoy having fun and I enjoy fighting. This is just how I’m having fun now: punching someone in the face.”

On October 29th at UFC 137, Nijem and Downes will clash in a lightweight bout, both hoping to rebound from their first Octagon losses. “I’m going to be a lot more calm in the cage going into this fight,” states Nijem, who will look to score a win by systematically taking apart his opponent like a veteran, despite his youthful appearance. “It’s not that I have to go and out wrestle this kid. In my book, that’s not performing. I want to go out and look for finishes and win every single position.”

Jones, Machida Respectful but Focused at UFC 140 Presser

With the UFC crisscrossing the globe and hosting events almost every other weekend, it’s difficult to tell which region is the Octagon’s favorite. That was until UFC President Dana White said at Wednesday’s UFC 140 presser in Toronto, Canada, tha…

With the UFC crisscrossing the globe and hosting events almost every other weekend, it’s difficult to tell which region is the Octagon’s favorite. That was until UFC President Dana White said at Wednesday’s UFC 140 presser in Toronto, Canada, that “Without a doubt, this is the strongest market on the planet.” To which the crowd of rowdy fight fans from the Great White North cheered most appreciatively. Yes, Canada loves the UFC and the UFC loves Canada.

On April 30th, 2011, Toronto was the staging ground for the biggest night of fights in UFC history for UFC 129. A record 55,000+ screaming fans packed the Rogers Center to see two titles on the line, including that of the country’s favorite son, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. Less than a year later, the Octagon returns to “The Megacity” on December 10th with another bit of gold on the line: the UFC light heavyweight championship.

In the span of nine months, Jon “Bones” Jones earned himself a title shot by defeating Ryan Bader at UFC 126, won the belt from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128, and defended the title for the first time in a dominant submission victory over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 135. Now, Jones will put the 205-pound division’s prize on the line against former champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida. But before these two can clash in the cage, they had to make a pilgrimage to Toronto to meet the Canadian fans and answer the media’s questions.

And if one thing was learned, Jones and Machida won’t be trash-talking each other anytime soon.

“I’d prefer if the fights were a bit more respectful – this is martial arts,” admitted Jones, who had to sling just as many punches in the cage as heated words in the lead up to the fight with “Rampage”, but things are very different in this title defense with Machida. “Some guys have that discipline, honor, warrior spirit, and the other guys have that ‘I’m going to knock you out’ cagefighting attitude. I’m getting used to dealing with both.”

To add to the pre-fight politeness, both “Bones” and “The Dragon” see the other’s advantages in this main event bout exactly the same.

“My biggest advantage is my youth and versatility and the way I approach the sport,” said Jones, and Machida countered, “I guarantee I will be very well prepared and I’ll overcome his athleticism with my technique.” In conclusion, neither fighter can deny Jones of the physical foothold being 6-foot-4 with an 84 inch reach and being nine years Machida’s junior. Meanwhile, “The Dragon” is one of the most versatile light heavyweights the UFC has ever seen, with elusive speed, knockout power, a dynamic grappling game, and a downright tricky style in the Octagon.

For the 24 year old champion, Jones’ 2011 seems almost never ending as he prepares to tangle with his third former UFC light heavyweight champion in just as many fights, but “Bones” is still hungry.

“I realize what I can lose and what I can lose in this upcoming fight, so it’s not hard to get up for the fight,” explained Jones, who reached the top of the 205 pound mountain in his eighth fight in the organization, and has not shown any wear from the pressure, even in his first title defense last month. “I feel as if I’m handling it pretty well and balancing it pretty well. I envisioned myself as the champion and I’ve always tried to carry myself as the champion before I even had the belt. Not too many negatives come with a dream coming true.”

For the challenger, the people of Toronto get to see “The Dragon” in action for the second time this year, as Machida delivered arguably the Knockout of the Year to Randy Couture at UFC 129.

“I felt very welcomed by the crowd here and I fought a legend in Randy Couture and I’m very excited to fight for this crowd,” asserted Machida, who dropped the Hall of Famer with a jumping front kick, aka the “Crane Kick” from The Karate Kid, and who is already planning on some new moves from a very reputable source: the UFC middleweight champion. “Anderson (Silva) has already called me and he wants to come out to my hometown and show me some things.”

On December 10th at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, another slab of UFC gold will be disputed in the Octagon in front of the raucous and loyal Canadian fan base. UFC light heavyweight champion Jones will be put to the test against the title’s former owner and a savvy veteran in “The Dragon”. A contrast of styles of raw athleticism vs. honed experience should prove UFC 140 to be another can’t miss event in what’s become the Octagon’s favorite home.

Single-Minded Maynard Aims for Gold Again

The main event of UFC 136 on October 8th is Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard for the UFC lightweight championship. From purely a fight perspective, I think this is the most important fight the UFC has to offer. It might not be the flashiest, it might not…

The main event of UFC 136 on October 8th is Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard for the UFC lightweight championship. From purely a fight perspective, I think this is the most important fight the UFC has to offer.

It might not be the flashiest, it might not be receiving the most media attention, it might not be filled with the best trash-talk sound bites, but, bar none, there are no two fighters who deserve to battle each other for a belt in the Octagon more than these two, if for no other reason than the first time they squared off with a title on the line they put on a “Fight of the Night” that could very well be “Fight of the Year”. And at the end of that memorable match, there was no clear winner.

On New Year’s Day in Las Vegas at UFC 125, Maynard challenged Edgar for the UFC lightweight championship and the two fought a five round war from bell to bell. It was an emotional fight with highs and lows for both competitors. It was a grueling contest where without a doubt both fighters left everything they had in the cage that night and they were both standing ready for more. When time expired, the final decision was laid in the hands of the judges.

The verdict: a draw.

“I know it’s easy to have that quote, ‘don’t leave it up to the judges’, but you’re in a championship fight and you’re going up against the top in the world, so more than likely it’s going to be a close one,” says Maynard. “That’s the way the sport is headed. I don’t care who you talk to, if they know the sport, with two top athletes it’s going to be a close one. I wasn’t pissed off at the judges. Whatever, it happens. At that time, I felt like I wanted to do it again. Over and over. I don’t care if I had to sign a contract that I had to go up against this guy 100 times to prove to everyone that I can beat this guy 100 times then I would have done that. I still feel that way. I want to fight him. I’m not tired of fighting him. I want to fight him. I want to prove to everyone that I can beat him.”

At 32 years old and about to enter the Octagon for the 11th time, Maynard’s determination is unparalleled in preparing to challenge Edgar for the belt for the second time this year. There are dozens of reasons to push “The Bully” to train harder than ever to win this fight: the title, stay undefeated as a pro, it’s what Maynard’s been working for these past four years in the UFC, and on and on. But the beauty of this particular matchup is the untainted simplicity of the competition.

Maynard wants to beat Edgar to settle any doubts in any person’s mind that he is better.

“I’m not tired of it because there’s a question and I hate questions,” asserts Maynard. “There’s a question of who can beat who and that’s what I want to prove. That’s what drives me. I want him. I want to fight him. I want to prove it.”

The three-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from Michigan State University specifically knows he can defeat Edgar because he did it. Back in 2008, well before either were within sniffing distance of the weight class’ gold, Maynard scored a unanimous decision victory over Edgar, which handed the New Jersey native his first and only loss. It was a great matchup then between two burgeoning stars with wrestling backgrounds in a clash of “speed” (Edgar) vs. “power” (Maynard). Three years later, it is an even better matchup because they are undeniably the best in their division and have marched their way to the top since that meeting in 2008.

“We both have obviously grown and evolved,” explains Maynard. “When you are going up against the top in the world one after the other you are going to get better. For me, after him I had Rich Clementi, Jim Miller, Roger Huerta, Nate Diaz, Kenny Florian. For him, Sean Sherk, Hermes Franca, and BJ Penn twice. You have to evolve and have to change. For me, I’m not trying to hold onto the fact that I beat him before. I forget about that stuff. You can ask me who I beat and I will tell you to check for yourself because I don’t remember. But if you ask me who beat me – I’ll tell you when, the date, the time, who it was, his background – I’ll tell you everything about it. I just hate to lose. I hate draws. I hate everything but a win.”

“The Bully” knows winning. UFC fans have watched Maynard win and win and win, from his nine second knockout of Joe Veres on September 19, 2007 until the dominant decision victory over Kenny Florian at UFC 118 on August 28, 2010. In between, Maynard has faced and defeated notable lightweight after notable lightweight on his way to the much deserved title shot at UFC 125.

Before the belt had even been put up for grabs, a number one contender had already been named in WEC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. After the murky pseudo-conclusion of the bout, it was up in the air whether Edgar’s next challenger would be Pettis or a “rubber match” with Maynard for a decisive ending. From the perspective of “The Bully”, title shots are hard to come by in the UFC and he got one and it ended in a draw. First, the fight’s fate lay with judges; now the rematch’s fate lay with UFC President Dana White.

“It was heart-wrenching,” admits Maynard. “I feel like I’ve earned this. I didn’t try to back door it. I didn’t drop to my knees. I didn’t think this marketing plan will have me at 300,000 Twitter followers and that’s going to get me a title shot. I just asked for the best guys every fight until I had the opportunity. I felt like I won that. The judges say it was a draw – ok. But this dude hasn’t beat me and he’s the champ. I don’t understand how I don’t get another shot at that. I don’t understand how it’s a question. Thank God they did. I think it was Dana who called and said it was mine and I think I told him I loved him and cried a little bit because that was awesome. He could have chose whoever he wanted to because that’s his job and he chose me and I appreciate that more than anything – it’s unreal.”

The rematch for the UFC lightweight championship is set, a date is picked, a venue is picked, so everything is going great. What could possibly go wrong? Injuries. Originally, Maynard and Edgar were supposed to square off on the Memorial Day card in Las Vegas at UFC 130. Less than a month out, the fight was called off due to injuries to both fighters. It was a blow emotionally to Maynard with another hiccup in his journey to his first UFC belt, but it was a blessing in disguise for Maynard physically because he will be entering the rematch healthy.

“There had been a lot of injuries, but I wasn’t going to pull out of it,” tells Maynard. “My knee was screwed up and my back and I got cut over my eye. I got a call saying he had to pull out of the fight because of his back. Obviously, it was crushing to me. I talked to my coaches and they said this is probably the best for me because I was hobbling around and my elbow had problems and I had a cut on my eye. I just jumped right back into camp after January 1st because I was pissed. For me, I just never healed up. I had to have a scope done on my elbow. Obviously, it’s a tough sport and injuries happen.”

Now, “The Bully” is closing in on the same opponent, the same championship and the same fight he’s been training for this past year. “That draw helped me to keep on track because I want to think about him every day,” states Maynard, who has had 10 months to ruminate on the January bout; meanwhile, the most talent rich division in the UFC has been jockeying for position to be the next in line. “If I start to look past him or there are some other good fights out there, then his head pops up in my mind and I think who gives a s**t about anyone else. I want Edgar. I want to fight him.”

There are no secrets about who either Edgar or Maynard is as a fighter after they have dueled in the Octagon for eight rounds, 40 minutes and two close decisions. There is no mystery. They know the other is tough, is ready to fight the full 25, wants to fight on the feet, wants to fight on the floor, and will not give an inch until the referee stops it. Maynard would not want it any other way because taking that hardest road against the best competitors will make success taste even sweeter.

“For my career, for who I am, I want to be known that I’m a normal person – I’m a blue collar type, I train hard and I work hard,” affirms Maynard. “I just want people to know that I really do put everything I have into this sport – into my dreams. Whether it is cash, time, I put it ahead of a lot of things – of everything. It isn’t a game to me; it’s my life and it’s who I am. You only have a couple times to achieve your dreams and I want to make the most of it. I feel that I’m the guy who can beat him. I feel like I’m the guy who can beat everyone. I’m not trying to say I’m the best or anything, but I put a plan and camp together and I feel like I have the edge in that aspect. I believe in myself.”

On October 8th at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas, Maynard and Edgar will battle for the supremacy of the UFC lightweight division. For the third time, these two will entertain UFC fans in the purest way possible: fighting each other in the Octagon. It’s as if Maynard and Edgar are destined to fight each other forever in the most grueling hard fought contests assembled. There’s undoubtedly a historic rivalry between Maynard and Edgar. Not built on bitter words or disrespect; its foundation is in the greatness of their competition in the cage.

Regardless, Maynard knows it’s unfinished. Come fight night, hyperbole will not help “The Bully” earn that belt. It will be Maynard’s pragmatism of simply beating the opponent in front of him that will get him another win and the UFC gold.

“I try not to look deep into this stuff,” relates Maynard. “I try to have a goal for the day. I try to keep out of that other stuff. But there is a lot of s**t going into this fight if you look at the history. I get asked, ‘this is a trilogy fight and you two have gone back and forth, how does it feel?’ Well, I guess when I’m an old man and I’m having a couple beers it will be cool. But right now, I’m amidst a war.”

It was a war in 2008. It was a war on January 1st. And at UFC 136, there’s no reason to think it won’t be another war with the belt on the line. If that doesn’t make it the most important fight to everyone watching, then I don’t what does.

Transforming "Red" Schafer

The fight game is about continuous evolution. In and out of the cage, if a fighter cannot keep up with the steadily increasing pressure, then they will get left behind. It is as simple as that. Striking has to be crisper, submissions have to get slicke…

The fight game is about continuous evolution. In and out of the cage, if a fighter cannot keep up with the steadily increasing pressure, then they will get left behind. It is as simple as that. Striking has to be crisper, submissions have to get slicker, takedowns need to be faster, gameplans must be smarter, and, above it all, a fighter’s mental edge has to be honed razor sharp like a samurai’s sword. No one understands MMA’s process of natural selection better than Biology major, with a minor in Chemistry, and returning UFC veteran Eric “Red” Schafer.

It has been over a year and a half since “Red” has graced the Octagon with his presence, and in that time much has changed for the Wisconsin native. Schafer has revolutionized himself as a fighter in this absence and will get the chance to debut this “Red 2.0” at UFC 136 against wrestling powerhouse Aaron Simpson. The highlights of Schafer’s metamorphosis can be found within these four numbers: 20, 78, 811 and 8.

The first number, 20, is the amount of pounds “Red” has dropped from previously competing as a light heavyweight, as Schafer is now making his UFC middleweight debut.

“When I was originally fighting, pre-UFC, I was walking around at 210 and would drop down to 205,” says Schafer. “For a normal guy, that’s normal. When I started to meet the UFC guys they were 230 cutting to 205, so I decided if I was going to fight at 205 I had to bulk up to get to 230. I think it slowed me down. I was definitely stronger, but I was less flexible and had less speed. After awhile, I thought maybe I should go back to my normal weight. It wasn’t about going down to an easier class or trying to feel stronger – I just wanted to be more athletic. I cleaned up my diet and went down to 185. In between fights, I have done a lot of grappling tournaments and I felt so much better. I felt more flexible, my cardio was better, I felt faster and my strength was pretty similar. I feel much better at this size than when I was 220 cutting to 205.”

The svelter Schafer will enter the Octagon faster, more flexible, with a bigger gas tank, and ready to add another win to his 14-5-2 pro record. But before he can try to derail the 9-2 “A-Train”, Schafer’s first fight is with the scale at the weigh-in. This is his debut as a UFC middleweight, but he already had a trial run the first week of September in the form of a bout at a local show. Schafer made the weight and, the following night, made short work of his opponent with a triangle choke less than two minutes into round one. Talk about immediate results.

“My opponent was a wrestler,” tells Schafer. “I knew he takes guys down and I knew what takedowns he uses. He seemed pretty solid on the ground, but that’s my specialty. What I was really working on for that fight was my striking, which I’m always trying to improve. I think I did well with my striking in this fight, I made him shoot in. Once he did try to take me down, I went for a guillotine and that didn’t work. Also, I wanted to prove that I’m dangerous off my back because I did lose to two wrestlers in my last two fights. I had them in trouble once in awhile in those fights, but I wanted the finish. After we hit the mat, I had been working a lot off my back and shooting up submissions. The guillotine failed and seconds later I locked up that triangle and that was it. Even though the fight was short, my striking looked good and my jiu-jitsu off my back looked good, so the two things I was working on paid off.”

The recent victory on September 3rd is far from the only action he has seen in the past year plus. Schafer was a regular fixture in Minnesota at Team Death Clutch, where he helped UFC heavyweights Pat Barry and Brock Lesnar prepare for their fights. On top of rolling with the biggies, Schafer has gotten back to his roots and competed in over 30 no-gi grappling matches at this new weight, and the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt won all of them. Even more impressive, these matches/tournaments were submission only. “Red” has been in some brutal grapplethons, which is where the second number, 78, comes into play: it’s the amount of minutes one of his no-gi submission only matches lasted.

“In the last year, since my last fight, I had four submission only grappling matches go over 20-30 minutes,” states Schafer. “The longest one went for an hour and 18 minutes against a black belt. It was the second round of the tournament. A lot of it was in his closed guard, he was very conservative. I was defending submissions and rolling around and finally I took his back and submitted him with a rear naked choke. I still had two more matches to go after that. I was cramping up, but I never quit and I won the whole tournament. Partly because of this new diet and this new body mass meant that I could keep going. It has definitely improved my cardio and my mental focus. It was a really long grueling mental battle. In a way, it gives me so much confidence going into these matches that I can’t be broken anymore. That’s something that maybe five years ago could have happen. I feel much better at this weight class.”

Not that MMA and no-gi are the same, but, at the very worst, the longest Schafer’s bout with Simpson can be is 15 minutes. For “Red”, having that experience of actively competing for over an hour and still having the wherewithal to finish that opponent and two opponents after that is a major confidence boost no matter how one slices it.

The third number, 811, is the street address where Schafer has been busy training and sculpting this new version of himself: Red Schafer Mixed Martial Arts. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 811 East Vienna Avenue, he opened his own school for business last December and his upstart no-gi grappling team has been taking the local competitions by storm. Schafer’s return to the Octagon will not only be for himself, but for his school too, as he is backed by a legion who have invested in him, and with that, Schafer’s drive to win at UFC 136 is that much greater.

“You always have pride; everyone in the UFC who fights has personal pride, but when your name is on your shorts now – it’s much more different,” explains Schafer. “You have so much support. All your team, all your family, even the new guys, the white belts in jiu-jitsu, they want you to win, they’ve helped you out, and they’re buying your t-shirts at the gym. It’s so cool to have that support. When I fought three weeks ago, it was a completely new feeling because I had my personal pride, but, now, I wanted to win for all the guys at the gym. It’s so much harder to quit, even in practice. They’re there to help me out, so I want to show them what I can do. That core, that backing, is so much more for this UFC fight. I’m so pumped up to win for the school.”

As one would expect, the school is zoned-in on one thing: helping “Red” win. For really the first time in his career, Schafer is getting the one-on-one attention that all fighters deserve. Schafer has had some great training over the years at Roufusport and, recently, at DeathClutch, but nothing compares to being the sole focus of everyone around you. It’s a new experience for Schafer and it’s one that he’s enjoying.

“We have a really good young team,” affirms Schafer. “We’re in Wisconsin, which is a really good wrestling state, so we’ve got really good wrestlers and boxing coaches helping me out. Now, it’s my school, so the team is almost single-mindedly helping me out in this camp. Everyone comes into school trying to fight like Aaron Simpson for me. My boxing coach is watching his fights just for me. I’m not part of a big team where the focus becomes divided. It’s me and a few other pro fighters and when it’s their fight I try to become who they are going to fight. We have a good family going on here who helps each other with their fights. We have pretty much dedicated the whole school in a way to how to beat Aaron Simpson.”

The final number, 8, is for October 8th when Schafer gets to put all this theory into practice when he tangles with Simpson in the Octagon. At UFC 136, the 34 year old will start his third stint in the UFC, but this time it will be at a new weight class as an overall more confident fighter in all aspects. As for the contest itself, Schafer’s more than ready to take on another power punching wrestler and this time walk out with the W.

“I just fought three wrestlers in a row and I’ve gotten progressively better against them,” remarks Schafer. “He’s just like the others: he’s a good wrestler with boxing. He’s not going to try and submit me. He’s going to take me down and try to punch me and on the feet he’s going to swing away with those punches. In a way, I’ve been doing this same gameplan for four fights now and, hopefully, I’ve got it mastered. I’m just working on his specific takedowns and the specific boxing he does. I think I did good against Bader, I think I did really good against Brilz before the altitude got to me and the last fight I won, so I’m getting better and I think this will show in this fight.”

This Saturday, Schafer will not be debuting at middleweight, but he’ll be debuting the new “Red”. “I have dedicated myself athletically; I’m smaller, I’m in better shape, and my conditioning is so much better,” says Schafer, who knows the best way to show the UFC fans he’s improved is with a win over Simpson. “I think I can submit him, but I’m ready to win by decision if need be. Hopefully, it shows what this new school has done to me. I just want them to see the transformation in me in this fight.”

Melvin Guillard – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Him Now

There is an ever present debate concerning the thin line which separates “confidence” from “cockiness”. The truth of the matter, the division of the two depends on the source of the comments. The words are all the same: I’m stronger, I’m fa…

There is an ever present debate concerning the thin line which separates “confidence” from “cockiness”. The truth of the matter, the division of the two depends on the source of the comments. The words are all the same: I’m stronger, I’m faster, and I’m better, so I will win. It comes down to, can you really argue with the person saying it? In terms of UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard, it has become almost impossible to disagree with him.

“The more an opponent watches me, the more scared they’re going to get,” states Guillard.

Actions speak louder than words, and in 2011 “The Young Assassin” has scored two brutal and quick first round knockouts over upper tier opponents: Evan Dunham and Shane Roller. It is truly difficult to play Devil’s advocate against Guillard considering “The Young Assassin” has been one of the most feared strikers at 155 pounds for the past six years and he looks better than ever. Since joining Greg Jackson’s renowned team in Albuquerque, New Mexico in January of 2010, “The Young Assassin” has been a 5-0 freight train mowing down his competition, and it doesn’t appear like Guillard is slowing down until he gets a title shot.

“That’s my main goal – to break a guy’s will,” asserts Guillard. “I know physically, I’m always going to be the better athlete. It’s rare they are going to find a better athlete than me at 155, but I think working with Greg Jackson, the team, and the trainers I have – I’m stronger mentally. That’s the biggest weapon I have because I break people mentally before the fight even happens. Honestly, I think when guys sign the contracts to fight me they are not sure of themselves. They’re probably like ‘why did Joe Silva (UFC Matchmaker) call me and ask me to fight Melvin?’ That’s the way I feel. It might not be like that, but in my mind that’s how I feel. I feel like guys don’t want to stand in front of me and trade punches.”

Nor should they. Even a casual UFC fan could take a brief glimpse of Guillard’s career stats and glean that exchanging fists and feet with “The Young Assassin” is a bad idea. There’s a wealth of material for Guillard’s opponents to agonize over as “The Young Assassin” has competed in over 50 pro fights, appeared on season two of The Ultimate Fighter, and, specifically, battled in the Octagon 14 times to a 10-4 UFC record. Guillard’s opposition will learn exactly what we already know: he’s fast, he’s strong, he’s relentless and he wants to knock you out with whatever will get the job done as soon as possible.

“I don’t want to sound cocky, but I’m so confident in my skills and in my abilities that I would allow one of my opponents – whoever wants to, they have got an invitation – to come and watch me train to fight them,” says Guillard. “It doesn’t matter what they see of me sparring or hitting mitts and all that, I don’t mind it. As long as I’m confident in my abilities in that cage then it doesn’t matter what they see. If you’re going to win then you’re going to win, if you’re going to be ready to fight then you’re going to be ready.”

With by far the majority of the 28 year old’s UFC wins coming by KO/TKO, including two “Knockout of the Night” bonuses, the safest bet against “The Young Assassin” is taking him to the ground, which is easier said than done. Guillard’s four losses in the Octagon are all by submission, with the most recent being Nate Diaz from two years ago and before he started training with Team Jackson. All fighters evolve and get better over time, so the model to beat Guillard is woefully outdated and the real challenge is finding a new one.

“I think the problem that fighters have who face me is that they sit down and spend too much time watching tape on me, trying to figure me out,” explains Guillard. “That’s their Achilles heel because I’m not the same fighter, I’m always a better fighter, and none of my fights end the same. The only end result that you’re going to get is that at some point I’m going to hit them and they’re going to be out. As far as trying to figure me out, they think they’re going to take me down and out grapple me, but I pride myself that it is going to take a lot to hold me down and half of these guys at 155 are not as strong as me anyway. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but I go in very confident. I’m going in there to execute my gameplan and that’s put my hands and feet on them. Even if they don’t get knocked down right away, I’ve seen when I’ve hit guys that when I look them in the eye it is almost like it took the fight out of them. I’ve seen that in a couple fighters I’ve faced and I think I’m going to see that in Joe Lauzon come October 8th.”

At UFC 136 in Houston, Texas, Guillard squares off with Joe Lauzon. The Ultimate Fighter season five alum will most likely use his vaunted submission skills that earned him a 19-6 record with 15 wins by sub. The 27 year old has also been awarded four “Submission of the Night” bonuses, including a first round kimura on Curt Warburton in June. Lauzon is certainly very good at forcing his fellow 155ers to tap, but Guillard doesn’t see that in the cards come fight night.

“I think he’s a tough opponent,” admits Guillard. “I wouldn’t have asked for a fight that was an easy fight. He’s going to be very tough. I know he is a good jiu-jitsu guy, but I haven’t been submitted in over two years and him just coming in here and getting a submission – that ain’t going to happen on my watch. I’m a way better fighter and I’m a way better person than who I was two years ago. There’s nothing that he’s going to throw at me that doesn’t get thrown at me every day at the gym. I’m in there with guys like Carlos Condit and Donald Cerrone who are good at jiu-jitsu. I have a whole squad of guys who are phenomenal at jiu-jitsu who could probably tap Joe Lauzon at any time. This is something I stress about MMA, is that when you have a guy like me on top of you – you don’t want to play that jiu-jitsu game. Then you’re really going to get knocked out and it’s going to be a short night. It’s not a BJJ tournament – this is MMA.”

Judging by Guillard’s last two appearances in the Octagon, Lauzon will need to work extremely quickly to latch a hold onto “The Young Assassin”. In January, Guillard trounced the rising star Dunham with knees for a TKO and a “Knockout of the Night” bonus in under three minutes. In July, he wasted even less time and knocked out the three-time All American wrestler Roller at 2:12 of the first round. It’s not only about the one punch power of his striking; Guillard’s strength is that he’s always attacking and he’s always on offense as soon as the cage door shuts.

“I have a lot respect for Shane Roller, he’s a great fighter, and Evan Dunham’s a great fighter too,” tells Guillard. “They are both great fighters and they are just as equally great as I am, but I don’t give guys the chance to get started and that’s why I have the advantage. That’s the way I fight. I’m not a slow paced fighter. I come out of the gate very fast. I come out looking to hit a guy right out of the gate. What won me my last two fights is my aggression. Most fighters try to get that feeling out round, but I don’t have a feeling out round. I come out at 100 mph and that’s how it should be. Whether it’s a knee, a kick, a right hand or a left jab – it doesn’t matter because everything I throw is with bad intentions. I’m not trying to outpoint a guy. I’m not trying to win a judge’s decision. My main thing is to go in there and try to knock guys out – I’m a finisher. ”

Arguably, the most dangerous aspect of his game right now is that he’s maturing. Guillard’s had his mental lapses in the past and more than ever it appears that will all stay in the past. Guillard’s training camps in Albuquerque have progressed him as a fighter. Guillard’s marriage and life in Oklahoma has progressed him as a person. For really the first time, he is truly healthy, mentally and physically, and the benefits from that have shown in his past five fights.

This weekend, he needs to keep this winning streak alive against the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Lauzon. The main event of that same evening features UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard in a rematch of their UFC 125 draw. It has been mentioned by UFC President Dana White that if Guillard can score a win over Lauzon then he should be next in line for a title shot. For Guillard, there are simply no “ifs” about it.

“It’s not about if I beat Joe, it’s that I’m going to beat Joe,” declares Guillard. “I’m going to knock him out like I knocked the other guys out. I’m not worried about anything. I know I’m going to be world champion. I’m blessed that Dana White is giving me the opportunity to be on that stage. I’m going to beat Joe Lauzon on October 8th. This is my first fight in front of my loved ones because I’m from New Orleans, but I lived in Houston for seven years – it’s my second home. I am going to be fighting in front of a home crowd and I haven’t fought in front of a home crowd since before my Dad passed away. This fight has a lot of emotions in it, but it’s good emotions. I’m excited. There’s nothing that is standing in my way. The only thing that can beat me is me.”

With how good “The Young Assassin” has been looking recently, I’m not confident even Guillard could beat himself. Or does that sound too cocky?

UFC Superstars Get San Jose Ready for November

“Finally, we’re here.” – UFC President Dana WhiteOn November 19th, the UFC will plant its proverbial flag for the first time into a new market: San Jose, California. Over the past few years, fight fans have gotten used to seeing the Octagon headi…

“Finally, we’re here.” – UFC President Dana White

On November 19th, the UFC will plant its proverbial flag for the first time into a new market: San Jose, California. Over the past few years, fight fans have gotten used to seeing the Octagon heading overseas and holding events in a new country seemingly ever few months. But one MMA hot bed stateside has eluded the UFC for years because it was the home for former rival promotion Strikeforce. Now, with both fight organizations under the Zuffa umbrella, the Octagon will be up and running at UFC 139 at the HP Pavilion featuring two dream matchups: Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le and Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

The stars of these main event bouts, plus UFC President Dana White, were in California’s third largest city for a pre-fight press conference Tuesday to answer questions from the media and the adoring public in attendance. It was a dais of living legends without a title on the line between them, but each one is not unused to the feel of gold around their waist or the spotlight that comes with it. From left to right: former PRIDE middleweight champion Silva, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rua, former PRIDE middleweight and welterweight champion and former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Henderson and, finally, former Strikeforce middleweight champion Le. Nevertheless, that is the past and these highly regarded fighters are all excited and focused on their future fights at UFC 139.

Arguably, the fighter most eagerly anticipating November 19th is South Vietnam’s “The Human Highlight Reel” Le. “I have fought on many platforms, but fighting in the UFC in the co-main event is a dream come true,” says Le, 39, who will be making his Octagon debut against Silva after competing in MMA solely for Strikeforce in San Jose and, prior to that, a nearly unparalleled international kickboxing career. “I just wanted to fight in the UFC, whether it is in San Jose or somewhere else, but being in San Jose makes it even more exciting. I’ll be ready to rock and roll and give the fans what they want to see.”

It will be nearly 17 months since Le’s last fight when he squares off with “The Axe Murderer” Silva. The long layoff from cagefighting was to make room for Le’s second job as an actor. Le’s only loss on his 7-1 record was after a similar layoff to make movies following the winning of the Strikeforce middleweight belt from Frank Shamrock by a third round TKO. Le returned to action 21 months later and suffered a third round KO at the hands of Scott Smith in December of 2009. The next June, the two had a rematch where Le was victorious via spinning back kick and punches in the second.

“I learned my lesson the first time when I came back against Scott Smith,” admits Le. “This time I made sure I trained everyday and stayed in shape and when I got back to the states I got back into the gym. I’ve been training since February, so I’ll be ready to get back in.”

Le will need his entire arsenal of fancy kicks and punches as Le faces the brawling power of Silva.

At 35 years old with a stellar MMA legacy spanning 15 years and nearly 50 pro fights, Silva is in an awkward situation, fighting to stay in the UFC after suffering a quick knockout loss to Chris Leben at UFC 132. “Some guys fight better in that position – I think I am one of those guys,” asserts Silva, who clearly still has the desire to compete in the Octagon, and at UFC 139, he must prove to UFC President White he still has the tools to do so. “I love to fight. I love this sport. I grew up inside the ring, the Octagon. I want to fight as long as I can.”

In the evening’s main event, a clash between two former PRIDE champions, “Shogun” and Henderson, has possible UFC light heavyweight title implications.

This bout with Rua marks the beginning of Henderson’s third stint in the UFC. “It’s a little bit ironic, I win a title somewhere and Dana buys the company to get me back,” joked Henderson, who recently won the Strikeforce light heavyweight belt in March with a TKO win over Rafael Cavalcante and, less than five months later, defeated the near mythical Fedor Emelianenko by TKO in a well publicized heavyweight bout. “Strikeforce has a number of guys who are tough and I think I fought the toughest guys there and coming up I wasn’t too excited about anyone else. I guess it was a good time for the UFC to come in and swoop up Strikeforce.”

A multi-weight divisional fighter, Henderson was asked about returning to middleweight or sticking to light heavyweight, “I prefer to fight light heavyweight; I’m not fond of cutting weight anymore.” But Henderson did allude to one fight in particular that could lure him into shedding those 20 pounds: a rematch with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. But before any of that can be hypothesized, Henderson must tangle with another Muay Thai specialist: “Shogun” Rua.

In his last fight before he turns 30 at the end of November, “Shogun” would love nothing more than to score a knockout over another vaunted opponent. “My goal is to get back to fighting for the light heavyweight title,” says Rua, who lost the 205-pound belt to Jon Jones in March, but rebounded at UFC 134 with a first round KO of Forrest Griffin that furthered his pro record to 20-5 (17 KOs). “Dan Henderson is a tough fighter and has been a standout since the PRIDE days That was a fight that the fans wanted to see back then. I’m sure that it will be a crowd pleaser.”

For the first time in company history, the UFC is invading San Jose, starting on November 19th at the HP Pavilion. On paper, these two featured bouts will be standup wars headlined by illustrious former champions. In the co-main event, “The Human Highlight Reel” Le and his seven wins (all by KO/TKO stoppages) will face the brutal, Brazilian fist bombs of “The Axe-Murderer” Silva. In the main event, Henderson’s heavy hands that have TKOed his last three opponents will tangle with probably the most exciting knockout artist of his generation, “Shogun” Rua. There may be no belts on the line, but UFC 139 is gearing up to give San Jose a “Knockout of the Night” that they will never forget.