Author: Garrett Derr

Sean Loeffler Talks Life Struggles, His Daughter, and Sounds off on His Opponent

A man is often defined by what he can accomplish with what he has to work with.Sean Loeffler (25-5) didn’t have much to work with.But, years later, Loeffler is now at the top of the world—or some would say.However, not according to Loeffler.From …

A man is often defined by what he can accomplish with what he has to work with.

Sean Loeffler (25-5) didn’t have much to work with.

But, years later, Loeffler is now at the top of the world—or some would say.

However, not according to Loeffler.

From a house with no electricity and meals consisting of peanut butter and jelly, Loeffler now owns his own house, gym, and is happily united with his girlfriend Ciara Price.

But, the man often referred to as “The Destroyer” won’t be satisfied until he gets his daughter back into his life.

In a recent interview, Loeffler told Bleacher Report his difficult struggle in losing his daughter and how its motivated him to become a UFC elite.

“My daughter was taken from me when she was just five years old. She was everything to me—my pride and my joy. I got into some legal troubles and I couldn’t see her for a few months,” said Loeffler. “It was one of the hardest times in my life.”

“She’s my life and she’s the reason I went pro. I had to make a choice in life because I was cleaning port-a-potties and doing some horrible jobs to stay above water. Her mother and I didn’t see eye to eye,” shared Loeffler.

However, despite his unfortunate circumstances, his daughter always appreciates what Loeffler was able to provide for her.

“She was living with me and I didn’t have electricity or gas. But, my daughter would always say, “Dad, you know, I like cold showers because they wake me up in the morning. And, I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.” She knew that’s all we had and she knew I was doing the best I could,” stated Loeffler. “It broke my heart.”

“My life really went down the drain and I got locked up. When I got out, I was hoping I would get my life together but it didn’t happen. A bunch of legal things happened and I’ve only seen my daughter two times since then,” said Loeffler.

Things didn’t get any easier as Loeffler would go on to lose yet another meaningful person in his life.

However, this time it was permanent.

“Hector Gil was someone I cared about very deeply. He was more than a friend to me, he was a mentor. One day I got a call and I was told that I needed to sit down. They went on to tell me that my coach was killed.

“I was told that some jealous gym owner came in and accused my coach of stealing his fighters. He shot my Hector,” emotionally said Loeffler. “I couldn’t believe it.”

When things couldn’t get any worse—they did.

“Three weeks later was my first Bellator fight. I had no focus as my life was in shambles. I was literally at the lowest point in my life. I ended up losing that fight. Afterwards I couldn’t even talk,” shared Loeffler. “I couldn’t believe what was going on in my life.”

But, a man is not defined by how he responds at the high points in life but the lowest of the valleys.

Loeffler was determined not to let life get the best of him.

“I said forget this, I’m going to win my fights from now on, I’m going to make Hector proud and I’m going to get my daughter back. I’ve been through so much in life and I couldn’t let it hold me down. I’ve been shot, stabbed and arrested,” stated Loeffler.

“Right then and there I told myself that I could either hit rock bottom and be piece of trash on the street or in prison, or I could make things better.”

Loeffler would go on to win his next six bouts, all by first-round finishes.

Slowly but surely, things began to get better in the life of Sean Loeffler.

However, it wasn’t until Jan. 8, 2012 when Loeffler’s world would change forever.

“I got a phone call on Jan. 8 at 7:58 a.m. and I’ll never forget it. I was sleeping one morning and at this point I had my own gym and my own house,” said Loeffler. “I was doing better and making some big moves in my life.”

“I thought something happened to my dad at first. I usually don’t get waken up for a phone call so I thought something was wrong with my family. I was told it had nothing to do with my dad. So, I asked if it had to do with my sister or mom. I was scared out of my mind because I didn’t know what was going on.

“On the phone was one of my best friends who had been contacting Joe Silva,” shared Loeffler. “He told me that I just signed a four-fight contract with the UFC.”

“I fell to my knees man. I couldn’t believe it. I made some extra phone calls and I hired Buddy Roberts’ last opponent,” stated Loeffler. “I’m ready for the UFC.”

Loeffler will have the opportunity to prove to the world that he is in fact on a fast track to the top of middleweight division when he takes on Buddy Roberts (11-2) in a preliminary bout at UFC on Fuel on Feb. 15 in Omaha, Neb.

“The Destroyer” is confident he’ll live up to his nickname when he meets Roberts in the Octagon in front of a jam-packed Omaha Civic Auditorium.

When asked if he was concerned with his matchup at all, Loeffler responded by stating,

“I’m concerned that the UFC’s medical insurance won’t take care of him when I’m finished with him. He’ll have some stuff to take care of after the fight is over,” said Loeffler. “They might have to get him a pen and paper because he might have a broken jaw.”

“I know he’s a tough guy and that he works with Greg Jackson and that’s great. Any Jackson fighter is hard to beat. The perfect example is Carlos Condit when he just fought Nick Diaz.

“I’m looking to finish him. It’s our first fight and neither one of us are UFC fighters,” shared Loeffler. “We’re two guys fighting in the cage and we’ll see who wants it more.”

“We’ll see who’s been stabbed, lost his coach, and had their daughter taken away from them. We’ll see who looks across the cage and who’s going to quit first. I’ll put my fist where my mouth is and I’m the better fighter,” stated Loeffler. “I’m tougher.”

Loeffler is no rookie when it comes to fighting. In fact, he believes he knows exactly what Jackson has in store for him when action begins on the 15th.

“I’m sure he’ll have a good game plan and blah, blah, blah. Jackson is probably telling him to take me to the deep waters because I haven’t been out of the first round in five years. F— you. I don’t a give a F— who you are. I’m going to drop him. I’ll put my right hand so far down his throat he won’t know what to do,” said Loeffler. “It’s not about Buddy Roberts, it’s about me.”

“Ask the other guys I’ve dropped. Ask them how my right hand felt and ask the other guys how it felt to get knocked out in 10 seconds. Even the guys I lost to will tell you I hit hard. I got a hammer and dynamite attached to my wrists.

“I got two boulders on my fists and I’m going to throw them. If he wants to trade with me, then I’ll take home an extra $65,000 to put towards my house,” stated Loeffler.

“You’ll have to interview me right after so I can tell you how it feels to knock out Buddy Roberts. I’m moving up the UFC ladder,” shared Loeffler. “I respect him, but I’m going to rip his f—— head off.”

Also squaring off after Loeffler’s bout at UFC on Fuel is Jake Ellenberger, who will take on Diego Sanchez in the main event of the evening.

Loeffler weighed in with his prediction for the welterweight showdown.

“That’s a pretty simple question and the answer is real simple. First, my after party is with Jake Ellenberger. Second, Diego is from Jackson’s camp. I like Jake all day, baby. He’s got a lot of talent and has bricks on his wrists kind of like I do. We’ll win and party afterwards,”  said Loeffler. “Jake is a big deal in Omaha.”

Through the ups and downs of life, Loeffler has always been blessed by those who’ve stuck by his side, even in the lowest of lows.

“There are a ton of people I need to thank who’ve been there for me on my long journey to the UFC. Ground and Pound Fight Gear, Cascio’s Steakhouse in Omaha, Neb., Todd Korving at TKD Combat Systems, Q’s Oceanside restaurant in California, Booster Fight Shorts, 3rd Street Tattoo in Hermosa Beach, Calif.,” said Loeffler. “Then there’s Skullylicious Clothing, Back Stage Cargo, Lexani Rims, and VII AD Jewelry.”

“I want to thank the Compound Fight Gym, South Bay Jiu-Jitsu and Bob Bass. Holistic Performance, Andy Schnadig, San Diego Fight Club, Charlie Kohler, War Fuel Supplements, Wrap Wrench, Propta, Bonehead TV, MMA Board Game, Manufactured  Fighting Factions, Paradigm MMA Management, Santa Cruz Designs, Tony “Kryptonite” Lopez, and Larry Oberle,” stated Loeffler.

Loeffler concluded by thanking those who mean the most to him in life.

“I want to thank all my friends and fans. But most importantly, I’d like to thank my father and mother and my girlfriend Ciara.”

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 143 Results: Nick Diaz’s Retirement Will Be a Huge Loss for the UFC

After five spectacular rounds of technical fighting, Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit awaited a judge’s decision to determine who would become the UFC’s newest welterweight champion.The judge’s scorecards read 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46 announcing Condit as th…

After five spectacular rounds of technical fighting, Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit awaited a judge’s decision to determine who would become the UFC’s newest welterweight champion.

The judge’s scorecards read 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46 announcing Condit as the interim 170-pound champion via unanimous decision.

Following Condit’s upset over Diaz came even bigger news.

In his post-fight interview, Diaz announced that he would be stepping away from the Octagon, ultimately resulting in his retirement from the sport.

Diaz stated,

“I’m not going to accept the fact that this was a loss. I’ve lost fights before, where, uh, ya know, like, I’m not going to accept that either. That ain’t right. I pushed him back the whole fight. I walked him down. I got the take down. I’m the guy who went out on top. Had I thought I wasn’t ahead, I’d have chinned in and finished that arm lock. Hey Carlos is a great guy, I’m happy for him and his family. I think I’m done with this MMA. It’s been great out here. I’ve had a good career. But I don’t think I’m going to get enough to keep going in this. It’s been a good time. You know Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Good job Carlos, you’re the man, bro.”

Diaz’s alleged retirement came to surprise many as he even chose to dismiss himself from the post-fight press conference.

With UFC stars Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre sidelined due to injuries, Diaz filled the void as big man of campus through his aggressive fighting style and outspoken personality.

With the assistance of middleweight Chael Sonnen, Diaz brought an attitude to the table that many fans loved as he was seemingly fearless in speaking his mind.

Without Diaz, the UFC will continue to suffer and endure yet another hardship.

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Ed Herman Talks UFC 143, Silva Ducking Sonnen, and More

On Saturday, Feb. 4, Ed “Short Fuse” Herman (19-7) will look to remain red-hot when he takes on Clifford Starks (8-0) in a middleweight showdown at UFC 143.UFC 143 will take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev., beginning at 7 p.m…

On Saturday, Feb. 4, Ed “Short Fuse” Herman (19-7) will look to remain red-hot when he takes on Clifford Starks (8-0) in a middleweight showdown at UFC 143.

UFC 143 will take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev., beginning at 7 p.m. PT  and 10 p.m. ET.

Herman will attempt to win his third consecutive fight when action begins in the main card’s first bout of the evening.

But, in order to do so, Herman will have to get by the unbeaten Starks, who is coming off his Octagon debut, where he defeated Dustin Jacoby at UFC 137.

While Starks has yet to fall to defeat in his mixed martial arts career, he’s yet to face a complete fighter with the skill set of Herman.

Not only is Herman one of the more well-rounded middleweights in the UFC today but according to those around him—he’s short-tempered.

Herman recently weighed in with Bleacher Report’s Garrett Derr on exactly how his nickname of “Short Fuse” came into play and his upcoming bout with Starks.

“You know, growing up I was always short-tempered. I was that short-tempered, red-headed kid,” laughed Herman.

“Chris Leben and Chael Sonnen actually came up with it when I was starting amateur and didn’t really have a nickname at that point in my career. So, it kind of just stuck ever since then,” said Herman. “All of a sudden, people who knew me forever kind of thought it was perfect for me.”

While Herman is set to take on Starks on Feb. 4, there was a time in his career where many felt that he may never fight again.

In the second round of action at UFC 102, Herman endured a knee injury that caused him to collapse to the ground, ultimately resulting in the bout being stopped.

Herman weighed in on his troubling time and how he’s put the injury behind him.

“The first injury I had I was pretty bummed out. I had to get surgery, but I was confident that I could and would make a comeback,” stated Herman. “But, then I re-injured it again in January and really questioned if I would ever make the return.”

“But, after the surgery I started to heal up. I stayed mentally positive. At that point I knew that I was going to come back and fight again. I had a lot of doubts at first whether or not I was going to come back at all. But, I was resilient and I came back. I spent a lot of time in rehab and went at it really hard,” shared Herman. “It’s great to be back.”

Herman’s injury proved to be an eye-opener as it allowed him to take a step back and examine how he wanted the rest of his career to play out.

In just his first fight back, Herman defeated Tim Credeur by way of knockout just 48 seconds into the very first round at the Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Finale.

His success continued into his very next bout when he met Kyle Noke at UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle when the UFC traveled to Milwaukee, Wisc.

Once again, it was Herman who finished off his opponent in the opening round—this time by submission.

“I was able to step back from the injury and realize how close I was to losing my career and never fighting in the UFC again. I’m extremely lucky to be there today. I’m able to compete and the two wins over Credeur and Noke felt great. It was great to come back and be healthy,” said Herman. “Not only to win but to come back and win in impressive fashion.”

Herman will attempt to tie his longest winning streak since joining the UFC in 2006 when he takes on Starks.

While Herman certainly respects every opponent he encounters, he feels he brings something to the table that Starks cannot—the entire table.

“I feel that I have the advantage everywhere in my mind. He’s mainly a wrestler and that’s really what he’s known for. I looked up his college credentials and when I took a look at them I noticed he was a 50/50 wrestler in college. I think my wrestling is just as good, if not better than his,” stated Herman. “My striking is also better.”

“I would love to knock him out. But you know, I feel that I am real well-rounded. So, if I can knock him out, then great, but if not, I’ll take him down and submit him,” said Herman. “If he takes me down, I’ll submit him from my back.”

While Herman’s mind is set on Starks and only Starks, he often finds himself envisioning what his future may hold.

And, in that future is the UFC middleweight championship.

“I for sure feel that I can someday win the title. I think my skills are coming together more than ever. I’ve really matured a lot physically and mentally over the years. My mind is better than it has been in the past,” shared Herman.

“Half the battle is mental, so I feel I’m more mentally prepared than ever. I thank Clifford for taking the fight on short notice so that I can get back in there,” said Herman. “This is just another step of the journey.”

With the topic still burning like a winter fire, Herman shared his views of the Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen dilemma, as he’s formed a close relationship with the outspoken Sonnen.

“Of course, Silva is ducking Sonnen. Why would he want to fight Chael again? He got lucky by catching Chael in that triangle arm-bar the first time,” stated Herman. “I’m not saying that he’s faking the injury, but he definitely doesn’t want to fight Chael again.”

“Who would want to fight Chael? Anderson sure as heck doesn’t want to fight Chael. I don’t know if anyone does,” shared Herman. “Chael is so tough.”

As Herman continues to advance in his career, he remembers those who’ve helped him become the fighter he is today.

“I’ve had a lot of help along the way. Robert Follis has been my mentor from the beginning of my career. All the guys at Team Quest—Matt and Randy,” said Herman. “Of course Chael, Chris Leben, and all of the guys who’ve helped me get better.”

“Now I got my own team and gym and I have a lot of support coming from there. My family and friends are great and have always been there as well.”

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Mark Munoz Talks Surgery, Return, Silva vs. Sonnen and More

More times than not, a mixed martial artist finds himself fighting as a direct result of his burning desire to compete at such a high level.However, this wasn’t the case at all for UFC middleweight Mark Munoz (12-2) as he never had intentions of becomi…

More times than not, a mixed martial artist finds himself fighting as a direct result of his burning desire to compete at such a high level.

However, this wasn’t the case at all for UFC middleweight Mark Munoz (12-2) as he never had intentions of becoming a professional fighter.

But a white lie later, Munoz found himself standing amongst some of the greatest fighters in the world which ultimately elevated into a professional career inside the Octagon.

Munoz recently shared with Bleacher Report’s Garrett Derr how he was tricked into the sport of mixed martial arts and in result, the hardest part was convincing his wife that it would all work out.

“I never, ever would have thought that I would be fighting for a living. I wrestled at Oklahoma State and really had no plans of pursuing a career in mixed martial arts. At the time, I was really good friends with Urijah Faber. Urijah was training MMA and kept bugging me to give the sport a chance,” said Munoz. “I never gave it a chance until one day I finally gave in.

“The first guy I got into the cage with was Randy Couture and I took him down a few times. Randy got up like Randy does and started taking it to me,” laughed Munoz. “I loved the competitive aspect of the sport. But I was a wrestler not a striker at the time.”

“Urijah asked me to come spar one day and I told him that I wasn’t interested. Then he told me it would only be wrestling so I agreed to go. That wasn’t the case at all when I arrived. The first thing I saw when we got there were guys strapping on gloves. I knew right then and there I was tricked. I looked at Urijah and he laughed,” shared Munoz. “I started sparring and just fell in love with the sport.”

While many may consider the rigorous training the hardest part of Munoz’s journey—it wasn’t at all.

In fact, the most difficult part of Munoz’s decision to pursue a career in MMA was seeking his wife’s approval.

“The hardest part was coming home and telling my wife that I wanted to pursue a career in fighting,” said Munoz. “At first, my wife’s image of mixed martial arts was really negative as she thought it would set a bad example for others, especially our kids”

“It was difficult convincing her that this was what I wanted to do for a living. We already had a family started and had four kids of our own,” stated Munoz. “But it’s what I decided to do and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Munoz’s decision has paid off as he’s won four consecutive bouts including his most recent stoppage victory over Chris Leben in the main event at UFC 138.

Following Munoz’s win came even bigger news as UFC President Dana White revealed that Leben would be suspended for a full year due to a failed drug test.

Out of the kindness of his heart, not only did Munoz reach out to Leben but he provided him with an open invitation to join his camp.

“It’s really a shame about Chris because I really like the guy as a fighter and a person. He’s a great guy,” shared Munoz. “Every time I see him I try and catch up with him as I’ve gotten to know him more and more over the years.”

“I hope he can overcome this difficult time in his life. The stuff he was taking was some serious stuff. It wasn’t any type of drug but it was to improve an individual’s way of living. I actually invited Chris to come and train with me and he told me that he might have to take me up on that offer,” said Munoz.

Even bigger news broke following Leben’s suspension when Munoz had to withdraw from his No. 1 contenders bout with Chael Sonnen which was scheduled to take place on national television at UFC on FOX 2.

Munoz’s injury led to a successful surgery as he hopes he’ll return better than ever before.

“My injury was brutal man. I had 24 bone chips removed from my shoulder that kind of developed over time from constant training and fighting. You know, I always had pain in my shoulder but I always fought through it,” stated Munoz. “That’s just who I am.”

“As time progressed, my injury got worse and worse to the point where I couldn’t train with it. So, we got on the phone and the UFC flew me to Las Vegas to get it checked out,” stated Munoz. “They determined that I needed immediate surgery and had no idea how I went that long without getting it fixed.”

Munoz came clean and revealed that despite coming out on top in four consecutive outings, his injury had certainly taken its toll on his recent performances.

“The injury actually really affected my previous fights even though I was still able to have my hand raised. I had problems defending against the left hook. I would actually hide behind my bicep as it was really the only thing I could do at the time. I also lost power in my punching. So, I’m hoping this surgery could be a blessing in disguise,” said Munoz. “I’m hoping that I come back better than ever and that this will help me moving forward.”

While “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” isn’t entirely sure when he’ll be back “wrecking” opponents in the Octagon, doctors believe it will be a few months.

“Well, when I originally went in the doctors thought I could possibly make a return at some point in May,” said Munoz. “However, after taking a deeper look at things they determined that I would be sidelined until at least June or maybe even into July.”

As we’ve seen in the past, an injury can do more than just jeopardize a fighter’s career.

In fact, more times than not a fighter will come back ranked lower than prior to their injury.

However, Munoz believes his current ranking shouldn’t be a direct result of his shoulder injury as he’s proven time and time again he deserves to fight for the title.

“I don’t think that my injury should hurt my position in the middleweight division,” stated Munoz. “I believe that I’ve done everything I can to get to the point where I’m at today.”

“I’ve won four consecutive fights and I was in the position to fight for the No. 1 contenders spot. If I don’t get that fight when I return I’ll fight another opponent and then request a title shot. I feel that I deserve it,” shared Munoz.

While Munoz missed the opportunity to fight his close friend and fellow 185-pounder Sonnen, it’s likely he’ll get the chance to in the near future.

And, when he does, it certainly won’t be anything personal.

“Chael is one of my very close friends. We’ve been friends for a while and we wrestled and competed against one another in college,” said Munoz. “Every time I see Chael we pick up where we last left off.”

“He’s great. You know, I don’t mind fighting him because I don’t believe fighting should be personal at all. It’s a competition between two men. Friends will fight one another and I’m sure Chael and I will eventually have to fight.”

If for some reason Munoz doesn’t get the opportunity to fight Sonnen, it’s very likely he’ll be squaring off with the current middleweight champion, Anderson Silva.

Munoz shared his thoughts one whether or not he believes “The Spider” is in fact ducking the outspoken Sonnen.

“You know, I’m not really sure. I don’t know if he is or not because I haven’t gotten the chance to talk to him in a while. I’m actually friends with both Chael and Anderson,” stated Munoz. “Things got blown out of proportion not too long ago when I stated that I wanted a title shot against Anderson.”

“It wasn’t anything personal I just felt that I was ready for the title shot. Anderson always told me that when it was my time to fight for the title that he would already be retired. So, I’m really not sure what he’s going to do.”

With the future certainly set to take care of itself, Munoz is focused on a speedy and full recover in order to get back to the fighter he once was.

While Munoz’s journey back to the top may not be as smooth as he’d like, he’ll eventually get there with the help of others.

“My training partners have really helped me develop into the fighter I am today. I feel that I’m a more well-rounded fighter than ever before and a lot of the credit goes to those guys,” stated Munoz.

“But like I said earlier, the guy I have to thank the most is Urijah Faber. Urijah is the one who talked me into this whole lifestyle. He literally asked me for a full year to give the sport a chance,” said Munoz. “I finally did and he helped guide me through it.”

“He’s one of my best friends and I owe him a lot for it.”

To learn more about Mark Munoz or ‘TEAM MUNOZ’ , follow him on Twitter or visit his website.

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Stephen Thompson Talks UFC Debut, 62-0 Record, GSP and More

In the sport of kickboxing, the amount of time and hard work spent ultimately reflects the outcome of a man’s achievements.Training for one specified fight can be almost overwhelming, as the effort required is almost too much to bear.After training and…

In the sport of kickboxing, the amount of time and hard work spent ultimately reflects the outcome of a man’s achievements.

Training for one specified fight can be almost overwhelming, as the effort required is almost too much to bear.

After training and participating in one kickboxing bout, try fighting an additional 56 matches—and not only competing, but winning every single one of them.

Enter Stephen Thompson (5-0 MMA).

Thompson, born in Simpsonville, South Carolina has never felt the feelings of defeat throughout his professional kick boxing career, as he’s posted a perfect record of 57-0.

Thompson recently talked with Bleacher Report’s Garrett Derr on his transition from kickboxing to the world of mixed martial arts and discussed his UFC debut, which will take place in just a few short days.

“I’ve been in the sport of martial arts for about 25 years now. My dad owns a school in South Carolina where my siblings and I grew up in. Martial arts was something we all had to do growing up. It was required in our family,” laughed Thompson. “I’ve been training since I was young and had my first kickboxing fight when I was only 15 years old.

“Six years ago I ended up tearing my ACL, and it changed everything. I was out for three years and had two surgeries. I had a lot of time to think about where my future was heading and what I wanted to do with it. I decided to make the transition to MMA. I’ve been focusing strictly on that ever since,” said Thompson. “I believe the sport really builds character and can do a lot of things for you.”

Despite his undefeated record en route to earning five world championships, Thompson has no plans to return to the sport.

“At this point in time I’d say probably not. My dad sometimes asks if I’m ever going to take another kickboxing fight. But, I’m really focused on MMA, and this is really all I want to do,” stated Thompson. “I love it.”

Thompson didn’t miss a beat after crossing over to MMA as he won the first five fights of his new career, including two wins by knockout and one by submission.

The “Wonderboy” apparently did enough to attract the attention of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as Thompson got some of the best news of his life.

“I found out a couple weeks ago from my manager Lex McMahon. He called and said he got a call from the UFC asking if I wanted to take a fight on short notice,” stated Thompson. “Without hesitation I told him I would.”

“I couldn’t believe it. I knew that it was going to come eventually, but I couldn’t believe how soon it actually came. I’m really confident that my skills and being in the martial arts world for a long time can help me become a champion at the next level,” shared Thompson.

Thompson will enter the Octagon for the very first time on Saturday, February 4th when he takes on Dan Stittgen (7-1) at UFC 143 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Despite the fight being on short notice, Thompson is confident that his unbeaten streak will remain just that—unbeaten.

“He’s a great jiu-jitsu fighter, and he’s got some standup. But, I believe I have much better standup. That’s really my strength. I can go to the ground or wherever the fight really makes its way to. I’ve had great training in all aspects of the martial arts, and I’ve been working hard on my wrestling and my ground game,” said Thompson. “He seems like a really tough dude so it should make for a great fight.”

“My goal is to knock this guy out. I want to keep it standing up. I definitely want to give the crowd a good show, and I want to finish him in the standup. If it goes to the ground then let it, but I’d like to keep it on my feet,” shared Thompson.

Thompson, who knows a thing or two about severe injuries, weighed on Georges St-Pierre’s ACL tear, as he’s spent some time training with the current welterweight champion in the past.

“I know how hard of a worker Georges is as I’ve done some training with him and spent some time with him in Montreal. I think he’s going to be coming back to the cage better than he was before. This guy trains 24/7, and he’s a machine. He eats and sleeps this sport,” stated Thompson. “Not only will the time allow him to be ready physically but mentally as well.”

“He’ll have plenty of time to map out where his career is going to be heading. I think he’ll be fine. I’ve been through an injury like that before. At first, it’s a mental thing, but Georges can overcome that. He’s so positive and he’s going to keep working hard.”

“It took me two surgeries and three years to get back into it. I made the mistake of hurting it and having to be out more time. He’s making the right move by taking his time, and I think we’ll see that pay off,” stated Thompson. “Whoever fights Georges next might want to watch out.”

Not only does Thompson want to reflect St-Pierre as a fighter but his actions outside the Octagon as well.

“There are guys who act differently inside the Octagon compared to outside the Octagon. All they’re really doing is hyping up their fights. But, guys like Nick Diaz give the sport a bad reputation. You never see that with Georges. That’s what I want to be like,” shared Thompson. “I want to be an extremely nice guy and someone who’s great in the Octagon as well.”

However, if it weren’t for Thompson’s father, he may not even be in the position he is today.

Thompson credits all his success to his father, who’s been by his side every hour of the day from the very beginning stages of his career.

“He’s always been there. He’s been there for all my brothers and sisters and I. My entire family is very close. But my dad—no one really knows how much he does for me. But, of course I do and I’m thankful for him. He’s there in the morning, afternoon and at night. If I’m there, he’s there,” stated Thompson. “Every single step of the way.”

“There’s no one who’s been a bigger part of my career than him.”

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

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Kyle Watson: ‘I Had to Pay a $40 Entry Fee for My First Fight’

After coming out on top in four consecutive bouts in smaller promotable organizations, Kyle Watson (13-7-1) found himself awaiting his Octagon debut.Finally, after years dedicated toward one specific goal, Watson’s dream of fighting in the Ultimate Fig…

After coming out on top in four consecutive bouts in smaller promotable organizations, Kyle Watson (13-7-1) found himself awaiting his Octagon debut.

Finally, after years dedicated toward one specific goal, Watson’s dream of fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship finally came to a reality.

Watson found himself standing across the Octagon from Sako Chivitchian at The Ultimate Fighter season 12 finale with hopes of capturing the first win of his UFC career.

When the final bell came to a close after three grueling rounds, it was Watson’s hand that was raised, allowing him to outlast Chivitchian via unanimous decision.

However, Watson didn’t realize just one fight later that he’d be looking for a job elsewhere as he was released by the organization after a third-round knockout defeat to John Makdessi at UFC 129.

Watson recently shared his story with Bleacher Report’s Garrett Derr as he will begin his journey back to the UFC when he takes on Juha-Pekka Vainikainen in the main event of the evening at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship Fight Night 3 in Beirut, Lebanon on Feb. 11.

Watson shared how his minimal interest in the sport of mixed martial arts escalated into a career during his time at the University of Illinois.

“I was originally from a really small town and they didn’t have much to do there. There wasn’t any mixed martial arts and I didn’t really know what jiu-jitsu was at the time,” Watson said. “I would eventually enroll at the University of Illinois, where I was able to spread my wings and try some new things.”

“I started training in a club that did kickboxing and a bunch of other MMA-related things. The coach introduced me to the jiu-jitsu coach and he just happened to be one of the best BJJ guys out there. I’ve been with him for 12 years now,” Watson said.

Watson began his career looking to make ends meet but instead found himself having to pay out of his own pocket to fight.

“It’s kind of a funny story. I made some phone calls and scheduled my first fight on Dan Severn’s show in Indiana. I had to pay a $40 entry fee to even fight,” Watson said, laughing. “And, that’s how it all began.”

Now, less than two weeks away, Watson will look to win his first post-UFC bout when he takes on more-than-a-mouthful Vainikainen at CWFC Fight Night 3.

“I think it’s a great matchup, but I’m certainly not saying it will be easy by any means. It’s a good style matchup. Everybody loves the striker versus grappler fight,” Watson said. “If you take a look at his record, he has as much experience as I do.”

“I anticipate it being a tough matchup. If you break down his past fights, he’s probably not going to want to go to the ground with me. I know he’s not going to. His strength is his stand-up but I don’t mind standing with him. Of course, I’m going to try and put him on his back and submit him, but at the same time, I’m comfortable in his strength,” Watson said. “That gives me the advantage.”

A win over Vainikainen will be a step in the right direction for Watson as he attempts to make his way back to the highest stage in MMA today.

Watson has already proved he has the skill set and the ingredients to compete in the UFC despite only given two opportunities.

“I know in my heart that I deserve to be there. There are guys in the UFC that I can beat. I feel that my two UFC performances didn’t really do me any justice. Following the fights I felt awful and was disappointed with myself,” Watson said. “I didn’t stick to the game plan so that’s on me.”

“My coach always tells me when the lights come on your lights can’t go off, and that’s what kind of happened in my UFC fights. But my goal right now is to win this fight. If I show a couple of exciting fights and the UFC brings me back, then I’ll be happy,” Watson said. “But if they don’t, I won’t be heartbroken because I had my shot.”

While Watson may wish he could go back in time and do things differently, one thing that can’t be questioned is his ability to finish.

“While I fought more not to lose than to win in my UFC bouts, I’d still say I’m a finisher. I’m always looking for a finish. Of my 19 wins, only two have gone to decisions,” Watson said.

As Watson rigorously prepares for his upcoming bout against Vainikainen, his fellow lightweights Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson will also continue in their preparations for their UFC 144 clash in Japan.

Watson encourages fans and viewers to keep their money in their pockets as their championship bout is one of the more unpredictable bouts of the year.

“I think every time Henderson has fought a tough guy I’ve counted him out. But, he always surprises me,” Watson said. “I thought Jim Miller was going to beat him but he totally destroyed him like no one else ever has.”

“He’s one of those guys that I have to stop counting out. But, Edgar is so tough. I have to go with the champ on this one but I definitely won’t be putting money down on it,” he said, laughing.

While Watson certainly hopes to one day be fighting in the same position as Edgar and Henderson, he’s more than thankful for what’s hes accomplished up until this point in his career and those who’ve been by his side throughout the entire process.

“My jiu-jitsu coach Jack McVicker has always been my No. 1 guy. The big thing he’s passed on to me was how to be a competitor and strive to be better,” Watson said. “He’s taught me balance and he’s been a role model for the last 12 years of my life.”

“My parents have also spent an unbelievable amount of time helping me become the man I am today,” he said. “They’ve been there for a long, long time.”

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

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