Short-notice and last-minute are two terms that describe the bulk of
John Gunderson’s career. By now, the UFC lightweight is used to opponent
switches. He grumbles for a minute, then moves on. It doesn’t much
change his job in the gym.
Gunderson is from the school of year-round training. There are no fight
camps – just a never-ending loop of gym sessions broken up only by his
daughter’s soccer games.
He admits he was disappointed when he couldn’t fight “The Ultimate
Fighter 8” winner Efrain Escudero, who instead ended
up taking a fight with Charles Oliveira on the main
card of UFC Fight Night 22 on Sept. 15 in Austin, Texas. But Gunderson also thinks Escudero’s replacement, veteran Yves
Edwards, is just as good a name, and a better
overall opponent.