The unconventional coach and motivator isn’t having a good week.
Joshua Fabia is an unusual character in the MMA world. Having come out of obscurity to end up working with a tough legend like Diego Sanchez, he immediately made waves with his odd corner advice, unconventional techniques, bold proclamations, and grandiose self-promotion. And while some in the community have had a lot to say regarding the matter, perhaps nobody has been quite as frank as UFC fighter James Krause.
Krause wanted a fight earlier this year with Sanchez, but had a major problem with Fabia. He had already opened up a bit about his dislike for Fabia in an interview earlier this year with MMA Junkie. It was very direct and to the point:
“Just some of that stuff, that guy says is ridiculous to me,” Krause added. “I just can’t seem to get behind it, and I think he’s got Diego manipulated, and I think – I’m not a fan of the man. You have to put some real work into this sport to become a coach of a high-level athlete, and I feel like this guy has short-cut that and hasn’t done those things.”
But now that Sanchez is coming off a rough loss to Jake Matthews this past weekend, things have gotten worse. Krause had a chat with James Lynch at Octagon Outlook and broke down the state of things but turned his attention to Sanchez’s coach.
“What really bothers me is the coach that he has. Unfortunately, I think Diego is off the deep end a little bit and this dude is manipulative and taking advantage of him. This dude is a clown, Josh Fabia, or whatever the hell his name is. The dude is a joke. People like that in my opinion, I get so upset talking about it.”
Krause went on to get to the crux of his problem with Fabia, primarily that he sees him as someone taking advantage of an aging and beloved fighter while offering nothing of substance to help Sanchez.
“It is not about you, who gives a shit? This dude is using Diego Sanchez as a platform to build his own busted ass whatever he does. You are getting me rallied up. He is a joke, he is selling wolf tickets to Diego and Diego isn’t smart enough to realize what is happening. It is a joke, this dude is a sham, he is a disgrace to our sport, I’ll say it… This dude has been in the sport for six months, you don’t even know it. He is a joke and unfortunately, he has already ruined an already declining Diego.”
Krause is clearly upset, but is echoing the sentiments that many fans online as well as MMA media have been expressing for some time. But another development took place this past weekend when Fabia himself confronted former UFC champ Matt Serra as he had breakfast before fight night.
Fabia had taken umbrage due to the way he felt Serra characterized him recently, which led to him approaching him directly to set things straight.
This was not a good idea. See for yourself right here (link if unavailable, starting at 10:54).
Here’s a transcript of the conversation, recorded gleefully by Din Thomas:
Fabia: I’m just saying when we see things it would be nice to acknowledge the comparison there. It would be nice to acknowledge that what just happened to that man could have definitely happened to Diego, and it clearly didn’t.
Serra: I don’t know you, but as of now I’m not a huge fan.
Fabia: I understand, man.
Serra: Do me a favor, listen, we don’t need to talk about it right now. I respect Diego, I don’t know you too well. I don’t know the point you’re trying to say you’re coming at the media. From what I see with your training, I think it’s silly. I don’t give a sh-t. You’re not my guy, you’re not working with my guys. Good luck with Diego, I wish Diego the best. You’re with him, so if he wins I’m sure you’ll get some acknowledgement. He’s been training a very long time before he’s even met….
Fabia: That’s not my point, My point is when I’m being brought up and you don’t even want to say my name…
Serra: How about this: honestly, I don’t even know your f—king name. How about that?
Fabia: When it was brought up in the interview and they’re telling you and ask you about me, you’re able to see my name, you know that they are talking about me. You’re actually on a camera like you’re disdained with me so much that you can’t even say my name, bro. That’s kinda cold.
Serra: Like I told you already, I don’t know your name. What’s your name again?
Fabia: Joshua.
Serra: Joshua. OK, good. School of something or other. I understand you. Listen…
Fabia: You see how that right there…
Serra: You know why? Because I don’t give a f—k. I’m with my friends having breakfast. You’re trying to come over here, make some kind of grandstand… You’re bringing me up
Fabia: OK… Not like that, bro.
Serra: Listen, bro… You wanna talk, we’re gonna talk. You’re bringing up [Michel] Pereira, I think the guy’s a stud…
Fabia: Who? (Uses different pronunciation) Pereira?
Serra: You gonna fix my f—kin’, how I pronounce shit? Oh yeah, OK.
Fabia: I just didn’t hear you.
Serra: And then you’re bringing up “oh man, it’s amazing how people don’t bring up Diego, you know look at his fight with him (Pereira).“ I thought that fight was shit! You know what fight was phenomenal? His fight with Karo Parisyan.
Fabia: Absolutely.
Serra: F—king phenomenal. That’s the Diego Sanchez I think is a f—king beast. So Diego has my full respect. So, what is, just… This is not gonna get any better. Do your thing, good luck with you, I hope you make some money off Diego, do what you gotta do and that’s it, bro. OK? We’re not, listen — (you’re) not my type of guy. Do your thing.
That portion ends there, and goes on to Serra recapping the encounter with Thomas and Dana White. Clearly, Fabia was not appear happy with the way things ended.
Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier said it best. Gotta be a lot more self-aware than that.
DC: If you’re teaching the school of self-awareness, how are you so unaware that you shouldn’t go interrupt Matt Serra at breakfast, man?#DCandHelwani pic.twitter.com/ejIDwTizX7
— Jed I. Goodman (@jedigoodman) September 28, 2020
Caught in the middle of all this is Diego Sanchez, a man that unfortunately may not be in the UFC for long with or without his new mentor.