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The Rising Tide: On the Grind with Ike Vallie-Flagg

In a rapidly growing sport like mixed martial arts, overnight success stories receive the quick grab in the headlines of MMA media.
Talented young phenoms such as light heavyweight king Jon Jones and Brazilian pound-for-pound great Jose Aldo are herald…

In a rapidly growing sport like mixed martial arts, overnight success stories receive the quick grab in the headlines of MMA media.

Talented young phenoms such as light heavyweight king Jon Jones and Brazilian pound-for-pound great Jose Aldo are heralded as the future of the sport, and their ascensions to great heights become captivating.

While the skills possessed by dominant champions like Jones and Aldo are a rare commodity—and should be treated as such—that fact can evoke a strange perspective in the minds of the MMA faithful. Just because a handful of fighters make their work inside the cage look easy doesn’t mean it is.

In fact, what makes those fighters great is their ability to make great performances look effortless while turning back the best competition in the world.

Such success also can create the illusion that success comes easily. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially in the unpredictable environment of mixed martial arts. Just because the saying “Anything can happen in a fight” is cliche, this doesn’t make it any less true. Natural talent is great to have, but talent alone isn’t a guarantee the job is getting done.

There are many variables that can lead to a misstep in the fires of live competition.

Talent, speed and strength can go far in overcoming most obstacles, but they cannot ensure consistency in competition.

While a collection of his peers have gone on to achieve stardom under the UFC banner, a level he is yet to reach, the one category lightweight Isaac Vallie-Flagg can absolutely cement his position within is the consistency department.

The 35-year-old Michigan-born fighter may have gotten a late start in mixed martial arts, but over the course of the nine years he’s invested in the professional ranks, the Jackson’s/Winkeljohn-trained fighter has been on a constant grind towards the sport’s biggest stage.

“Ike” parlayed a nine-fight unbeaten streak on the regional circuit in the southwest into an invitation to compete under the Strikeforce banner. Following two solid wins over Brian Melancon and heralded veteran Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante, the Albuquerque transplant found his stock rising in the San Jose promotion’s 155-pound fold and inching closer to getting an official offer from the UFC.

“I would say I was fighting for respect,” Vallie-Flagg told Bleacher Report. “I think a lot of people saw Strikeforce as a lesser promotion and as the little bastard stepchild of the UFC. I don’t think we got the same respect fighter-wise as even the WEC did. Even though the two guys I fought were really tough, at least in my opinion, I still felt like I was fighting for respect in that organization.“

The fate of Strikeforce would ultimately expedite the process. The sports’ second-largest promotion officially closed its doors in January of this year.

Following the dissolution of Strikeforce, Vallie-Flagg was brought over to compete inside the Octagon and was immediately put to work the following month when he faced seasoned veteran Yves Edwards at UFC 156.

It was a gritty, hard-fought performance in his official debut. Vallie-Flagg edged out the “Thugjitsu Master” via split decision on the judge’s cards. Getting his hand raised for the first time under the UFC banner was a dream years in the making.

While he may have taken the long road to the best promotion in mixed martial arts, Vallie-Flagg believes his personal journey is just getting started.

“I was super excited about the opportunity to fight Yves [Edwards] and the name he carries,” Vallie-Flagg said. “Yves is a guy who I have been a fan of in this sport for a long time and someone I respect as a fighter. He is a super-tough vet, and when I got the call, I thought it was a great fight for me stylistically.

“Getting that call and getting that matchup was awesome for me. Having a close fight with Yves wasn’t something I look negatively upon. He is a top-notch guy and at one point was considered one of the best guys in the 155-pound division. Of course I would have liked to get the finish, but getting a decision against him was cool too.

“It was a close fight, but I felt like I beat him.”

“In my first fight in the UFC, I wanted to establish who I was,” he added. “I really think fighting a guy like Yves, and really doing what I like to do in there and just push forward on guys, I feel like I showed who I was. I got really sick the week of the fight and doing that while I was sick gave me a lot of confidence that I can mentally push through a tough fight.”

Vallie-Flagg may have traveled the long and winding path to the UFC, but his daily grind inside one of the most revered mixed martial arts gyms in the sport has kept him front and center with a collection of the top talent in the sport.

In addition to current and former champions, Vallie-Flagg has traded leather on a daily basis with a wide range of fighters who have all experienced success competing inside the Octagon.

Of his teammates, the person Vallie-Flagg has developed the closest relationship with is featherweight wrecking machine Cub Swanson.

Competing just one weight class apart has allowed the two fighters to consistently push one another to become better. And where Swanson’s rise to prominence in the 145-pound ranks is a testament to hard work and dedication, it also provides Vallie-Flagg with a clear view of what the end result can look like when his time to shine arrives.

“It’s a huge motivator,” Vallie-Flagg said. “I’ve been watching all these guys come up around me and I know what I do with them when we are in the gym together. Especially with Cub, who is a good friend of mine. I always feel like I’m a few steps behind him as far as our careers go. It feels like we are both starting to do bigger and bigger things.

“Just watching him succeed, and knowing I’m working just as hard as he is, gives me the hope that those things are going to be coming along soon for me as well. It is already starting to pay off with getting into the UFC and all of the things that have come from that.”

Competing in the shark tank of the UFC lightweight division, Vallie-Flagg understands the progression up the ranks not only needs to come in rapid fashion, but it’s one where setbacks can ill be afforded. Following his victory over Edwards at UFC 156, he was slated to face veteran Sam Stout at UFC 161 before a back injury suffered in training forced him out of the matchup.

Nevertheless, the well-traveled vet has not lost his focus.

He wants to lock down a position in the 155-pound division’s top 10, and once his injury is cleared up and a return to health is made, Vallie-Flagg has every intention of resuming that climb at full force.

“That’s what I want to do,” Vallie-Flagg answered when asked about making a run to the top 10. “I felt the Stout fight would have put me on the map, but I can’t dwell on that. As soon as I’m back from this injury, I want to get another tough fight, and I want to make a big statement with whoever I get.

“The end of 2013 could be really great for me, and 2014 could be even better. There are a lot of tough guys in the division but the division is at an interesting place right now.

“I think I have some advantages competing in the lightweight division. No. 1, I think I’m a sizable 55er and I can also push a pace. The things I worked on leading up to the Stout fight I had to pull out from was being more explosive because I hit hard, but when I cut down to 55 that is something I lack.

“Conditioning is always a factor I’m going to have in my favor. I know I’m going to push harder than anyone I face. Even in the gym, where I’m facing top-notch guys, conditioning is something I always know I’m going to have over them.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 164: Anthony Pettis Ready for ‘Showtime’ in Milwaukee

The UFC lightweight title has been in the sights of Anthony Pettis for quite some time, and the chance to make his dream a reality is rapidly approaching. It hasn’t been an easy journey by any means, but the 26-year-old Duke Roufus-trained fighter has …

The opportunity to do so will come in an ideal setting. Pettis is a lifelong Milwaukee native, and with the Octagon rolling through his hometown for UFC 164, the former WEC lightweight title holder will step onto the sport’s biggest stage and attempt to make good on his long-awaited title effort.

The situation comes as a fitting turn for the talented young fighter. Much like the hard scrabble, blue-collar city he represents, the Roufusport fighter has endured a series of setbacks and unfortunate scenarios on path to become a UFC champion. Multiple title shots have fallen by the wayside due to various circumstances both unrelated and directly tied to what Pettis has been able to do inside the cage.

Nevertheless, the lightweight striking phenom has remained at the top of the fight game and will square off with champion Benson Henderson on August 31 at UFC 164.

The main event title tilt has the potential to be a defining moment in Pettis‘ young career, and with his city behind him, “Showtime” is ready to to make the most of the moment.

“This is the very definition of all my dreams coming true,” Pettis told Bleacher Report. “I’ve worked so hard to get where I’m at and it is finally here. I’m not going to let myself down. I’m not going to let my fans down and I’m not going to let my city down. This is what I’ve worked so hard for.”

“The city of Milwaukee really gets behind their athletes,” he added about competing in his hometown. “The Brewers, Bucks, Packers and the athletes from my city get a lot of support. I’m excited to actually get to put on for my city, in the Bradley Center, in my hometown, fighting for a title. It’s going to be insane. Plus with the Harley Davidson celebration going on it is going to be a really fun week.”

While the opportunity to compete for the lightweight crown came as a high point for Pettis, it was preceded by an astounding low. The unpredictable striker was originally slated to face pound-for-pound Brazilian phenom Jose Aldo for the featherweight title at UFC 163, but a knee injury suffered during a training session put the ice on his 145-pound title bid.

Following the injury, Pettis appeared to be out of the championship picture once again, but T.J. Grant’s concussion and subsequent withdraw from his bout with “Bendo” created the perfect scenario for Pettis to jump directly back into the mix.

“My first thought was…again?” Pettis recalled. “This is really going to happen to me again? A small knee injury and this is going to to take me out of a title shot. But after the way it all played out, I’m positive about the whole situation. Everything happens for a reason and maybe I just wasn’t meant to fight in Brazil for the 145-pound title. Maybe Milwaukee was my place to fight.”

“I would have loved to not got hurt and the knee injury would’ve been nice not to have, but the way it worked out, it still worked out good. I still got my title shot and I got two title shots in one month. That’s unheard of, man.”

With the bout between Pettis and Henderson official, a rematch three years in the making is finally going to materialize. The two men originally locked up at WEC 53 back in 2010, with Pettis edging out Henderson to earn the WEC lightweight title.

Shortly after the bout, the WEC merged into the UFC fold, and both men set about their respective courses to reach the top of the division. Pettis‘ immediate title shot was put on hold due to the congestion created by the Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard trilogy, then taken off the table when he was upset by Clay Guida in his Octagon debut.

As for Henderson, the loss to Pettis sparked the most impressive run of his career as the 29-year-old MMA Lab product went on to win seven consecutive fights as well as earning and defending the UFC title in the process.

In Milwaukee at UFC 164, their paths will cross once again, and while Pettis considers himself to be the best lightweight fighter in the world, on August 31 he will have the opportunity to prove that status once and for all.

In his mind, Henderson has earned the right to be called champion, but it is something he is looking to take away from the current title holder.

“[Benson] won that belt,” Pettis said. “He beat Frankie Edgar and Clay Guida and did what he had to do to get that belt. But I’m looking at it and I want his belt now. I took his WEC belt and now it’s time to get that UFC belt. I’ve always felt I’m the best lightweight in the world and now it’s my chance to prove it.”

The matchup between Pettis and Henderson has become one of the “must see” bouts in the UFC’s stacked second half run of 2013. In addition to the history and story lines the fighters share, the fight also promises to be an exciting clash of opposing styles.

Pettis is one of MMA’s most versatile and innovative strikers and has the ability to end a fight in a multitude of brutal fashions. On the other hand, Henderson has built his success on the strength of a tenacious and relentless attack, all the while sticking to the gameplan at hand.

Where other fighters panic or give in to the urgency of competing in a close contest, Henderson has lived up to his nickname and remained “Smooth” and calm in the fray. It is one of the champion’s greatest strengths, but isn’t a concern for Pettis heading into the fight.

“I don’t really care if he’s in that rhythm or not, I just know what I have to do,” Pettis said. “If he’s in his rhythm, keep doing it, because I know what I have to do. Eventually one of my kicks are going to land, then one of my punches are going to land, and little by little he is going to break.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC on Fox 8: Demetrius Johnson Staying Focused in a Hectic Environment

It would be understandable if Demetrius Johnson were feeling a bit on edge these days.
The UFC flyweight champion is under two weeks away from making the second defense of his 125-pound strap in front of a passionate crowd in his hometown and headlinin…

It would be understandable if Demetrius Johnson were feeling a bit on edge these days.

The UFC flyweight champion is under two weeks away from making the second defense of his 125-pound strap in front of a passionate crowd in his hometown and headlining the UFC’s eighth offering on the Fox television network.

While those circumstances undoubtedly create some form of added pressure, “Mighty Mouse” and his wife Destiny are days away from welcoming their first child into the world, and it seems as if the 26-year-old champion is preparing to handle everything in one fell swoop.

Dealing with major events in both the personal and professional realms could bump any fighter off course. But Johnson is as cool as they come heading into the oncoming storm.

He has an excitable disposition by nature. Handling the stimulation overload which comes with having his first child and stepping out to defend his title on the sport’s biggest stage has Johnson charged up and ready for everything.

For the former bantamweight title challenger and current flyweight champion, everything he is about to face will only further define who he is as a man and a fighter. Johnson has no intention of failing to hit his mark.

He is a proud champion and soon to be a proud father, and those elements will provide tremendous motivation when he steps out to face John Moraga at UFC on Fox 8 in Seattle.

“The baby is still coming; we are just waiting for him,” Johnson told Bleacher Report. “It’s absolutely exciting and hasn’t created any distractions. Luckily, I have been blessed with a very supportive and strong wife. It’s been a long camp because of my surgery and we wanted to make sure my shoulder was good.

“I am ready to go all 25 minutes if I need it. Nothing really changed at all, and the fight is going to be right up the street, so I don’t have to do any traveling whatsoever.

“Not at all,” Johnson answered when asked if his wife’s pregnancy cravings have made the weight cut difficult. “My wife is a vegetarian, and she eats very healthy… She is pretty healthy and she still cooks all of my meals for me. She cooks my asparagus and chicken at night. I’m pretty focused when it comes to stuff like this because I want to make sure I’m not one of those champions who doesn’t make weight.

“I don’t think there has been a champion in the past who has missed a weight cut and I certainly don’t want to be one of the first.”

When the AMC–trained fighter steps into the Octagon at the Key Arena to face Moraga next Saturday night, it will be Johnson’s first time competing in front of his hometown crowd in nearly four years.

The last time the Kirkland native fought in Washington, he was fighting his way through the states’ regional circuit. In the years that have passed since, he’s become a contender in the little blue cage of the WEC and eventually a champion under the UFC banner.

While an injury forced Johnson out of his originally scheduled tilt with Moraga at the TUF 17 Finale in Las Vegas back in April, the champion will now have the opportunity to defend his crown on his home turf.

“I think it’s a great fight,” Johnson said. “John Moraga has two great victories in the UFC over Ulysses Gomez and Chris Cariaso and I’m looking to get in there and mix it up with him.

“It’s awesome,” he added about the fight taking place in Seattle. “I never wanted to fight in front of my hometown crowd in the past because I was always worried that I would lose and everyone would boo me and say I suck. I didn’t want to deal with all that pressure.

“But I’m at the point now in my career where I really don’t care about what happens. I’m going to go out there and do my best to come away with the victory and to put on a great show.

“But I’m still young. I’m 26 and I have a lot of fighting left to do. I’m at the point in my career where I think it is awesome to be fighting in my hometown and not having to do any traveling. Let’s see how it works. If things go sour, it’s not the end of the world.”

When the Washington-based fighter defeated Joseph Benavidez to become the first UFC flyweight champion at UFC 152 back in September of 2012, he suddenly found himself in a unique position.

The rest of his peers in the champions’ tier in the UFC have years of divisional history and heated title races to keep their divisions on the minds of the MMA fanbase. Johnson has become the face of a weight class to which fans are still adapting.

The 125-pound weight class is slightly north of a year old. Johnson has been the biggest factor in the division’s push to succeed. His main event bout at UFC on Fox 8 will mark the second time flyweights have headlined an event.

With both coming on the large platform Fox presents, it is a strong indication the UFC has big plans for the division.

Earlier this month at UFC 162, the promotion adorned the press conference room at the Mandalay Bay with huge wall-length photos of each of its divisional champions. On the wall next to superstars like Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones was a picture of the flyweight champion.

While he wasn’t aware of the banner, it is an honor he isn’t taking lightly.

“That’s awesome,” Johnson said. “I didn’t know they had a big picture of me posted up at UFC 162. That’s fantastic and I wish I had gotten a picture of that.

“Second of all, it’s awesome with me trying to build my title reign, it is also building my profile as a world-class fighter and athlete. The better I do at defending my title will only lead to more exposure, and hopefully more doors will open for me to do a lot more things for my life and career.

“I just stay focused. At the end of the day, it’s always about training hard and staying humble because anything can be short-lived. I could be defeated July 27 and all of this talk and billboard stuff will all go away. That’s just the reality of things. But I make sure I stay focused in the gym and train hard every single day, and hopefully when I go out there on July 27 I come out with the ‘W.'”

With the title fight approaching and a packed media schedule filled with phone and video interviews, Johnson has locked down his focus for the bout and remained on his toes throughout the process. A great example of the latter came in the final question for this particular interview. He took the opportunity to flip the question and serve it back.

“What do you think fans can expect when I get in the Octagon on July 27 against John Moraga?” he volleyed. “Let me ask you that question. What do you think?”

“I think they are expecting excitement,” this reporter offered in return. “I saw you fight live for the first time against Dodson at UFC on Fox 6, and that fight was pretty amazing back-and-forth, sir.

“Well, there you go. You put that down right there.”

Whether it is Johnson’s words or mine in light of the moment, fans will enter the Key Arena next weekend expecting to see excitement from a champion who has consistently proven to be exactly that.

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Title Contender Eddie Wineland: Mustache, Tights and a Title Fight

Eddie Wineland is a throwback to a different era.
The former WEC bantamweight champion and current UFC interim title contender moves along to the beat of his own drum and has proven to be a difficult man to shake from his course. As his decade-long tra…

Eddie Wineland is a throwback to a different era.

The former WEC bantamweight champion and current UFC interim title contender moves along to the beat of his own drum and has proven to be a difficult man to shake from his course. As his decade-long track record has shown, Wineland has been susceptible to stylistic mismatches and savvy game plans, but his ingrained drive to bring the scrap has never been in question and is what sets him apart as one of the toughest men in a sport filled with “tough guys.”

Where other fighters find their zone competing in the hectic environment of prize fighting, the Indiana native gives off a vibe which leads one to believe he would be just as comfortable sorting things out down on the waterfront or in an abandoned rail yard.

Then again, it could very well be the mustache that is giving off that vibe.

After his victory over Brad Pickett earned an interim title showdown with current strap-holder Renan Barao, the fighter/fireman committed himself to a full-blown campaign to the grow a handlebar mustache. It was Wineland‘s hat-tip to the hallowed days of bare-knuckled boxing and became an avenue of motivation as he prepared for his title fight.

But mixed martial arts is an ever-changing and uncertain landscape, and before Wineland could make good on his efforts to claim championship gold, an injury to the Brazilian phenom took the title fight clean off the table.

Rather than hang his head, shave his mustache or trade in his leopard-print training tights (he also owns tiger, cheetah and python prints) due to indifference or depression, the 29-year-old Chesterton-based fighter kept his focus on his task, despite the possibilities of his shot at gold having disappeared into the ether.

With the current state of the bantamweight division’s title-tier teetering on the verge of chaos, Barao‘s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. Champion Dominick Cruz is rumored to be gunning for a return later in the year, and if the interim champion’s layoff turned out to be of any length, Wineland‘s position as No. 1 contender would have been nonexistent.

Nevertheless, Wineland kept his focus intact, stayed on the training grind and hoping Barao would return to give him the title shot he’s been working diligently towards. And as things turned out, the Nova Uniao product received a clean bill of health and the interim title clash was rescheduled for UFC 165 on September 21 in Toronto.

It was the news Wineland had been waiting for and immediately reignited the flames of motivation.

“It was awesome,” Wineland recalled to Bleacher Report about the fight being rescheduled. “My fiance and I were out to dinner, and I never leave my phone in my car. We got back and my phone just went nuts. My manager was trying to get in touch with me, Sean Shelby, and everyone was trying to contact me and it was nuts.

“I knew they were talking about the fight happening, but whether or not it was actually going to happen wasn’t set in stone. At first they were saying it could happen in October, but the more I thought about it I knew the more and more this fight got pushed back the less likely it was actually going to happen.

“I touched base with Sean and he was talking about October, and that changed to late September. Then he asked me if I was in and obviously I was. I’m excited, man.”

While the bout becoming official has Wineland fired up and ready to go, there were several indicators leading up to the announcement that gave him reason to get excited. After Barao took to Twitter to announce his return from injury, the two surging bantamweights engaged in a back-and-forth Twitter campaign as each fighter jockeyed to lock down the fight in their respective backyards.

With the UFC committing to two cards in Brazil in the fall and the Milwaukee card approaching at UFC 164, the lobbying to lock down the fight showed the interest both fighters held to make the throwdown official. Ultimately neither location landed the fight, but Wineland was still appreciative of his opponent’s participation in the exchange:

“I think that was good on his part,” Wineland said. “He just wants to fight. Yeah, he’s interested in fighting Dominick, but he’s more interested in staying busy and defending what is his. All the respect to Renan, and I’m very grateful he took the fight.”

With the interim title clash now official, there is now a possibility that the disrepair of the bantamweight division could be sorted out in the near future. In addition to Wineland and Barao squaring off in September, Cruz is steadily moving towards his return, and a handful of potential contenders are stepping into action in the coming months, which is precisely what the 135-pound division needs to turn itself around.

“It was kind of falling apart there for a while,” Wineland offered in regard to the bantamweight fold. “I know there is talk about Dominick coming here soon, and hopefully by the time the year is out we will have a unified champion at bantamweight. I think it will be back in order, and I’m always happy to be up there at the top and right in the mix.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 164: Dustin Poirier’s Quest to Get Back on Track Starts with Erik Koch

Dustin Poirier is on a mission to get to the top of the featherweight division, and he’s certainly not taking any short cuts to reach that goal.
The 24-year-old American Top Team fighter has established himself as one of the most talented young prospec…

Dustin Poirier is on a mission to get to the top of the featherweight division, and he’s certainly not taking any short cuts to reach that goal.

The 24-year-old American Top Team fighter has established himself as one of the most talented young prospects in a division which has become increasingly more competitive over the past year, and while his journey has come with setbacks in recent outings, the potential Poirier possesses has continued to shine through.

Nevertheless, if the “Diamond” hopes to keep stride with his peers at 145-pounds, he is going to have to right the ship—and do so in quick fashion.

After a pair of high profile losses to current No. 1 contender Chan Sung Jung and resurgent wrecking machine Cub Swanson, the Louisiana native is sliding dangerously close to being reshuffled into the stacked deck in the featherweight division. But where adversity of this sort is enough to force other fighters to rethink their level of competition and lag back for favorable matchups to pad their record, Poirier has chosen to stay the course and has his sights locked on redemption.

He will have the perfect opportunity to reestablish his footing in the weight class when he squares-off with fellow young talent Erik Koch at UFC 164 in Milwaukee. It wasn’t long ago when Koch was considered “the next big thing” at 145-pounds, and with both men gunning for the same spot in the fray, their dust up is guaranteed to be a “can’t miss” affair.

“I’m excited about it,” Poirier told Bleacher Report. “It’s a great matchup for me and it’s going to be exciting for the fans. It’s going to be a big win for me and it will put me right back at the top of the division. I need a ‘W’ and I’m ready to get it.

“[Koch] is a young, flashy fighter and in the same weight class as I am so we’ve been on each other’s radar for some time. We both came over from the WEC so we’ve always been staring at each other through the cage. We were originally supposed to fight at the Mandalay Bay for UFC 143 and now our paths are finally going to cross.

“I’m going to be in the best shape of my life,” Poirier added. “I’m going to be ready to fight and coming off the best camp I’ve ever had. I’m going to be the most focused and mentally prepared I’ve ever been. I’m going to be a more mature fighter. This will be my eighth fight in the UFC and tenth with Zuffa overall. I feel like I’m coming into my own now.”

While the bout with Koch carries heavy implications on his status as a top featherweight, Poirier is taking the pressure in stride. Where those circumstances have caused him to become excitable and make hasty decisions in the past, the current version of Poirier is working on showing a measured maturity.

To this he gives credit to his decision to uproot from Louisiana and move his training to the American Top Team facility in Coconut Creek, Fla.

“I moved everything to Florida,” Poirier said. “My wife is there, has started school there and that is where we are at now. I’m working on my tan everyday after the gym and I’m enjoying it. I feel there is a great group of guys there and they are taking me to the next level.”

While he has admittedly made hasty decisions in the past which have ultimately cost him ground in his quest to become a title contender, Poirier is confident his new home at ATT will provide the proper atmosphere for growth—both physical and mental—to continue.

“[Swanson] was on a three or four fight win streak and was finishing everybody,” Poirier recalled about his decision to face Swanson on short notice. “He was knocking everyone out and getting ‘Knockout of the Night’ bonuses in pretty much every fight leading up to ours. I went 15 minutes with him and wasn’t in the best shape. I had to cut a lot of weight, travel overseas, and had a lot of stuff stacked against me. Yet, I feel I fought a pretty good fight and feel I could have won if I had an eight week camp or longer to prepare.

“It showed I belong with the best guys in the world but maybe I need to make better decisions for my career. I can’t just jump into fights because they are exciting to me. I have to be ready to go in there and not looking to fight for the sake of fighting, but fighting to win. I have to look at things differently. It may be a fun fight to be involved in but I have to ask myself if it is the best thing for my career.

“But hindsight is 20-20,” he added. “Saying that now would be different had I gone in there and knocked Cub out in the first round. I might be fighting for the belt right now. Everything has to balance out and there is good and bad with everything.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Kelvin Gastelum Looking to Parlay TUF Momentum into Welterweight Run

Kelvin Gastelum shook up the MMA world by upsetting Uriah Hall to become the 17th winner of The Ultimate Fighter, and now he’s ready to jump into the deep waters of the welterweight division.
While competing on the show as a middleweight, the 21-year-o…

Kelvin Gastelum shook up the MMA world by upsetting Uriah Hall to become the 17th winner of The Ultimate Fighter, and now he’s ready to jump into the deep waters of the welterweight division.

While competing on the show as a middleweight, the 21-year-old Arizona-based fighter has decided to kick off his official UFC career at 170 pounds.

The welterweight division has long been one of the deepest, most talent-rich collections under the UFC banner, and Gastelum‘s initial test will come against a proven veteran in Paulo Thiago at UFC on Fox Sports 1: Condit vs. Kampmann 2 in Indianapolis.

While other TUF winners have eased their way out of the gates in the UFC, Gastelum is eager to prove his win over Hall was no fluke and will be looking to stake out his place in the divisional ranks at 170 pounds when he faces the savvy Brazilian on Aug. 28.

“They gave me a couple of guys and [Thiago] is the one I chose,” Gastelum told Bleacher Report. “I chose him because he’s a good name and he’s fought a lot of big names in the division. At one time he was considered one of the top 15 welterweights in the world. I think it’s the perfect fight for me. He carries a big name and I think it’s a fight I can win.

“That was something that really bothered me,” he added about his underdog role in the Hall fight. “People thought I was going to get murdered and already declared him the winner before we ever stepped into that cage.

“It really bothered me, but at the same time, it was something I never let get under my skin. I knew I was going to prove everyone wrong.”

Following Gastelum‘s amazing turn on The Ultimate Fighter, the initial path to stardom and recognition was with the UFC fanbase. Last weekend at the UFC Fan Expo, the TUF winner’s elevated profile came front and center with the passionate following of the sport’s biggest promotion.

“Man, it is crazy,” Gastelum replied when asked about the increased recognition. “It’s a dream come true. I’m totally stoked and excited about it.

“Every five steps I’m getting stopped for autographs and pictures. It’s crazy. The people really appreciate what I’ve done and it’s just awesome to get that kind of response from people.”

Duane Finley is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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