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UFC 130 Preview: Miguel Torres Switches Up Style Ahead of His Bout at UFC 130

Over his past couple fights, UFC bantamweight Miguel Torres has learned a lot about himself.Since training with Firas Zahabi, the head trainer of TriStar Gym in Montreal, Quebec, the former WEC standout has quickly transitioned into a different fighter…

Over his past couple fights, UFC bantamweight Miguel Torres has learned a lot about himself.

Since training with Firas Zahabi, the head trainer of TriStar Gym in Montreal, Quebec, the former WEC standout has quickly transitioned into a different fighter. Prior to making several visits to Zahabi, Torres was on a two-fight losng streak. The losses taught him a lesson about himself and Torres knew he needed to make a change.

“When I first met Firas, within the first ten minutes, he told me exactly what my problem was. He’s like, `You look like the kind of guy that is trying to take care of too many people and not taking care of yourself,’” Torres said to Heavy.com.

The former WEC bantamweight champion said he saw the weaknesses in his own game not too long after training with Zahabi, a choice he decided to make following his knockout loss to Brian Bowles at WEC 42 that saw him relenquish the title to his opponent. Ever since his loss to Bowles, Torres switched camps and hasn’t looked back.

“The biggest thing with Firas is that he assesses your strengths and weaknesses, and he tries to make you level in all areas,” he said.

Torres was a fan favourite in the WEC for his aggressive style, but since training at Tri Star Gym, Torres’ style was also exposing weaknesses and has now switched up his style.

“For me, my biggest weaknesses were my wrestling and my striking. My striking was very aggressive, but very sloppy. There was no style, no technique; it was all aggression. My wrestling was non-existent,” he said.

His new approach has served him well, going on a two-fight winning streak against WEC veterans, Charlie Valencia and Antonio Banuelos.

Torres will look to continue his success when he squares off against Demetrious Johnson at UFC 130. However, his success inside the Octagon has brought him his fair share of criticism as well, which Torres acknowledges but tends to ignore the critics and stick to his game plan.

“I know it’s better to win than lose, and it’s better to win a fight where you’re sticking to the game plan, than lose a really exciting fight. Unless you’re a fighter and you’ve been on both sides of the fence, you won’t understand that,” he said.

UFC 130 takes place on May 30, live from Las Vegas, Nevada.

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UFC 130 Fight Card: Kendall Grove Open for Business Versus Tim Boetsch

UFC middleweight Kendall Grove likes to practice what he preaches. He tells his students at Straight Rootless Jiu-Jitsu in Wailuku, Hawaii that every opponent is a Rubik’s cube—a puzzle to be solved. The Ultimate Fighter season three winner…

UFC middleweight Kendall Grove likes to practice what he preaches.

He tells his students at Straight Rootless Jiu-Jitsu in Wailuku, Hawaii that every opponent is a Rubik’s cube—a puzzle to be solved. The Ultimate Fighter season three winner meets Tim Boetsch on a Spike TV broadcast bout this Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC 130, where he’ll attempt to break down “The Barbarian” problem in front of him.

“That’s the only tape I have on him when he’s a big 205-pounder. Who knows, we’ll find out [Saturday] if he’s big, but that’s who I’m training for is a 205 Tim Boetsch—well, he looks 235,” the Hawaiian told Bleacher Report of his opponent making his debut at 185-pounds. “A strong, brawler wrestler that doesn’t hold anything back. We fight. We put it on the line. Stylistically, I think it’s a good match up.”

Since arriving in the Octagon nearly five years ago, Grove has posted a 7-5 record, alternating wins and losses for his last six bouts, most recently dropping a unanimous decision to former title challenger Demian Maia last December. Grove jokes in mixed martial arts, only UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre sticks to game plans, so once he and Boestch begin trading leather, it’s anybody’s (read: his) fight.

“I’ve been an up and down fighter in the past—win one, lose one, win one, lose one—but it’s a game. They come to fight about as much as we come to fight. The better trained fighter will win that day,” said middleweight’s tallest competitor, standing at 6’6. “That’s why we train harder, smarter and learn from our mistakes and come back even stronger.”

Grove speaks freely about his last two defeats and what he took from them. Against Mark Munoz last April, he tired himself out going for a finish, leaving nothing to defend when “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” returned on the offensive with punches en route to a second round technical knockout. Maia? Too much respect. He won’t respect Boetsch too much or leave any windows of opportunity open for him because he simply can’t afford to do that.

With business partners in his gym leaving him “high and dry” in Hawaii, Grove runs a one-man show. Both his fighting career and gym endeavors cost him cash like they make it for him. He understands each requires full-attention to succeed, but temporary sacrifices like shutting down Straight Rootless for the month leading up to his scrap with Boestch are necessary.

“[My students] know my gym wouldn’t have been there if I wasn’t fighting. They let me worry about myself, train for my fight and then re-open it again,” he explained. “It’s kind of half-assing right now but up until I find a steady instructor besides myself, that’s just the way its gonna have to be.

“Fighting is a full-time job and you need to give it all your attention and all your concentration or you’re gonna have a short career. That’s how I feel.”

The 28-year-old has had a wild yet rewarding six months. His gym changed locations twice. He bought a house. With the birth of his daughter last month, he welcomed his second child—the first with his fiancé Anna—into the world, bringing his family count to five (one boy and three girls). Scheduled to wed July 1, Grove takes pride in fighting for his family and the small island state he represents in the Octagon.

“I have a lot of family support and a lot of them don’t get to come to Vegas and watch,” he said. “It’s just hard, especially here in Hawaii, $60 pay-per-view, so it’s good telling all my family members, ‘Hey, don’t worry, it’ll be free on Spike.’”

Then there are his students. With Straight Rootless closed for his fight, Grove hopes they still get the lesson: solve the puzzle first to get the prize—the finish.

Danny Acosta is the lead writer at FIGHT! Magazine. Follow him on twitter.com/acostaislegend

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UFC 132 Fight Card: Mayhem Looking for All 3 "Fight of the Night" Bonuses

Jason “Mayhem” Miller is one of MMA’s most recognizable and notorious characters. Known for his over the top entrances, being the host of MTV’s Bully Beatdown, and the infamous Strikeforce Brawl in Nashville last April…

Jason “Mayhem” Miller is one of MMA’s most recognizable and notorious characters.

Known for his over the top entrances, being the host of MTV’s Bully Beatdown, and the infamous Strikeforce Brawl in Nashville last April, Miller will be making his UFC return at UFC 132.

The July 2nd bout will be Miller’s first fight in the UFC since he lost to current welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 52.

During an Interview on Sherdog Radio Network’s “Savage Dog Show”, Miller discussed his upcoming fight against Aaron Simpson.

“They gave a list of guys and there were probably guys I could have beat easier, but screw that, man,” Miller said. “They’re giving out ‘Fight of the Night’ bonuses. They’re giving out ‘Submission of the Night’ bonuses. They’re giving out ‘Knock out of the Night’ bonuses. I’d like to be the first to get all three.”

While winning all three fight bonuses may not be possible, Miller is hoping to put on an exciting fight with Simpson.

Known for his aggressive style, Simpson has won six of his eight wins by (T)KO, including a “Knock Out of the Night” performance in his first UFC fight.

Miller expects him to come out with that same style in their fight.

“I expect him to try to come in and try to hit me with that [big] right hand,” Miller said. “Luckily I’ve sparred with Dan Henderson for years, so I’m pretty good with not getting hit with the right hand. He can throw that thing. He’s a strong dude. He’s well rounded. He can wrestle and everything. He’s good at everything. I’m expecting a fantastic fight.”

Whether or not Mayhem can get any or all three fight bonuses, expect this fight to be exciting.

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UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill Has the Hype, but Alves vs. Story Has the Heat

Any time you place Quinton “Rampage” Jackson inside of a cage, you can expect an awe inspiring example of controlled violence. Coincidentally enough, Matt Hamill has been known to bust a few noggins himself. So, what happens when both men e…

I’m guessing a grueling, bloody, often wild affair.

While that single sentence does in fact whet my appetite for human destruction, there’s a bit more substance to UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill than the well-publicized main event offers. The true beauty of this card will most likely unravel in the evening’s featured welterweight bout, which pits rising prospect Rick Story against perennial top 10 contender Thiago Alves.

Very few men competing at 170 pounds bring forth the offensive output of either Story or Alves; these two freaks of nature swing hard, often and with intimidating conviction. Story’s wrestling is impressive to say the least, but does he have the moxy to force Alves to his back and keep him there? Let’s not forget Thiago’s invested plenty of time in his wrestling, and implements a startlingly effective sprawl-and-brawl attack.

This match looks to have “Fight of the Night” written all over it, as neither man looks to possess a skill set so technically advanced as to bet on a one-sided blowout. Story’s striking acumen may not equal Alves’, but his determination is unquestionably equal, his power is comparable and his heart cannot be called into question.

That noted, if Alves can keep this fight in the center of the octagon and use angles to confuse Story, we could see Rick play the bull to Thiago’s matador. It’s an ideal game plan for the Brazilian, but it’s a game plan I don’t foresee him executing to perfection; Story has proven to be too unrelenting.

And that is the exact reason that, while Rampage versus The Hammer will make for a fun affair, the fight will dim in comparison to the explosions produced by the meeting of Rick Story and Thiago Alves.

Both fighters have something substantial to gain from victory. Since Story’s octagon debut he’s amassed an impressive 5-1 record, toppling fellow prospects Jesse Lennox and Johny Hendricks in the process; a victory over Alves leaves Rick knocking on the door of title contention. Thiago Alves meanwhile finds himself forced to find victory in order to maintain his place amongst the division’s upper echelon.

Expect fireworks from UFC 130’s main event, but bet on an unnerving explosion of fury from two of the welterweight division’s most promising young athletes: Rick Story and Thiago Alves. That’s where the evening’s deepest appeal lies.

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UFC 130: Five Fights Poised to Steal the Spotlight from Rampage vs. Hamill

Make no mistake, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Matt “The Hammer” Hamill are not only feeling the promotional pressure of another main event, they’re both well aware that as headliners, they’re expected to perform above and beyond all other participants. Given this specific clash of styles, it’s probably safe to assume these guys will indeed put on a show worthy of every cent invested in UFC 130.

That said, there are a few men who round out the rest of the bill who will certainly be looking to steal the show to earn a chance at more prominent broadcast placement and healthier paychecks. Those nightly bonuses never hurt.

While I expect Rampage and Hamill to put forth a furious effort, there are a few other clashes on the card that appear intriguing and certainly possess the potential to steal the show.

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UFC 130: Randy Couture Predicts Main Event Fight of Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson

The co-main event of UFC 130 features a heavyweight bout between the former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir and the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, Roy “Big Country” Nelson.Sitting down to speak with Affliction, Randy “The Natural” Cou…

The co-main event of UFC 130 features a heavyweight bout between the former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir and the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, Roy “Big Country” Nelson.

Sitting down to speak with Affliction, Randy “The Natural” Couture, a three-time UFC heavyweight champion and current hall-of-fame retiree, voiced his thoughts and analysis regarding this matchup.

Speaking about both fighters excellent ground games, Couture said, “Mir is remarkable on the ground. We saw him break (Tim) Sylvia’s arm and he has a great submission game.”

Like Frank Mir, Roy Nelson is tremendously talented in the jiu-jitsu department. “Roy is no slouch either,” Couture said. Earning a black belt under Renzo Gracie, Nelson is more than well-equipped to battle off of his back.

With both fighters equally strong on the ground, Couture believes that the “jiu-jitsu negates each other. Even for big guys, they are both good on the ground.”

Solid ground games leaves only the opportunity to stand and trade in the center of the Octagon to determine a victor.

However, one variable exists that concerns “The Natural.” And that variable is Frank Mir’s questionable mindset coming into this fight.

“It’s interesting to see how serious Mir is taking this (fight),” he said. “Is he going to come in in great shape and try to make another run with the top guys? Or is he just punching a card?”

Athletically, Frank Mir holds the advantage. “I would say that Mir is the better athlete,” Couture said. “He is probably the stronger guy. He’s got more experience and he was the heavyweight champion.”

With that said, however, Nelson possesses excellent boxing skills to be able to stand and trade with Mir.

“He (Roy Nelson) has a tremendous right hand. He has finished a lot of fights that way. He’s like a Timex, he takes an amazing, amazing beating.”

Additionally, unlike Mir’s variable which can serve as a negative, Couture is convinced that Nelson’s variable is a positive.

“Roy has this unknown deal. He ain’t fun to look at, but he’s effective. He gets the job done,” Couture said.

According to Randy Couture, the game-plan for this co-main event between Frank Mir and Roy Nelson will be stand and exchange strikes in the center of the cage.

Falling in line with my prediction posted last week, Couture questions Mir’s mental focus and his ability to maintain a high level of competition against “Big Country.”

Like me, “The Natural” believes that Roy Nelson will be the victor of this heavyweight duel.

“I’m gonna go with the upset and go with Roy Nelson in this fight.”

I welcome your comments.

Todd Seyler. “Like” me on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter @magnus06

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