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Bonnar Predicted a Street Brawl  Stephan Bonnar
LAS VEGAS - After UFC 56, Stephan Bonnar talked about his hand injury, as well as his scheduled fight with James Irvin (January). First, the hand.
"It's all good," he said. "I was cracking people in the head the other day with it. I could have fought tonight, but it looks like it's January 16 [against James Irvin at Ultimate Fight Night]."
And then the brawl.
"I think Irvin is gonna come out throwing bombs, and I'm going to work on a bunch of technical stuff," said Bonnar. "And then I'm going to bag it and make it a street brawl." -Eddie Malone
9 to 5 for Tito
 Tito Ortiz (right)
SURF CITY, USA - You might think of Tito Ortiz as the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy," but he's much more than that.
"Now I fight for different reasons," says Ortiz. "I have a 3-year-old son, and I want to give him everything I never had. The way for me to do that is to compete and make as much money as possible."
When Ortiz fights, his son is on his mind, but he's not the only thing on his mind.
"I also fight for the fans," he says. "I entertain them. It's a fight, yeah, but it's entertainment at the same time."
As well as a job.
"I'm an emotional fighter," he notes. "I got passion when I do this stuff. It's not just an extracurricular deal. I train three months as hard as I possibly can. I don't drink alcohol, and I don't party. It's a complete job for me." -Eddie Malone
When You Smell Blood
INSIDE THE OCTAGON - Killer instinct. It's discussed in sports a lot. Many teams fail because they don't have it. As you might have guessed, it's also a vital component of MMA, as Nick Thompson explains.
"You always have to prepare to go three rounds," he says. "And when you smell blood, you have to finish it. If I had more fights in the UFC, that's a fight I would've finished [UFC 56 versus Keith Wisniewski]. He's only the second or third guy I've fought at this level." -Eddie Malone
The Calm Before the Storm
 David Loiseau
LAS VEGAS - To fight effectively, a lot of guys have to be angry, right? Not necessarily.
"Negative energy is never good," says UFC fighter David Loiseau. "If you fight a smart fighter like Phil Baroni, he'll just make you gas out. You have to stay focused and keep your cool. I admit I got mad when I fought [Evan] Tanner. When I went to touch gloves, he punched me, so I told myself to pick up the intensity. I didn't tell myself to kill him, [however]. That is negative, and it's no good."
Franklin Felt Shamrock's Pressure
 Rich Franklin
CINCINNATI, Ohio - You could never tell by looking at him, but Rich Franklin was feeling quite a bit of pressure when he squared off with Ken Shamrock last year.
"It was nerve-wracking," said Franklin. "A lot of people figured that I would win, and many people thought I would win because of my youth, or whatever, and that created some pressure. The bulk of [the MMA] community thought he might be too old to be fighting and that a loss would be detrimental to my career. So, there was a lot riding on the line."
Despite Shamrock's age, Franklin, whose record is 23-1, knew that he would have his hands full with Mr. Shamrock.
"In my head, I knew he would be a difficult opponent, and that I could not take him lightly," he said.
Franklin, of course, does not take any opponent lightly. To ensure that he's prepared, he watches tape of all his opponents. Some more than others. He says the quantity depends on the fighter and what's in his opponent's arsenal. Against Nate Quarry, for example, he said the tapes would not tell him much because he already knew that Quarry would bring solid striking to the table.
"I did not have to worry about setups for spinning backfists or anything tricky," he said. "He was going to impose his will on me, and I was going to impose mine on him. The outcome was going to be decided by the one who did a better job of that."
Going into his scheduled fight with David Loiseau, Franklin said he expected elbows and knees. To prepare for those attacks, Franklin said he planned to work on those very techniques.
"One of the best ways to defend against them [technique] is to learn them," he said. "You learn how to set them up and how the body moves. Once you understand that, you can read [the opponent's] body better."
Overall, Franklin said that Loiseau is tough, well-rounded and patient on the ground.
"Some guys have had his back, and they have been unable to finish him off," said Franklin. "He waits for his opportunities, and that makes for a dangerous fighter."
Rush Raves About Rich
Franklin also knows a little bit about discipline. Conditioning coach Billy Rush marvels at Franklin's conditioning and desire and calls him one of the most disciplined fighters around. Franklin said that discipline stems from his upbringing.
"I grew up as a poor kid, and I was never blessed with athletic talent," he said. "If I wanted something, I had to work twice as hard. As a kid, I realized that I needed a work ethic to excel, and that has carried into the fighting realm."
Franklin acknowledges that he's not fast or strong, but his numbers on the bench press seem to indicate otherwise.
"I cannot bench 400 or 500 pounds that most might associate with a world-class athlete," he said. "However, when in I am in the ring, I am very good, and work ethic plays a big role. God blessed me with talent for fighting. He said, 'You put in your end of the work, and I'll put in my end.' And it all comes together in the ring."
Franklin's numbers on the bench press, by the way, aren't too shabby. He can pound out 300 pounds, but he said he doesn't max out that much. He's more interested in high reps ... really high reps. Like 50, 100 or 150 with moderate weight. These workouts are geared toward endurance, he noted.
Class Is in Session
As you probably know, Franklin is pretty darn good with numbers. He not only has a bachelor's degree in math and a master's in education, he used to teach math at the high-school level. He never expected life's long and winding road to lead to the Octagon, but he's most content.
When he started fighting, he said it was simply an avocation ... something to keep him active because he had not realized his dream of playing college football.
"College ball did not pan out, so fighting quenched my thirst for competition," he said.
While he liked teaching, he's not sure if life will lead him back to the classroom and its chalkboard, numbers and kids.
"This is where life has led me, and I am not really sure why it went in this direction," said Franklin, whose sponsors include American Fighter, TapouT, Xyience and Anova Food. "But who knows where I will be in five years. I could still be fighting or I might be commentating or teaching. I just do not know. I'm just going to roll with the punches."
9 for 55
 Paul Buentello
AMARILLO, Texas - For Paul Buentello, the preparation for Andrei Arlovski at UFC 55 began nine weeks before. His workout routine included weights, cardio, sparring, plyometrics, drills and ground work. The intensity and duration of the workouts correlated to specifically how close he was to the fight. For example, after the first three weeks, he cranked up the cardio significantly.
Among other workouts, in the morning he often ran sprints or climbed stadium stairs. At night, he would come back and do something different, which could have been light weights, jiu-jitsu or scramble drills.
"We figured he [Arlovski] wanted to take me down, so we worked on takedown defense and submission defense," says Buentello.
Arlovski defeated Buentello that night, but the 31-year-old fighter said he would be back ... stronger than ever.
Back In the U.S. of A.
 Photo by Dream Stage Entertainment
LAS VEGAS - Jens "Little Evil" Pulver has been fighting in Pride, but he hasn't ruled out returning to the States.
"I'd love to fight for the UFC again," says Pulver. "I can't force the situation. It hasn't come up yet. If the day comes and they ask, of course I'll be here. I miss fighting for the American fans."
Sylvia Ponders Arlovski Rematch
 Photo by Joshua Hedges
INSIDE THE OCTAGON - If Tim Sylvia gets his paws on Andrei Arlovski again, he's got a few things in mind. Check it out.
"I would train differently ... just in case it hits the ground," he says. "I'll be ready for it. I think I'm going to bring it to him a lot harder and a lot quicker."
Sylvia also talked about the previous bout between the two.
"I waited for him, and I was countering," he says. "He threw leg kicks, and I blocked them instead of countering with big rights and stuff." -Eddie Malone
A Bonnar and Griffin Rematch?
 Forrest Griffin
LAS VEGAS - After UFC 56, Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin talked about a rematch. They were just playing around ... we think. This is how it went.
Griffin: I have some ideas [on whom Stephan's next opponent will be]. I think I'm going to fight Stephan again. I want that rematch!
Bonnar: What do you mean, rematch? You won.
Griffin: It wasn't a pure victory. It felt hollow.
Bonnar: Just shut up! We're going to fight tonight.
Grappling: When you fight Forrest again, what would you do differently?
Bonnar: I'd like to do the exact same thing, but he'll probably try to make it a ground fight. Me, preferably, I like to slug it out.-Eddie Malone
Rutten Raves About Shogun
 Photo by Dream Stage Entertainment
LOS ANGELES - Bas Rutten, having been around the MMA block more times than just about anyone, knows a talented fighter when he sees one. And Mauricio "Shogun" Rua is one.
"He, as his brother [Ninja], is very talented," says Bas. "From what I understand their mother runs every day, like half a marathon! So, it is [the athleticism] in the genes!"
One of Shogun's significant attributes is that he aims when he strikes, says Bas.
"It all sounds easy [aiming], and you might think that everybody is doing that already," says Bas. "However, the fact of the matter is that a lot of other fighters don't aim."
Shogun also keeps his eyes on his opponent, says Bas.
"Many people might think that is normal, but please watch some fights and notice how many fighters sometimes look away when they punch or get attacked. And what do I say one million times on TV and in seminars? The punch, kick or strike that you don't see coming is the one that will knock you out. How do I know? Every fighter who has been KO'd will always ask the same question, which is, 'With what did he hit me?' "
Sanchez Is Ready for War
 Photo by Joshua Hedges
LAS VEGAS - After a recent UFC, we cornered Diego Sanchez and talked to him about a variety of things. Check this out.
• "I think Georges St. Pierre is a top guy in the weight class right now. He keeps having dominating performances, although I do think I have the one element that could beat him, which is a better ground game."
• "As for Matt Hughes, he also had a dominating performance (UFC 56 against Joe Riggs). Everybody's on top of their game right now, which means I have to go back to work and work harder than everybody else. And that's what I plan to do. I have a lot of things in my training that I have planned and everything is coming up. I just look forward to the challenges. I'm very grateful we have a stacked division because fighting in that stacked division is what's going to make me known ... and known as one of the best ever of all time."
• "BJ Penn is coming back, and he's a friend of mine. If we ever have to fight, it would be a great war. I see nothing but wars ahead of me."
• "I definitely expect a title shot in 2006. When in 2006? I have no clue, but I am expecting a title shot." -Eddie Malone
Behind the Tattoos: Muhsin Corbbrey
 Mushin Cobbrey
HILTON HEAD, South Carolina - It's hard to imagine now, but there was a time when Muhsin Corbbrey wasn't totally on the right path. He'll tell you the story.
"Well, my tattoos are basically a reminder of my transition from being a young knucklehead to being a productive adult. I have koi fish on the underside of each arm. In Japanese culture, the koi fish is a sign of manhood.
"On my right arm, I have a dark koi engulfed in flames. On the outer part of my arm, there is a grim reaper. Both are surrounded by Japanese clouds. This arm represents a time in my life in which I did a lot of negative things and probably could have died or wound up in jail.
"My left arm has a golden koi swimming in water and a dragon with bushido [warrior code] and all of the tenants of bushido surrounding it. This represents my transition into my adult life and becoming an honorable, contributing member of society.
"My lower abdomen, ribs and back feature a battle between a samurai and a tiger. The aura of a dragon is behind the samurai. This battle represents the constant battle between my negative past and a positive future.
"On my back, I have a banner with Japanese Kanji that says, 'Victory Over Oneself.' Finally, on my right quadriceps, I have Jigoro Kano's saying, 'Maximum Efficient Use of Power.' "
Quarry Rock and Rolls ... With Peanut Butter?
 Nate Quarry
LAS VEGAS - Sporting an MMA record of 14-2, Nate Quarry is used to dishing out heavy punishment. Against Rich Franklin at UFC 56, however, he was the one who got rocked, but he rolled with the loss with class. Following that defeat, he consented to a live interview on the PPV broadcast. We caught up with him shortly afterward, and he demonstrated that same class.
"What's next for me? Right now [early December], I have a busy schedule of sitting on the couch, resting, eating and drinking to excess," he says. "And that's about it. It's a nice, relaxing time."
Quarry, 33, said he's fought four times in the last seven months, and it's time to let his body heal. Among other nagging injuries, he wants to rest his right arm and right shoulder.
"I have not been able to straighten my right arm for six months," he says. "I'm not even thinking about some guy punching me right now."
While Quarry did not want to talk about the next fight, he did talk about the last fight, which was against Franklin.
"What did I want to exploit against Rich?" asks Quarry. "To be honest with you, I wanted to go in there and beat on him and do the best I could. I did not care where the fight went."
Quarry, who suffered his second loss in that bout, felt he could take advantage of one of Franklin's tendencies.
"I believe he swings wildly when he throws punches," says Quarry. "Therefore, I wanted to keep tight and throw down the middle so I could ding him right on the chin. When he does throw that wild right hook, his head gets off centerline. But that's good for him because he moves out of the way. It's unusual, though."
After some time to reflect, what would Quarry do differently if he faced Franklin again?
"I would look to control the range better," he says. "[Going into this fight], I wanted to stay tight and throw some combinations. Instead, I should have stayed outside. But you have to give credit to Rich. He took me out of my game, and he finished the fight."
After that encounter, Quarry ranks Franklin sky-high.
"He is right at the top," says Quarry. "He has to be ranked high in the world right now. For punching power and landing shots, he's the No. 1 guy. In 15 fights, no one has ever stunned me, rattled me, dropped me or knocked me out. He has the power, and he's right on top with that."
Rattled With Excitement
Going into the match, Quarry says he was "rattled" with excitement.
"It's [the Octagon] the greatest place to be in the world, and I was in the main event for the best organization [the UFC] in the world," he says. "Win or lose, the night was going to be something that I would cherish for the rest of my life."
And that included hearing his name announced.
"I had goose bumps on my arms when they announced my name," he says. "I was excited to be there and so happy."
Happy, he says, because he had fulfilled a goal and a dream by getting in the Octagon. A place where few men will ever be.
"When I started to train, I never considered fighting," he says. "Then, there I was in the main event for the UFC. It just seemed like a phenomenal place to be. It just goes to show you that if you set your mind on something 100 percent, it is going to happen."
P.B. and J
The preparation to fight at that level includes a lot of things, and one of those is nutrition. Leading up to the fight, Quarry follows a strict regimen. After the weigh-in, he fuels up, which is one of the sweet parts of the preparation-literally. Quarry says he slowly rehydrates and refuels himself with two or three meals. Normally, that means chicken, pasta and/or chicken alfredo. Then he "stuffs and treats" himself with cheesecake, which he has denied himself for the last couple of months.
And nutrition on the day of the fight? He starts with a heavy breakfast with a lot of fats and protein. In the afternoon, it's a bit lighter. Maybe some juice, greens and the familiar peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich, which provides the fats and complex carbs to keep him fueled for the fight.
"I'm known for the peanut butter and jelly," he says.
As well as an impressive record and a lot of class.
For more info on Nate Quarry, go to www.tgfc.com or nathanquarry.net. Show comments (0) - Add comments to this article: |
