In April of this year, Yamauchi met fellow lightweight Dan Moret at a clash on the Bellator 256 card. Both men had success in the bout, but with a vast majority of control time and a number of extremely close submission threats, most fans were ready to see Yamauchi’s hand raised.

The judges on the other hand saw it differently, awarding Moret the split decision win to the confusion of many. The decision was so controversial, commentator John McCarthy refused to comment on the mic, stating “I won’t say anything [about the decision] because it’s going to be bad.” This marked one of the most disputed decisions in recent memory.

However, with Yamauchi set to face Chris Gonzalez tomorrow evening, the question remains how will the controversial result in his last outing affect Yamauchi’s mindset going into Saturday night?

Speaking with Braeden Arbour of The Body Lock, Yamauchi elaborates on exactly that.

“I don’t think it changes anything at all,” he explains. “It just gives me more hunger… I just want to win and prove it didn’t affect anything because the most important thing is I don’t believe I lost that fight.”

Judging in mixed martial arts has become an increasingly hot topic over the last few years. At the inception of the sport, there was no question that the young MMA fell victim to governing body’s not prepared with good enough officials. However, over two decades later, still judging is a problem. Both Bellator and the UFC have seen massive spikes in criticism over the results on their cards.

However, the issue doesn’t seem to be weighing on Yamauchi’s mind, who is laser-focused on tomorrow evening.

“I just believe that the judges made a terrible decision and it happens in the fight business. I try to just move on and you know… I’m not gonna play the victim. There’s nothing that we can do about it. We just gotta move on, and that’s what I’m doing now.”

Bellator’s #1 submission artist returns tonight at 10:00 PM EST, to take on Chris Gonzalez at Bellator 263. They will kick off the main card on Showtime, live from the Forum in Inglewood California. It seems that Yamauchi is honed in, with his eyes focussed on his opponent, ready to once again prove why he has been one of the best lightweights in the sport for years, a sentiment reflected in his final words given to us on the fight.

“Tomorrow night – Saturday will be my day and I’ll get my redemption.”

The post “It just gives me hunger:” Goiti Yamauchi reveals his mindset ahead of Bellator 263 appeared first on The Body Lock.

Chael Sonnen’s Submission Underground (SUG) 13 is currently set to go down this Sunday, April 26, from an undisclosed location on the West Coast. As a precaution to assure the grappling contest is not shut down or that fans won’t show up causing a scene, none of the fighters or coaches will know the location of the event until Friday or Saturday. 

The unorthodox circumstances of the show are a non-issue to the Nick Diaz Academy standout. Being mentored by the iconic Stockton residents means he’s used to doing things a little differently.

“They [Nick and Nate Diaz] don’t really have a training time, they just go whenever they want,” Maximov told The Body Lock.

“Class starts at like seven, and we train until nine or ten and then people can leave, but there’re nights we go until one or two in the morning. We just go until the last man is standing. And then we go to the 24 Hour Fitness and hit the steam room or lift weights until five or six in the morning. We just don’t really ever quit.”

This isn’t surprising for anyone who has seen the Diaz brothers fight. The duo is known for their everlasting cardio and high-output come fight night. For Maximov, this diligence is an extension of what he’s always known as a former Clackamas junior college wrestler.

While he doesn’t have the full support of a team that a fighter usually does before an event, the BJJ brown belt is still texting people to set up impromptu training sessions. Although it’s not the same as having a full fight camp, Maximov isn’t unnerved in the least.

“This is all I do. It’s not like I lose it. I’ve been doing it so long, that I have the muscle memory. In a split second, I know what to do. It’s not the same as training every day, I’d be lying if I said it was. But it’s still there. It’s always there.”

Submission Underground 13

Aside from not telling the athletes where the contest will be held, SUG is taking extra health precautions for this weekend’s event. There will be no crowd and no coaches allowed cageside. Chael Sonnen will be in a separate room remotely calling the bouts. The venue will house the fighters (who will be spread out ahead of their matches), a single cameraman, and a referee. 

Of course, in the era of social distancing, plenty of detractors have railed against the combat sports world continuing or attempting to move forward. When asked what he thinks about people who say grappling should take the side of other major sports who have suspended their seasons, Maximov was to the point.

“They can go mind their business,” Maximov chuckles.

“I know a lot of people are hating on it but it’s not like we’re getting a big crowd together. I mean, if you got a problem with it, keep it to yourself. There’s no point in getting mad at me, they got other shit they can go do; I don’t. This is all I do. So I’m not going to give those people the time of day.” 

His opponent this Sunday is Joe Baize. Baize is 13 years Maximov’s elder, a black belt in BJJ, and a more experienced grappler on paper. Baize is good at what he does and Maximov has no problem acknowledging that. 

“If I just went against people I knew I could beat, that’d be no fun. I want a test. Especially when they’re a specialist at something like leg locks. I’m like, ‘oh hell yeah.’ This is a test. I’m going to go into his game and see what he’s got. I’m taking it serious, but at the same time, this is jiu-jitsu. This is fun.” 

Fighting in Japan

Undefeated as an amateur and professional in mixed martial arts, Maximov plans to bounce between 205-pounds and 185-pounds depending on the importance of the fight ahead of him. He mentions fighters like Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith who have had success at both weights as inspiration. The Californian also sees the UFC’s light heavyweight division opening up for young guys like himself. The Jon Jones we watch today isn’t the same as he was six or seven years ago and there are not many guys at that weight that Maximov feels can hang with his grappling pedigree.

Of course, those are future plans. Maximov is still working his way up to “the big show.” He was contacted to compete at Bellator in San Jose but had multiple opponents decline to sign the contract. As much as he’d like to jump into the UFC soon, we could see Maximov testing his mettle in Japan before that.

“I’d love to go fight in Japan. That’d be badass. I don’t know why more people don’t do that. You can get a big name out there and bring it back over with you. There’s a lot of money over there, and they love fighting in Japan. I think that could be the perfect segue into the UFC,” said Maximov.

When asked about the soccer kicks to the head of a downed that are still legal in most Japanese MMA, Maximov’s voice perked up.

“That [soccer kicks] would be hella cool. Imagine that? I wish PRIDE was still around because I’d want to do that over anything. But yeah, the soccer kicks would be cool. RIZIN, ONE Championship, either of those places would be cool.”

Nick Maximov is also not completely sold on this idea that UFC is the end all be all.

“This type of sport is a marathon. If you’re the best at everything, it doesn’t matter where you are, it’s about getting paid. It’s not about all this little clout people are chasing. I’d rather be getting money and fighting everybody at the same time than just being on UFC contact. There you have to fight when they want you to and but I want to fight back-to-back weeks and not have anyone tell me I can’t.”

“There’s too many people just wait around and fight when the boss says, but if I’m ready to go, I want to go.”

The post Nick Maximov responds to Submission Underground 13 critics: “If you got a problem with it, keep it to yourself” appeared first on The Body Lock.

Freire had flown to Connecticut and weighed-in for his bout before it was announced that Bellator 241 would be canceled the day of the card. Worried about his family, he self-quarantined after his travels.

“I stayed home alone for one week,” Freire explained to John Hyon Ko.

“I had the coronavirus test as soon as I arrived. Once I received my test results and it was negative, that was when my family came back home.”

Being away from his newborn child and wife during these uncertain times while waiting for the verdict on his health was difficult. His only consolation was that his brother, Patricky Freire, and one of his trainers had also traveled and quarantined themselves with him while they awaited their own test results.

Fortunately, they too tested negative. 

Despite putting in a full camp and going over final preparations for his title-defense only for it to be put on hold, “Pitbull” feels Bellator made the right call. The day after Bellator was called off, the UFC went ahead with their Brasilia card in an empty arena. The UFC Brasilia show was rather eerie and fans and media have continued to criticize UFC president Dana White for his devil-may-care attitude towards the deadly virus that continues to spread daily.

“The UFC made it look like they didn’t care about the health of their athletes but that’s their business,” stated Freire.

Bellator 243 and Michael Chandler

As anxious as we all are to reestablish some sense of normality in our daily lives, nobody knows what to expect moving forward. Freire is hoping his bout with Carvalho will be moved to Bellator 243 on June 6. Currently, undefeated prospect Antonio McKee is expected to face former bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell that night in another quarter-final tourney bout. That’s an interesting contest to “Pitbull.” 

“I believe in the first round McKee has a chance of finishing Caldwell. But after the first, Caldwell has the ability to just take him down, swarm him, and get the decision. In the end, I think I’ll be facing Caldwell in the final fight of the tournament.”

Amidst all the madness filling our news cycles, three-time lightweight champion Michael Chandler— known for his heated rivalry with the Pitbull brothers— announced that he would be testing free agency. Freire TKO’d Chandler in the first round when the pair met last year, but it’s clear the tension is still there. 

“I’m not worried about what Chandler wants to do next,” Freire divulged. “I broke his spirit in our fight. He knows if he stays [with Bellator] he’ll have to fight me again and get beaten again and he doesn’t want anything to do with that.”

“Regarding him testing free agency, he is not going to UFC, I can tell you that for sure. Last time he played this game I said it; he is not clean under USADA. He wants to be in an organization where it is easier for him to cycle and use steroids. So if he doesn’t stay with Bellator, he is going to one of the Asian promotions that doesn’t have testing like USADA. He wants to go as far away from USADA as possible so he can time his cycle.”

The post Patricio Freire expects to face Darrion Caldwell in GP final, says Michael Chandler will sign with an Asian promotion appeared first on The Body Lock.

Yamauchi will return to his place of birth as part of Bellator and RIZIN’s ongoing cross-promotion, an opportunity that the 26-year-old lightweight is not taking for granted.

“For me it’s very important because this is [an] opportunity to show who I am to my people, to Japanese people,” Yamauchi told John Hyon Ko of The Body Lock. “This is the first time ever that I will be competing out there.”

Yamauchi was born in Japan, but he left the country at a young age. He was around four years old the last time he stepped foot in his home country.

In pursuit of his career in MMA, Yamauchi began competing in Brazil at the age of 17. His first 15 professional bouts took place in Brazil before he was signed by Bellator in 2013 after amassing a 14-1 record.

All of Yamauchi’s Bellator fights have taken place in the United States; that is until this opportunity came about.

“I cannot lie to you. I’m very happy. I’m very, very happy, especially because I’m going to see my people, my family,” Yamauchi said of his return to Japan. “There’s a part of my family out there, so I’m very excited.”

It has long been a goal of his to one day compete under the lights inside Saitama Super Arena, and, pretty soon, Yamauchi will be able to check that off of his bucket list.

“For me, it’s even better than MSG (Madison Square Garden), you know, because this is a dream come true,” he said. “…  I cannot even imagine how amazing it will be when I’ll be there in the middle of Saitama. For sure I will be happy, but I must be cold and confident and just have to focus on the result and the fight, not in the crowd.

“After the fight, I can enjoy myself in Saitama, but till there I have to focus on the result. I really, really want to win this fight.”

Goiti Yamauchi vs. Daron Cruickshank

The Japanese-born lightweight will face a RIZIN staple in Daron Cruickshank on the main card of Bellator Japan on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Cruickshank has compiled a 5-4 record since joining the Japanese promotion, and he has earned a number of fans for his willingness to throw down at any moment in the fight.

Yamauchi called the matchup with Cruickshank “fun” and “interesting,” and while the RIZIN veteran comes in on a two-fight skid, Yamauchi isn’t taking this task lightly.

“He got his skills,” Yamauchi said. “He’s very good on the feet, with the kicks. There’s a lot of skills, good abilities.”

And though it would be in Cruickshank’s best interest to avoid entertaining Yamauchi’s dangerous ground game, Yamauchi predicts that Cruickshank, like many of his opponents before, will shoot for a takedown after getting a taste of Yamauchi’s striking.

“I think he will try to take me down for sure,” Yamauchi said. “Sometime in the fight, he will try to do it. I know he likes to strike, but when he start[s] to feel the pressure, he [will] try to take me down for sure.”

No matter what Cruickshank decides to throw at him, Yamauchi feels prepared to do what it takes to pull out a victory.

“I know I faced the top of this division,” he said. “I’ve been growing myself during the last year, you know, so I am different level now. I’m not the same guy who fought Michael Chandler. I’m not the same guy who fought Daniel Weichel. I’m totally different. I’m even better than the guy who fought Saad Awad a couple months ago.

“So I know he’s not ready for this level mentally. Mentally he’s not ready, I’m sure about that.”

Goiti Yamauchi on Bellator’s lightweight division

Yamauchi is going into this bout knowing that a win over Cruickshank won’t do much for his stock in the Bellator lightweight division.

He’s certainly excited for the opportunity ahead of him, but it wasn’t his first choice. Yamauchi originally called out Benson Henderson for an interim lightweight title fight, as the current lightweight champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is competing in the Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix.

“I called Ben Henderson because for me, he’s the best name in [the] division,” Yamauchi said. “He’s a living legend, one of the best lightweights in the history.”

Putting his ego aside, Yamauchi believes that Freire and Chandler occupy the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the Bellator lightweight division respectively. After that, he believes it is between himself and Henderson.

“That is why I want them to make this fight happen because I’m really interested to see how this fight can happen,” Yamauchi said. “How is [it] going to happen in the feet, on the ground? Who’s going to dominate? I really want to see this fight happening someday.”

A match with Henderson is at the top of Yamauchi’s wishlist heading into the new year, but the 26-year-old has his sights set on more. He wants others to see that he belongs among the elite lightweights, and he expects to get the chance to prove that eventually.

“I have patience,” Yamauchi said. “I don’t rush. I just take my time. I know it’s going to take some time to be the champion; one, two, three fights more. I just don’t care. I just want to fight. I just want to compete with the best in [the] division. Michael Chandler, Ben Henderson, whatever. I’ll be ready.”

The post Goiti Yamauchi embracing return to Japan after more than two decades away appeared first on The Body Lock.

Sidney Outlaw, a rapidly rising Bellator lightweight, will also compete on the same night as the two legends. Outlaw has been assigned the co-main event slot along with Michael Chandler, a three-time world champion who recently lost his title.

Fighting the promotion’s greatest ever 155-pound athlete is undoubtedly a step up in competition, however, it is a challenge Outlaw welcomes wholeheartedly. He spoke to The Body Lock’s John Hyon Ko about the fight and what fans should expect come December 28.

Fighting Michael Chandler

A little over a month ago, Sidney Outlaw (14-3) sat in his hotel room in Tel Aviv, Israel, just days away from the fight of his life against veteran Roger Huerta. Pre-fight nerves compiled with the already hectic stresses of fight week weighed heavy, nonetheless, more obstacles stood in the path of the surging lightweight before he would even step foot inside the cage.

“There was a bombing so everything got shut down,” Outlaw said.

“We were trying to find a sauna to cut weight on Saturday, but everything shut’s down on Saturday. It is just different over there. Water has sodium in it – every thing has sodium in it because it gets so hot over there –  there were so many obstacles but the people there were great and Bellator had a great time.”

Despite a bomb threat, the event went ahead as planned and proved extremely popular in Israel, with many of the country’s own competing and walking away with victories.

Along with exciting performances from the Israeli talent, Sidney Outlaw was able to showcase his skills and grappling expertise as he earned a one-sided unanimous decision win. Although the 27-year-old won every round of the contest, he was slightly disappointed with his performance.

“I was having a bad day that day,” Outlaw explained. “I ate a lot of cheeseburgers, so the muscle built up and lactic acid went up. I mean, it wasn’t bad from me but it wasn’t the best performance I’ve ever had. [I’ve] definitely had better.”

In spite of the fact he thought his performance was bad, “Da Gun” extended his winning streak to nine. Just days after his dismantling of Roger Huerta, Outlaw received a call gifting an opportunity that was too good to refuse; he was asked whether or not he’d take a short notice fight against one of the best 155-pounders on the planet. Not only does he have the chance to defeat Michael Chandler come December 28, but he may also elevate his career to the next level.

“He’s clearly one of the best, I’m going to go in there and test myself. What he has done for the sport [you cannot question], the same thing with Roger [Huerta], you can’t really give them a compliment. What can I give them, you know? I can give them a challenge, but that’s about it. They’re legends, they’ve done so much.”

“I’m going to go in there and do what I normally do, which is my best. With Bellator, I’m going to have to properly reintroduce myself, because my last performance wasn’t the best. I’m going to have to go in there a little different.”

A win over Michael Chandler will likely see Sidney Outlaw fly up the rankings, and he may become the promotion’s number one contender.

When asked about potentially being ranked #1, the Pennsylvania native revealed that he doesn’t care too much, because, in his mind, he is already the best.

“You know what I am? I am the number one contender. I don’t really care about all that, I want [to fight] everybody. The reason why I don’t care about all that is because I work too hard to care about any of that. I know the truth.”

Inspiring others

December 28 marks Bellator and RIZIN’s final event of the year, as the two promotions pitch a wide array of talent to compete with one another in the historic Saitama Super Arena. Bellator’s Sidney Outlaw will be in search of his tenth straight victory when he squares off with former champion “Iron” Michael Chandler.

“Wherever he’s lacking, we’re going to violate,” Outlaw said. “I’m going to focus on myself because I know what Chandler’s going to bring.”

Because the event’s date is close to the PFL Championship Finals, many usual coaches are unable to make the trip to Japan to corner the 27-year-old, prompting the task of finding a select few to travel with him.

“[I’m bringing] King Mo, but we’re still looking for some people. Everybody is so busy because a lot of people have the PFL, so I just gotta be patient right now. My coaches told me to take this fight because obviously this is a great opportunity and we have to take every opportunity we get.”

For Sidney Outlaw, training rigorously doesn’t just make him a better fighter, but a better person. For the up and coming lightweight, it is more than just adding another W to his record, or collecting a hefty paycheck – he aims to inspire people from all different backgrounds and prove that if he can make it, they can too.

“I want a little kid to look at me and be like he did it, I can do it too. I want to be like that, and it’s not hard. You find something you want and you go work harder towards it.”

“In 2020 I just want to inspire one person, hopefully, its closer to 10,000, but one person, just to go for a job or just do something – instead of going left all the time they make a right, because of me. That’s it. That’s all I want, one person.”

“So 2020, besides me being the champion that I already am, I want to help change somebody’s life.”

The post Sidney Outlaw wants to ‘reintroduce’ himself by beating Michael Chandler at Bellator Japan appeared first on The Body Lock.

“The Baby Faced Assassin” will take on Hawaii’s top-ranked 155-pound fighter in Zach Zane on the main card of Bellator 236. The event takes place at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, and will be headlined by a women’s flyweight title fight between Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and Kate Jackson.

“I say it all the time, I know I’m young and I know I have all the time in the world but where I am at this point in time, I’m still getting better,” Dung told The Body Lock. “For a 20-year-old on this stage at the point I’m at, the connections I’ve made, the fight camp I’ve had, I’m ready. I’m not in a rush but it’s my time.”

For the second consecutive year, Dung will fight in Hawaii under the Bellator banner. At Bellator 213, Dung made his organizational debut against fellow Hawaiian Kona Oliveira and picked up a third-round TKO victory. On a card where a lot of local talent was featured, Dung was able to secure a four-fight deal with Bellator. The Sanford MMA (formerly Hard Knocks 365) product returned in July at Bellator 224 and scored a unanimous decision win over Brad Robinson.

Now he returns to a familiar place where lightning struck once before as he takes on the state’s top-ranked 155-pounder, and — by far — the most experienced opponent he has shared the cage with.

“He was never on my radar and my plan was always to represent Hawaii,” Dung said. “Coming up, I never thought we’d be fighting, he was never someone that I looked up to, or thought ‘oh, I want to fight that guy.’ It just happened this way because I’m a young up and comer with Bellator and to represent somewhere, you have to be the best in that region. I’ve got to be the #1 lightweight in Hawaii to represent. I have to take that from him so this matchup was perfect.”

Once again, Dung will share the card with Macfarlane as the headlining act. “The Iliminator” came out of Bellator 213 looking like, quite possibly, the organization’s biggest rising star when she defeated submitted Valerie Letourneau in the third round of their title fight main event.

With Macfarlane becoming the first Hawaiian Bellator world champion, Dung hopes to accomplish a similar goal from the male side of the spectrum, further putting Hawaiian MMA on the map as one of the sport’s hot spots.

“I love that we have a Hawaiian champion in there,” Dung said of Macfarlane. “I’m looking to become Hawaii’s first male Bellator champion. I got a long road ahead of me but I’m ready. I’ll be prepared to take the right steps, pick the right fights and we’ll be there soon. Shout out to Ilima-Lei for doing her thing.

“I’m just looking long term and trying to be realistic with my goals. Since I started earlier, my prime will come earlier than most. Some guys primes will hit at 28, maybe 30. I think mine will be in my mid-20’s. From all the time I’ve put in since I was young to now, I can see the changes in my body, I can feel the difference in my strength, my mindset was always ahead and I look forward to this fight. I get to go out there and prove all of that.”

Dung began training martial arts when he was just a kid and has been engulfed in the martial arts lifestyle ever since. While other teenagers were trying to figure out what to do on a Friday or Saturday night, Dung got in touch with Henri Hooft at the age of 17 to begin working with him as he wanted to pursue a professional kickboxing career. Traveling back and forth from Hawaii for Florida, Dung is focused on becoming the best martial artist he can be; for himself and his family.

Making those lifestyle choices at a young age, along with the continued evolvement in his game over the years, Dung feels like he is cut from a different cloth than most of the young, up and coming fighters in the sport. In addition, Dung believes there is a huge difference between confidence and cockiness.

“I know it makes a big difference,” Dung explained. “Some people think it’s cocky, but I’m so confident because of the work I’ve put in, because of my lifestyle that I live. I can go on and on but I just can’t wait.”

Zane, who has competed on Dana White’s Contender Series, has 19 more professional fights under his belt than Dung. With the top lightweight spot in Hawaii on the line, Dung isn’t looking past Zane by any stretch of the imagination. However, he is looking to go right through his 30-year-old opponent to take that next step towards achieving his goal of becoming a world champion.

“I never say ‘I’m gonna go out there and knock this guy out’. That’s not what I’m looking for,” Dung stated. “If it comes, it comes. With me, the ultimate defeat is when the man across from you just lets you… I like to go in there, take everything and leave him with nothing. For him to quit on himself, that’s the ultimate defeat that I’m looking for. I wanna go in there and show him that there’s nothing that he can do. He’s just got to get down and lay down. I really mean it, too.

“You don’t always get a knockout. It’s awesome to get one but I go in there to try and pick my opponents apart, break them down.”

The post Nainoa Dung predicts he will ‘leave Zach Zane with nothing’ at Bellator 236 appeared first on The Body Lock.

“2 Quick” will take on the former UFC standout on the main card of Bellator 235. The event takes place at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, and will be headlined by a heavyweight showdown between Josh Barnett and Ronny Markes.

In his most recent appearance, Misech stepped in on short notice to face former bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas at February’s Bellator 215 event. While the fight didn’t go his way — losing a unanimous decision — the 31-year-old Misech was able to show his toughness and tenacity to last the entire 15 minutes. With learning experiences intact, the Hawaiian fighter is ready to right the wrong on Friday night.

“I feel great, man,” Misech told The Body Lock. “I can’t wait to get in there and put in this work. I’ve been on a long fight camp, over 20-something weeks. I just want to go to work, get in that cage and have some fun.”

Misech returns to the scene of his Bellator debut where he opened up a lot of eyes in front of a hometown crowd. At Bellator 212 a little over a year ago, Misech finished Edward Thommes with a beautiful flying knee and a barrage of punches to pick up his first organizational victory. After a failed bid on Dana White’s Contender Series, Misech has been competing under the Bellator banner ever since.

With Brian Moore forced to withdraw from a scheduled bout with Misech due to injury in September, Misech has been able to use his extra time wisely as he prepares to face Perez, who is nearly a 3-1 favorite on Friday night.

“I looked at [losing the fight with Brian Moore] as a blessing,” Misech said. “I got extra time to train and get out there to perform at my best in front of my hometown against a higher level guy. If I put him away, it puts me right back up there.”

Perez signed with Bellator earlier this year and is ready to make a run at the 135-pound title. “Goyito” is on a five-fight winning streak, including three straight wins in the UFC before making the decision to sign with Combate Americas as a free agent. The 30-year-old Perez finished both of his fights under the Combate banner before announcing his very brief retirement from the sport.

Now that he has signed with Bellator, Misech is ready to welcome him with open arms as he has an opportunity to make a big statement in the bantamweight division.

“My whole career, it didn’t matter who I’ve fought,” Misech explained. “I’ve fought anyone they’ve put in front of me. I don’t pick and choose. My journey to where I am now, I’ve always gotten top fighters. I’ve never gotten an easy fight, and if I beat him and I get to the title, it all pays off. Nobody can say anything about me having an easy road. It’s exciting that I’m fighting a high-level guy like him in my hometown. It makes it better.”

When this fight was made official, a majority of the MMA fan base believed that this would be a showcase fight for Perez, which would mean, essentially, that Misech is being positioned as a stepping stone for a streaking fighter who has had success in the UFC.

Misech has heard that chatter his entire career, and at this point, he’s taking it all in stride. In fact, it makes him feel like the pressure is all on Perez.

“It is what it is. Every single guy I fight, I’m always the underdog,” Misech said. “It’s fine. It just makes me more motivated. It makes me feel like I have something to prove. If I lose, I was expected to lose. If I win, I shock the world.

“It actually does [put less pressure on me]. They expect me to lose, so whatever. Even when I fought Edward [Thommes], they had me down on that fight too. It doesn’t really matter who I fight. They always got me down.”

Perez headed into free agency after his split decision win over Felipe Arantes at UFC Fight Night 98 in November 2016, compiling a 7-2 record inside the Octagon. Perez has an advantage in the experience department as he heads into his 26th professional fight, while Misech has been the more active fighter over the last few years.

That’s not the only advantage Misech feels he has heading into Friday night’s bantamweight showdown.

“I feel my speed and being more technical will be my advantages,” Misech said. “I see he comes out, throws a little wild. My technique and my speed will be a big factor in this fight.

“I need this win. I need this win to prove that I’m still in the running to be a champ. It’s in front of my hometown so I can’t let them down. I need this win, and I need this win bad.”

Misech isn’t getting specific on how he sees his hand getting raised in front of his hometown crowd. When Misech is victorious, most of the time it doesn’t go to the judges’ scorecards. On Friday night, Misech is going to let the fight play out the way it’s supposed to, which hopefully leads to the Hawaiian crowd going crazy.

“This will be big for Hawaii,” Misech stated. “Hopefully, this will be big for me getting that finish. Whether it’s a knockout, submission, or any kind of stoppage, I see it going my way.”

A win over Erik Perez will do big things for the career of Toby Misech. Now that the bantamweight title is vacant due to Kyoji Horiguchi’s injuries, the 135-pound division is pretty wide open. While he is certainly not looking past Friday night, with a victory over Perez, Misech will be eyeing an opportunity to take on another former UFC contender in the Bellator cage.

“I’m hoping to get this win, stay active, and fight another top guy to get me next in line for that title,” Misech said. “I saw that Sergio Pettis just got signed. I would love to have a striking fest with him. The plan is to keep knocking off these top guys and get to the title.”

The post Toby Misech ready to ‘shock the world’ vs. Erik Perez at Bellator 235, then fight Sergio Pettis appeared first on The Body Lock.

The Gracie family lineage in mixed martial arts dates all the way back to UFC 1, in November of 1993. An undersized and overlooked Brazilian, Royce Gracie, was given the task of representing his family at the event. Not only did Royce impress spectators, but he also won, putting forward the argument that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu may well be the most effective martial art.

Fast forward to 2019, and we have witnessed a fair share of Gracie’s make the transition into MMA. Kron Gracie competes in the UFC, whilst his relatives Neiman and Robson fight for Bellator; these three family members have proven themselves to be a force inside the cage with 16 combined wins.

This week, all eyes will be on 30-year-old Robson Gracie Jr, who will be making his third Bellator appearance when the company travels to Israel, on November 14.

Robson spoke to John Hyon Ko of The Body Lock about his upcoming Bellator bout and meeting the legendary Royce Gracie for the first time.

Advice from Royce Gracie

Despite embarking on his mixed martial arts career at the age of 29, Robson Gracie Jr has been successful in both of his Bellator outings, boasting a professional record of 2-0, with two submissions.

Many will be quick to judge the level of competition that the Brazilian is facing, but when considering that he is not even a year into his new career, two stoppage victories can be considered impressive.

The thought of remaining undefeated in a sport as demanding as MMA is a great deal of pressure for any athlete, with the likes of Rashad Evans and Darren Till experiencing that first hand. On top of being labeled as an undefeated prospect, Robson Gracie Jr. must carry the family name on his shoulders every time he steps into the cage.

He spoke about the pressure he felt when making his pro debut, and why it was crucial to get the victory in dominant fashion.

“There was a little bit of pressure, not going to lie,” Robson Gracie Jr. said to John Hyon Ko.

“Because in the first fight, it’s all about if you win or you lose, and how you do it. If I lose it, I knew a lot of people were going to say that the Gracie family is over and all that stuff.”

The Brazilian followed this up by talking about a change in mindset, and why he no longer thinks about the added pressure.

“I try to turn that off. Now it is just me and my opponent, forget about what happens, forget about the Gracie name on my shoulders and move forward.”

“Royce gave me good advice one day before the fight, he said: go in there, don’t fight to entertain nobody, fight for yourself. Do your best, do whatever you want, have fun, and that’s it.”

Royce Gracie acknowledges and understands the pressure that comes when preparing for a prizefight, therefore any advice from the jiu-jitsu legend is absolutely beneficial.

Unlike other members of the Gracie family, Robson never grew up around Royce, meaning it was a special moment having him around during fight week last year.

“I was kind of nervous, and he came to my room – even though he is my cousin, you stop for a second [to realize] ‘oh, that’s a legend.’ Because I never grew up next to him, so we don’t see each other often.”

“Having a legend in your room giving you advice one night before the fight, and a couple of minutes before the fight he also was there.”

Although a 2-0 professional record looks easily achievable when considering Robson’s background, his wins did not come without adversity. He mentioned that the non-stop pressure and relentless work rate from his previous opponents taught him that you cannot afford to take a breather whilst competing.

“One thing I remember from both fights is when they say go, you need to go. You cannot sit like in training and say ‘okay one sec, let me fix my gloves, let me do that, you hit me too hard. I can sit down for a bit’ – but there, you stop when the round is over or when the match is over, so you need to fight the whole time and give your best the whole time.”

Being active in 2020

On November 14, Robson Gracie Jr will make his third Bellator appearance in Tel Aviv, Israel, when he takes on the country’s own Ameer Basheer.

The obvious plan for the Brazilian is to initiate the clinch, look for the takedown and use his world-class jiu-jitsu to wrap up a submission. Unfortunately for Gracie, mixed martial arts isn’t that simple.

Due to the possibility of his gameplan being unsuccessful, the 30-year-old has studied his opponent intensively but remains adamant that he will walk away with yet another submission victory on November 14.

“My game plans are always going to be the same: try to get the clinch takedown and then the submission. But on this one, I couldn’t know a lot about him because he just has one fight. I couldn’t see many things,” Robson Gracie told John Hyon Ko.

As previously mentioned, other members of the Gracie family compete in prominent mixed martial arts organizations, with the most notable being Kron Gracie.

Kron last competed in October, when he faced his toughest test in the UFC, Cub Swanson. The featherweight was ultimately defeated via unanimous decision but proved he had a tough chin as he exchanged strikes with the savvy veteran.

“I think it was a good fight,” said Robson, “he fought really well with his standup game and showed that he can hit and get hit. That’s the hardest part when it comes to fighters – I know a lot of good fighters that can punch really hard, they can throw a lot of stuff, but when they get hit back they get knocked out. But Kron showed that he has a tough chin.”

November 14 will be Robson Gracie’s second fight of the year, and his third fight overall. Desperate to climb the Bellator welterweight ranks, he is aiming to fight at least three times in 2020.

“I want to do four fights next year. Thinking about the title, but I need to take it step by step. I cannot think about the title because I have a couple of fights before then.”

“I’m going to plan my next fight, keep training hard and do fight by fight. But I hope at least three, four fights a year.”

The post Robson Gracie Jr. is aiming to fight four times in 2020 appeared first on The Body Lock.

The Bellator heavyweight is 36-years-old with a full MMA career behind him.

But with age comes experience. And after 27 professional fights and countless hours spent in training, Vassell has his routine just about figured out.

Aside from the usual sparring rounds and technical drills, Vassell puts an added emphasis on two things: health and recovery.

He knows what he likes — acupuncture, the cryo chamber, massages and a specific routine of going from the sauna to the jacuzzi to the pool for a relaxing, icy cooldown.

By now, it’s all part of his schedule. It’s normal to him. But it’s not something that every fighter is lining up to do.

“Guys don’t do it a lot,” Vassell said to John Hyon Ko of The Body Lock on the subject of recovery. “I probably do it every other day. Seriously, I do a lot. I notice a lot of people don’t.”

The added emphasis on resting and relaxing differentiates Vassell from many in his line of work, as does his eating.

In the age of meal prep services lining up to sponsor fighters and help them cut weight, Vassell is doing things the old-fashioned way.

“My mum always cooked for me, but I learned how to cook as well, so it’s always been a thing for me to cook,” Vassell said. “I always cook my own food. Now and then I will go out and get like a takeaway or something, but I’ve always cooked, and I feel like it’s worked for me … It might be boring, but at least I know what’s going in my food then as well.”

Making his own meals has helped him maintain his discipline as well.

“I’m very disciplined,” Vassell said. “If I want to eat crap, then I will, but I know I’m going to have to pay for it.”

Linton Vassell on his heavyweight debut

Vassell was able to scale his diet back a bit when he made the move from light heavyweight to heavyweight earlier this year. The change in weight classes wasn’t as simple as just not cutting weight, however.

Typically, Vassell weighed around 230 pounds before beginning his cut down to the 205-pound light heavyweight limit. For his heavyweight fight against Valentin Moldavsky — Vassell’s first heavyweight bout in nearly a decade — he “blew up to like 247.”

“Probably wasn’t the best idea,” Vassell said. “I definitely noticed it and felt the difference in the fight.”

Vassell came up short in his return to heavyweight, losing a unanimous decision for his third-straight loss.

“My last fight wasn’t my best,” he said. “I ended up getting tired in the third round. So, obviously, me and my coaches went back and we changed a few things.”

One of the main aspects of his training that changed was his cardio. Without the process of cutting weight, Vassell took the emphasis off of his cardio routine, which came back to bite him come fight time.

On top of incorporating more cardio into his routine this time around, he’s also keeping his eye on his weight.

“I’ve just sort of, um, kept that weight down a little bit more…,” Vassell said. “[I’ve] probably got a full year now staying at heavyweight. So now my body’s used to it — eating right, training right, doing the right type of training for my body. So I feel like I can go more than three rounds.”

Linton Vassell vs. Sergei Kharitonov

Only three rounds will be required when Vassell steps back into the cage in the main event of Bellator 234.

Taking 10 months away from the cage wasn’t necessarily in his plans, though.

“That’s not my choice,” Vassell said. “I haven’t taken that time off for myself or nothing. It’s just the way Bellator didn’t book me until now … I’d rather like to fight a good three times a year. I feel that that’s probably what will work with me, three times a year at least, but it’s something I have to talk about after this fight.”

Vassell will meet Sergei Kharitonov in his second fight of this year.

“No disrespect, I didn’t know who he was,” Vassell said. Not in that way. I wasn’t really a guy who used to watch all the fights back in the day, so I didn’t know him from then. I knew him from when he came to Bellator.”

Vassell got a bit more familiar with Kharitonov after his two fights with his teammate Matt Mitrione, both of which ended in interesting fashion.

The first fight was declared a no-contest after Mitrione connected with a low blow that rendered Kharitonov unable to continue just 15 seconds into the opening round, while the second saw Kharitonov finish Mitrione via TKO in round two after Mitrione couldn’t keep his mouthpiece in.

Having prepared others to compete against Kharitonov, Vassell feels like he knows the ins and outs of his opponent. But, at the end of the day, he’ll take on anyone in his quest to get a rematch with Ryan Bader — this time at heavyweight.

“Obviously, I know [Kharitonov is] a dangerous guy. But to me, I just see him as another guy in my way,” Vassell said. “We’re all human. We all get punched and kicked the same, man, so he’s another person to me.”

The post How Linton Vassell plans to stay a contender at the age of 36 appeared first on The Body Lock.

For Sidney Outlaw, it’s not just about the chances to put in work nearly whenever he so chooses. Instead, it’s the quality of talent he gets to be a part of when he walks into American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.

“Every day I train and I train with the best,” Outlaw told John Hyon Ko of The Body Lock. “I don’t train with the best just because it’s fun. I train with the best to be the best.”

At ATT, Outlaw spends much of his time working former WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown and current UFC welterweight Thiago Alves, both of whom have taken on coaching roles. But potentially his biggest influencer is not a name one can find on ATT’s list of coaches.

Newly crowned “BMF” champion Jorge Masvidal’s presence in the gym is a large one. He may not be leading classes on a day-to-day basis, but Masvidal is one of the most prominent figures in the gym and is one that other fighters look up to, which means he takes on a bit of responsibility when he’s around.

“He’s making sure that people that he’s looking out for is also training,” Outlaw said. “So when he’s training, he’s over there hitting mitts. He’s like, all right, I’m done. What’s Sidney doing? What’s Johnny doing? What’s my little brother Charlie doing? He’s making sure we’re training. He’s making sure we’re on ourselves.”

Masvidal’s reputation has always been one of a no-nonsense street fighter who will throw down at a moment’s notice. While that may be true, he shows a different side when he’s within the walls of ATT.

“A lot of people don’t understand, like he’s literally watching out for the future,” Outlaw said. “A lot of people don’t do that.”

Sidney Outlaw on American Top Team

At the center of the brotherhood inside ATT is Masvidal.

“If you’re his guy, he’s gonna watch out for you,” Outlaw said. “If you’re helping him, he’s going to help you.”

Masvidal’s outlook taught Outlaw a number of things from the time he began training in Florida.

Outlaw cites Masvidal’s selflessness, humble attitude, and work ethic as some of the main aspects that he has picked up on and implemented himself. On top of that, Outlaw has done his part to show love to his teammates in the same way Masvidal does.

Masvidal was an easy role model for Outlaw to follow in the footsteps of due to the similarities they share.

“I can relate to him,” Outlaw said. “We both came from a different background, and it wasn’t handed to us. We had to go take it, and the people that did kind of try to help, [you’ve] got to give back.”

Of course, Outlaw has also benefited from the guidance of coaches like Brown.

“Mike Brown is teaching me a lot of stuff that I never thought about,” Outlaw said. “And I get upset at myself. Like damn, I could’ve did that home. What the hell? You know, every day I’m learning.”

Outlaw had plenty of experience training in Philadelphia before making the move south. And since doing so, he’s only kept improving.

“I’m like dang, I thought I knew something cause I’m a black belt under Renzo, right? Really humbling cause I don’t know anything,” Outlaw said. “So once you just accept the fact that you don’t know anything, life is easy.”

Training at ATT has bred positive results for Outlaw in his competitive career. Still, he doesn’t take any of the credit for his recent successes, instead giving the glory to all of the people who have helped him get to this point.

“You don’t see me out there,” Outlaw said.”You see the product of their belief and faith in me. That’s what you see.”

Sidney Outlaw vs. Roger Huerta

Outlaw will put his improvements to the test in his Bellator debut when he takes on MMA veteran Roger Huerta at Bellator 234. The bout, which is scheduled as the co-main event on the card, will be the biggest stage for Outlaw to date, but it’s something he’s been preparing for in his years on the regional circuit.

“I always was preparing for the UFC, you know, I was preparing for that route, but I guess God had his own journey,” Outlaw said. “He was like, no, I want you to go to Bellator.”

Outlaw admits that he was open to fighting anyone after signing with the promotion, but what he got was a big name.

“When they told me you’re fighting for Bellator, I’m like, all right, cool,” Outlaw said. “Then they told me, you’re fighting against Roger Huerta, I’m like — I’m not going to lie to you. I’m not a big fan of watching my opponent fight — I’m like, all right, Roger Huerta. All right, cool.

“Abe [Kawa] Looked at me and was like, ‘All right? You’re not happy? Okay.'”

After his manager left, in came his head coach, who shared a similar surprise at Outlaw’s lack of shock once he read the name.

“Then Mike Brown asked me, ‘Hey, who are you fighting against?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, I think a guy named Roger Huerta,'” Outlaw said. “He was like, ‘Really? That’s a good name. That’s a good fight for you.’ They were like, ‘They’re giving him to you already?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, who’s Roger Huerta?'”

Outlaw eventually did put in some research. He saw Huerta on the front of Sports Illustrated and glanced over his resume.

But the sentiment remains the same for Outlaw. It does not matter who it is that stands across from him.

“I want the title shot today, but they’re not going to give it to me,” Outlaw said. “I want to make that journey. So as I slowly make that trip up there, you get to see the climb, you get to enjoy the climb, you know, and they can’t stop it.

“So I want to kind of make a name, you know what I mean? And make the people that invested in me proud, slowly but surely, and now it’s happening.”

The post What Bellator 234’s Sidney Outlaw learned from Jorge Masvidal at American Top Team appeared first on The Body Lock.