MMA Fighter Profile Archives - Page 2 of 2

Victorium II Play-by-Play

Posted by :jcastle On : August 14, 2013

Category: Doombeard Exclusive, Fighting Style, MMA Fighter Profile, Training, Victorium

Tags:fight reviews, fighter profiles, Fighting Styles, MMA, Victorium

Originally planned to be held in an outdoor pavilion, The Victorium II was moved inside to a smaller venue at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. After various factors (such as a tardy, goofy, and utterly unprofessional Fire Marshall) caused delays in the start of the event, Victorium President and Emcee Giovanni Lemm kicked off the event with a lively speech where he thanked all the fans for their patience and support. After a rousing rendition of the National Anthem by Isabelle Lemm, Giovanni Lemm’s daughter, the event officially kicked off at 8 p.m. Please enjoy the play-by-play of every single fight, from one of the more exciting local events I have seen in a long time.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography

Jojo Stringfield vs. Nathan Miller (145lbs)

RD1: Both fighters touched gloves, and begin gauging each other for distance. Stringield is keeping a stance with his hands very low. A brief exchange sees both fighters battling in the clinch. Nathan Miller landed a flush head kick that dropped Stringfield. After a brief ground exchange, Miller allowed Stringfield to get back up. Miller then almost immediately floored him with a hard right hand, and Springfield was down for the count. The ref mercifully waved off the fight as Stringfield lay on the canvas.

Quick first round TKO victory for Nathan Miller. Check out my post-fight interview with JoJo Stringfield on Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography

Soslan Abanakov vs. Shelby “Shogun” Graham (145lbs)

RD1: Gauging distance, Graham throws a few probing kicks, eats a few punches, then lands a spinning back-fist right on the button. Abanakov then gets a takedown after eating the punch, and lands in side control and starts working to improve his position. Graham is holding onto a Guillotine from half guard, but he looks to be holding position more than working for a submission. Abanakov is grappling well and achieves mount. Graham rolls out and gets back up. Both guys are measuring distance again. Graham lands a leg kick, then misses with another head kick, but connects with a punch. Abanakov ducks under a punch and gets another takedown and immediately lands in guard, with Graham working for a Guillotine. Abanakov handily passes his guard and goes between side control and North South, all while looking to land hard punches. He has a North-South Choke if he wants it, but doesn’t take it. Graham gets back up, then Abanakov goes for another takedown but Graham reverses him and lands on top right before the round ends, landing a few punches.

RD2: Both fighters begin the round by circling to establish their range. Both fighters exchange missing punches, Graham lands a few kicks, but is really telegraphing them. Abanakov is clearly looking to use his superior grappling skills to smother his opponent. Graham goes for a wild Superman punch, but is taken down at the end of it. Abanakov immediately drops back for an Ankle Lock, but Graham seems to defend it well enough to fend it off. Abanakov gets back into Graham’s guard, but isn’t striking with much power or frequency. Graham is keeping his guard wide open, and is gamely throwing short punches and elbows from the bottom position. It is clear at this point that Abanakov is a very skilled grappler who is looking to use positional control to win the fight. Graham deftly reverses and gets on top, fends off a good Armbar attempt, and then lands a thunderous air-to-ground punch. Abanakov then reverses and gets on top in to mount again, staying tight in the top position until the end of the round.

RD3: Both fighters touch gloves, then start gauging distance. Graham throws a telegraphed kick, then another. Both fighters are showing the signs of two rounds of solid grappling, breathing quite heavily from their exertion. Graham goes for a spinning back kick when he is backed up against the cage, but is quickly clinched and pushed against the cage by Abanakov. Abanakov goes for a Suplex of sorts but it is deflected, and he ends up on his butt. Graham goes for a wild spinning air-to-ground punch, but after a subsequent scramble Abanakov eventually gets on top and works ground and pound. Graham reverses and ends up in mount raining down hard punches, knowing that he might be behind on the scorecards as the round ends.

The judges scored a Unanimous Decision for Soslan Abanakov, who used a smothering grappling game to achieve victory. Shelby Graham was clearly disappointed in the result of the fight, as he surely felt that he was the aggressor in the fight. Check out my post-fight interview with Shelby Graham on Facebook!

After that fight, Giovanni Lemm graciously brought 135lb fighter Marcus Daniels and 170lb. fighter Brad Mountain into the ring to talk to them in front of the crowd, as both of them had opponents pull out of their fights at the last minute. Mountain’s opponent pulled out on the day of weigh-ins, notifying promoter Giovanni Lemm by e-mail that very morning.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography

Angel Ortiz vs. Dusty Shaw (170lbs)

RD1: Both fighters begin the fight by circling and gauging distance. Ortiz is the shorter fighter (5’6”), and trying to find range he lands a leg kick. Shaw lands a leg kick in response. Both fighters seem to be taking their time while trying to find range. Shaw wings an overhand right, but it’s blocked. Shaw lands a really hard leg kick. Shaw then pounces on Ortiz, throwing a flurry of hard punches that drop Ortiz and have him turtled up against the cage on the ground. Shaw then takes his back and gets both hooks while looking for a Rear Naked Choke. Ortiz seems to be fighting it, but he is stretched out and eventually succumbs to the choke.

First round Submission (Rear Naked Choke) victory for Dusty Shaw at the (2:59) mark. Watch my interview with Dusty Shaw after his submission finish!

Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography

Joe Hipps vs. Cris Rodriguez (125 lbs)

RD1: Both fighters touch gloves. Hipps feints for a takedown. Rodriguez presses him up against the cage in the clinch, looking to establish under-hooks and work some clinch strikes. Rodriguez gets a big slam takedown and lands in side control. Hipps tries to throw up his legs for some type of submission, but Rodriguez easily shucks them off and gets into mount. Rodriguez lands elbows and punches from the top with increasing frequency, causing Hipps to roll over and gives his back. Rodriguez handily takes Hipps’ back and immediately sinks in a Rear Naked Choke and forces the stoppage by the referee. Hipps tried to deny that he tapped, but it seemed clear he submitted either by tap or verbal submission, forcing Referee Todd McGovern to step in and do his job.

First round Submission (Rear Naked Choke) victory for Cris “Sugar Glider” Rodriguez at the (2:07) mark.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography

Craig “C-Machine” Yerkey vs. Sam “ The Streetshark” Eure (145lbs, but it’s a 150lbs catch-weight fight)

RD1: Both fighters touch gloves. Yerkey wings an overhand right, but gets clipped on the way in by a hard combo from Eure. Eure immediately pounces on him and hammers him with tons of hard punches from the mount position. Yerkey attempts to roll over and give up his back to mitigate the worst of the incoming damage, but Eure just peels him back and continues to hit Yerkey in the face with numerous hammer-fists. With Yerkey rocked and no longer able to intelligently defend himself, the fight is waved off by Ref Todd McGovern, granting Eure the stoppage victory. Yerkey is bleeding profusely and remained on the ground for several minutes while being attended to by his coaches and the ring physicians. Craig suffered a broken nose that was fountaining blood.

First round victory for Sam Eure by TKO in just 21 seconds. He won exactly how he predicted he would during our weigh-in interview, via hard punches to the head. Check out my post-fight interview with Sam Eure on Facebook!

Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography.

Jesse McBroom vs. Justin Rodger (185lbs.)

RD1: Both fighters touch gloves and begin gauging distance with punches. Rodger starts pumping a hard jab. McBroom throws a teep kick but it gets caught and he eats a hard punch. Rodger is landing his jab repeatedly. McBroom deftly lands a Superman punch, but Rodger eats it and responds with a hard uppercut. McBroom looks to be winging an overhand right, but keeps missing with it. Rodger then lands a hard uppercut that drops McBroom. Rodger follows him to the ground and after about two dozen hard, unanswered punches on the ground, Referee Todd McGovern steps in and waves off the fight.

First round TKO victory (Strikes) by Justin Rodger at the (1:23) mark. I’ve got post-fight interviews with both Justin and Jesse on my Facebook page – watch them now!

Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography

David Perez vs. Jon “The Scarecrow” Hughes (155lbs.)

RD1: Both fighters respectively touch gloves and begin circling to gauge distance and range. Hughes misses with a leg kick. Both fighters are flicking out jabs to try to gauge distance, as well as exchanging leg kicks. Perez shoots for a takedown and gets one with a big slam. Perez lands in guard, Hughes looks to be throwing his legs up to work for a submission, but Perez is doing his best to keep his opponents legs down. Hughes then uses a guard sweep to great effect to get into mount. Hughes then proceeds to land a flurry of punches until Perez is able to work his way back to his feet. Perez then immediately shoots for, and gets, another takedown. Hughes then sweeps him again, getting on top in side control and starts raining down hard punches. Perez is doggedly trying to get up from the turtle position, but Hughes is holding onto him and forces him back to the ground, where he takes his back and sinks in a Rear Naked Choke, forcing the referee to call an end to the fight. Hughes gets a ton of applause from the crowd of supporters he brought to the show, with many of them sporting Disciple MMA (the home of UFC fighter Dustin Pague) shirts to show their allegiance.

First round Submission (Rear Naked Choke) victory for Jon “The Scarecrow” Hughes. Watch my post-fight interview with Jon on Facebook!

Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography

Devin “The Omega” Izzard vs. Devon “The Silverback” Mosley (185lbs)

RD1: Both fighters respectfully touch gloves. Mosley quickly lands a leg kick. Izzard is throwing hard shots, but Mosley briefly clinches with him against the cage. Izzard throws another few hard punches followed by a kick and a successful takedown. Izzard’s takedown also happened to see Mosley get a hold of a Guillotine choke while he was on his way down. Despite landing a hard slamming takedown, Izzard was forced to tap because his takedown caused him to sink deeper into the Guillotine.

First round victory via Submission (Guillotine) for Devon Mosley in front of a huge hometown crowd, including his mother, who cried tears of joy as they announced her son’s victory. A great moment to watch!

Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography

“Ruthless” Joe Ray vs. Tony “Father Time” Horn (Heavyweight)

RD1: Both guys immediately get to work, throwing a flurry of hard punches and elbows. Ray gets Horn up against the cage and is working short knees to the legs. Ray landed an accidental low blow, but Horn easily shook it off. Horn landed a hard leg kick, but Ray pressed him against the cage again and looked to work short punches and knees to the body. Both fighters separate briefly and throw a flurry of punches before Ray pushes Horn up against the cage again. Horn lands a few hard punches to the head of Ray, but Ray keeps him pressed up against the cage. Both fighters have kept a pretty fast pace of action so far, but do not seem to be waning one bit. Horn is winging leg kicks but leaves his head unprotected, Ray pounces on him and throws more hard punches and presses him against the cage to keep working his dirty boxing. Ray gets a leg trip takedown to end the round.

RD2: The round begins with both fighters gauging distance. Both fighters are showing no ill effects from the blistering pace that they set in the first round, and get right back to business. Ray gets a takedown and is postured up and raining down punches on Horn. Despite being mounted, Horn is gamely throwing punches from the bottom. The referee waves off the fight as Horn might be suffering from some sort of rib injury. The injury was quite possibly sustained during the takedown, as Ray is 264 pounds landing on top of him, and that cannot feel pleasant. Ray showed great speed and cardio for a guy of his size, which is very impressive. While I know enough about the sport and have seen more than enough fights to know that you should never judge a book by it’s cover, the crowd didn’t seem to understand such a thing. It therefore brought me great pleasure to watch Ray put up a pace that outstripped that of many lower weight fighters, and make those certain members of the crowd eat their words and maybe come to the realization that being an armchair-fighter is quite silly, to say the least.

Ray wins by TKO due to injury in the second round. Ray graciously offered Horn a rematch when he is healed from his injury, which is a very gentlemanly thing to do. Great post-fight interviews from both Ray and Horn are on the Facebook page!

Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography

Samir Farid vs. Brian Robey (115 lbs) — First mens Strawweight bout in US MMA History

RD1: Both fighters touch gloves. Farid pumps a jab then lands a leg kick. Robey throws a one-two. Farid lands a snapping kick to the body. Robey misses with a push kick. Farid pushes Robey against the cage, looking to establish under-hooks, and then gets a takedown. Working on the top in guard, Farid moves into side control. Robey is trying to hold onto his head, but it’s not effective. Farid jumps for an Armbar, but Robey gets out and gets back to his feet. Farid pumps fast combos then a hard pair of leg kicks. Robey wings hard punches and backs Farid up against the cage, but Fareed reverses and pushes Robey against the cage where they are exchanging short knee strikes and battling for position within the clinch. Fareed briefly drops down for a takedown but abandons it, getting back up to work some short punches. Robey tries to jump for a standing Guillotine, but slips off. Farid then gets another takedown and ends in back side control as the round ends. Both fighters kept up a very fast pace for the round.

RD2: Farid pumps the jab, with both guys looking to gauge distance. Farid throws a kick then a flying knee to back Robey up against the cage, where they clinch. They separate then Robey rushes Farid and tries to clinch up, but is taken down by Farid who lands in side control again. Robey then rolls over, then Farid takes his back. Farid throws some punches and then goes for a Rear Naked Choke. He quickly stretches Robey out and sinks it in.

Second round Submission (Rear Naked Choke) victory (2:25) for Samir Fareed.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Foster Photography

John “Cage” Attia vs. Matt “The Barbarian” Douglas (Heavyweight), Co-Main Event

RD1: Both fighters touch gloves. Douglas lands a hard leg kick, and then another. Douglas pumps a jab. Attia continues to circle away, feinting well but not doing much offensively. Douglas gets a takedown and lands in guard. He intelligently pushes Attia against the cage and then practically steps into Mount. Douglas then starts to throw audibly hard strikes while John just holds onto him ineffectively. Douglas continues to rain down audibly hard strikes and then the ref waves it off due to a Verbal Submission from Attia due to strikes. The legion of fans Matt “The Barbarian” Douglas brought with him are cheering in celebration at a deafening level.

Matt Douglas wins in the first round due to Verbal Submission (2:28) due to strikes. Matt and John caught up at the Victorium II after-party to discuss the fight. See what they had to say to each other post-fight!

Photo courtesy Jessica Foster Photography

Brett “Unbreakable” Glass vs. Jeffrey “ The Glass Breaker” Peterson (155lb), Main Event

RD1: Both fighters start winging hard punches immediately. Glass pushes Peterson against the cage, but then Peterson gets a surprising takedown and lands in Brett’s guard. Glass is working his butterfly guard, but Peterson passes to side control. Glass then sweeps and rolls to the top, but then they both get up soon after. Peterson pushes Glass against the cage and gets another trip takedown, which drags Glass to the ground again. Peterson postures up to throw hard punches, but Glass uses a submission attempt to sweep and get back to his feet. Sensing a good opportunity, Glass pounces on Peterson and proceeds to batter him with dozens of unanswered punches, elbows, kicks, and knees. Glass has Peterson backed up against the cage where all he can do is cover up and attempt to avoid the worst of the blows. Glass unrelentingly continues to batter Peterson at a merciless pace against the cage, and the ref starts to take a closer look at the action. After watching Peterson absorb a huge volume of strikes, the ref separated the fighters and waved off the action with a TKO stoppage. Upon the separation, Peterson collapsed to the ground, clearly battered after absorbing a truly huge amount of strikes without being knocked unconscious. Great credit is due to both fighters for showing a great bit of skill and resilience. The fight truly embodied what a Main Event fight is supposed to be in every way possible.

Brett Glass wins by first round TKO stoppage in front of a huge hometown crowd. Check out my interview with Brett post-fight on the Facebook page!

Thanks to Jessica Foster Photography for the permission to use these photos.

To Play It Safe or Not Play It Safe in MMA — Part I

Posted by :jcastle On : August 8, 2013

Fighters seemingly “playing it safe” en-route to a (usually) Unanimous Decision victory has been a hot-button issue for both MMA promoters and fans alike for quite some time. Fans routinely fill up MMA forums decrying such performances, lambasting fighters with such terms like “Lay-N-Pray” and “Wall-N-Stall”. Fans are also very quick to criticize when a fighter’s style blurs the lines between an elusiveness and counterstriking style vs. continually circling away and not taking any chances. Being routinely accused of being a “boring fighter” is generally not looked upon favorably, and can be known to have some adverse consequences in regards to a fighter’s career. Conversely, fighters who throw caution to the wind and adopt a more “crowd-pleasing” style are not only beloved by MMA fans, but are also afforded more chances to right the ship by their employers if they happen to lose in an exciting effort. After all, UFC President Dana White commonly refers to the fact that exciting fights “…put asses in seats…”, so he has given numerous exciting fighters a lot more leeway, whereas a 2-3 fight losing streak is most definitely going to earn a less exciting fighter his release from the organization. I will save my thoughts on what this means for the sport itself for another article, as I can personally appreciate the various facets of MMA so as to enjoy virtually almost every fight I watch, with a few exceptions of course! This two article series will include lists of fighters on both sides of the aforementioned equation.

Five Fighters Who’s “Non-Exciting” Style Hurt(s) Their Career or Legacy

Photo courtesy of http://fightersxchange.com

1. Ben Askren — To most people, this will not come as a surprise. Ben Askren seems to be the most widely panned Champion in any major MMA organization. While I would personally sell my soul to possess his wrestling abilities, he hasn’t really managed to gain much of a fan-base outside of MMA fans that are also hardcore wrestling enthusiasts. Askren’s fighting style essentially consists of top-notch “funk” wrestling with some cursory ground striking and light submission attempts thrown in for good effect. Watching the average Askren fight for the past few years is often akin to watching paint dry. If I happen to have the urge to take a gnarly dump, I can get up and do so at the beginning of his fight and know that when I return in the 3rd of 4th round, he will still be wrestling his opponent to death. His latest victory against Andrey Koreshkov was a TKO victory in the 4th round, but only after wrestling his opponent for 4 ½ rounds until Koreshkov was essentially too exhausted to continue. While I applaud Askren for defending his Bellator Welterweight title once again, I doubt he has endeared himself to many new fans in the process.

Photo courtesy of http://www.mmamania.com

2. Jon Fitch — A longtime UFC mainstay in the Welterweight division, Jon Fitch’s tenure in the UFC lasted from 2005-2013. After a few finishes were achieved as part of an eight-fight winning streak to start his UFC career, he was granted a title shot against Georges St. Pierre, which he ultimately lost by Unanimous Decision. After that is when the proverbial wheels started to fall off, and his favor with fans really began to wane. His subsequent (and much maligned) wrestling-heavy Decision wins against Akihiro Gono, Paulo Thiago, Mike Pierce, Ben “Killa B” Saunders, and Thiago Alves lead many fans, and UFC President Dana White as well, to decry such a fighting style even though it was ultimately a victorious one. Soon after, people began to refer to someone getting “Fitched” if a fighter was wrestled and held down en route to an unentertaining defeat by Decision. After a lackluster Draw against BJ Penn, Jon Fitch was confronted with the fact that a large share of the MMA community did not even desire a rematch of the fight. Jon Fitch’s next fight saw him on the wrong end of a gnarly Knockout loss to Johny Hendricks in just 12 seconds. After going 1-1 in his next two fights, Jon Fitch was released from the UFC. Official reasoning that was given for his release included his high price tag for delivering losing efforts, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize that the UFC was quite ready to jettison Jon Fitch into the open market, despite his overall UFC record of 14-3-1.

Photo courtesy of http://www.bleacherreport.com

3. Yushin Okami — Despite an overall UFC record of 13-4, Yushin Okami has come under some fire in the past few years for his clinch-heavy fighting style. While his last victory by stoppage happened at UFC 150 against a clearly overmatched Buddy Roberts, Okami has still become widely known for getting his opponents up against the cage and utilizing his wrestling and dirty-boxing to stifle any of his opponents attempts at mounting much of any kind of offensive effort. This fighting style is what made him a hard sell for a Championship match versus Anderson Silva in the first place. After being handily dismantled at the hands of the (until recently) reigning Middleweight Champion of the UFC, Okami has certainly found himself in a position where he will be hard pressed to ever be granted a title shot again. His recent Split Decision victory over Hector Lombard did little to improve his prospects in the Middleweight Division, or his standing with fans in general.

Photo courtesy of http://fansided.com

4. Lyoto Machida — Before you decry my inclusion of Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida on this list, I’d ask you to hear me out. I am not necessarily saying that Machida is a consistently boring fighter, I am merely pointing out that he is the present-day poster child for how a conservative striking-based style can also sometimes be detrimental to a fighters efforts to achieve victory. While “The Dragon” has some highlight-reel finishes of Thiago Silva, Ryan Bader, Rashad Evans, and Randy Couture to his name…he also was a part of some of the worst fights I can remember in these past few years. He lost a Decision to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson by spending the majority of the fight circling away and sparingly throwing strikes at his opponent, demonstrating very little for the judges to even attempt to score in his favor. His most recent effort against Phil Davis was marred by the same overall strategy and outcome. Machida’s recent fight against Dan Henderson was, quite frankly, pretty awful as well. While he won a Decision victory against Henderson, he did very little to improve his stock in the Light Heavyweight Division because of it. His Karate-based counterstriking style is often described as “elusive” or “unpredictable”. While I give Machida all the credit that is due for being the only person to ever win a round against current Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones, some of his recent outings leave a lot to be desired for the average viewer, as well as his prospects at getting another shot at the title.

Photo courtesy of http://www.theprovince.com

5. Georges St. Pierre — I will be the first person to say that Georges “Rush” St. Pierre is a future UFC Hall-of-Famer and will go down as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. His accomplishments in the UFC’s Welterweight division are second to none; as he has been competing in the UFC since 2004, with the majority of his fights being for (or mainly defending) the Welterweight Championship belt. Despite his overall record of 24-2 (18-2 UFC), GSP has seen his favor with some MMA fans wane in the past few years. Despite his utter dominance in the UFC’s Octagon, many have grown weary of Georges St. Pierre’s long streak of Unanimous Decision victories. Whether he utilizes his dominant wrestling skills to grind his opponents against the mat for 25 minutes, or uses his jab to set up a winning striking effort from a distance, GSP has the longest slew of Unanimous Decision victories of any Champion in UFC history by far. The last time GSP won via any form of stoppage was when BJ Penn refused to answer the bell in their title fight in January of 2009. While his accomplishments are certainly laudable, I have had a hard time finding many MMA fans that aren’t wishing that GSP would get back to his old ways of finishing the majority of his opposition.

Honorable mentions for other fighters who fall under this category include: Jacob Volkmann, Colton Smith, Cole Konrad, Kris McCray, Francis Carmont and Shane Roller.

My next article will cover a list of fighters whose careers have greatly benefited from being regarded as “exciting” by the MMA community at large.

Q&A with Donny Ooton

Posted by :jcastle On : July 30, 2013

Category: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, CFFC, MMA Fighter Profile, MMA Institute, Training

Tags:CFFC, Donny Ooton, Grappling, MMA, MMA Institute, Operation Octagon, Rick McCoy, Tom Lawlor, Wrestling

The Doombeard Report is proud to present this interview with Professional MMA fighter Donny “One Speed” Ooton. Donny is 4-0 and is currently preparing for his fifth Pro MMA fight against Jordan Stiner at CFFC XXVI on August 17 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Question: What brought you to MMA?

Answer: I had been involved with wrestling for my entire life. After I stopped competing in 2009, I had coached for another season at Bucknell University. When I left Bucknell, I came back to Richmond to figure out my next move. I had applied for several other coaching positions and had no luck, so I was getting very frustrated with not being able to find a coaching position. I asked a friend if he knew of somewhere I could start training to fight. I needed an outlet; I actually wanted nothing to do with fighting or competing until I started training.

Where did you attend college, and did you graduate? If so, what degree(s) did you attain?

I wrestled at 149 pounds in college and at the senior level I competed at 66kgs (145.5). I went to Virginia Tech for 2 years and wrestled at 141 pounds, then transferred to SUNY Brockport and wrestled at 149 pounds. I was a two-time All-American at SUNY Brockport and I graduated with a B.S. in Physical Education.

Where did you begin your training?

MMA Institute. I walked in and Rick was giving me my consult and he asked me what my goals are and I took a second and said “to be a world champion,” and started training that night.

Your nickname is “One Speed”. There is usually a story behind how nicknames come about and what they mean. What is yours?

All in the name. I do everything all or nothing. My whole life I have been coached to give a topnotch maximum effort.

How long did you train before taking for first Amateur MMA fight?

I joined the gym in late August of 2010 and took my first fight October, 30 2010.

Your first fight, against Mike Pope at Operation Octagon XIII resulted in a third round loss via Rear Naked Choke (RNC). This is also the last and only time you were ever defeated in MMA competition. How did the fight go, and what did you take away from it?

He won the first, I won the second, and it was close in the third. I gassed out and stopped on a takedown attempt and he stepped over and got me with a RNC. I actually at that point refused to take conditioning class, I thought all I had to do was wrestle but I found out I was wrong. And I gotta keep working my Jitz, always gotta work your Jitz.

You finished out your Amateur MMA career with a five-fight winning streak, stopping all your opponents in the first round. How do you feel about the remainder of your Amateur MMA career, and how it prepared you to become a Professional fighter?

Not satisfied. I know I had/have areas I still need to improve in. I mean, I’ve wrestled a million matches in my life and have been in more fights than I can remember but it’s not the same. Being a professional fighter is being a professional athlete. You have to be at the top of your game at all times because you never know what opportunity is going to present itself to you.

In reference to what you just said, what are the things that you do in order to stay at the top of your game? How would you describe your lifestyle?

Well, there’s the diet. I have made a very serious commitment to my diet for the past eight months, 145 isn’t easy for me to make. Then there’s the “social life”, I have really become a homebody, I don’t go out and party. I love to have a good time and go crazy but if I want to reach my goals that will have to wait. I’ll celebrate once every blue moon but other than that not really much goes on.

You are listed as being 5’10”, which makes you pretty tall for the Featherweight division. How much weight do you typically have to cut in order to make that weight?

I have shrunk my body down to where I don’t get heavier than 165. Its important to be used to your competition weight, when I start training for a fight I like to stay about 161, so my body is used to being that weight and after weigh ins, I don’t have to worry about gaining so much weigh it slows me down.

Is 145 pounds similar to the weight division that you competed at in your collegiate wrestling career?

I wrestled at 149 pounds in college and at the senior level I competed at 66kgs (145.5).

How do you like training with Rick McCoy at MMA Institute?

It’s awesome; he’s a really good coach. Besides the fact he knows so much about the sport, he really knows what to say and do to get the most out of his athletes. He really cares about all of us and our futures.

How do you like living in the Richmond area?

I’m a beach guy, if I had my way I would hangout and surf all day. Richmond is the best environment for me to train.

You had your first professional MMA fight in March of 2012, against Daniel Yeagley. You won by via Submission due to strikes in the first round. What are your thoughts on your preparation for that fight, your opponent, and how the fight went that night?

Well every time I sign a contract it’s the most important fight of my career, so I treat it like I’m fighting for a world title. Not to mention its a fight, I’m locked in a cage with someone who wants to hurt me. I take it very personal and as a fight for my life. “Winning is living and losing is death.” -Tom Brands . I had made a few mistakes in that fight and I knew I needed to get in the gym and correct them.

Well, it appears that you retired your first Pro opponent, as he hasn’t fought since losing his Pro debut to you. What are your thoughts on that?

I try not to think about it, I was better that night… business as usual.

You are 4-0 in your Pro career at this time. How have your fights gone until this point, and what have you learned from them?

They have gone well. I learned from each fight. I still have areas I need to improve in and I just gotta keep my head down and work for the next one. Can’t look at my last fights other than a learning experience, the past is the past and I just have to keep moving forward.

Your next fight is on August 17 against Jordan Stiner. How are you preparing for that fight, and what are your thoughts on your opponent?

Gotta keep working my Jitz, anyone can stop a takedown or hit someone but the ground is a whole different world… its frustrating. I’m working on sticking to the game plan, being aware of what he does well and fight my fight. I need to focus on what I’m going to do to win the fight and perform at a top level. I haven’t really given him much thought, just focusing on the task at hand.

What is your outlook on your career at this point?

I need to keep improving, I’m not gonna be happy until I reach my goals. I would love some sponsorship though. Having some type of financial support would make things a lot less stressful.

Do you have another occupation outside of fighting? Have you had difficulties finding sponsors?

I work construction and security at a nightclub. I have had some sponsorship but not on a major or consistent scale, just support from friends and family and my boss at Europa. If you’re ever in the Shockoe Bottom area, stop in for some tapas, it’s some of the best I have ever had.

Forgive me for using a somewhat loaded term. How would you describe your style as a fighter?

Well, there’s no secret that I’m a wrestler. I’ve done it my entire life, it’s in my blood. I love to take people down, pick ‘em up and put ‘em down hard!

You have finished all but one of your fights. Do you take pride in that?

That’s my job. I’m totally stoked about it and yeah I take pride in my job.

You train with a very experienced team of fighters at MMAI. Guys like Mike Wade, Terrell Hobbes, Brian Nielson, and now Tom Lawlor as well. What are your thoughts on the training you get from all those guys?

I get my ass kicked everyday, it’s very humbling. I learn a lot from it because everyone brings something different to the table. We all feed off of each other and these guys are my family now. We’re not afraid to tell one another if they need to fix something or they are doing well at something.

What are your thoughts on Tom Lawlor coming to Richmond and joining MMAI?

I think its awesome, I cant wait to learn from him. He is a big, strong, tough guy so it could mean a lot more black eyes for me. I kinda have a way of getting under people’s skin, you could say I have a big mouth.

You are bouncer as well as a Pro MMA fighter. I have encountered more than a few bouncers and/or drunk guys who claim that they “fight UFC”. Have you encountered such things? If so, what are your thoughts?

Well, my job isn’t to really hurt them or beat them up. We don’t really have that type of crowd, it’s a more “established” crowd. But yeah, you always have the jackasses, but they usually notice my ears right off the bat and that stops a lot.

Ideally, where do you see your career going in these next few years?

Bigger fights, bigger money, and world titles. That’s what I got into this sport for, to be the best. My goal is to be as good at all aspects as I am at wrestling. Oh yeah undefeated, that’s a key point. I hate losing…. I can’t even stand to lose in board games.

What is your favored method of ending a fight?

Elbows. I like putting my elbows through people’s faces. I have “Kapow!” tattooed on my right elbow. When I knock someone out from knees, I’m gonna get the bottom half of an acme rocket on my shin right under my knee, with explosion clouds, it’s gonna be so rad!

How many fights have you finished via elbows?

Three Pro, four Amateur.

How many tattoos do you have? Do they all mean something to you?

I have a half sleeve on my left arm, a USA wrestling symbol on my back (I got that one for winning my first state title), three on my right arm, one on either side of my ribs, and a Hokie bird on my left thigh. Yeah, they all tell a story.

If you could fight any fighter, whether they are currently active or retired. Who would it be? Why?

My old assistant wrestling coach from SUNY Brockport, Frank Pulambo, I don’t like that dude. I don’t really wanna “cage fight” him. That one would better serve as a street fight. When I fight in the cage I’m doing my job. When it’s in the cage it’s not personal, it’s business. I mean it is personal because it’s a fight… but it’s a job.

Would you like to thank anyone who has or is currently helping you in your career as a fighter?

Every one of my teammates and coaches. I wouldn’t be able to do this without them, there are so many people that put in so much time and effort into all of us. Rick, John, Tiger, Jake, Kazeka, Rafael, and Strickland.

The career of a professional fighter can be an arduous one. Between the rigorous daily training, fights, the fights that don’t happen, and injuries..some would consider such a career path a daunting one. What inspires you to be a fighter?

I didn’t reach my goals wrestling. I wont be happy until I can look myself in the mirror and be satisfied with my career. I fell short of my goals wrestling because I couldn’t settle down, and I don’t want that to keep haunting me.
If you had to make a prediction on how you see your upcoming fight going, what would it be?

5-0 with four stops for Ooton. Business as usual.

Well thank you for taking the time to do this interview, and I look forward to seeing your next fight on August 17 for CFFC. Besides attending the event itself in Atlantic City, are there other ways for your fans to see your fight?

I’m pretty sure it will be live streamed on cffc.tv the night of the event.

Q&A with Brian Nielson

Posted by :jcastle On : July 23, 2013

Category: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Fight Prep, MMA Fighter Profile, MMA Institute, Training, Victorium

Tags:BJJ, Brian Nielson, CFFC, Colton Smith, Fight Preparation, Georges St. Pierre, MMA, MMA Institute, TUF, UFC, Victorium, World Series of Fighting

The Doombeard Report is proud to present this interview with up-and-coming Professional MMA fighter Brian “The Solution” Nielson. Training out of Richmond, Virginia, Brian is currently preparing for his seventh Professional MMA fight at the Victorium II on August 10 in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Q: What brought you to MMA?

A: Well I had just not made the wrestling team at Liberty University. I needed to work out somehow without just lifting weights and stumbled I on to grappling and I was hooked.

Where did you begin your training?

Team Ram in Lynchburg, Virginia, then a short time later MMA Institute in Richmond, Virginia and I’ve been there ever since.

When did you have your first amateur MMA fight? How did it go?

It was only a few months into training but it went pretty good. I took the guy down and we ended up in the ropes and they started me on the bottom in guard which was foreign to me, but I got an Arm Bar and finished it.

After finishing your amateur career at 6-1, you made your pro debut on 3/25/2011 at M1-Challenge XXIV against recent TUF winner Colton Smith. How did your preparation go for this fight? How was the event? How was the fight itself?

Oh we had to talk about that fight? Haha! It was not the greatest fight for me. I was coming off a pretty long layoff and it was the first time I fought at 170. But no excuses, Colton is a beast and he beat me on that night so its just another learning experience.

M1 has gotten its fair share of criticism for the way it ran its events held in the US. What was your experience like at that event?

The event was ran pretty smooth from what I can remember. My boy Bryan Lashomb had a rough time getting his purse. I’m not even sure he ever got paid.

Your loss to Colton Smith was followed up with a three-fight winning streak. What did you take away from your fight with Colton Smith, and how did your next three fights go as your Pro career started to take off?

I think that loss was a learning experience like any other fight is. Just getting in the cage each time prepares you more for the next time. Then my next three fights, I won all of them. I wanna say in the first round if I remember right, and it was a great feeling.

You lost to recent World Series of Fighting competitor Ozzy Dugulubgov last April, then lost a questionable (I thought so at least) Split Decision to Brandon Becker at CFFC 19. What are your thoughts on those fights? Where do you see your career now that your Professional record is at an even 3-3?

I mean kinda like what I said earlier they are all learning experiences, but more specifically I learned that I need to go out there and dictate the pace. I have great conditioning and I need push and look for finishes more. My career is just starting, I am young at 24, and I have a long time left in the sport. So who knows where its going. All I can do is get up every morning and get better.

At the Victorium II event on August 10, you face Jeremy Boardwine. How is your preparation going for the fight, and what do you think about your opponent? How do you see the fight going?

Preparation is going great, I’m training hard. Thoughts on my opponent are that he is tough and crafty, but at the end of the night I’m gonna get my hand raised because of who I train with and how hard we get after it.

What are your ranks/achievements in MMA or other Martial Arts forms that you have achieved?

I just got my brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu a few months ago.

Forgive me for using a somewhat loaded term, but how would you describe your style as a fighter?

I would consider myself a well-rounded fighter, but if I had to speak to a specialty, it would be in the grappling aspects of MMA.

Aside from fighting, do you have another occupation?

I work at the gym teaching, adults and kids. And sometimes I work as a doorman on the weekends at Europa, as well as every now and then judging amateur MMA fights. But nothing I would really call “work”.

What motivates you as a fighter? What are your goals that you’d like to achieve in your career? Do you feel that coaching others helps you grow as a fighter?

I enjoy getting better, so progression is probably what motivates me more than anything. And along with that my goal is perfection. By that I mean perfecting my skills, technique, cardio, athleticism, mental preparation, everything that goes into the fight. And yeah, coaching for sure helps, I might be showing a technique to someone that I know how to do but is difficult for me to explain, so I learn the technique even better and more polished in order to show or explain it.

What would be your ideal way to end a fight? If you could fight anyone during your career, regardless of whether they are active or retired, who would it be and why?

My ideal way to end a fight is with a submission or knockout, as both are amazing to me! And if I could fight anyone … that’s hard man. I would say when I’m at my peak or the best I could be…whoever is the champ, so right now it would be Georges St. Pierre.

MMA Institute Adds UFC Middleweight Tom Lawlor to Fight Team

Posted by :jcastle On : July 17, 2013

Category: MMA Fighter Profile, MMA Institute, Training

Tags:Fight Team, Mike Wade, MMA, MMA Institute, MMA Training, Richmond, Tom Lawlor, Virginia

MMA Institute (MMAI), Virginia’s largest mixed martial arts gym, is already home to the largest fight team of pro and amateur fighters in the state. But on Monday, the gym added accomplished UFC Middleweight fighter Tom “Filthy” Lawlor to its roster.

Tom Lawlor (9-5, 1 NC) has been a MMA fan-favorite ever since competing on Season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter. Renowned for his aggressive fighting style, as well as his wildly entertaining and inventive walk-ins, Lawlor has achieved several notable victories in the UFC, such as his stunning submission victory vs. C.B. Dollaway at UFC 100; and more recently, a submission victory of Michael Kuiper at UFC on Fuel TV 9.

“I’m really excited to be here at MMA Institute. I’ve had a chance to watch a lot of the fighter training and take a look at a lot of the classes that go on here. I’m really impressed with the abilities of a lot of the guys,” Lawlor said. “As far as myself joining the gym and working with the rest of the team, I feel like I bring a lot to the table.”

Lawlor defines himself as a student of Mixed Martial Arts, and enjoys sharing his extensive knowledge and experience with other students.
“Not only is this transition going to help me; but it’s going to allow me to go ahead and give back to some of the younger fighters, and provide them with an example of hard work that will help them to achieve their goals in the future. These guys here have a really dedicated fight team, and it’s a really great atmosphere inside the gym,” Lawlor said.

MMA Institute Head Coach Rick McCoy has already experienced training and working with a UFC-level fighter, having previously coached Amir Sadollah, winner of Spike TV’s The Ultimate Fighter 7. But, he’s just as excited to see what Lawlor can contribute to the team. The MMAI Fight Team currently has a record of 422 wins, to 222 losses, which is likely to increase now that Lawlor will be imparting knowledge to the younger fighters, as well as contributing wins through his own professional fights.

“Tom is a great addition to our already talented competition team,” McCoy said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and fits in great with the team.”

“We have the best and most caring coach in Rick McCoy, and our gym is a family. Tom Lawlor is a great stand-up fighter and will make a good ‘fit’ with our family,” said Mike Wade, a Pro fighter on the MMAI Fight team. “Tom is one tough S.O.B and I am personally thrilled to have him here, pushing me daily. Not only will his joining MMA Institute be great for training purposes, but will also help us establish more legitimacy amongst bigger organizations.”

The fact that Tom Lawlor has moved to Richmond, Virginia to live and train is an important one. Aside from Aaron Riley, Tom Lawlor will now be the only other resident in the Commonwealth of Virginia to compete in the UFC.

Mixed Martial Arts is the fastest growing sport in the world, and having a fighter of Tom Lawlor’s caliber here will not only bring more recognition to MMA Institute, but it could also bring another professional sporting event to Richmond, Virginia as well. With venues like VCU’s Siegel Center and the Richmond Coliseum, which are both capable of housing a UFC event, Lawlor’s transition to Richmond could indeed encourage the UFC’s exploration of hosting a future showcase here. Lawlor is a well-known, professional athlete and his impact from a coaching and mentoring standpoint, as well as his presence to the already unique and vibrant culture of Richmond is something that should be noted by area residents.

“I’m so excited to have another high-level, elite pro fighter joining an already talented team of fighters,” said Luke Hunsaker, an Amateur fighter on the MMAI Fight Team. “I can’t wait to train and work with him, and I hope it brings well-deserved recognition to the gym’s fighters and coaches.”

MMA Institute is excited about the addition of Tom Lawlor to their Fight Team, as well as their coaching staff. His experience at the pinnacle of the professional level, as well as his passion for helping younger fighters, will help make the entire gym stronger, and greatly increase the level of fighting talent in Virginia’s MMA community.

About MMA Institute: The MMA Institute is Virginia’s largest Mixed Martial Arts school, and utilizes a 5,000-square-foot training facility in Richmond. With state-of-the-art equipment, and a team of 10 instructors, MMAI offers training classes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Strength and Conditioning, Judo, Submission Wrestling, Sombo, Kettlebell Training, and Fighter Yoga. The gym also features a kids program designed around building children’s self esteem while instructing practical self-defense.

Victorium II Play-by-Play

To Play It Safe or Not Play It Safe in MMA — Part I

Q&A with Donny Ooton

Q&A with Brian Nielson

MMA Institute Adds UFC Middleweight Tom Lawlor to Fight Team

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