Standard warm up stuff. Went to the heavy bag 4 rounds of Bas Ruttens Muay Thai with a Round kick added after each combo.
3 rounds of shadow boxing.
partnered up and worked on defenses and counters. Box stepping, bob and weave, covers and counters. Worked the sam for kicks and knees. After working this we went right into sparring. Sparred Hands only for 3 2 minute rounds. MMA rules for 6 2min. rounds
I got saved by the bell on one round. had the guy in a triangle and he was stacking very nicely. could not make space and he was pressing the air out of my lungs. Hitting him in the face was not doing what I had hoped it would. Since we are partners I didn’t give him full power… Bell rang and I lived for another round.
The rounds seemed to short so we moved it out to 3 min. rounds. My standup felt like it was pretty good. I was landing combos nicely and got two head kicks. I really lost count of the rounds at this point. Kept sparring until I really had nothing left. Transistioning from standing to ground really kicks your ass so bad and working clinch to takedown to ground and back up again is a fucking nightmare. My cardio needs work. That really was the big point behind it all anyway just to work until I was dead so I can live another day and fight.
Ok Just took a fight on June 8th. 185 lbs. It is not confirmed yet but the other guy was looking so I accepted it. Should work.
185 is easy for me to make since cutting weight is the shittiest part of fighting anyway. I have been counting calories a bit anyway, weighed 188 this morning so 185 is nothing to get down too. That gives me the next couple of weeks to focus on training and getting the right mindset and cardio. Wish me luck about to step up and put it to the test.
[quote]Ranzo wrote:
Ok Just took a fight on June 8th. 185 lbs. It is not confirmed yet but the other guy was looking so I accepted it. Should work.
185 is easy for me to make since cutting weight is the shittiest part of fighting anyway. I have been counting calories a bit anyway, weighed 188 this morning so 185 is nothing to get down too. That gives me the next couple of weeks to focus on training and getting the right mindset and cardio. Wish me luck about to step up and put it to the test.
[/quote]
Yes! This is great news mate. Long overdue. Hope you get better luck this time round and the fight actually happens. Will be following closely. I like that you are so close to the weight already. I always feel like it is an advantage not to be really worrying about cutting.
[quote]Ranzo wrote:
Ok Just took a fight on June 8th. 185 lbs. It is not confirmed yet but the other guy was looking so I accepted it. Should work.
185 is easy for me to make since cutting weight is the shittiest part of fighting anyway. I have been counting calories a bit anyway, weighed 188 this morning so 185 is nothing to get down too. That gives me the next couple of weeks to focus on training and getting the right mindset and cardio. Wish me luck about to step up and put it to the test.
[/quote]
Yes! This is great news mate. Long overdue. Hope you get better luck this time round and the fight actually happens. Will be following closely. I like that you are so close to the weight already. I always feel like it is an advantage not to be really worrying about cutting.[/quote]
Thanks, and I have been looking at 170 and not a whole lot out there right now. I have been sparring with bigger guys and its really not any differnt except the ground aspect, is harder to muscle out if they get on top but I can still jiu jitsu nicely as well. Many times I go to my back to just fight from a bad position. Wrestling has been coming along nicely so for the next few weeks I will be forcing my game and see how it works out.
The guy im going against is a Brawler so should be lots of fun.
Went to train again last night as I will every night for the next few weeks. Worked shadow boxing for about 15 minutes just doing power combos and footwork. Hopped in on the end of a “boxercise” kickboxing class for some more warmup doing burpees, pushups and crunches and lapping around the mats.
Got in some decent sparring with one of the other guys. His standup is lacking but he is a big guy and strong wrestler. He was swinging for the fences and trying to hold me against the cage for a takedown. Ended up being some good practice on using movement, striking and awareness to avoid being put in that position. I felt my clinch game was decent but I could not get offensive with this guy and we stalemated against the wall several times. He is just to big for me to whizzer or reall break out of the position but I could give him knees and strikes which eventually caused him to move and went back to striking. I think we did 4-5 rounds total.
Jumped in on gi jiu jitsu class. we did some good judo takedown stuff, some of which I knew already and it was gi oriented of course but good practice nonetheless. We did some stuff from spider guard and getting armbars. We had a roll session at the end. I rolled with another blue belt and it was a good roll. I haven’t been training in a gi so some of my go to moves were kind of nullified and we ended up pulling on the gi, looking for collar chokes, sweeps all that BS. One advantage I have over most of the jitsu fags is that they don’t really train. I can defend against most anybody and I can do it way longer than they can and many times they just get tired of fucking with me and or start getting tired and want to quit.
All in all not a bad night of training. I didn’t leave completly thrashed and tired but got some good work in. Slept like a baby last night.
Work on your head positioning to make a little space when you’re pinned against the cage. Even a few inches can be all you need sometimes. You can’t headbutt or elbow to the face, but you can “push” with your head and elbows, you know. Use that gray area to your advantage.
[quote]Melvin Smiley wrote:
Work on your head positioning to make a little space when you’re pinned against the cage. Even a few inches can be all you need sometimes. You can’t headbutt or elbow to the face, but you can “push” with your head and elbows, you know. Use that gray area to your advantage.[/quote]
Yeah I agree but this particular guy left no room to get at his head. He is cockstrong and weighs about 265lbs. I had trouble getting my overhook deep enough. I could control him decent as in keeping him from getting the takedown but I just could not really do the techniques I wanted to. Even punching him in the eye he never let up position. On two occasions he did go for double unders and I pummelled and could get away. Really he was not where he should have been to secure a takedown either so it was more like quit leaning on me mother fucker type of situation. I just really wanted to flip his big ass to the ground and beat his teeth to his throat.
Some guys seem to have a stronger “avoidance” reaction to getting punched in the ear than anywhere else. Even short choppy shots can be enough to make them re-position or let you have some space. Cauliflower ears make this even worse. I am not sure if you tried it. I would use it sparingly on sparring partners because aggravating someone’s cauliflower ear is kind of a dick move, but in a fight it might help.
Just a thought.
I don’t know how much gouging/roughing up you can get away with, but there might be a few things in that category as well.
[quote]Robert A wrote:
Glad to see a fight is in the future.
You have been doing a hell of a lot of good work.
RE: Head position/clinch
Some guys seem to have a stronger “avoidance” reaction to getting punched in the ear than anywhere else. Even short choppy shots can be enough to make them re-position or let you have some space. Cauliflower ears make this even worse. I am not sure if you tried it. I would use it sparingly on sparring partners because aggravating someone’s cauliflower ear is kind of a dick move, but in a fight it might help.
Just a thought.
I don’t know how much gouging/roughing up you can get away with, but there might be a few things in that category as well.
Regards,
Robert A[/quote]
Actually did some work with my wrestiling coach last night and was shown some neat ways of getting away from that position. Looking forward to being put there again and seeing how it works. I like to video sparring sessions because it is hard to remember exactly what position you were in.
Did a ton of bag work last night. Started off with shadow boxing and hitting the bag. Alternating one round and the other from shadow to the bag. 6x3 minute rounds.
Due to lack of students…WTF and a guy from our fight team was leading the class I joinded in on a bag/kickboxing class. we split it up between “normal” people and the fighters and worked differnt combos. heavy focus on the jab.
From there went into wresting and worked several takedowns and of course some clinch work off the cage. Left a little early last night. Felt pretty drained honetly but I had some business to take care of. Got it done and got some sleep.
He carries his hands way too low, and lets them sag even lower when he’s exchanging. Doesn’t throw anything straight, if you’ll keep a good stiff jab in his face you’ll eat his lunch. Basic boxing fundamentals.
Doesn’t set his kicks up at all. Check them and counter with a right straight, you’ll knock him on his ass. Again, fundamentals.
He carries his hands way too low, and lets them sag even lower when he’s exchanging. Doesn’t throw anything straight, if you’ll keep a good stiff jab in his face you’ll eat his lunch. Basic boxing fundamentals.
Doesn’t set his kicks up at all. Check them and counter with a right straight, you’ll knock him on his ass. Again, fundamentals.
Looks like a real good fight for you, man.[/quote]
I feel like it is a good matchup. I can see the holes. I don’t know how much or what he has changed in his game since then. Not really worried to be honest. The guy he was fighting I went all three rounds with. I think proper footwork and cage awareness will go a long way for me. I will have to feel it out a bit though
I think you’ve got this guy. His striking is poor. He spends too much time with his feet close together, hangs his chin out to dry when he walks into range, and he turns his head away and looks in the wrong direction when he throws a punch. Yet he seems to like a stand up fight. Seems like he would be very vulnerable to someone with good striking, and solid standup fundamentals.
[quote]Ranzo wrote:
Any takeaways from this video?[/quote]
First Thoughts (Yes this is actually my first impression, I know that says nothing good about me.)
61 Seconds of “I Stand Alone”, cuz fuckin Warrior.
1:02-2:07 “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor”, because that is auto-pilot to badass.
I can smell the Axe Body Spray from here.
Second thought
:42 That is some good refereeing right there. He ran between the two fighters like a toddler crossing a street.
Actual takeaways:
I agree with Melvin Smiley and LondonBoxer. This guy’s stand up is well styled to you picking him apart with jabs and angles.
He likes to go straight in and out.
He leans way forward with his punches and keeps his chin up. You have knocked out enough guys to know that if you connect well you will hurt him.
The way he squares up and sort of walks in when he thinks he is connecting well means a double leg or single will be an option for you. Just level change and turn the corner as opposed to trying to do a power/blast double while going backwards like Rowe did at :50.
I think if he doesn’t break himself warming up you have the tools to break him in the ring.
[quote]Ranzo wrote:
Any takeaways from this video?[/quote]
First Thoughts (Yes this is actually my first impression, I know that says nothing good about me.)
61 Seconds of “I Stand Alone”, cuz fuckin Warrior.
1:02-2:07 “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor”, because that is auto-pilot to badass.
I can smell the Axe Body Spray from here.
Second thought
:42 That is some good refereeing right there. He ran between the two fighters like a toddler crossing a street.
Actual takeaways:
I agree with Melvin Smiley and LondonBoxer. This guy’s stand up is well styled to you picking him apart with jabs and angles.
He likes to go straight in and out.
He leans way forward with his punches and keeps his chin up. You have knocked out enough guys to know that if you connect well you will hurt him.
The way he squares up and sort of walks in when he thinks he is connecting well means a double leg or single will be an option for you. Just level change and turn the corner as opposed to trying to do a power/blast double while going backwards like Rowe did at :50.
I think if he doesn’t break himself warming up you have the tools to break him in the ring.
Regards,
Robert A[/quote]
LOL Robert. Thanks for the comments. Your insight is always entertaining and most of the time very helpful.
Yeah I kind of have a plan, but this is the only video I have of dude. This was a year ago and a lot changes in a year. I hope he stands and bangs because he is going to get suprised. I feel good as hell right now. Never fought at 185 but damn I like it so far. I can totally get bigger and do a small cut in the future. I went 5 round last night and worked on tons of stuff. I can see when and where to put my punches and level changes so clear, much clearer than I ever have. I got something to prove.
Wow I don’t think your going to have any problems. The slob has got his hands to low all the time and he is slow. This would be a good fight for your highlite reel. Sit back and use your jab, and hook that guy into the canvas. Jab and then set your feet and counter and get out, you can do that all night long. He may have a good chin so stick with it. This guy cannot hurt you unless you stand still.
[quote]Ranzo wrote:
LOL Robert. Thanks for the comments. Your insight is always entertaining and most of the time very helpful.
[/quote]
I try to earn my keep.
Most of the time I think folks just keep me around because I make them laugh.
As far as your plan goes, lets keep in mind that executing foundational techniques and principles should ALWAYS be the plan. The improvement in your punching, angles, and wrestling means that no matter what kind of “Everybody has a plan 'till they get hit.” kind of game this guy brings you will still be “on” your game. If he wants to make it a brawl, break him with your technique AND your discipline to fight your smartest fight.
Strategic and tactical planning is certainly more difficult when you don’t have a great amount of information about the opposition. If this is the only film, and there are more questions in your mind about him than data points, I suggest concentrating on what you KNOW. You know YOUR strengths. You train hard enough that you know what you do best and should have no doubts about what your “A” game is. You have earned, and continue to earn, that knowledge with every second of every workout. Wield that knowledge like a weapon.
If you do not know where he is weakest, you still know where you are strongest. Plan A is executing your best techniques, in the area you the most excel . Plan B is getting from wherever you are into plan A. If for whatever reason B stalls and you go to C, you still know what techniques, combos, moves, positions, etc. work the best for you and you can give him enough hell to get you into B.
Without even thinking you already know what those plans are. You have worked too fucking hard, for too fucking long, not to. That is real knowledge. When he faces you in the cage he will be facing that knowledge made manifest by YOUR WILL. I don’t envy him the experience.
Thanks for the encouraging words. Thats just what I need. I am focused on Cardio, we all know how it sucks to be gassed and can’t fight. I want to push a pace on this fucker he can’t deal with. Sparred with a long time instructor on Saturday who used to just embarass me and lets just say the tide has turned. Granted he is older now but I have learned so much. This is a guy you are not gonna take head on so I have learned to fight smarter and use combos more. It felt great.
Also ran hill sprints on Sunday in conjuction with a normal 2 mile run. Hammies are sore but no problem. Going in tonight for some hard training and then pretty much cardio/conditioning the rest of the week with light sparring.
