Outlook for 2008 MMA / Poker

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Fox . Jan 01 2008 09:08. Posts 3110

Some goals that i've set for myself in 2008 especially for MMA.

I'm looking to make a major push by summer/fall. I'd really like to get a few fights in and then see about applying for a spot on the ultimate fighter. This is gonna be tough because I work a normal job (a really good/fun one) and I hope they would let me take leave for about 1-2 months without quitting.

Right now one thing that i'm working on is what weight class do i want to shoot for. I'm changing my diet around and i've stopped lifting weights and i'm working on just cardio/technique/sparring see where my body takes it. Currently i'm 6'3" and about 225-235 (i was about 235-245 months ago) When i was playing college basketball i was about 205 but i bulked up in muscle/extra fat. I'm still a fit guy but i'm just more broad I want to be more quick like i was in basketball days. I'd like to cut most of my fat down to more of a 5-9% level and reduce my muscle mass slightly.

I'd like to fight at 185 and be okami (his style is so me) but if i can't make 185 i'll bulk up for 205 and cut from like 225-230. I'm taller and about the same size as rampage/chuck right now. I don't mind fighting at 205 but 185 sound so appealing if i can cut it perfectly from 205-210. In any case I should be in a few grappling tournaments in the upcoming months then have a fight soon after. It's hilarious how much training/diet/etc matters more then fighting. I mean i knew it did back in the day but the more I get into mma it's all about the training. While my gym isn't anything huge I do live in colorado which is about 6 hours from New Mexico where Greg Jackson's camp is. I've visited them a few times and a dream would be after getting on TuF and doing well to go down there and train with them full time.

Of course poker fits into this equation somewhat. I'd like to do poker on the side to sustain me financially while i do MMA. So many thing to do and I can't get them going any faster. I still have major holes when i'm on my back so that's one facet i'm looking to improve on. I also have holes in my poker game. Thankfully i have people on both mma/poker who are willing/able to help train me to improve.

So far so good i'm looking to purchase a bike this upcoming month for cardio when it's like super cold outside. I have a treadmill but it's far too loud and i can't watch motivational videos like ufc/pride/ANIME while I train. Wife also trains I dunno if i have mentioned that so we are both looking to pool together to get a heavy bag for both of us.

Some serious thoughts on the upcoming bouts we have. Joe vs BJ and Dan vs Anderson. Joe vs BJ is gonna be so insane. Does BJ take Joe seriously? Joe has some serious power and will. I don't know if he's a cardio freak for 5 rounds but i can tell you now his cardio is better then what BJ has shown. IN skill and technique obviously i give BJ the nod but Joe is not a slouch his ground especially top position is wicked good. I really look this fight to be a war and i'm actually gonna pick that Joe can pull an upset in a decision. I think his power and skill can weather BJ for the few rounds and when BJ slows down he can continue to get top position to get a victory. Honestly though BJ submitting him in the 1st/2nd round is possible. But i do think a lot of people are already giving BJ the title and man it's not gonna be easy.

As for Dan vs Anderson I do think that this is a very very hard matchup for Dan. A long guy who has great accurate lengthy strikes. Yeah Silva likes to MT it up which plays into Dans' Grecco but why bother when you can just hit him with meteors from far away? The way Anderson handled Marquardt and Rich franklin (who are both powerful guys) I hope Dan's FAR FAR better then them.. but at 185 he hasn't really shown us dominance. However! never seen dan lose to strikes ever (submission sure) so in a 5 round fight.. very curious what's gonna happen as the fight goes on and people get tired atheltic sprawls aren't as ez to come by. I don't see how dan wins this, but i don't see how anderson finishes Dan. So Anderson by decision?

0 votes

Last edit: 01/01/2008 09:12

nicksson Sweden. Jan 01 2008 09:43. Posts 4662

Would be really cool if you could get into Tuf, have you fought any MMA fights before?

Fox . Jan 01 2008 09:57. Posts 3110

On January 01 2008 08:43 nicksson wrote:
Would be really cool if you could get into Tuf, have you fought any MMA fights before?

0 mma fights. I need more training before i can get a fight. I just want to be prepared you'll have guys who are brown belts in BJJ in these local tournaments. I'm not even a blue belt. But i have really good hands and good wrestling. That's why i'm doing a grappling tournament first. Low impact and gives you at least an idea of where you're at.

nicksson Sweden. Jan 01 2008 10:02. Posts 4662

good thinking, and good luck

72o Brasil. Jan 20 2008 12:17. Posts 90

so, you are white belt in bjj? I'm a blue belt from 2 years training(with pauses) jj lol

I will be a purple belt by the end of 2008, I think...

7-2o is my favourite hand.. I Never lost an all in pre flop when the other guy had 7-2o,

Fox . Jan 20 2008 12:44. Posts 3110

yeah still white, i do a lot of no gi work and learning wrestling/clinch just a lot of things including bjj.