James Head har gått från mellanvikt till weltervikt sen han förlorade i sin UFC-debut. Head kommer från Oklahoma och den 14 april kommer han för första gången till Sverige och ska gå match mot Papy Abedi under UFC: Sweden. Både Head och Abedi kommer från submission-förluster och matchen kommer bli tuff. James Head pratar om matchen i en intervju med bloodyelbow.
– I’ve watched his last fight a few times. I thought he looked good. He’s a pretty big, strong guy for a 170 pounds, and he matched up well with Thiago (Alves). I do think that the way his stand-up was going, it was just a matter of time before Thiago caught him, and that’s what happened. There’s definitely holes in his game that were exploited, and I feel like I have the tools to exploit them in our fight. We really didn’t have a chance to see what he had on the ground, because he was out when Thiago pounced on him, and never really regained himself.
–As far as my last fight, I think that I let the fight be bigger than what it really was. You hear Joe Rogan talk about octagon jitters, and I used to say it was bullsh*t. All of us fighters have fought in main events leading up to being signed by the UFC, but you get under those bright lights, and it’s a little bit different. I just let the fight be bigger than it was, but I feel like this time is definitely going to be different. I’m going to go out there, and it’s going to be a dogfight. Papy and I match up very well. He’s a big, strong guy, dropping from 185 to 170, and I’m doing the same. My weight cut is going great. Never felt better. Never been stronger. I’m really looking forward to getting in there and mixing it up.
Fokuserar på matchen mot Papy Abedi
Head säger att han har en extrem vinnarskalle och han skyller det på att hans pappa alltid lät han vinna och alltid slog vad. Head skulle väldigt gärna gå matcher mot de han förlorat mot igen och han tror på vinst mot både Jesse Forbes och Nick Ring om de hade möts en gång till. Men han är väldigt noga med att han fokuserar på matchen mot Abedi nu.
– I would love to fight those guys again. I would love to get in the cage with Jesse Forbes again. I’d love to go back on the big stage with Nick Ring again. I think that I would win the second time around. At the same token, I know that my opponent right now is Papy Abedi, and I’m focused on him. I hate to lose, and I don’t plan on it.
Head har studerat Abedi noga och är redo för allt han kan tänkas hitta på. Han har inte hittat någon som liknar Abedi i stil men Head tror att han kommer plocka honom för att han är van att slåss mot liknande fighters. Såhär sa han om Abedis styrkor och svagheter:
– He definitely shows strength in the clinch. Being that he has that judo background, and even in there against somebody as big and strong as Thiago, there were times in the clinch when he looked really strong. His control was very good there. Him being a southpaw might cause some problems for some guys, but I’ve fought a lot of southpaws, including Nick Ring and Jesse Forbes. That’s not such a problem for me. I feel that I match up well with him on the feet, and my boxing background is going to pose a problem for him. On the ground, I’m training with some of the best guys in the entire world. I feel comfortable anywhere the fight goes.
– I haven’t brought anyone in, specifically. There are several southpaws that I’ve already been training with, as far as the stand-up goes. To simulate his clinch work, Brian Picklo, who was an Olympic alternate in judo, I’ve been working with him. He’s also a Big 12 national champion in wrestling at Michigan State, so as far as judo and clinch work goes, I don’t feel that there’s anybody out there better to train with than him.
Lugn viktnedgång till ny viktklass
För sex veckor sedan började Head sin viktnedgång. Han tog kontakt med en dietist och ville se till att allt gick ordentligt till och inte för fort. Head har inte mycket till övers för det traditionella sättet att gå ner innan match där man tappar mycket vätska veckan innan match. Men han har hittat något som fungerar för honom.
I sought out the advice of a dietician. That’s what many athletes do, from Olympic wrestlers to everyone else. I started my weight cut about six weeks ago. As soon as I got the call, I talked about it with my management, because we wanted to make sure we were prepared. I’m not doing a crash diet like a lot of these guys that you’ll see get on the scale, and be completely drawn out. I want to do this scientifically. I think some of these guys just lose too much too fast, and it’s hard to replenish. I’ve already made a test run, got down, rehydrated. We even simulated a fight, and I felt great. I’m excited to be fighting at welterweight, and I think I’m going to be able to big things in this division. The great thing is that my dietician and my strength and conditioning coach are working hand in hand. Coming from my background, I still work as an engineer full time, so math and science, and just doing things scientifically has always been important to me. I approach fighting the same way I do everything else. I think that you have to seek out the best people in every aspect. I can do all the research in the world I want, but when you seek out a professional, like a dietician, and you follow their plans and recommendations to a tee, it works. It’s proven it’s worth. I feel great. I definitely think that seeking out someone that has the experience is a big factor in competing.
Resan till Sverige kommer inte enbart vara jobb. Head kommer hit måndagen innan match, för att UFC vill ha alla fighters på plats och när matchen är klar stannar han en vecka för att se vad Sverige kan erbjuda.
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