Sedan tungviktaren Sean ”Big Sexy” McCorkle släpptes från UFC efter två raka förluster hade han på mindre än ett år radat upp sex raka vinster. I helgen var det dags för den sjunde matchen på Worldwide Mixed Martial Arts (WMMA) mot Brian Heden.
I andra ronden förlorade McCorkle via teknisk knockout efter att ha fått motta flera sparkar under matchen. Men det var McCorkle bristande ork som var den största boven i dramat.
”I was going to respond earlier than this, but I first wanted to get the chance to watch my fight from last night in order to verify that I looked as bad as I thought I did. So I just got the chance to watch it, and I didn’t look nearly as bad as I thought. I looked worse. Way, way, worse. I don’t know what the hell that shit was supposed to be, nor do I have any explanation, excuses, theories or anything else. I can promise all you guys, my fans and haters alike, that the next time you see me embarrass myself in an MMA cage, will be the last time. I embarrassed myself in the Struve fight so badly that I thought I could never top it. Last night was worse times ten. I have absolutely no explanation for my cardio problems. I don’t know if it’s a physical problem, psychological problem, a diet or a training problem. I do know that I have struggled with cardiovascular endurance my entire athletic career. Even during high school basketball. I can’t figure it out. I was coming off back to back training camps when I fought Stefan Struve that had lasted a literal 23 weeks. That’s almost 6 months straight 6 days a week of intense cardiovascular training. And I gassed in 90 seconds. All of that said, I will admit 100% like an idiot, despite Tom Erikson’s constant pleading to me to never take any fight for granted, I underestimated Brian Heden. I watched 2 of his fights, looked at who he’d fought and beat/lost to and thought ’If I couldn’t beat this guy while I was drunk, I need to quit fighting.’ And I couldn’t beat him sober. I came in about 20 lbs heavier than I should have. I resorted to throwing hay makers 2 minutes in, because I was worried about how it would look if I didn’t finish him in the first round. I was completely spent halfway through the first. I’m not going to be like everyone else and make excuses. I have none. All due respect to Brian because he showed up in decent shape, and showed a lot of balls hanging in there when the going got rough in the first round, but he’s not on my level, skill wise, athletically, or any other area of MMA except cardio. It doesn’t matter how nice or fast your car is, if there’s no gas in the tank. The next time I gas in a fight and lose because of it, I will retire. End of story. I will not continue to embarrass myself, my family, my coaches, my training partners, or the promotion that is paying me to fight ever again.”, skriver McCorkle på forumet Underground.
Självkritik är bra så länge det inte lir självdestruktivt och om det blir pension eller framgång i fortsättningen för den annars humoristiske McCrokle får framtiden utvisa.
