Feb 2, 2010 - 5:09:49 PM By Chris Park, MMATorch UK Specialist
As another week goes by in the world of Mixed Martial Arts another Welterweight fighter jumps on the case of number one contender Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy.
Josh Koscheck claiming that Hardy had not faced anyone (a mere seven days after "The Outlaw" took out his team mate) left several people scratching their heads. However, this weeks, is probably the most bizarre of them all.
Mike "Quick" Swick, who really should only be thinking of Paulo Thiago, has stated that Hardy should not be facing champion George St Pierre: "I defiantly don't think he deserves it. I think there's a few people that deserve a title shot sooner than he would."
Swick went onto say (in a conversation posted by Sergio Non) "I think I win Nine of Ten fights (with Hardy) I don't like losing and I want to avenge that loss."
Mike Swick needs to be very careful that he doesn't end up in the same pen as Marcus Davis. Davis became so obsessed and angered by Hardy that he didn't perform properly on the night. Some may say Hardy may have left a long term effect that Davis took into the Octagon with him against Ben Saunders. A fight that handed him his first knockout defeat.
Thiago has already knocked out Koscheck and after losing a decision to John Fitch will be looking to tip a 2-1 balance against AKK fighters.
Regardless of the outcome on March 27 we will have some amazing fights to look forward to at 170. If Mike Swick does want to face Hardy again anytime soon then he will need to put together a two or three fight win streak at least. Beginning with Thiago on Saturday.
TUF TALKING
I visited the Leicester Shootfighters this week and was simply amazed at the amount of people who had turned up for the MMA class. The hall was literally packed with men and women looking to learn more about MMA.
Two gents, who gave some of their time to talk to MMATorch, were "Slick" Nick Osipczak and Dean Amasinger from Team UK of The Ultimate Fighter.
CHRIS: Evening fellas thanks so much for talking to MMATorch – Getting the experience and exposure from TUF is something very few people are lucky to have. How have things been for you both since the show?
DEAN: Things have been going really well. Unfortunately I didn't make it to the semi finals so I didn't get a UFC contract. I have since gone to the international MMA circuit and had two fights since I left the show and finished both opponents in the first round. I have a title fight this Saturday (Feb 6) for the UCMMA Welterweight title against Alberto Mina.
CHRIS: So this is your first big step towards working back to a UFC contract?
DEAN: Yeah. UFC would be great but there is something from Japan on the cards at the minute.
CHRIS: So you have taken alot of positives from the show?
DEAN: Massively; it enabled me to be a full time professional fighter. With the exposure and the amount of sponsorship I have had, I'm able to do this full time. It's what you need to be doing to make you better and both physically and mentally stronger.
CHRIS: So Nick when did you join the rest of the Rough House lads?
NICK: From when we got back from the show so February. I did all my training here for the finale and then for my fight at 105
CHRIS: Defeating Matt Riddle was a great victory for you. You must have been very happy with your performance.
NICK: Yeah I was over the moon to start with a win.
CHRIS: Any idea who you will be facing next?
NICK: Should find out soon. It could be anyone really.
CHRIS: I noticed you were cornering Paul at New Year Dean, is it good to have the contact there with the UFC. Just to keep your foot in the door?
DEAN: Yeah I corner Paul, Nick and Ross so I regularly see people and last time I was there I had just won my last fight so when I saw them I just said "hey I won again".
CHRIS: Brad Pickett told me he used to go over to corner Mike Brown and he would always be dropping into the big wigs that he had just won the weekend before. It keeps you in their minds.
NICK: I saw his fight in December. Really slick finish.
DEAN: Yeah, very impressive. I have watched him since Cage Rage, great fighter.
NICK: He's dropped down now I heard is that because of Mike Brown?
CHRIS: When Brad signed to the WEC Mike was the champion. The WEC wouldn't sign anyone unless it was to make a run at the title so all concerned decided the drop to 35 was the ideal move. Mike held the title and they were best friends.
DEAN: He was quite small for the weight so that's probably good for him.
CHRIS: If his debut is anything to go by it is. One thing I wanted to ask which would be more relative to you Nick. Do you think we should be having "Fight Nights" here now in the UK? Maybe 2 or 3 a year.
NICK: How do you mean? So that we would get on a main card?
CHRIS: I suppose for you it makes no difference as the fight is taking place regardless of coverage. For UK fans though; they want to see you, Ross and Andre on TV. After watching you all on the show you have a following who want to see you compete.
NICK: Yeah I see what you mean it's a good idea maybe two UFC's and two Fight Nights a year.
CHRIS: Nottingham arena? It is maybe too small for a main show but for a fight night could be ideal.
DEAN: I have heard they have booked the Arena for 2 dates but whether they use them or not is a different matter but I think it would work there really well.
CHRIS: Do you want to fight on an American card?
NICK: I would rather fight in Abu Dhabi than in the states. I'd rather fight in London than anywhere else purely because of convenience. I would like to fight in the States again eventually.
CHRIS: I don't really want to talk about Celebrity Big Brother; but it must be satisfying for you that you were the one to eliminate Alex Reid from the TUF prelims
DEAN: Alot of people dislike him and thank me for beating him but it's as if that's my biggest achievement and it's not.
CHRIS: I don't think it should overshadow your achievements it's just good that you got that win in hindsight.
NICK: Probably would have been better if you had finished him.
CHRIS: He was never trying to defeat you was he? He was just trying to....
DEAN: ....To survive, yeah.
CHRIS: For your second fight Dean - There was a bit of a mix up with Bispings no show. Do you think that was the main factor in you losing that fight?
DEAN: At the end of the day I'm the one fighting and I learned alot about myself after I left the house. It disrupted me but it shouldn't have. I should have had the mental strength to get on with it.
CHRIS: From a viewer perspective it was hard to watch at times as every time the door went you expected it to be him to come in late and it would have been good for your moral to have seen him in time.
DEAN: Yeah, there were two fights before me and I saw how great he was and I was really looking forward to it. It was just one of those things. It wasn't deliberate so there are no hard feelings
CHRIS: So you quickly put it all behind you?
DEAN: Oh yeah completely. He was jet lagged he wasn't feeling great so he took some sleeping pills to sort himself and ended up crashing out.
CHRIS: It was really bad to watch as you probably came over as the nicest bloke on the show and for that axe to fall on you was bit rubbish.
DEAN: Yeah a few people have said to me I don't like Bisping now because of what he did to you. I'm not one to hold a grudge. It was a mistake and I have taken many positives from the whole experience. My time will come 2010 is gonna be a big year for me
CHRIS: Starting this weekend!
DEAN: Right
CHRIS: Nick in your preliminary fight you fought southpaw. Was that purposely so you could throw them off?
NICK: That was basically the original plan. My opponent wasn't used to fighting south paw.
CHRIS: Oh so the fact Henderson and Franklin were watching was secondary?
NICK: Yeah, at that point but then when I fought the second fight I used the fact I went south paw to throw them all off.
CHRIS: Yeah you saw in Hendersons face when he realised. They had done all that training for a south paw then did you switch stance in the Octagon?
NICK: Yeah, even at the weigh ins I stood south paw.
CHRIS: Genius and it was great TV.
NICK: After the fight he said it threw him off.
CHRIS: When are you looking to fight next Nick?
NICK: Well ideally I would like to fight in April to be honest.
CHRIS: Do you just keep yourself at a certain level of fitness all year round?
NICK: Yeah that's right, Just tick over work on my skill set and then eight weeks out get in there and spar.
CHRIS: So after the show and Team UK's dominance at the finale, it was Bisping vs. Hendo at 100. How did you feel when you saw him go out?
NICK: Gutted! Obviously. I didn't expect him to lose like that. Was very hard to watch.
DEAN: The way he came back though against Kang was great. A real fighters comeback. The pressure he was under for that Kang fight was unreal. Kang is a tough, tough guy. He was knocked down but he came back so well.
CHRIS: It was a very impressive performance. Best of his career so far I would say. Your all still in contact?
DEAN: We're all mates. We all got on really well and we have all trained together since
CHRIS: He seemed to be such a great coach for you guys.
NICK: Yeah he led by example.
DEAN: Yeah we all sparred with him and he beat us all up.
CHRIS: How do you see the Wanderlei fight going?
DEAN: I see Mike taking a decision. I think Wanderlei is tough to finish.
CHRIS: The weight cut may hurt him. Never really had to cut weight and Mike has such a great cardio.
NICK: Wanderlei has a great cardio too.
CHRIS: Have you seen the All Access special with the snorkel?
NICK: YES! Mixed reviews on whether that's good for you or not.
CHRIS: I won't be trying it any time soon. Thanks for talking to me lads. Dean let's talk again next week once you have won your title.
(Dean Amasinger and Nick Osipczak were speaking exclusively to MMATorch UK Specialist, Chris Park)
UK MMA LEAGUE OF FIGHTERS
For the last two weeks MMATorch readers have been voting for their top five UK MMA fighters. The whole purpose of this exercise was to firstly see who is up there now. Also to repeat this on a quarterly basis to see how the rankings change based upon good/bad performances as well as seeing if new fighters can break in.
The scoring system was simple. Everyone voted 1-5 with first place receiving 5pts second place 4pts and so one. Majority of the votes received starred the same top five almost all had at least four members of the final line up and that line up is:
1 – DAN "THE OUTLAW" HARDY = 512 PTS
2 – PAUL "SEMTEX" DALEY = 387 PTS
3 – MICHAEL "THE COUNT" BISPING = 356 PTS
4 – ROSS "REAL DEAL" PEARSON = 227 PTS
5 – TERRY ETIM = 207 PTS
= ANDRE WINNER = 49 PTS
= JIMMY WALLHEAD = 24 PTS
Others who scored five points or more (in order) were: Osipczak, Kelly, Reid, Pickett, Hathaway, Freeman, Sass, Wilks and Taylor.
From all of the readers who voted 46 picked the five fighters who occupied the table. Unbelievably only ONE person picked the top five in its exact order.
That person is Sam Dixon from Essex. Sam has been an MMA fan for roughly five years and has been training in MMA for the last twelve months. Sam specialises in Jui Jitsu and Boxing and quite clearly knows his stuff. Well done Sam.
I am flabbergasted that only one person got this exactly. Join me again in April for a recount to see how things may change over the coming months.
OTHER NEWS IN BRIEF
-Leicester Shootfighters are to present a seminar on February 7 with Andre Winner and Ross Pearson. Fans will have the opportunity to meet the TUF stars as well as learning techniques and training methods that the UFC Lightweight contenders apply to their game.
-UK MMA legends Mark Weir and Mark Epstein will go toe to toe this Saturday on the undercard to Dean Amasinger vs. Alberto Mina at London's Troxy.
-British Heavyweight Mostapha Al Turk may not be facing Rolles Gracie this weekend after all. Al Turk may have to withdraw over Visa issues. The UFC have hinted that Gracie may well remain on the card with Joey Beltran on hand to step in.
-Strikeforce: Miami was aired in the UK, once again via tape delay last Sunday on Bravo. Fedor vs. Rogers was assumed as a one off but with this event finding the same listing slot it's conceivable that this will be an ongoing thing. – Good times.
-James Wilks looks set for an Octagon return at UFC 115. Wilks was defeated in his (Non TUF) UFC debut by Matt Brown and will look to bounce back in style against Peter Sobotta.
Good luck to Dean Amasinger who will challenge for the UCMMA title this weekend. I shall be catching up with him after his fight. Well done to Sam Dixon; the only person to predict the UK MMA League of fighters exactly. Until next time...
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Chris Park is the MMATorch UK Specialist. Please email any comments to Chris at mmatorchpark@gmail.com or look us up at http://www.facebook.com/mmatorchuk, our new MMATorch Facebook home for UK fans!
I can't believe Andre Winner wasn't higher rated. He is by far the most
technical striker in the Lightweight division and was outstanding in the
Tuf house. The "loss" to pearson was incredibly close and after a serious
bout of food poisoning. Winner will shock you all, keep your eyes on him.
Glad to see Wallhead in there though, he's a beast!
