Issue 112
November -0001
We asked four different figures from the MMA universe their opinions on the pressing matters of the moment
The Fighters
Q1. Johny Hendricks takes on Robbie Lawler for the vacant welterweight strap at UFC 171. Who will win?
Andrew Craig
“That fight is so badass, so it’s really hard to call. However, I’ve been a Lawler fan for quite a while and he’s looked so good in his last couple of fights. If I had to pick someone, it would be Lawler.”
Michael Chiesa
“This is a really interesting fight because not only are both guys exciting on the feet, you also have that X-factor of Johny being a great wrestler and Robbie spending so much time with the likes of Matt Hughes in his career. But I’ll have to go with Lawler.”
Sean Spencer
“I’ve been following both fighters for quite some time and I’m a big fan of both. Although Robbie has been around for a long time, I’m going with Johny. I’ve trained with Johny and I see him winning that fight 100%.”
Luke Barnatt
“I’m a fan of Lawler, but Hendricks has incredible strength and wrestling. However, if he stands and bangs with Robbie he’s in trouble. I’m swaying towards Hendricks, but I could change my mind come the weigh-in.”
Q2. GSP has recently voiced his displeasure at the state of drug testing in MMA and he’s even hinted it’s partly the reason he’s taking a break. What needs to be done to catch the cheaters?
Andrew Craig
“I don’t know. I believe I’ve been tested for every fight I’ve been in since I joined the UFC. However, there are ways around the testing that some fighters are using. You’d need to test everyone on every card, but that costs a lot of money.”
Michael Chiesa
“It’s a bold statement from GSP. He’s very intelligent, but in my opinion it’s not the UFC’s job to supply the drug testing and do all these things; it’s up to the athletic commission. Drug testing is expensive and they’re paying for everything already.”
Sean Spencer
“People will do what they want to. I think you need to test people more randomly, but I know it’s expensive, and a lot of people don’t think about that. It’s a touchy subject and I’m not sure if I have the solution.”
Luke Barnatt
“There are always going to be cheaters. The Olympics has fantastic drug testing, yet people still find a way around it. I just concentrate on my job and I feel if I do everything I can do, let them cheat and see if they can beat me!”
Q3. We have a feature in this issue where we talk about body shots and how they’re underutilized in MMA. Are they something you’ve looked to add to your skill-set?
Andrew Craig
“I went to a Glory event last year and I saw Nieky Holzken who’s a master at the body shot. I was once actually told by Luke Barnatt that I hurt him badly with a liver shot, so it’s definitely something I’m working on.”
Michael Chiesa
“I’ve definitely tried to incorporate more body shots. When you damage the body, opponents open up more. Plus, when you get knocked out with a head shot, it isn’t even half as bad compared to when you get knocked out from a body shot.”
Sean Spencer
“I’d like to see more body shots, more knees to the body and more spinning back-elbow attacks. I want to see more front elbows, spinning back-kicks, stuff like that. Many fighters use them, but not as much as they could.”
Luke Barnatt
“When I was on TUF, I had this talk with Mike Tyson. And yesterday I was working purely body shots with my boxing coach! They are destructive but need good technique to pull them off. But I work on everything.”
Q4. Keith Kizer has resigned from his post as head of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. If you were offered the job, what would you do differently?
Andrew Craig
“I honestly have no idea what goes on with the athletic commissions (laughs). I’m so naïve and in the dark about how they function and what they actually do that I’d probably do a worse job than Kizer ever did.”
Michael Chiesa
“I’d do something about the judges. I’d rather fight a Brazilian in Brazil than fight anybody in Las Vegas. The state of judging right now is absurd. Look at the Johny Hendricks-GSP fight, that was a terrible decision. It’s become scary to fight in Vegas.”
Sean Spencer
“I’d definitely do something about the judging system. I’d want judges to have an MMA background. I don’t know where they’re getting some of these judges from. Some of them seem like they’re judging things randomly.”
Luke Barnatt
“Make the people who judge fights more attractive, and maybe put an age limit on them so they have to be younger than 45 because most of them are over 80, can’t see right and appear to have problems with arithmetic.”
Q5. After he was stripped of his UFC title due to another injury, will Dominick Cruz ever become the UFC bantamweight champion again?
Andrew Craig
“No. He’ll have success in the fight game still, because he’s a great fighter, but I don’t think he’ll be able to regain the strap from either Faber or Barao, which is really unfortunate.”
Michael Chiesa
“Some people say he’s genetically frail, but he’s just worked his body too hard. A lot of people are counting him out, but you shouldn’t. I think he’d defeat Renan Barao, but I don’t think he’d take the title from Faber.”
Sean Spencer
“He’s lost nearly two and a half years of his career due to injury. He’s still young at 28 so he could still come back and win the title, but he’s going to have to fight one or two more times before then.”
Luke Barnatt
“It’s sad when you hear about any fighter getting injured, but for Cruz it was terrible timing. It will take amazing will and dedication for him to get back into title contention. I look forward to seeing him try.”
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