Issue 096
December 2012
Being 9-1 at just 25 years old with a dynamic submission and wrestling attack, Orlando prospect and Cage Warriors featherweight Jim ‘The Beast’ Alers is waiting for that UFC call
You’re known for your deadly submissions primarily, but a lot of people overlook your wrestling. Which came first on your path into mixed martial arts?
“I wrestled in high school and we always messed around with it, but after that I thought I was done with competing. Then I found jiu-jitsu. My wife now, who was my girlfriend then, said that I was always at the gym so why didn’t I fight? I thought that I didn’t really want to somehow but she said, ‘Well, you spend all this time training, you better fight!’”
Would you consider wrestling your base then?
“At first I guess I would have done, but now I’ve been doing jiu-jitsu a lot longer than I’ve been doing wrestling so I’d say jiu-jitsu right now.”
That would explain all the submission wins on your record. Did a win in your debut by sub really set the standard?
“Yeah that was for Cage Warriors USA and I won by triangle choke in the first round. But I look back on that fight now and can’t believe it was me. I got mount position and got bucked off really easily and I think I threw one punch that whole fight.”
So what do you think you’ve learned the most then since your career began?
“I’ve learned to control that adrenaline you get, and to fight a lot smarter because of it. You can’t be going too crazy in there, but you only learn that with time.”
At 9-1 you’re undoubtedly at a very strong point in your career at the minute. Where do you go from here?
“Of course I want to fight on the biggest show of them all. I’m 9-1 right now with all my wins coming via finish so I really want the opportunity to show what I can do. I’m waiting for that call for sure.”
What do you do outside of competition? How do you spend your time?
“I teach at the gym at the minute. I got my degree in elementary education and I’ve grown a class of two to a class of 40 in our kids program at Alliance Orlando. Right now I really enjoy doing that and I’ve got a great opportunity to teach there.”
Teaching is something you’ve got a big passion for then clearly.
“Yes, it’s definitely something I know I want to do after I’ve stopped competing. I hope I can give to underprivileged kids and maybe open up a gym they can come and train at for free. Being at the gym is in my blood. I’m there from 5:45am to 9pm at night training with some of the best in the world. I want to give as much back to other people as training has given me.”
