Issue 088
November -0001
We asked four different figures from the MMA world their opinions on the pressing matters of the moment
The Fighters
Q1. Nate Diaz and Jim Miller collide on UFC on Fox 3 in New Jersey. Do you believe the winner deserves the next shot at the UFC lightweight title?
Anthony Pettis
It would be a long time before Nate or Jim would be ready to fight for the title. Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson just fought on the same card me and Joe Lauzon did, and we’ll both be ready to fight sooner than Nate or Jim.
Mark Hunt
I honestly haven’t really watched either of them fight too much, but I think so. People seem to think they deserve it.
Ryan Bader
Both those boys have been tearing through that division and both looked good in their last fights. That’s a great fight for the fans, especially to put on Fox. There’s going to be a lot of fireworks in that fight.
Joe Lauzon
The winner of Nate Diaz and Jim Miller is going to get a title shot, but I don’t believe it’s going to be the next one.
Q2. Former college wrestling stars Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks meet in May. Do you see this fight playing out like a grappling match?
Anthony Pettis
No. I think they’re going to throw down. Hendricks has some power in his hands, especially that left hand, and Koscheck has great striking. It’s going to be a throwdown fight.
Mark Hunt
No, they’ll punch it out. I’ve watched Koscheck several times, and I know he likes to strike more than wrestle.
Ryan Bader
They’re going to end up slugging it out. Sometimes, you have those wrestlers that neutralize each other, and they end up just going at it. They’re both very decorated wrestlers, and both have heavy hands and have been duking it out.
Joe Lauzon
It never fails, when you have two wrestlers fight, they have a kickboxing match. When you have two boxers, they have a wrestling match. I’m going with a kickboxing/boxing match.
Q3. With only one judges’ decision required in a combined 31 fights, is it a case of who lands first between heavyweights Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson?
Anthony Pettis
Pat Barry has a lot more skill. Pat’s been around striking his whole life, so he definitely has an edge in the stand-up, and he’s smart enough to pull it off.
Mark Hunt
I think so – and I’ve got to go with Pat Barry.
Ryan Bader
I believe so. Two big heavyweights that are that skilled... They’re just going to go at it until one of them drops.
Joe Lauzon
Someone’s going to land, and someone’s going to go down.
Q4. After another monumental card occurred recently, this time in Japan. What country would you like to see the UFC invade next and why?
Anthony Pettis
I want the UFC to go to Puerto Rico. It’s been a long time since they’ve been there, and it would be awesome for the fans.
Mark Hunt
New Zealand. That’s where I’m from, originally, and it would be great to have a UFC down there. There’s heaps of MMA fans there.
Ryan Bader
I haven’t spent much time in Europe, so I’d like to fight over there. And as long as you’re there, you might as well stay a few extra days and check some other stuff out.
Joe Lauzon
I’m always looking for the UFC to come back to Boston, so that’s always my number one. But Australia was great. I don’t know... Maybe Egypt or something crazy like that.
Q5. In this issue, we question the logic of hard sparring outside of fight camp, how much of your sparring is full-contact?
Anthony Pettis
I spar a lot full-contact. We’re not trying to kill each other. If the first time you get a hard punch thrown at you is in the fight, you’re going to shrink up a little bit. You’ve got to feel that heat coming at you in practice so you’re ready for it.
Mark Hunt
When I’m not in training camp, I go once or twice a week, helping my other partners out. We wear headgear, shinpads, bigger gloves, and we know how to keep our partner safe. It’s about doing it the right way.
Ryan Bader
When I’m not in training camp, I go once or twice a week, helping my other partners out. We wear headgear, shinpads, bigger gloves, and we know how to keep our partner safe. It’s about doing it the right way.
Joe Lauzon
I always wear headgear whenever we do anything more than 20%. I never, ever do real hard sparring unless I, or one of my guys, is getting ready for a fight. Getting hit in the head doesn’t make you tougher or better. It just makes you dumber.
