Issue 067
November 2010
STATISTICS
Name: John Hathaway
Age: 23
Height: 6’2”
Category: Welterweight
Record: 14-0-0; 5 (T)KOs (35.71%); 4 Submissions (28.57%); 5 Decisions (35.71%)
Fighting style: All-rounder
Fights out of: Brighton, England
Active since: 2006
The rise of John ‘The Hitman’ Hathaway, via the immense challenge of Diego Sanchez, is widely acknowledged. His May-time UFC 114 licking of The Ultimate Fighter 1 winner exposed the British welterweight to the MMA world. As a result he sits atop up-and-comer lists across the blogosphere.
The 23-year-old’s well-roundedness pulled him through previous bouts against the wrestling-based Rick Story at UFC 99, and against stand-up specialist Paul Taylor at UFC 105, and he showed improvement on each occasion. In all instances, the London Shootfighters product took the fight to the area of his opponent’s weakness and dominated for the win. He attributes this chameleon-like approach to his even-weighted training regime and that he “came into the sport as a blank canvas.”
Once a promising rugby player, John Hathaway has some of the strongest wrestling among the British UFC contingent and has supplemented his training with trips to 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and American Top Team in his four-year MMA career. During his time in the UFC, Hathaway’s striking has improved immeasurably. Though he attacked Rick Story with single strike-attempts, it was his smart and measured combinations against Diego Sanchez that helped see his arm raised. Consistently, however, Hathaway’s ground ‘n’ pound has been at the forefront of all his fights, and the Brighton boy has admitted that he often favors that route over submission opportunities – an area in which he is capable though unproven.
Being at a young age, there are skill-based gains still to be made but Hathaway also feels like he’s due some physical benefits too. “I’m 23 so I’m just finding my strength and finding the techniques and style that work for me.”
Adaptability
Though Hathaway may be undefeated he has found himself in a handful of precarious situations during his UFC tenure. Rick Story threatened him with submissions and sweeps from all positions in their UFC 99 clash but the Brit was able to adjust and avoid or negate the danger each time. The Hitman’s ability to do so is born out of his well-rounded base.
Elbows
Ground ‘n’ pound has been a constant throughout each of Hathaway’s UFC encounters, whether standing or seated inside the guard. From either position he likes to attack his fellow competitor with heavy elbows in order to grind them down. He’s also keen on using elbows inside the clinch, however even splitting Rick Story open with a glancing blow toward the end of their bout.
Reach
Hathaway isn’t the world’s tallest welterweight, at 6’2”, but his 75.5” reach is long enough to give the majority of his potential opponents trouble. It was his reach advantage over Sanchez that allowed him to land damaging shots consistently over the 15 minutes, and helped find a home for the straight right that became so troublesome for the American in the third stanza.
CAREER SNAPSHOT
2006
Debuts in June and takes two more fights before the year’s end. Hathaway ends all three inside the distance.
2008
Beats hardy British mainstay Jack Mason on the final Cage Rage card, overwhelming him with punches before the end of the first. Hathaway’s win catches the eye of the UFC.
2009
Hathaway makes his UFC debut in Dublin by working over local boy Tom Egan within five minutes. He goes on to decision Rick Story and fellow-Brit Paul Taylor at UFC 99 and 105 respectively.
2010
Goes in a heavy underdog against Diego Sanchez at UFC 114 but astounds everyone by dominating the former lightweight contender throughout. The win declares The Hitman as a welterweight force.
