Issue 166
Legendary cutman Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran recalls a night to remember in San Jose, California.
At each event, I have had the privilege of experiencing many exciting moments with the fans, trainers and fighters. The Strikeforce show in San Jose, California, back in May 2012 was both exciting and bitter sweet.
The main event featured my friend and world class fighter Josh Barnett against Daniel Cormier. The co-main event also had two local Bay Area favorites, Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thompson, who had already fought twice in the Strikeforce cage for a ridiculous 50 minutes of action (two close decisions).
Many factors helped make this show a special moment for me. It was a homecoming of sorts. I lived in the Bay Area after I got out of the Air Force and before I moved to Las Vegas. I first learned boxing there at King’s Gym. San Jose is also where Strikeforce president Scott Coker started his career promoting kickboxing cards, where many of my fighters fought (I had a gym for a while and trained many top-level kickboxers). So I knew I would be seeing many old friends.
I grew up as a farm worker in the San Jacquin Valley, a two-hour drive from San Jose. I thought it would be a perfect time to share my dreams and success with four of my best friends who grew up with me in the migrant camp. For those who read my book, From The Fields To The Garden, you can appreciate the weekend we shared.
I called Marcial Ybarra three weeks before the fights to make the arrangements and bring his brother Carlos, Ralph (Chulo) Gonzales and Noe Trevino to San Jose for a night of world-class MMA. I can honestly say that we’ve been like brothers since childhood. I remember a time when Noe’s mother took over motherly duties while we were out picking cotton to breast-feed my little brother, Ernie. We were that close!
Like kids going to Disneyland, Carlos picked them up one by one as they headed down the freeway for their two-hour trip to San Jose. They arrived in time to grab a bite to eat and reminisce about the good old days before I had to go to the arena. I was as excited as they were because they came to see me, and the work I do. This was their first live event, so I was going to treat them to a night they would never forget.
They planned on driving back afterwards, so I told them they could stay in my hotel room until it was time to go to the arena. In the lobby I introduced them to Josh Barnett, Eric Paulson, Greg Jackson and many others. Marcial and Ralph later said that the hugs and respect they received made them feel like superstars.
This ‘star treatment’ is something I see MMA fighters and personalities give at every event. There is a unique culture in MMA that isn’t as prevalent in other sports. The fighters really embrace the fans. Of course, I think my friends got a little extra special star treatment. With VIP tickets in hand, I told them to text me when they got to the arena. Marcial was the designated driver, so I told Ralph, Noe and Carlos that the beers were on me.
After the first two fights, I went back into the dressing room to wrap Gilbert Melendez’s hands for his third fight with Josh Thompson. Each fighter had a victory over the other. I knew how important this fight was for Gilbert. Instantly, he asked for the knockout wrap.
As I wrapped his hands I mentioned to Gilbert and his father that my friends were here to see their first live show and spend the evening with me. Gilbert Sr is old school, and understood how excited I was to have my friends with me. He asked me how long they would be here and I replied that they’d drive home after the fights.
Still focused on his fight and enjoying the conversation, Gilbert Jr told me that they’ll be driving back to San Francisco after the fight and that my boys could have their two suites at the hotel. Wow! World champion Gilbert Melendez offering his two suites to my hometown friends. That was huge. Thank you, champ!
Before the fights had even started, my lifelong friends were already having a great time. It was almost as if they were years younger and it made me think of all the crazy things we did as kids back home in Planada.
I also recognized I was helping fighters like Gilbert Melendez and Josh Barnett prepare to enter their home away from home, the cage.
After Gilbert, I headed to wrap Josh Barnett, something I’ve done since his days in Pride. We’ve had a long-term working relationship and have also become friends. I’ve been with Josh when he won many of his fights. I’ve also been with Josh when he lost to Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ and Rodrigo Noguiera in Japan. I didn’t expect this night at Strikeforce in San Jose for the heavyweight grand prix against Daniel Cormier to be the worst night of his career.
Cormier is a blue chip fighter with a great personality. I remember during the TUF show when he assisted Josh Koscheck as a coach. We were all standing around killing time when he engaged one of the trainers in a choke hold and put him to sleep. Cormier got scared and dropped the assistant to the floor as soon as he went limp. Koscheck laughed, knowing it wasn’t serious, and woke the coach up by slapping him a few times. At that moment I knew Cormier didn’t know his own strength and would be a dangerous fighter.
After the first 30 seconds it was obvious to me that Josh was in a dog fight with Daniel. I knew he could put people to sleep and had great ground skills. But I didn’t expect him to be so explosive with his hands and feet.
I really figured Josh would have the advantage with the hands, I saw the worst-case scenario developing when Josh threw his first left hook on the top of Cormier’s head with a cracking sound, breaking his hand. That changed the whole course of the game. The broken hand took away his jab and hook. It also made it impossible to get a good hold on Cormier and use his ground skills.
A big part of my job is to wrap the hands to keep them as protected as possible. I always tell people that a good hand wrap can reduce the possibility of hand injuries, but it can’t prevent them.
Round by round Josh came into the corner with a new cut. By the end of the fight, he had four, a broken hand, and after receiving an accidental elbow above the knee he could not stand. Bloodied and beat, it broke my heart to see my friend in agony and defeat.
With two suites donated by Melendez and a change of plans, I made arrangements to have dinner at a popular restaurant visited by fighters and fans after the fight. During dinner, Cain Velasquez and his wife came over to say hi. Cain, who was also a farm worker like my friends and me, was glad to take a picture with them. What a classic moment!
After dinner, we attended an after-fight party at a local nightclub. We had VIP wristbands, and Marcial said: “I haven’t been to a club like this in 30 years.”
Being from Planada, a town of around 1,500 people, I’m certain that Ralph, Noe and Carlos felt the same way. The music was loud and the dance floor was jammed with fans from the fight. We were escorted to the VIP section. After photos and a greeting by the manager, Noe, Carlos, Marcial and Chulo were instant celebrities. I knew this was a night they would never forget.
With their veins filled with adrenaline and being wide awake, we decided to head back to the hotel and finish the night talking about their experiences. The hotel clerk gave them a toothbrush, toothpaste and a shaving kit. Once in my room I gave Marcial the cornerman jacket that I had used. I also signed pictures for the others as we chatted about the occasion, and the time we’d shared together.
I had to prepare to take an early flight back to Las Vegas, and Ralph told me after we gave each other a final hug, that I inspired them. But in reality, they are the ones who inspire me. I travel all over the world, often five or six thousand miles away from the fields that surround my old home of Planada. And every time I’m at a show, whether it is in one of the great arenas in Japan, Brazil, Australia, Germany or even San Jose, I always wonder if my friends and family are proud of me.
I know they are, and in San Jose I got to share what I do with them. Talk about the thrill of victory.
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