Issue 170

September 2018

The vastly experienced welterweight looks back at his recent TKO of Jake Ellenberger and stakes his claim for a title shot.

You are fresh off the super impressive win over Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night 131. It was a move-of-the-month quality finish. We saw the signature clinch, the Killa Bee's Knees. What do you remember about the finish?

It was almost a flawless victory. That is what I try to bring to the table every time I fight. Sometimes it doesn’t happen that way. Sometimes it’s me, sometimes it’s my opponent that doesn’t let that happen, nonetheless, that is always my goal in every single round. I am trying to finish you and not let it go to the judges.

Did you know the knee hit him and did you think that was the beginning of the end?

Oh, yeah. That is my zone. I don’t really believe he wanted to play in there. I hit him with some really good head kicks and body shots from the outside. Then he tried to capitalize on one of my head kick attempts that still clipped him. He was able to chuck me and maybe even to the floor but the cage kept us upright. He just couldn’t help himself. He went all in. He was throwing huge overhand rights that barely missed me and then we went right into my zone. We went into the clinch. Good luck there, man. Between elbows and knees and having to defend every part of your body, I have a lot of spots where I can make connections and the liver is definitely one of them.

I’m sure Bas Rutten was somewhere smiling. Did you happen to hear anything from him?

He was loving it. People were tagging him after the fight and he gave me props, too. It was beautiful.

We know you are very well-rounded but do you feel like the clinch is your bread and butter?

I had to set my game up tremendously there. Jon Fitch and Dennis Hall-man were two of the opponents that made that happen. They knew I was dangerous there and they were able to bring wrestling into play and tried to make it a grinding fight and take that distance away. After those two fights, I knew I had to up my game as far as takedown defense. You won’t get an easy takedown from there, even though you are worried about it. I am a ‘pick your poison’ fighter. I am dangerous everywhere. I feel I have proven it with my track record, with all of the different finishes I have from various ranges. On top of that, they told me that was my 12th first-round finish. That has to be up there with anyone. I have an 80% finish rate. My accuracy is high, too. I am dangerous all around. 

You said after the fight that you aren’t just here for the hell of it. You are here for a title shot. Can you give us your best pitch for getting a title shot?

I’m not opposed to working hard and grinding for what I get. The bottom line is that on any given night I can beat anyone in my division in the world. I am not here just to keep a job. I am here to get a title shot. I am here to work my way up and all you mother-fuckers in the top ten, you are all on my list! I don’t care who you are. When I fought Alan Jouban he is the one person on the UFC roster that I wouldn’t have wanted to fight, being 10th Planet as well. I fought him. Who the hell do you guys think you are? I’ll fight any one of you.

Speaking of a title shot, you were telling me that you had a meeting with Sean Shelby in the Las Vegas offices. What came of the time you spent with him?

I went in there and told him straight up that I wanted a title shot. He asked who I would like. I said I wanted Tyron Woodley! He said he was held up with Colby Covington at the moment. I knew that but I had to say it. It seems like big things are coming. It really comes down to dates and who is available. If you care at all about your rankings you will probably say No. I will be there to say ‘Don’t be scared, homie.’ Just listen to Sean Shelby and sign on the dotted line!