Issue 184

Respected cutman Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran explains that fighters are like a box of chocolates; you never know which one you’re gonna get.

Fans are always left baffled and disappointed when they ask me who I think is going to win the fight and I reply, “I don’t care who wins.

I look at fights differently to you guys. I care about making sure the fighter has every possible chance to win, and not be at a disadvantage during the fight – whoever I’m working on.”

But that’s my job and it’s what I live for: making the fighter feel comfortable, relaxed and in safe hands. Many times I wrap both fighters’ hands before they fight and then work in the corner of one of them.

Vitor Belfort said it best: “Stitch’s presence has a calming effect when he’s in the dressing room, even knowing he is working the corner of my opponent.”

The importance of hand wrapping is often overlooked.

The best part of my job is being in the trenches preparing them for battle. Having their hands wrapped is the beginning of their preparation. I love wrapping hands and seeing the confidence burn in the fighters’ eyes once I’m finished. Doing this job and working with so many athletes and characters I’ve learnt to expect the unexpected.

You never know which fighter’s going to turn up and perform to the best of their ability, and it’s part of my job to spur them forth. UFC 130 was no different, and here’s a rundown of my night wrapping hands. 

The evening began with me wrapping Brazilian Gleison Tibau.

Gleison always has a smile on his face and his English is as bad as my Portuguese. Somehow we pull off the incredible and manage to communicate and I feel he’s more relaxed. He won and got ‘Submission of the Night.’ This brought a smile to my face knowing I may have had a small part in his victory.

Next was Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson. Matt Hume, Johnson’s trainer, has always requested me to wrap Demetrious’ hands.

He was in the biggest fight of his career with Miguel Torres and this was make or break so he asked for the “knockout wrap.” Asking for the knockout wrap told me that Demetrious was definitely ready to go into battle. He didn’t get the KO, but he put on an impressive performance, winning a decision over Miguel.

Brian Stann, everyone’s hero, was also on my list. My wife once asked me if Brian was a nice guy. He looks so intense and, with his war time experiences, I can understand why. One of my goals when I wrap a fighter’s hands is to make them smile. This takes the edge off. Psychology is so important in preparing for battle. Cain Velasquez and Brock Lesnar, like Brian Stann, are very intense guys.

I’m proud to say that I’ve put a smile on all their faces. Brian fought the best fight of his career and Dana White is saying that he will be a superstar. To answer my wife’s question, Brian Stann is a very nice guy.

Thiago ‘The Pitbull’ Alves was the last guy on my list before I had to go to the Octagon. Everyone expected Thiago to win but he had a tough fight with the ever-so-impressive Rick Story.

This is the type of fight where there is no loser and Thiago will fight again in the UFC.

Once the action got underway, the most explosive moment for me was when I joined the doctor in the Octagon with Stefan Struve seconds after he got knocked out by Travis Browne. Again, no one expected Struve to be knocked out and it’s hard for a fighter to accept.

Like many others, I had to look in Stefan’s eyes and tell him he’d been KO’d. Though Struve was very disappointed, he reluctantly accepted the words he did not want to hear. But losing is all part of the sport.

Finally, how can anyone not enjoy working with Rampage Jackson? Rampage is so down to earth that he instantly becomes your friend.

As his friend and cutman I had to work on a cut he received on his right eyebrow late in the first round. This type of cut can be dangerous because the blood can flow into the eye making it difficult for the fighter to see. Jackson kept his composure and let me work on his cut.

He went on to win a tough fight with Matt Hamill, firing him towards a light heavyweight title shot against Jon Jones. 

Each event is unique and filled with twists and turns, but the thanks we receive after a fight from a fighter or trainer for a job well done always come from their heart.

What I often find is that these fighters who are modern-day gladiators have no problem giving me a hug and saying, ‘Thank you Stitch, I love you.’

That is why I say: “Always expect the unexpected!”