Issue 160

November 2017

‘The Damage’ has turned his career around with a new team and a five-fight win streak.

How happy are you with your victory over Dennis Bermudez in July?

I kept telling Sean Shelby that I wanted to fight in July and wanted to stay busy. He messaged me and said he’d lined up the Bermudez fight for me, and I said, ‘Perfect.’

He goes forward the whole time, and I move forward the whole time. It was an exciting fight with a lot of grappling and striking. I was happy to pull out the decision in the end.

Before that, how important was your memorable comeback win against Mirsad Bektic?

I think the Bektic fight set me up and put me in a good place for my career. Everybody knows who I am now because of that fight. I can endure. I always knew that, but how deep can I dig

I will never forget that night. I had to find a way. I stayed focused the whole time and I know I can do that if I have to. I hope I don’t have to again any time soon, but I can do it.

How has moving to Team Alpha Male changed your game?

Justin Buchholz (head coach) has a great energy. He is always positive. He’s super smart in this game and will show me some of that stuff for me to do in a fight. I’m like, ‘Dang that really worked!’ That really makes you feel good. I trust in him, and I believe in him and the team. I go out there and perform in the fight and it’s a great feeling.

Chris Holdsworth is a big part of my game, too. I have become really close with him. He respects me as a fighter and I respect him. We show each other some stuff and I always talk to him and like to hear his thoughts on certain situations. It makes sense.

When I moved out, it was about the same time that he became our jiu-jitsu coach. I always make sure I hit up his classes. His style really meshes well with my style of jiu-jitsu, so it’s a perfect match.

What were your thoughts on the way TUF 25 played out between the team and T.J. Dillashaw?

I know there is a lot of beef between them. Going into the show, that is exactly why they wanted to coach against each other – because of the beef and the history.

I figured it would be like that the whole show. Hearing from the guys, I knew there was going to be a lot of drama, and that’s what it was.

Your fight with Chas Skelly was your first as a full-time Alpha Male. Did that bout confirm moving there was the right decision?

Yeah, definitely. Going in there and performing like I did just proved that I made the right choice and that I was still getting better. It proved that I wasn’t done with my career just yet.

What did you make of bodybuilder Matthew Kline Kader flying out to the gym to challenge Cody Garbrandt?

It’s just a guy trying to get attention. Give me a break. He comes out here to the whole team and acts like he’s going to do something to Cody? He’s just trying to get attention and act hard. He’s a pansy!