Issue 185

Respected cutman Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran reveals what it’s like to stare into the soul of an MMA legend.

Recently I’ve been involved with some of the greatest moments in MMA history. A full day after the epic battle between Dan Henderson and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and I was still filled with adrenaline from working one of the best UFC cards in recent history, UFC 139.

I worked Shogun’s corner and witnessed the heart and soul of two great warriors.

Former boxing champion Kevin Kelly once said: “When two boxers fight, their souls touch.” This is such a true statement and I had the honor to see it firsthand. ‘Hendo’ and Shogun dug deep into their souls and gave us a fight that we will remember forever.

Shogun should have been knocked out within the first three rounds, but somehow he reached to the depths of his soul and shared his courage with Henderson. We couldn’t believe what we were witnessing for five action-packed rounds. 

While working on Shogun at the end of round three I asked him if he was okay. With blood splattered on his face and body from a cut on his left eyebrow that happened during the first round, he said: “Yes!” 

Henderson must have thought Rua was done, but he courageously continued and even won round four.

Then he completely dominated Henderson during round five and it would have been easy for Dan to call it quits. That never happened either…

Both warriors solidified themselves in history by showing such heart and soul. Everyone, including Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta gave them a standing ovation.

I had chills and goose bumps all over my body. What a great fight.

I don’t think either man will ever have a fight like this again against anyone else. And they will always be remembered for giving us the greatest MMA fight in history. I now fully understand what Kevin Kelly said about fighters’ souls touching.

I was there and saw it.

Other great moments I’ve recently been involved with are the final battles of BJ Penn and Mirko ‘Cro Cop.’

I ran into Mirko on the way to the weigh-ins for UFC 137 and he asked if I could wrap his hands for his last fight. I’ve always been a Cro Cop fan, so I instantly said yes. 

Fight day I walk into the dressing room a little early and start to prepare the gauze and tape needed to wrap him. Cro Cop has always been reserved during fight week. I tried to make conversation and jokingly asked him what he was going to do when he retired.

I thought he’d tell me he’d go into politics or become a SWAT member again. Instead, Mirko readjusted his chair and smiled. “Spend my money,” he said. I laughed: “Good for you.” 

Then with a more serious tone Mirko continued. “Stitch I’m tired. I’ve had six surgeries. I got cut six weeks ago in training. My body is beat up.”

I’m sure very few people have had a conversation like this with Mirko. He opened his soul to me, and it was special. “I’ve been all over the world,” he continued, “and have never seen it. I train and go straight home, and for the fights I stay in my hotel room.”

I wrapped the tape around his hands and he went on. “I want to spend time with my family. They never see me because of my job.”

Then almost as an afterthought he added: “I have had a great career,” he added, then drifted into his thoughts. This was heavy stuff while I prepared his hands for the final fight of his legendary story.

I finished, we hugged, I wished him well, and the rest is history.

BJ and Mirko are the complete opposites. BJ is outgoing with everyone and has never hesitated to give me a hug whenever he sees me and often finishes the hug by saying: “I love you Stitch.”

Manly words from a true warrior. After his battle with Nick Diaz he told Joe Rogan he was retiring. This caught me off guard.

Many people have asked me what I said to BJ when I hugged him as he walked out of the Octagon. I’ve worked many of his amazing fights so I instinctively gave him a fatherly hug and said: “It was an honor working with you, love you.” At that moment I think our souls touched. 

As I go over these historical moments I realize I worked with two true legends of the sport, Mirko Cro Cop and BJ Penn, on the night they announced their retirements. I also was part of a battle that may never be matched between Hendo and Shogun. I often pinch myself and ask why I was the chosen one to get close enough to these fighters to actually see their souls. I guess it was meant to be. What an honor.