Febrary 26, 2010
The life of his fight
Originally posted on EdmontonJournal.com
Travis Galbraith found a career path in mixed martial arts
Sitting on a rickety wooden bench inside Frank Lee's gym on Monday, Travis Galbraith had his fists wrapped and taped by his trainer, Keijiro Noda.
As the local mixed martial artist sat through the tedious process of the taping -- Noda carefully wrapped the tape around Galbraith's wrists, padded the fighter's knuckles and tucked the tape through each finger and around his thumbs -- Galbraith cracked jokes.
"Are you going to the fight on Friday?" the 28-year-old asked, referring to his upcoming bout with British fighter Tom (Kong) Watson at Maximum Fighting Championship: Heat XC. "Make sure you bring some money. I'm gonna need bail for murder."
Galbraith, of course, was kidding. But the comment marks the axis in his life, one that criss-crosses the track he was once on with where he's trying to take his future.
"I grew up in a youth detainment centre," he said. "(I was) in and out of youth correction facilities for a big part of my life.
"The last stretch, I was 18 years old. I was terrible in school. My last stretch ... I started doing some schooling, and I just got tired of that (crap). It's a revolving door, right? That's how the system is."
Galbraith didn't have much in the way of guidance, and he and trouble continually found each other.
"It was so bad that me and my dad would have to co-ordinate lockdown times. He was in an adult facility and I was in a youth facility, so I was pretty much on my own," Galbraith said. "I spent more time in than I did out.
"Things are better between us now. He's got his (act) together and I've got mine. I'm just trying to make the most of this fighting thing."
Not too long after he had put his childhood behind him, Galbraith found MMA. With nothing but his fists and a lot of ambition, it was a perfect pairing.
"With MMA you don't have to have anything," he said. "You don't have to have any money, you just have to apply yourself. That's the only thing I had, was myself. I applied myself and trained and found out it was something I was pretty good at."
Galbraith came roaring out of the gate to start his MMA career. He won five of his first six fights, between November 2001 and February 2003, gaining a reputation for his submission-inducing abilities. In October 2002, he ran into a brick wall, in up-and-coming fighter Georges St. Pierre. The reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champ ran away with a 2:03 first-round TKO.
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Febrary 23, 2010
5K Exclusive: John Hathaway looking to outwrestle Diego Sanchez at UFC 114
Originally posted on www.FiveKnuckles.com
Unbeaten British prospect John Hathaway is having no sleepless nights after accepting a matchup with "The Ultimate Fighter" one alum Diego 'The Nightmare' Sanchez for UFC 114.
Instead, the confident youngster is hoping to defeat the high level wrestler at his own game. Asked if he will look to out-wrestle Sanchez, Hathaway responded in the affirmative.
"Yes, wrestling is a strength of mine," Hathaway told FiveKnuckles.com. "And with the training camp I will be undergoing in the lead up to May, all aspects of my game are going to get better, including my wrestling."
Hathaway believes that both fighters wrestling acumen and intensity will make for an exciting fight come May.
"Diego is a great wrestler," Hathaway said. "We both excel at different techniques. Like me, he likes to keep the pace high so I am looking forward to an exciting fight."
Fighting out of Brighton, England, Hathaway sports a perfect 12-0 MMA record, including three wins in his first three fights in the UFC. He debuted with a TKO victory over Tom Egan at UFC 93, in Dublin, Ireland, before impressive decision wins over Rick Story and fellow Brit, Paul Taylor.
However, Sanchez, going back up to welterweight after a one-sided loss to BJ Penn for the UFC lightweight championship, represents a huge step up for Hathaway, though one he's excited to take.
"[I'm] Excited," Hathaway said. "Diego is a great fighter, and I'm looking forward to stepping in the Octagon with him."
Young, aggressive, confident and both great wrestlers, the two fighters are very similar. Indeed, Sanchez appeared on TUF at only 23, but Hathway made his UFC debut two years younger at 21.
You would be forgiven for thinking that making your debut at such a young age could be a daunting experience. Not for the man nicknamed "The Hitman."
"I thrive on competing and being able to compete in the sport I love and in a federation I have always wanted to be part of," Hathaway said. "Twenty-one didn't feel too young for me, it was a dream I was ready to fulfill."
In fact, fighting in the UFC is a dream that Hathaway has had for a very long time, having been a fan of MMA from an early age.
"I have always watched mixed martial arts, Hathaway said. "I have a local fight school near by in ZT Fight Skool. I went down there and quickly got involved in amatuer fights. I think those experiences stay with every fighter throughout their career. They gave me the knowledge of competing in this sport and gaining knowledge from different trainers.
"My trainer at London Shootfighters got in contact with the UFC, it is an honour to fight for them. I just try to take each fight as it comes and look forward to each challenge."
As such a good young prospect, it is a wonder there isn't a little more hype about the former rugby player, Hathaway. He is part of a good group of British mixed martial artists making an impact within the UFC. Looking past the obvious candidates, Hathaway could go on to become Britain's best fighter, and there is one thing that sets him apart, his wrestling.
A background in such a physical sport like rugby can only help an aspiring wrestler, and Hathaway insists that wrestling in the UK is improving all the time.
"We have brilliant wrestling trainers now based here in the UK and it's something that is...
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Febrary 14, 2010
Anthony Johnson Injured, Out Of 'UFC On Versus' Fight
Originally posted on Fightline.com
MMAFighting.com is reporting that Anthony Johnson's manager, Ken Pavia, has confirmed that "Rumble" has had to pull out of his fight with John Howard due to an undisclosed knee injury. Their fight was to take place at the UFC on Versus show on March 21.
John Howard holds three wins in three fights in the Octagon and has a 13-4 record in professional MMA competition. His last fight saw "Doomsday" defeat Dennis Hallman by TKO (punches).
Anthony "Rumble" Johnson has earned five wins in eight Octagon appearances. He avenged a controversial loss to Kevin Burns and went on a three fight win streak until being submitted by Josh Koscheck in his last fight at UFC 106: Ortiz vs. Griffin 2.
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Febrary 12, 2010
French striker Cyrille Diabate signs UFC deal, meets Luiz Cane at UFC 114
Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com
PRIDE, Cage Rage and ShoXC veteran Cyrille "The Snake" Diabate (15-6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has signed a four-fight deal with the UFC and is expected to meet Luiz Cane (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at UFC 114 in May.
The signing was first reported by MMAFighting.com, though sources close to the situation on Friday told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the matchup was planned for UFC 114, not UFC 113 as earlier reported.
Both fighters have verbally agreed to the matchup and bout agreements are expected to be signed shortly.
UFC 114 is expected to take place May 29 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. A light heavyweight grudge match between former champions and "The Ultimate Fighter 10" coaches Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is believed to headline the event.
Diabate, 36, comes into the octagon with a strong Muay-Thai background. As an eleven-year veteran of MMA, he is perhaps best known to hardcore fans for his 2006 fight with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua under the PRIDE banner. In a brutal five-and-a-half minute affair, Rua TKO'd Diabate with vicious stomps.
Since that fateful fight, Diabate has gone on a five-fight winning streak. Most recently, he submitted Rob Smith by rear-naked choke at Tachi Palace Fights 2 this past December.
Diabate served as one of Dan Henderson's striking coaches on the "The Ultimate Fighter 9" in an extension of his duties at Henderson's Team Quest South gym in Temecula, Calif. It is unknown whether Diabate will log most of his training time stateside or abroad.
Cane, 28, most recently saw a three-fight win streak snapped at the hands of UFC newcomer and PRIDE veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. It took less than two minutes for Nogueira, the lighter twin brother of former UFC and PRIDE champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, to defeat Cane by TKO.
Prior to that performance, Cane had built steam as a serious threat in the division with wins over Jason Lambert, Rameau Thierry Sokodjou and Steve Cantwell.
Is it unknown whether Diabate vs. Cane will grace the main card of UFC 114.
For more on UFC 114, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
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