By Charles Cieri
Matrix Fights III goes down tonight. On the heels of last week’s scene-shifting Bellator 33, this fight is important for a few reasons. Number one, best outlined in last week's Inquirer article, the success of these types of fights will make or break the scene. Also it has legit match-ups, most notably, Julio Rosario v Brylan Vanartsdalen and Azunna Anyanwu’s pro debut. Lastly, Matrix promoter Jimmy Binns has gained something of a track record for giving the spectator his and her money’s worth.
While Bellator 33 was a sensational success, Bellator is gone with no indication on when it will return. The promotion’s star draw and the city’s best known fighter, Eddie Alvarez, could make MMA huge in the city — Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney called him a one man promotional machine — but no local promoter could afford him unless, god-forbid, he sustains a tremendous loosing streak. He won’t be back in this up-and-coming market, save the occasional appearance.
There are other options, Wilson Reis is almost in reach for the local promoters as is Anthony Morrison, both have made one appearance but at 25 and 26 years-old respectively, that will only be an outside chance for a little while longer (you can call me on that, I see both these guys taking off and joining Alvarez and Frankie Edgar to make the region the 145-155 mecca).
So, realistically, there is no one-man in the price range that can shoulder this scene. That leaves two immediate solutions to build the scene on, has-beens and up-and-comers. I’m not going to go into the first option and thankfully, for the most part, local promoters are in accord. As for up-and-comers, we have the programs — the best on the East Coast (again, call me on it) — and the first crop of local bound fighters from those camps have been entertaining crowds since August 2009. The only question is how much opportunity will there be for prospects to challenge each other, weed out non-hackers and elevate the pedigree. This question loosely translates to revenue. If the promoters can turn a profit, they will put on more shows and turn on the power to this potential MMA furnace.
The match-ups on this card provide solid fuel for that furnace, thanks to match-maker Sam Caplan. There are plenty of names that have distinguished themselves to some extent in previous shows. Brian Pitaniello, Geroge Hibbs and Mathew Friedeborn will be on this card and anyone of them could put on a surprise fight-of-the-night.
Great fight-nights aren’t built on potential standouts however, and this card has its proven draws. Julio Rosario has a great story and a killer push to finish the fight, training out of Semper Fi MMA, a relatively new gym on the scene, this event was more or less built around him and much can be made about how he steps up to that pressure. His opponent Brylan Vanartsdalen comes from the solid Daddis FC. Although, we didn’t see much of his standup in his last fight (he submitted his opponent 15 seconds in), this is his third nod from Sam Caplan, meaning he has the eye of a very distinguishing and well informed talent scout.
Also on the card are Jeff Cressman and Azunna Anyanwu. Cressman, a 135 pounder, was caught early in his last fight to my extreme surprise. His previous appearance was a fight-of-the-night three round slug-fest. Look for him to return to that intensity. Anyanwu has come out of nowhere to run up on the heavyweight radar. His pro-debut is both early (only two amateur fights is two short of the usual procedure) and way late, with a purple belt from Jared Weiner and handwork from Daddis FC, he gets my pick against any heavyweight thus far on the scene.
The fights start at 7pm and goes down at the Philadelphia Sheet Metal Workers’ Local at 1301 Columbus Boulevard. The on-line tickets are sold out but more tickets should be available at the door.
Showing posts with label cieri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cieri. Show all posts
Friday, October 29, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Locked In The Cage 5 goes suburban but maintains the quality
By Charles Cieri
Putting on any event in Philadelphia in August is a challenge. The Jersey Shore pulls people away, the heat keeps those remaining inside. Coaxing them out of their recirculated-air fortresses to pay $40 for local MMA - even before the season is factored in - is a hard sell. The burgeoning sport, still in its incumbency nationally, is in zygote form in PA where sanctioning took place only last year.
So when Fran Evans and Tara Galvin slotted Locked In The Cage 5 for the middle of the summer loll, it was automatic success in my book - as long as no one gets trampled and there are zero bloody TapouT hats scattered in the parking lot for the traditional news to gobble up as B-roll for their “Human Cockfighting, is it happening in your backyard?” story. (Check back soon for more reporting on this very real threat)
The venue, The Sportsplex in Festerville, offered a decent location - larger then LITC’s previous venues and already containing beefed up facilities and concessions. But the best thing going for this card was the card itself. Evans excels at match-making and while this lineup was largely untested — all the pros and most amateurs had less than three fights — the records belonged to exciting fighters, all of whom needed to be tested, some came through rattled. Gmiyale Adkins - Baby Hercules (or Baby Tyson — check his promo video further down for the justification for that accolade); Azunna Anyanwu, who after only his second amateur fight is the most compelling heavyweight on the scene; up-and-coming 155 pounder Matt Nice, out-of-state favorite Bo Coleman and Brian Jackson who hails from Eddie Alvarez’s Fight Factory; not to mention Adam Roberts, who captured the attention of this site and took on Eric Albright, a big name from the local York scene.
In short the card was good enough to drag me beyond the city limits.
The highlight of the amateur group was Azunna Anyanwu (2-0), training out of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu United and Daddis Fight Camps v Joe McGuigan (6-1) who fights for Philly Top Team; if for no other reason then they’re both dangerous heavyweights- something the local scene is light on. The fight was originally scheduled as a pro debut for both fighters but the athletic commission put the brakes on due to Anyanwu’s limited experience (he just made his amateur debut with an impressive KO at Matrix Fights 2). While it’s the commission’s position that most fighters need a minimum of 2-4 amateur bouts, Anyanwu showed why he isn’t most fighters.
McGuigan is a big, long fighter with an intimidating physique and six straight amateur wins. He gave Anyanwu’s chin its first test, landing a few clean shots including one early that stumbled Anyanwu. But, these shots were the exception and McGuigan was outmuscled and outworked. After a close first round, Anyanwu was able to capture the momentum just before the bell by scooping up a takedown out of the clinch which he used to elevate McGuigan before bringing him back down with a big slam. The second round saw another slam — as vicious as any previously witnessed, one in which Anyanwu went to pains to dig his way in tight on Mcguigan’s leg, leaving his neck dangerously close to being guillotined in order to pick up and drop Mcguigan with every bit of inertia and weight his 265 pound frame could conceive. Quickly moving to a north-south position he broke McGuigan’s guillotine grip and, in the ensuing scramble, ensnared him in a guillotine.
Anyanwu picked McGuigan up by the choke and, on their feet, arched back hard; wincing, he appeared to be putting all his energy into finishing the choke. In fact he had other plans. In one crisp move that offered no warning, he broke off the choke and began pumping out hooks, tilting his power from side to side and chasing McGuigan across the ring and into a corner. Replanting his feet, Anyanwu ratcheted back up the hooks. McGuigan was overwhelmed and the ref stepped in to save him and award Anyanwu the amateur heavyweight title.
The amateurs started off the night with Daddis Fight Camps Mike Macauly (2-0) taking out TCA MMA product Scott Dirkson (1-1) in a 135 pound fight. The fight was tough to score with both fighters looking a little spastic but while Dirkson had the edge on points going into the third round, Macauly was able to snatch the fight back when an overhand right found its way in, collapsing Dirkson for the KO win.
Next up Rocco MMA’s Pat Macke (4-2) squared up with Daddis Fight Camp’s Justin Jones (1-3) at 145 pounds. The first round saw Jones come close to ending the fight when he buckled Macke with a strike; had the ref been a few feet closer he probably would have stepped in but Macke was able to recover by grabbing a leg. When the fighters reemerged on the feet Macke looked drained and timid.
The second round opened up with Jones bearing down on Macke with straight shoots but Macke lowered his level and went for a double leg. Macke managed to keep the fight grounded the rest of the round. At one point Jones was within inches of breaking out when Macke got a fingertip grip with which he managed to trip and maintain his ground control over Jones. While it didn’t translate to damage, Macke stole the round with his ground domination. He maintained the same momentum starting off the third round by feinting a haymaker that brought Jones’ hands into a high guard before dropping into a wide open double leg takedown. The third round played out like the second and delivered Macke the 29-28 decision.
Daddis Fight Camps recovered with their next fighter Mike Pandolfini (2-0) who submitted Philly Top Team product Trevor Patterson (0-2) with an omopolta. Pandolfini showed awareness in pulling out the submission in what was a pretty chaotic and uncoordinated 170 pound fight.
Balance Studios’ Tim Ragusa (5-0) faced off next in a 185 pound contest against Anthony Chiccone (3-2) who fights for Philly Top Team. The first two rounds saw two tight guillotine attempts from Chiccone but neither could stick and he absorbed a couple big slams for his trouble. The third round offered some more sloppy jostling before Ragusa was able to secure a rear naked choke and force the tap.
Adam Roberts (2-1), an exciting prospect (that has been on our radar for some time) out of Rocco MMA went to war with Hanover MMA’s Eric Albright (3-0). Albright is a highly regarded wrestler from York- after only a few fights, he’s already sporting a decent paper trail from YorkBlog.com. Roberts, who Yorkblog is reporting came in four pounds overweight, looked crisp off the jump but his ground game just wasn’t mature enough for the wrestler. Roberts was kept off the attack and spent the fight reacting to Albight’s moves. In the end, the fight ended with Roberts surviving to the decision which Albright took 29-28.
The Professionals
Albright’s teammate from Hanover MMA, Ryan Harder (1-0) made his debut in a short but impressive and unfortunately controversial win over Arizona Combat Sport’s Joe Finneran (1-1). The 135 pound fight was barely underway when Harder rushed Finneran landing consecutive kicks, the second one landed to the head and dropped Finneran to the ground where he seemed to instantaneously go from falling down to dropping down for a double leg. However veteran ref Keith Peterson rushed in at the first sight of the KO. Finneran got squirrelly, lunging for a desperation takedown as soon as he hit the ground, so when Peterson broke in and waved off the fight, it appeared the fight that was still competitive. Mamma-Online.com is all over this and the video is available for viewing but - bottom line - Keith Peterson is a very consistent ref and deserves the benefit of the doubt all the way. Even if he jumped the gun, he made the right move by following through on the stoppage and not doubling back as some less reputable refs might have done. A froggy ref is better then a half-stepper all day.
Unfortunately that wasn’t the last controversy of the night. In the headline fight Brain Jackson (2-1), a Fight Factory product took on Bo Coleman (2-2) the Beatdown Ohio fighter who last came to town and stopped the local favorite Irish Mickey Groves. Jackson pushed the pace and certainly had the first two rounds on points but Coleman, just as he did in his win over Groves, stayed dangerous. In multiple sequences, Coleman moved from eating shots in his guard to nearly locking up arm bars, shoulder locks and an ankle lock. However, Jackson’s constant top pressure (multiple mounts, side control and even a sweet knee-on-belly to back control) wore Coleman down who ended the second round turtled up for his survival.
The third round that should have been never was, unfortunately, and the fight was ended there. The decision was made on the first two rounds’ score cards and Jackson took the win.
The reason for the stoppage? No ambulance. Every fight must have an ambulance standing by and the one reserved for this event had been utilized by one of the fighters from the previous fight…
A 155 pound bout between rising contender Matt Nice (1-1) from Brazilian Jui Jitsu United and Mike Diggs (1-1), a Blackman MMA product who seemed skilled but hesitant in his debut loss to Scott Heckman. Diggs let his hands go this time and it paid off. Nice was able to edge out the first two rounds with more efficient striking and closer submission attempts but not without sustaining damage. One strike buckled Nice early but it seemed that one of the few shoots that he sustained over the next two rounds rattled him as the Matt Nice of the third round was timid and without range. He tried to recover, dove down and almost sucked in a foot for the takedown but Diggs reacted defensively and worked his way to the back. From here he was able to secure a rear naked choke and while Nice fought it off briefly, he seemed severally hampered and after finally tapping, he remained down. Following that he was required to go to the hospital, resulting in the loss of the promotion’s only ambulance forcing the commission to put an early end to the Jackson v Coleman fight.
In the fight of the night, Gimyale (Jimmy) Adkins (3-0) who fights for Balance Studio’s Delaware affiliate 302 BJJ took on Rocco MMA’s Anton Berzin (1-1). The size difference between the two 185 pounders was comical. Adkins — who has jumped up on our list of local prospects — looks like a husky Mike Tyson (and swings like him too, check out his promo video) while Berzin (who has a impressive hype video attached to him) towered over with a serious reach advantage.
Adkins got very active after the glove touch, weary of Berzin’s reach. He gradually settled into his distance and his stance turned from a conventional squared-up stance into a head hunter stance: body turned sideways with the probing left jab looking to set up a looming overhand right. When the space was closed both fighters went to work, banging away. Adkins took his fair share but definitely gave more then he got (although he was physically stumbled at one point, he said afterwords that he didn’t feel any of Berzin’s shots). In the last exchange, Adkins ate a punch to the nose and returned with a massive right hook that left Berzin down to stay for some time. Look for big things to come from Adkins.
Lastly, the smut
Putting on any event in Philadelphia in August is a challenge. The Jersey Shore pulls people away, the heat keeps those remaining inside. Coaxing them out of their recirculated-air fortresses to pay $40 for local MMA - even before the season is factored in - is a hard sell. The burgeoning sport, still in its incumbency nationally, is in zygote form in PA where sanctioning took place only last year.
So when Fran Evans and Tara Galvin slotted Locked In The Cage 5 for the middle of the summer loll, it was automatic success in my book - as long as no one gets trampled and there are zero bloody TapouT hats scattered in the parking lot for the traditional news to gobble up as B-roll for their “Human Cockfighting, is it happening in your backyard?” story. (Check back soon for more reporting on this very real threat)
The venue, The Sportsplex in Festerville, offered a decent location - larger then LITC’s previous venues and already containing beefed up facilities and concessions. But the best thing going for this card was the card itself. Evans excels at match-making and while this lineup was largely untested — all the pros and most amateurs had less than three fights — the records belonged to exciting fighters, all of whom needed to be tested, some came through rattled. Gmiyale Adkins - Baby Hercules (or Baby Tyson — check his promo video further down for the justification for that accolade); Azunna Anyanwu, who after only his second amateur fight is the most compelling heavyweight on the scene; up-and-coming 155 pounder Matt Nice, out-of-state favorite Bo Coleman and Brian Jackson who hails from Eddie Alvarez’s Fight Factory; not to mention Adam Roberts, who captured the attention of this site and took on Eric Albright, a big name from the local York scene.
In short the card was good enough to drag me beyond the city limits.
The Amateurs
The highlight of the amateur group was Azunna Anyanwu (2-0), training out of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu United and Daddis Fight Camps v Joe McGuigan (6-1) who fights for Philly Top Team; if for no other reason then they’re both dangerous heavyweights- something the local scene is light on. The fight was originally scheduled as a pro debut for both fighters but the athletic commission put the brakes on due to Anyanwu’s limited experience (he just made his amateur debut with an impressive KO at Matrix Fights 2). While it’s the commission’s position that most fighters need a minimum of 2-4 amateur bouts, Anyanwu showed why he isn’t most fighters.
McGuigan is a big, long fighter with an intimidating physique and six straight amateur wins. He gave Anyanwu’s chin its first test, landing a few clean shots including one early that stumbled Anyanwu. But, these shots were the exception and McGuigan was outmuscled and outworked. After a close first round, Anyanwu was able to capture the momentum just before the bell by scooping up a takedown out of the clinch which he used to elevate McGuigan before bringing him back down with a big slam. The second round saw another slam — as vicious as any previously witnessed, one in which Anyanwu went to pains to dig his way in tight on Mcguigan’s leg, leaving his neck dangerously close to being guillotined in order to pick up and drop Mcguigan with every bit of inertia and weight his 265 pound frame could conceive. Quickly moving to a north-south position he broke McGuigan’s guillotine grip and, in the ensuing scramble, ensnared him in a guillotine.
Anyanwu picked McGuigan up by the choke and, on their feet, arched back hard; wincing, he appeared to be putting all his energy into finishing the choke. In fact he had other plans. In one crisp move that offered no warning, he broke off the choke and began pumping out hooks, tilting his power from side to side and chasing McGuigan across the ring and into a corner. Replanting his feet, Anyanwu ratcheted back up the hooks. McGuigan was overwhelmed and the ref stepped in to save him and award Anyanwu the amateur heavyweight title.
The amateurs started off the night with Daddis Fight Camps Mike Macauly (2-0) taking out TCA MMA product Scott Dirkson (1-1) in a 135 pound fight. The fight was tough to score with both fighters looking a little spastic but while Dirkson had the edge on points going into the third round, Macauly was able to snatch the fight back when an overhand right found its way in, collapsing Dirkson for the KO win.
Next up Rocco MMA’s Pat Macke (4-2) squared up with Daddis Fight Camp’s Justin Jones (1-3) at 145 pounds. The first round saw Jones come close to ending the fight when he buckled Macke with a strike; had the ref been a few feet closer he probably would have stepped in but Macke was able to recover by grabbing a leg. When the fighters reemerged on the feet Macke looked drained and timid.
The second round opened up with Jones bearing down on Macke with straight shoots but Macke lowered his level and went for a double leg. Macke managed to keep the fight grounded the rest of the round. At one point Jones was within inches of breaking out when Macke got a fingertip grip with which he managed to trip and maintain his ground control over Jones. While it didn’t translate to damage, Macke stole the round with his ground domination. He maintained the same momentum starting off the third round by feinting a haymaker that brought Jones’ hands into a high guard before dropping into a wide open double leg takedown. The third round played out like the second and delivered Macke the 29-28 decision.
Daddis Fight Camps recovered with their next fighter Mike Pandolfini (2-0) who submitted Philly Top Team product Trevor Patterson (0-2) with an omopolta. Pandolfini showed awareness in pulling out the submission in what was a pretty chaotic and uncoordinated 170 pound fight.
Balance Studios’ Tim Ragusa (5-0) faced off next in a 185 pound contest against Anthony Chiccone (3-2) who fights for Philly Top Team. The first two rounds saw two tight guillotine attempts from Chiccone but neither could stick and he absorbed a couple big slams for his trouble. The third round offered some more sloppy jostling before Ragusa was able to secure a rear naked choke and force the tap.
Adam Roberts (2-1), an exciting prospect (that has been on our radar for some time) out of Rocco MMA went to war with Hanover MMA’s Eric Albright (3-0). Albright is a highly regarded wrestler from York- after only a few fights, he’s already sporting a decent paper trail from YorkBlog.com. Roberts, who Yorkblog is reporting came in four pounds overweight, looked crisp off the jump but his ground game just wasn’t mature enough for the wrestler. Roberts was kept off the attack and spent the fight reacting to Albight’s moves. In the end, the fight ended with Roberts surviving to the decision which Albright took 29-28.
The Professionals
Albright’s teammate from Hanover MMA, Ryan Harder (1-0) made his debut in a short but impressive and unfortunately controversial win over Arizona Combat Sport’s Joe Finneran (1-1). The 135 pound fight was barely underway when Harder rushed Finneran landing consecutive kicks, the second one landed to the head and dropped Finneran to the ground where he seemed to instantaneously go from falling down to dropping down for a double leg. However veteran ref Keith Peterson rushed in at the first sight of the KO. Finneran got squirrelly, lunging for a desperation takedown as soon as he hit the ground, so when Peterson broke in and waved off the fight, it appeared the fight that was still competitive. Mamma-Online.com is all over this and the video is available for viewing but - bottom line - Keith Peterson is a very consistent ref and deserves the benefit of the doubt all the way. Even if he jumped the gun, he made the right move by following through on the stoppage and not doubling back as some less reputable refs might have done. A froggy ref is better then a half-stepper all day.
Unfortunately that wasn’t the last controversy of the night. In the headline fight Brain Jackson (2-1), a Fight Factory product took on Bo Coleman (2-2) the Beatdown Ohio fighter who last came to town and stopped the local favorite Irish Mickey Groves. Jackson pushed the pace and certainly had the first two rounds on points but Coleman, just as he did in his win over Groves, stayed dangerous. In multiple sequences, Coleman moved from eating shots in his guard to nearly locking up arm bars, shoulder locks and an ankle lock. However, Jackson’s constant top pressure (multiple mounts, side control and even a sweet knee-on-belly to back control) wore Coleman down who ended the second round turtled up for his survival.
The third round that should have been never was, unfortunately, and the fight was ended there. The decision was made on the first two rounds’ score cards and Jackson took the win.
The reason for the stoppage? No ambulance. Every fight must have an ambulance standing by and the one reserved for this event had been utilized by one of the fighters from the previous fight…
A 155 pound bout between rising contender Matt Nice (1-1) from Brazilian Jui Jitsu United and Mike Diggs (1-1), a Blackman MMA product who seemed skilled but hesitant in his debut loss to Scott Heckman. Diggs let his hands go this time and it paid off. Nice was able to edge out the first two rounds with more efficient striking and closer submission attempts but not without sustaining damage. One strike buckled Nice early but it seemed that one of the few shoots that he sustained over the next two rounds rattled him as the Matt Nice of the third round was timid and without range. He tried to recover, dove down and almost sucked in a foot for the takedown but Diggs reacted defensively and worked his way to the back. From here he was able to secure a rear naked choke and while Nice fought it off briefly, he seemed severally hampered and after finally tapping, he remained down. Following that he was required to go to the hospital, resulting in the loss of the promotion’s only ambulance forcing the commission to put an early end to the Jackson v Coleman fight.
In the fight of the night, Gimyale (Jimmy) Adkins (3-0) who fights for Balance Studio’s Delaware affiliate 302 BJJ took on Rocco MMA’s Anton Berzin (1-1). The size difference between the two 185 pounders was comical. Adkins — who has jumped up on our list of local prospects — looks like a husky Mike Tyson (and swings like him too, check out his promo video) while Berzin (who has a impressive hype video attached to him) towered over with a serious reach advantage.
Adkins got very active after the glove touch, weary of Berzin’s reach. He gradually settled into his distance and his stance turned from a conventional squared-up stance into a head hunter stance: body turned sideways with the probing left jab looking to set up a looming overhand right. When the space was closed both fighters went to work, banging away. Adkins took his fair share but definitely gave more then he got (although he was physically stumbled at one point, he said afterwords that he didn’t feel any of Berzin’s shots). In the last exchange, Adkins ate a punch to the nose and returned with a massive right hook that left Berzin down to stay for some time. Look for big things to come from Adkins.
Lastly, the smut
Friday, April 23, 2010
Q&A with North Philly MMA star Anthony Morrison
North Philly native Anthony Morrison (26 years old) is one of the best 145 pound Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters in the world. He fights for World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), a 10 year old company that, in the past 18 months, has surged in front of a sea of competing MMA promotions. This Saturday they host WEC 48, their inaugural pay-per-view event — their first (and possibly only) chance to galvanize their emergence. Anthony Morrison is on the undercard, meaning he will only be televised if 1) he fights his ass off and 2) some quick knockouts on the main card free up time in the broadcast.
So why is Morrison important?
This event should succeed, the WEC is pulling out everything in their arsenal. The real question is, can they maintain the momentum? That is where Morrison comes in, he swims in a sea of young contenders trying to distinguish themselves. Of course they need to win to do that but they also need to draw. This translates to having aggression and style that makes fans call out for more. Those who draw and answer those calls keep fighting and keep the promotion going.
Morrison still lives and trains in North Philly save for excursions out of state to work with other camps. We caught up to “Cheesesteak” while wrapping up a session in Georgia earlier this week.
Anthony Morrison: Funds was low. I used to go to a gym and see the free week pass [promotional trial offer]. I knew if I beat people up straight of the gate, they would be like ‘sign the contact’ and I knew I didn’t have anything to pay them with. After a while people seen my passion and some gyms would let me train and say ‘pay us when you can.’
CC: Now that everyone knows not to get lippy with that new white belt at their gym. How did you get started on the path?
AM: Because of my stature — I was a real small kid — I was automatically a target for bullies and I used to tear them apart. After a while I started proclaiming myself the bully of bullyiers. I had a little mean streak in me, maybe its my Napoleon Complex, if you came up picking for me, I didn’t turn down no fights.
CC: When did the fighting get structured?
AM: I was 14-15, I saw boxing and thought I could do it. I wrestled in high school and that was a good passion for me. I had three older brothers and, not thinking we were training by roughing each other up, it was being bread into me. I started Putting it all together in 2002. One day I was watching UFC 39, and I thought I can do that- its Wrestling and boxing. I started training at my friend's house, we would move everything out of the living room and me and him would just go over what I already knew and put together what I saw on TV.
Within two months of [competing] I beat two guys in one night that had way more MMA training. I was [training] out my friend’s living room and ran up my record to 5-0 until I ran up against a guy with more experience. As far as wrestling and boxing, no one could take me but it was a guy with the jui-jitsu. Thats when I realized jui-jitsu is a big factor.
CC: Lets skip ahead a bit, did things keep rolling or were there bumps?
AM: Hell yea, man. I messed up my back real bad and got pressured into a fight where I ended up losing because of the injury. I said, “I’m sick of this, if I had a job with benefits, they would’ve fixed me up with time off and I would have went back to work.” It sucked, I stopped fighting for a while and worked two full time jobs in Plymouth Meeting, 16 hours a day. I would go to Target and work 8 hours and cross the street and work overnight at Loews.
I wasn’t training at all but every lunch break I would go over to the Barnes and Nobles and look at fight magazines and see friends I used to train with and it was motivation. One day, I got tired of it. I ran six miles and my lungs were burning, there was a burning desire telling me it was time to compete again — to put all my chips in — and thats what I did.
CC: How do you end up on the WEC radar?
AM: I knew they where eyeing me because I was fighting prospects that were looking to get in there.
I fought Jeff Lentz, and he is a tough guy out of New Jersey who trains with [UFC 155 pound contender]Kurt Pellegrino. I knew [Lentz] was on the tear, undefeated with wins in a variety of different ways. Then a month before, he knocked someone out in 16 seconds, “I was like damn, this guy’s a fucking beast!” Then I went in and demolished him.
Then, two weeks latter, for me to go out to Colorado, unacclimated and destroy a guy out there. I was like, ‘Two prospects back to back plus a lot of people I defeated in a long run — they got to have me in their eyes.’
CC: Your first fight in the WEC was a tough assignment- Mike Brown in his first fight after losing his belt. How did you change your game after your debute loss?
AM: The biggest thing I wanted to work on was my life outside the cage, lot of things weren’t right. Any fighter will tell you if things aren’t right outside the ring, they wont go right inside. You got to be 100 percent.
I focused and dedicated a lot of time to my family and catching up. I got all that together.
CC: I have talked to fighters in the past, specifically BJ Penn and Kurt Pelligrino who both — like you — have young kids. They described a need to separate themselves from their kids for a period of time before they fight because the kids make them too happy and take away their anger. Do you find that to be the case?
AM: I isolate from the distractions, but my family isn’t one of them. I train in Philly and the two fights that got me here- I trained for them in Philly. I just isolate myself from my friends, playing around and the streets.
CC: Lastly, in the Brown fight you were introduced as ‘fighting out of Virginia’? You were yelling North Philly into the camera but still, you’re going to sort that announcer out for this fight, right?
AM: When I go back HOME, its Philadelphia and I got a lot of shit from my friends for that. I take pride in where I’m from and this time he will most definitely be saying “from Philadelphia.” Morrison gave love to his coaches: Fred Jenkins at ABC gym in North Philly and Brad Daddis at Daddis Fight Camps in South Philly.
***
WEC 48 will be broadcast live on pay-per-view this Saturday night at 10pm ($45 charge). Spike TV will be showing two undercards at 9pm- Alex Karalexis v Anthony Pettis in the 155 pound devision and Leonard Garcia v Chan Sung Jung in the 145 pound devision. The pay-per-view will also be shown at The Fox and the Hound at 15th and Spruce. As of press time, they were not sure if they would charge a $5 cover or show the fights for free.
So why is Morrison important?
This event should succeed, the WEC is pulling out everything in their arsenal. The real question is, can they maintain the momentum? That is where Morrison comes in, he swims in a sea of young contenders trying to distinguish themselves. Of course they need to win to do that but they also need to draw. This translates to having aggression and style that makes fans call out for more. Those who draw and answer those calls keep fighting and keep the promotion going.
Morrison still lives and trains in North Philly save for excursions out of state to work with other camps. We caught up to “Cheesesteak” while wrapping up a session in Georgia earlier this week.
***
Charles Cieri: Before we go through your rise to prominence, can you talk about ‘dojo crashing’ back in the day?Anthony Morrison: Funds was low. I used to go to a gym and see the free week pass [promotional trial offer]. I knew if I beat people up straight of the gate, they would be like ‘sign the contact’ and I knew I didn’t have anything to pay them with. After a while people seen my passion and some gyms would let me train and say ‘pay us when you can.’
CC: Now that everyone knows not to get lippy with that new white belt at their gym. How did you get started on the path?
AM: Because of my stature — I was a real small kid — I was automatically a target for bullies and I used to tear them apart. After a while I started proclaiming myself the bully of bullyiers. I had a little mean streak in me, maybe its my Napoleon Complex, if you came up picking for me, I didn’t turn down no fights.
CC: When did the fighting get structured?
AM: I was 14-15, I saw boxing and thought I could do it. I wrestled in high school and that was a good passion for me. I had three older brothers and, not thinking we were training by roughing each other up, it was being bread into me. I started Putting it all together in 2002. One day I was watching UFC 39, and I thought I can do that- its Wrestling and boxing. I started training at my friend's house, we would move everything out of the living room and me and him would just go over what I already knew and put together what I saw on TV.
Within two months of [competing] I beat two guys in one night that had way more MMA training. I was [training] out my friend’s living room and ran up my record to 5-0 until I ran up against a guy with more experience. As far as wrestling and boxing, no one could take me but it was a guy with the jui-jitsu. Thats when I realized jui-jitsu is a big factor.
CC: Lets skip ahead a bit, did things keep rolling or were there bumps?
AM: Hell yea, man. I messed up my back real bad and got pressured into a fight where I ended up losing because of the injury. I said, “I’m sick of this, if I had a job with benefits, they would’ve fixed me up with time off and I would have went back to work.” It sucked, I stopped fighting for a while and worked two full time jobs in Plymouth Meeting, 16 hours a day. I would go to Target and work 8 hours and cross the street and work overnight at Loews.
I wasn’t training at all but every lunch break I would go over to the Barnes and Nobles and look at fight magazines and see friends I used to train with and it was motivation. One day, I got tired of it. I ran six miles and my lungs were burning, there was a burning desire telling me it was time to compete again — to put all my chips in — and thats what I did.
CC: How do you end up on the WEC radar?
AM: I knew they where eyeing me because I was fighting prospects that were looking to get in there.
I fought Jeff Lentz, and he is a tough guy out of New Jersey who trains with [UFC 155 pound contender]Kurt Pellegrino. I knew [Lentz] was on the tear, undefeated with wins in a variety of different ways. Then a month before, he knocked someone out in 16 seconds, “I was like damn, this guy’s a fucking beast!” Then I went in and demolished him.
Then, two weeks latter, for me to go out to Colorado, unacclimated and destroy a guy out there. I was like, ‘Two prospects back to back plus a lot of people I defeated in a long run — they got to have me in their eyes.’
CC: Your first fight in the WEC was a tough assignment- Mike Brown in his first fight after losing his belt. How did you change your game after your debute loss?
AM: The biggest thing I wanted to work on was my life outside the cage, lot of things weren’t right. Any fighter will tell you if things aren’t right outside the ring, they wont go right inside. You got to be 100 percent.
I focused and dedicated a lot of time to my family and catching up. I got all that together.
CC: I have talked to fighters in the past, specifically BJ Penn and Kurt Pelligrino who both — like you — have young kids. They described a need to separate themselves from their kids for a period of time before they fight because the kids make them too happy and take away their anger. Do you find that to be the case?
AM: I isolate from the distractions, but my family isn’t one of them. I train in Philly and the two fights that got me here- I trained for them in Philly. I just isolate myself from my friends, playing around and the streets.
CC: Lastly, in the Brown fight you were introduced as ‘fighting out of Virginia’? You were yelling North Philly into the camera but still, you’re going to sort that announcer out for this fight, right?
AM: When I go back HOME, its Philadelphia and I got a lot of shit from my friends for that. I take pride in where I’m from and this time he will most definitely be saying “from Philadelphia.” Morrison gave love to his coaches: Fred Jenkins at ABC gym in North Philly and Brad Daddis at Daddis Fight Camps in South Philly.
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WEC 48 will be broadcast live on pay-per-view this Saturday night at 10pm ($45 charge). Spike TV will be showing two undercards at 9pm- Alex Karalexis v Anthony Pettis in the 155 pound devision and Leonard Garcia v Chan Sung Jung in the 145 pound devision. The pay-per-view will also be shown at The Fox and the Hound at 15th and Spruce. As of press time, they were not sure if they would charge a $5 cover or show the fights for free.
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