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Home» Posts tagged "Andy Main"

Andy Main Creating History & Re-Writing The Past

Posted on November 3, 2015 by fighter in martial arts

Over the course of any athlete’s career there will inevitably be moments he wishes he could redo.  Missed opportunities, off days, miscalculations, zigging instead of zagging – those salty recollections that lead to sleepless nights and the ever present longing for a second chance to rewrite history with the clarity of hindsight.  Andy Main knows that feeling all too well.  He was given the chance of a lifetime with The Ultimate Fighter.  However, he was in the right place at the wrong time.  Barely 21 years old, Andy was the youngest cast member in TUF history and being just a year into his professional career he was also one of the greenest. andy tuf After earning his place in the house with a first round submission he fell victim to crafty veteran Kyle Watson and he was quickly erased from the collective memory of MMA fans and UFC matchmakers alike.  In the years that passed Andy would achieve many accolades – earning his Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt, opening his own academy and collecting MMA victories both locally and internationally.  However, despite these successes he was haunted by the worst three words in any athlete’s vocabulary – woulda, coulda, shouda.  Although time travel is still reserved for the realm of science fiction, occasionally fate will smile on us and offer a second chance.  Andy would be afforded his shot at redemption at Pancrase 270 as he would face a familiar foe in the organizations featherweight champion Nam Phan.

Nam

Main first met the heavy handed Vietnamese fighter as a fellow member of team Koshcheck on TUF 12.  Andy and Nam developed a friendship bonding over their mutual love of martial arts, Dragon Ball Z and Japanese culture. Unlike Andy, Nam was a battle tested veteran when he joined the cast of TUF.  His experience lead him to success in the competition.  Nam scored multiple TKO victories and became the sole member of team Koshcheck to advance to the semi-finals and ultimately earned a spot on the UFC’s roster.  For years Main watched as Nam grew in popularity and earned multiple fight of the night honors in the world’s top MMA organization.  The two would reunite when Nam reached out to Main with a unique proposition, a chance to fight for “team Nam Phan” in Pancrase.  Andy jumped at the opportunity, fighting in Japan had been cluttering his bucket list for years.  I joined Nam and Andy for the Pancrase adventure.  Andy would go on to earn a stellar victory and be invited back to compete against some of the top fighters Pancrase had to offer.  At the time, the idea of Nam and Andy squaring off seemed like a virtual impossibility.  Andy was fighting at lightweight in Pancrase and Nam at bantamweight in the UFC.  However, after each shuffled weight classes and Nam moved on from the UFC they found themselves on a collision course. 
team nam

After his first bout in Pancrase Andy had told the organization’s president that he would one day be fighting for the King of Pancrase belt.  Pancrase did not make Andy’s journey to the title easy, throwing successive top contenders his way.  However, after four trips to the cage Andy remained unbeaten and earned the number 1 contender slot and a title shot, a title held by Nam Phan who had captured the crown just months earlier.  The prospect of fighting Nam presented conflicting emotions for Andy.  On the one hand, Nam was an acquaintance and the one who gave him the opportunity to fight in Pancrase in the first place.  On the other hand, this was Andy’s shot to prove he was more than what he showed back on TUF 12.  A chance to remove that bad taste from his mouth that lingered since his exodus from the Ultimate Fighter and the perfect litmus test to see if he was indeed worthy of fighting in the UFC. To his credit, Nam has never been one to cherry pick opponents or shy from a challenge.  Nam accepted the bout and it became the main event for Pancrase 270.   

This would be Andy’s toughest fight to date.  Nam had been through wars with some of the toughest fighters in the UFC.  Additionally, he was riding a win streak and looked to be resurging.  However, Andy was as confident as ever.  He knew there was one massive comparative advantage – jiu-jitsu.  Although Nam was a black belt himself, Andy knew he had a few tricks up his sleeve that Nam wouldn’t be ready for. If he could avoid Nam’s trademark bodyshot and overhand right Andy was certain he could bring the bout to the ground and execute his game plan.

In preparation for the bout Andy ramped up his aggression. In his eyes, winning alone would not be enough.  He wanted this to be his showcase fight, a performance that would make everyone in the upper echelon of mixed martial arts stand and take notice.  Halfway through his camp he discovered that the event would be broadcast on UFC Fight Pass.  He would finally have the platform to show why he deserved to be mentioned among the top featherweights outside the UFC.

barnet weigh insA nice part of fighting in Japan is the sense of camaraderie you develop with the other North American fighters.  This time around we shared our trip with the CSW fighters Colleen Schneider, Victor Henry and their legendary corner man Josh Barnett.  Being around a fellow English speaker who is facing the same adversity is a source of comfort.  Victor and I exchanged Bill Burr jokes while Colleen and I discussed black metal while she pointed out the best spots for vegetarian entrees.  I’m not someone who is often apprehensive, but meeting Josh Barnett was certainly intimidating.  He has a look of intensity and a stern gaze, so serious it made me wonder if his former moniker of “baby faced” was supposed to be ironic.  Adding to his mystique was the still fresh bruising from his grueling battle against Roy Nelson which took place just days earlier.  In reality though, once he felt comfortable around us, Josh was very friendly.  He told us old stories of backstage confrontations at Pride, his experiences training across the globe and his iconic fights with legends of the sport.  While back stage he even took the time to answer my questions about leg locks and give me a mini seminar of sorts.

andy main 1The weigh-ins were interesting.  I randomly ran into two old training partners, one from Connecticut and another from New York.  We hadn’t seen each other in years; Japan was the last place I thought our paths would cross.  Nam was cordial at the weigh-ins, even joking with the Japanese press telling them Andy was notorious for stealing women’s underwear.  There was an uneasy moment when Josh recognized the American commentator Dan “The Wolfman” Theodore the two had a less than pleasant exchange about some online claims and remarks made by Dan.  Cooler heads prevailed, but had things escalated I don’t think there was anyone there who could have restrained Josh, despite the room being populated wall to wall with professional fighters. 

Fight night we had a new addition to our entourage.  Andy’s brother and fellow stud BJJ black belt Mike Main would join us in the corner.  Mike is notoriously relaxed and easy going.  His calm demeanor helped settle my growing anxiety.  I also had someone to drill leg drags and heel hooks with to pass the time.  Backstage Josh provided a soundtrack which ranged from blistering speed metal to the best of James Brown.  The fights began and we were off to a great start.  Colleen earned a decision victory in a back and for the war and Victor easily cruised to a submission victory.  Following his victory, Victor was unexpectedly greeted by his father, who on a whim decided last minute to book a flight from California to Tokyo.  His father said he made the decision after thinking about how many of his friends had suffered heart attacks and he didn’t want to go to his grave never having seen his son fight in Japan.  The positivity in the room made us grow in confidence. 

Before final preparation Andy, Mike and I went over strategy.  The game plan was to stick and move on the feet and look for an opening for the takedown.  We assumed Nam would expose his back immediately in an effort to get back to his feet.  Andy was very confident he would be able to use that opening to transition to the twister, a move he was certain Nam would be unprepared for.  Nam is a dangerous, but predictable fighter.  We knew he would bring hard hooks and big overhands and look to rip the body.  Although there was danger, we had no fear of the unknown. 

The fight began and Andy began executing the game plan perfectly.  He was confusing Nam with his movement and picking his off with shots from the outside.  A well timed single leg resulted in Nam immediately giving his back.  Andy locked in his control and although the twister didn’t present itself he was able to land hard clean shots at will. andy td Due to Pancrase’s open scoring we knew all judges had given us the opening round.  Nam came out like a ball of fire in the second round; desperate to keep his title he began throwing heavy shots.  Nam landed a hard head kick which made us jump out of our seats for a moment, but Andy’s chin is strong and he shrugged the shot off with little sign of slowing down.  Once again Andy was able to get the takedown and work Nam over on the ground earning him the round on the judges’ score cards.  In round 3 Andy really began opening up and landing at will.  He even scored a brutal standing elbow from a set up I showed him just an hour earlier while killing time in the back.  He once again took Nam off his feet and began to lock in the twister.  twistAs he locked around Nam’s head everything seemed perfect.  He began cranking and contorting Nam’s spine, but Nam refused to tap.  In 14 years as a pro Nam had never once been submitted and he made it clear he would not go gently into that good night.  A grimace and a brief yell of pain were all we could get before Nam willed his way out.  We would see round 4.  At this point Andy had won every round, a decision loss was a mathematical impossibility.  However, slowing down was not in the cards. Andy marched forward aggressively and Nam looked completely exhausted.  In a surprise moment Nam initiated the takedown.  Andy locked in a kimura on the way down and seamlessly transitioned to the triangle.  There would be no grandiose escape this time.  No amount of will or determination could keep Nam breathing.  Recognizing the end had finally come, he tapped out.  Andy Main was now the King of Pancrase.

win

Overwhelmed with emotion Andy soaked in the moment and was near tears as the belt was placed around his waist.  This was simultaneously the final realization of a hard fought goal as well as the funeral song for Andythe regrets of the past.  Andy had shown that now his time had arrived.  Gone was the wide eyed kid who bit off more than he could chew and in his place stood a battled hardened champion who now sits upon the thrown of MMA royalty.  In his post-fight speech Andy made clear his intentions.  He demanded to fight in the UFC.  In the interest of all parties concern it is best that his demands be met.             

Precision MMA

Precision MMA

Andy Main, Andy Main MMA, Andy Main UFC, Brian McLaughlin coach, Brian McLaughlin MMA, Pancrase 270, Pure MMA No Comments Read More

Big in Japan – Andy Main and Brian McLaughlin at Pancrase 256 (Precision MMA Pure MMA)

Posted on February 6, 2014 by fighter in Precision MMA
Precision MMA

Precision MMA

2014 has been busy for me.  Although the year is still in its infancy I’ve traveled from Poughkeepsie to Las Vegas, Atlanta, and now Tokyo, along the way sharing in surreal victories and heartbreaking defeats. The mixed martial arts world is a roller coaster of experiences.  Fights are by their very nature chaotic and unpredictable.  As martial artists we attempt to tame the beast of uncertainty through rigorous training and preparation.  Yet, despite our best efforts there are no guarantees and fortunes rise and fall with each punch thrown. Although I’ve often times felt the cold realities of this phenomenon; as I boarded the plane for Tokyo I thought to myself, “we’ve got this in the bag”.      

Andy vs AkiraStepping into the ring was Andy Main, a long and lean southpaw who could tap out most men with a stern glance.  He was riding a three fight winning streak, including a victory over Hiroki Aoki, a feared top ten Pancrase fighter.  His opponent this time around was Akira Okada.  Akira was heralded as the top pupil of Japanese MMA legend Takanori Gomi.  Similar to “the fireball kid” Akira earned his victories through vicious power.  He’d throw hard and often, and on more than one occasion left his opponent wearing a crimson mask of his own blood.  However, his power and fierceness left him wild.  A precise fighter like Andy could navigate the turbulent sea of aggression and find many ports to victory.  There were other factors on our side as well – Andy was half a foot taller with a sizeable reach advantage.  His movements were faster and more dynamic. Akira moved forward in a leaping fashion, Andy’s footwork was sure to leave him lost and confused.  Andy had also sharpened his jiu-jitsu, adding new submission entries from his already dangerous guard.  Every time I ran the numbers the arithmetic yielded the same result, an Andy Main victory.

Precision MMA

Precision MMA

Boarding the plane felt familiar.  Things were going to be easier this time around I thought. We were prepared for the marathon flight and jetlag.  We knew where to train and how to traverse the landscape.  The ring would be familiar and the unique rules routine.  While the lack of novelty was comforting, it also made the experience less magical.  We had become well acquainted with Japanese mores; episodes of culture shock were few and far between.  This trip was less about exploring a foreign land and more about taking care of business. 

After getting settled we went for our fist pre-fight workout.  Since Andy was fighting at 155, a weight class above his featherweight home, his energy was high and we were able to train hard.  We rolled for close to 30 minutes straight and I had to fight for every inch of progress.  Andy’s transitions were sharp and the 15 hours of flight had not robbed him of one ounce of strength.  We went over a small handful of techniques and scenarios and then met the media for photo ops and interviews. 
Later in the evening I wanted to get some training in so we made a trip to Tri-force Gotanda, a spectacular BJJ school that I had visited during my last trip to Tokyo.  We reviewed some Judo throws and then it was time for rolling.  I expected Andy to be a bit slower considering our earlier training session, but he was every bit as fast and left his training partners scratching their heads and gasping for air.  I knew he was without a doubt in fight shape.

Precision MMA at Tri-force Gotanda

Precision MMA at Tri-force Gotanda

The following day was weigh-ins.  I was surprise when I saw MMA legend Yuki Kondo step on the scale.  I had no idea he was fighting on the card. Kondo had tooth and nail battles with the likes of Semmy Schilt and Dan Henderson.  He famously stopped the MMA hopes of BJJ legend Saulo Ribeiro and even took on Tito Ortiz for the UFC title.  Even more amazing was that Andy had higher billing than him on the card.  Kondo shook my hand and obliged my requests for photos with admirable humility.

Yuki Kondo and Precision MMA Coach Brian McLaughlin

Yuki Kondo and Precision MMA Coach Brian McLaughlin

Finally fight day was upon us, we followed the routine of “hurry up and wait”.  Pancrase events are marathons with up to 30 bouts on a single card with talent ranging from aspiring new comers to mixed martial arts royalty.  Andy was the co-main event, which meant we had some time to kill.  We alternated between waxing philosophical about deep existential mysteries of the universe and trading stories about crazy ex-girlfriends.

As fight time approached we rehearsed the gameplan and I went about reassuring Andy of his success (which is as much for me as it is for him).  When I heard the familiar sound of his walkout music I knew we’d reached that point of no return and made our way towards the ring.  The bell sounded and Akira rushed forward, Andy rattled off a three punch combination finding the mark with each strike.  After tasting Andy’s strikes Akira rushed in for the takedown.  I could tell Akira’s strength and power were alive and well for this bout.  Immediately Andy tied Akira up, taking away all his offensive options.  Akira drove his head forward pressuring Andy, but this only made him more vulnerable to attack.  Andy shifted his hips and began maneuvering into position for armbars and triangles.  After several close calls Akira abandoned all offense and made survival his sole concern.  The round came to a conclusion and I assured Andy that his strategy was working, but he’d need to open up more in order to secure the submission.  I also noted that Akira had unusually small arms, making the triangle a better option than the armbar.  Andy nodded and paced in the corner awaiting the start of the second round.  A unique part of Pancrase is their open scoring where fighters know exactly what the judges render after each round.  Two judges scored the round even, one judge gave the round to Andy; making us ahead by the smallest of margins. 

Precision MMA

Precision MMA

Akira was aware he was behind and the threat of defeat clearly awakened a dormant sense of urgency in him.  The echo of the bell was still in the air when Akira leapt forward with a thunderous punch.  The shot landed flush but Andy clinched and fired back a knee.  They were chest to chest now, which negated Andy’s reach advantage and gave Akira the window he had been waiting for.  Akira fired off rapid fire hooks, uppercuts and knees finding their mark over and over again.  Andy was caught off guard but bit down on his mouth piece and began firing back.  The fight devolved into a pure slugfest where Andy was taking two to give one in a battle of pure power – a battle that Akira was clearly winning.  At one point Andy stumbled and Akira pounced on him, driving him to the ground and punching with murderous intentions.  As he passed to the mount I was screaming for Andy to tie him up and regroup, but I could tell he wasn’t firing on all cylinders, as the strikes began to add up the referee seemed moments away from stopping the fight.  A trickle of blood ran from the corner of Andy’s eye and sweat poured from his body.  He was faced with a decision, he could lay down and accept defeat or he could move his hips and stay in the fight.  He chose the latter. Andy recovered his guard and threw up a triangle attempt, although Akira wasn’t in real jeopardy symbolically this told him that he was still in a fight and nothing short of death was going to dissuade Andy Main.

Precision MMA

Precision MMA

akira

Andy made his way back to the corner and I attempted to reassure him that Akira was exhausted and he could still win the fight if he kept his guard up and fought in the center of the ring.  I ignored the scores and before the start of the round screamed “You can still win this!”

Andy got off the stool and marched toward Akira with confident determination.  He looked desperate to return the favor.  They traded punches much like the previous round, but this time Andy’s strikes had steam on them and Akira’s were losing power.  A big knee sent Akira staggering back into the ropes and just like that the momentum had officially changed hands.  Akira powered a takedown, undaunted Andy began firing off submissions left and right.  Despite being on his back Andy was clearly in control of the fight.  Each successive armbar and triangle attempt was closer than the one before until it happened…a fully locked in triangle.  The figure four was perfect, the arm was across the carotid artery, the leg was hooked to prevent the escape – everything was in place.  Akira struggled, twisted to his side, stacked his weight forward, furiously attempted to posture, nothing was releasing Andy’s hold, there would be no escape.  I was elated, we had survived the most turbulent of fortunes and now victory lay in our lap.  Akira made one thing clear though, he would not be tapping.  If we were to steal victory from him it would have to be pried from his cold dead hand.  Just before the final second ticked away I saw Akira slump over, I thought for sure he was unconscious, but as the final bell sound he rose still in the fight our fate would now be decided by three judges. andy triangle

As a fighter you become a utilitarian.  Success, failure, sadness or happiness is dependent on one result – victory.  Absolute success and abject failure are a consequence of three people’s opinion.  However, in the moments before the scores were tallied I couldn’t have cared less about the decision.  What Andy had accomplished in the ring that night was a victory of magnificent heights regardless of the callous number system attributed to his name.

Both fighters made their way to the center of the ring. Eyes closed and fists clenched, enduring the uncertainty like a title wave, the decision was read…DRAW.  The anticipation met a seemingly anti-climatic conclusion, there was no jubilation, no pounding of chests or devastating remorse – both fighters shook hands and walked away bewildered and dismayed. 

Precision MMA

Precision MMA

Fighting isn’t easy, stay with it long enough and it will bring you face to face with your greatest fears.  Physical fears of fatigue, pain and injury are the obvious dangers that occupy the concern of the uninitiated.  However, the truly terrifying phobias a pugilist must confront are those of failure, inadequacy, and cowardice.  Along with these perils fighting brings truth, it shines an illuminating light on the character of those daring enough to step into the ring.  The greatest victory a fighter can earn comes not from the external validation of fame or fortune, but of self mastery.  Andy ventured to Japan in search of victory and although that eluded him, along the way he earned something much more valuable.        

Precision MMA

Precision MMA

Andy Main, Brian McLaughlin, Brian McLaughlin MMA, Hudson Valley MMA, Pancrase 256, Precision Mixed Martial Arts, Precision MMA, Precision MMa (LaGrange) No Comments Read More

Hello Japan!

Posted on August 5, 2013 by fighter in Hudson Valley MMA
Hudson Valley MMA

Hudson Valley MMA

Kids today don’t know how good they’ve got it.  Yes, the closer I get to 30 the more of a grumpy curmudgeon I become, but in this instance I am one hundred percent correct.  Fight master, Ultimate fighter, UFC on Fox, UFC on Fuel, FS1, UFC Unleashed, World Series of Fighting, Bellator, Inside MMA and if you’re really desperate you can always tune to the Spanish station and watch gladitorius del UFC – there’s almost too much MMA these days.  Watching elite fighters put their skills on display is an everyday occurrence.  However, once upon a time UFC events were pay per view only and often months apart.  If you wanted to satiate your MMA desire you had to befriend a Direct TV subscriber and wait for the US broadcast of Pride Fighting Championships.  In high school I would have been best friends with Charles Manson if it meant I could watch Kazushi Sakuraba fight Renzo Gracie. 

Hudson Valley MMA

Hudson Valley MMA

Japanese MMA was special.  Pride, Pancrase, K1 and Shooto all had a special flair.  They were contested in pristine rings with over the top pageantry and showmanship.  Mysterious international talent was coupled with wild rules, scoring and mixed weight super-fights. The silent crowd that appreciated submissions as much as striking was also a welcome alternative to the inebriated “just bleed” crowd that populated American MMA events.  

Fighting in Japan was a dream of mine.  During my MMA career I scratched off plenty of bucket list items.  I fought for Zuffa, made it to the Ultimate Fighter and won a few oversized MMA belts – but I never made it to the Land of the Rising Sun. 

Fortune smiled on me though after sparring at the AMA Fight Club on day when my friend Andy Main shared some exciting news. “I’m fighting in Japan” Andy said with his trademark calm demeanor.  Without hesitation I told him, “If you fight, I’m there”.  Finally, the opportunity to experience Japanese MMA first hand had arrived and in Pancrase no less.  Anyone with an appreciation for MMA history knows the esteem place Pancrase holds in the mixed martial arts world – an event that pre-dates the UFC and launched the careers of pioneers like Bas Rutten, the Shamrock brothers, Yuki Kondo and Matt Hume. 

Hudson Valley MMA

Hudson Valley MMA

Andy Main was slated to take on Hiroki “AB” Aoki as part of Team Nam Phan vs Team Pancrase.  Originally a number of fighters were slated to represent Nam Phan, but through a process of attrition Andy became the sole representative for Nam.  Andy and Nam knew each other as teammates on season 12 of The Ultimate Fighter.  Andy has been the best kept secret in northeast MMA for the past few years.  A slick fighter giving top UFC fighters fits in training who ran into a bad streak of illness and injuries.  Andy would prep for a fight when shingles, mono, flu or vitamin deficiencies would strike – if there was an illness Andy had it.  I used to joke that I knew cancer patients healthier than him.  Lately though, it seemed like he had turned a corner.  He climbed back into the cage for CFFC and put on a clinic en route to a first round submission victory.  His striking had caught up to his jiu-jitsu and he was looking dangerous in all areas. 

His opponent was tricky.  Aside from having to travel behind enemy lines, the fight was also going to be contested at 155, one weight class above Andy’s normal fighting weight.  For the first time he wasn’t going to have the height advantage either as his opponent was long and lean.  Experience also played into AB’s favor with him having more than twice as many fights as Andy.  If any of this bothered Andy you’d never know it.  He put his nose to the grind stone and whenever the topic of Pancrase came up he spoke with an assertive confidence that let me know he expected to walk away with his hand raised.

Andy Main

Andy Main

The only stumbling block seemed to be the fact that the fight would be contested inside a boxing ring as opposed to a cage.  Most of our training at AMA Fight Club prepares us for walls and cages rather than ropes.  Fortunately, my Hudson Valley MMA gym Precision Mixed Martial Arts has a full sized boxing ring.  Andy made weekly trips up to Poughkeepsie, NY to familiarize himself with the ring and pick up some coaching tips from me at the same time.  As a student Andy is ideal.  He’s receptive to feedback and constructive criticism and makes better mid-round adjustments than almost any fighter I’ve worked with.  While coaching him at times I almost felt like I was playing a video game and he was my character.

Finally, camp came to a close and it was time to fly out.  I extended my stay longer so I would get some extra training (put the $1,800 plane ticket to good use).  After Andy arrived we met in Shinigawa decided it would be good to get a sweat going after being cooped up in a plane for 14 hours.  On way to the local Gold’s Gym we got our first taste of Japanese culture shock.  Andy is something of a boy scout. He’s a vegetarian; he grew up doing mission work for his local church and runs a business with his little brother.  You’re more likely to find him at a dog park than a bar.  However, he is covered in tattoos.  His most prominent ones are portraits of his mother and father and an inscription reminding him that he is his brother’s keeper.  Not exactly skulls and cross bones.  However, once the woman behind the counter saw the slightest bit of ink peeking out from the sleeve of his sweat shirt she treated him like he was in the Hell’s Angels.  She insisted we leave immediately.  After a series of begging and pleading (90% of which was likely lost in translation) we were allowed to stay.  Apparently, every Gold’s Gym in Tokyo comes equipped with a fully stocked MMA gym.  We got a good workout in and I could feel that in spite of the arduous journey Andy retained his strength. 

Hudson Valley MMA

Hudson Valley MMA

The following afternoon was open workouts and media day.  We met Nam Phan and headed over to a different Gold’s Gym to get some training in.  We reviewed some last minute technical strategies and got after it hard.  Andy was feeling stronger today and it showed.  Once Andy was finished training I got some good flow rolling in with Nam and was impressed.  He even showed me a few tips for landing his signature liver shot.  It’s too bad we didn’t have more time to train together.  The Japanese media was interesting.  They were always looking at things from a pro-wrestling angle, trying to stir the pot and get Andy to say something controversial that would fire up the opposition.  We were able to find out that everyone had painted Andy as a pure jiu-jitsu fighter.  We were excited since striking was a big part of our game plan, we figured the element of surprise would be on our side.

Weight cutting wasn’t going to be an issue.  Andy was walking at 155 despite eating regularly.  We knew we would be giving up size, but stereotypically the Japanese aren’t big weight cutters so we weren’t too concerned.     

Hudson Valley MMA

Hudson Valley MMA

The weigh-ins were supposed to be a non-issue, but became more dramatic during the rules meeting.  Going into this fight we were under the impression that it would basically be contested under unified rules sans elbows.  We quickly found out that we were mistaken.  Each time we spoke to someone the rules changed.  By the time we were done asking soccer kicks, stomps and knees to a grounded fighter were all legal – it was like old school Pride rules.  Fighting for sport is something of a chaotic endeavor.  The one thing I try to do as a coach and athlete to mitigate the chaos is to be aware of all the variables and prepare my athletes accordingly.  These last minute revelations did not sit well with me.  I started going over new strategies and frantically trying to make sense of the new potential dangers we faced in the fight.  Andy shared none of my concerns.  He looked at me and said “Whatever, it’s a fight”.  I wasn’t sure if his resolve was the result of confidence or insanity, but it let me know he was dialed in and nothing was going to change that. 

The weigh-ins also saw drama when fellow US fighter Amber Brown struggled to cut the final pounds in order to make her 105 lbs. weight class.  Seeing how lean and dry she appeared I wasn’t certain she could do it.  Simply walking up a small hill on way to the scale was a tall order for Amber, but there was a lot of resolve in her small frame and she made the weight.       

Hudson Valley MMA

Hudson Valley MMA

Following some epic meals, sight-seeing and wandering it was game day.  Unlike cards in the US which might have 10 or so bouts, Pancrase had stacked 18 fights on the card with Andy being the main event, which meant a whole lot of waiting.  As the bout neared closer I noticed a few things that were different in Japan.  No one watched me while I wrapped Andy’s hands, a process that is traditionally very closely scrutinized by US athletic commissions.  Also, none of the fighters were drug tested.  In the US something as pedestrian as a sleeping pill can result in a failed drug test and hefty fines.  There was no pre-fight physical or doctor exam.  Finally, no Vaseline was applied prior to fights and there were seemingly no cut men in the corners.  Many of these rituals are never noted by the casual observer, but for me the absence of these pre-fight traditions made me feel like I was in the Wild West. 

After a quick warmup it we stepped into the on-deck circle.  Nam and I peeked our heads around the curtain to watch Amber’s fight.  We got to know Amber a little in the days prior and were really rooting for her.  Things weren’t looking good, she was eating hard leg kicks and had a cut bleeding right over her eye.  She rallied in the second round, but was clearly not going to be winning a decision.  Time was ticking away with Amber on her back when she threw up a perfect armbar from guard.  She put everything into it and scored the submission.  Amber’s victory gave us some positive energy to fuel off and I suddenly felt more at ease as the pre-fight promos played for Andy’s fight.  There was a long pro-wrestling-esque montage that set the stage for Andy vs AB.  Finally Andy’s entrance music played and it was go time.  Andy (and his brother Mikey, a fighter himself) walk out to “Some Nights” by Fun.  The song is a light hearted sing along track.  It helps break some of the tension and anxiety surrounding the imminent battle.  AB destroyed this calm ambiance by walking out to the most abrasive screaming death metal I’ve ever heard in my life.  The juxtaposition was borderline comical. 

Immediately prior to the walkout a new wrinkle immerged when officials told Nam and I that the fight would feature “open scoring”.  Meaning that judges would indicate who was winning at the conclusion of each round.  I decided not to tell Andy about this new discovery since I didn’t want to break his concentration just prior to fighting. 

At long last, the bell sounded and round 1 began.  Andy began executing the game plan to a “t”. He marched out, controlled the center and began lacing AB with lightning quick jabs and crosses.  Each punch was snapping AB’s head back.  Andy was being mindful of his defense keeping his head moving the whole time, being aggressive by not wreck less.  AB decided to abandon the striking exchange and moved into the clinch.  I could tell he was strong here, but Andy was controlling well with his wizzer.  AB made a quick move to Andy’s back and secured hooks for a brief moment, but Andy countered with a Sakuraba like Kimura and turned into the guard.  Now ontop Andy worked some ground and pound and looked to pass after thwarting a few upkicks.  Taking side control Andy landed some knees to the body before the round closed.

Hudson Valley MMA

Hudson Valley MMA

The fight was going perfect, Andy had rocked AB who was now cut and clearly won the round.  I told Andy to use and underhook rather than a wizzer to stop AB from coming behind him and to mix some uppercuts into his combinations since AB was looking down to avoid the 1-2’s.

Round 2 began and Andy once again dominated the boxing.  He mixed in the uppercuts perfectly and followed them up with huge knees.  AB clinched in desperation and Andy pummeled to an underhook and hit a flawless Uchi Mata sending his opponent head over heels crashing to the mat.  I thought Andy might just finish the fight here, but AB showed this would be no easy victory by attacking off his back.  AB locked in a triangle that had me heart skip a beat, Andy defended well by posturing but found himself in a kimura quickly thereafter.  I was confident that the submission wouldn’t be finished, but worried that if the round ended this way they would award it to AB.  Andy solved the riddle though and escaped to side control and then immediately mounted.  With 15 seconds we told him to pull the trigger and he finished the round raining down strong punches.  We were now up 2 rounds to 0.

Hudson Valley MMA

Hudson Valley MMA

Going into the 3rd I just wanted Andy to stay out of the clinch.  We knew he could knock AB out if he made it a striking battle.  I could tell Andy was fatigued, but far from gassed.  The third round began much like the prior two with Andy landing clean strikes almost at will.  Right as a knockout seemed imminent the ref called a halt to the action to check AB’s cut.  Initially I thought this would benefit us since Andy could catch his breath, but the break was so long that it really allowed AB to recover and get back in the fight.  AB pushed forward and secured a body lock.  He hit a bear hug and landed on top of Andy.  As Andy went to shrimp AB took his back and locked in a tight body triangle.  Andy defended well, but wasn’t able to move his hips out to escape. Time was on our side though, if we could simply survive the next 2 minutes we would take home a victory.  At one point AB had him completely flattened out and things looked bad, but Andy showed his heart and gutted out an escape.  To his credit AB landed some shots before Andy secured closed guard, but once he did he immediately threw up a tight armbar, AB defended well and the round came to a close.  The open scoring allowed us to breathe a sigh of relief during the announcement – Andy earned the decision. 

Hudson Valley MMA

Hudson Valley MMA

Nam and I went crazy and ran to congratulate Andy, who was on the verge of throwing up.  Fortunately, he was able to hold it together, but he told us he had pulled something in his rib which is why the final round was so dramatic.  After a few pictures and autographs we headed back to the locker room victorious.

         
Following the fight Andy posted this:

“Now the thank you’s! HUGE thank you to my coach and training partner Brian McLaughlin for making the trip to Japan with me and preparing me for this fight. Big thanks to Nam Phan for setting it up. Thanks to everyone at Pancrase for giving me the opportunity. Thank you Coach Mike Constantino and all my teammates at AMA Fight Club, I will be back asap to help you all get ready for your next bouts. Also the guys at Precision MMA and my Instructor Yanni Hronakis for helping me prepare. Thank you to my students and family at Pure MMA you guys don’t realize what you all mean to me. Thank you Alex Kennedy and Melvis Figueroa for helping cover classes while I was away. Thank you my Mom and Pop for the ongoing support. Thank you to my amazing supportive girlfriend Maggie Krol. And thank you to my brother Mikey who keeps me honest and keeps me pushing forward whether he knows it or not. I fight for you all and it makes victory that much sweeter”
       

Hudson Valley MMA

Hudson Valley MMA

 

Interested in becoming the next Hudson Valley MMA champion?  Check out Precision MMA FREE for 30 days call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com

Andy Main, Brian McLaughlin, Hudson Valley Mixed Martial Arts, Hudson Valley MMA, Poughkeepsie MMA, Precision MMA No Comments Read More

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