Style Wars: An exclusive interview with Houston Alexander
by Jesse Holland on Jul 3, 2007 2:48 PM EDT
67 comments
By Jesse Holland
Houston Alexander knows how to make headlines.
His first round destruction of heavily-favored Keith Jardine at UFC 71 caught a lot of people by surprise.
Not Houston.
As expected, the armchair elite came out in force following the victory. Many either downplayed it as a fluke win over a mediocre opponent, or pegged him as just another one-hit wonder who will soon be back to fighting UFC castaways in unknown promotions.
"That stuff doesn't bother me," remarked a stoic Alexander.
And I believe him.
I caught up with the Nebraskan shortly after a light training session. I got the sense that his cautious and guarded manner was perhaps a feeling-out process of sorts.
When our discussion became a little less formal, he opened up and spoke passionately about his life and what mattered to him most as a person.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Houston, thank you for taking the time to check in with UFCmania.
Houston Alexander: No problem man, anytime.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Tell me about the end of the Jardine fight. After the stoppage you were standing over him and kind of barking at him. Was that retribution for the comments Jardine made about you leading up to the fight or was that just adrenaline and emotion?
Houston Alexander: That was just emotion. It was nothing personal, it was more of a gladiator thing. It was just how I felt at the time.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): A lot of UFC fans don't know you but you've been around the fight game for a long time.
Houston Alexander: I've been fighting for seven years straight. I probably have over 200 fights in my career. There's a large fighting circuit that most people never see or get exposed to because they're smaller promotions. Especially in the Midwest.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): What would you say your winning percentage is in those fights?
Houston Alexander: I'd say 90%.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): With 200 fights I would think you would have a laundry list of injuries.
Houston Alexander: No, not really. I broke my hand once from punching too hard, but other than that I've been injury free. When you KO people in under a minute you stay out of trouble. That's what my goal is, end it quick and go home healthy.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How do you go that long and with that many fights without picking up a nickname somewhere along the line?
Houston Alexander: Oh I have a lot of nicknames. Which one do you want?
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Not the one the ladies call you, give me something fight related.
Houston Alexander: "The Assassin" Alexander. Snocky called me that once because I would just come to the cage, eliminate my opponent and leave.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Uh...Snocky?
Houston Alexander: Everyone in the Midwest knows Snocky. He's an announcer that does a lot of Monte Cox shows.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Your fight against Todd Alee back in March stands out because it was ruled a No Contest. Tell me what happened there.
Houston Alexander: Yeah man, that guy just wanted out. He cried foul. He told the ref I hit him in the head with an illegal knee. That wasn't the head that was the neck. The neck is legal. He was getting his ass whooped and I guess he got tired of getting beat on so he looked for a way out.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Seven years and 200 fights, I'll bet it feels pretty good to be in the UFC, especially with a huge win over a contender like Jardine.
Houston Alexander: It does feel good to get to the UFC and get the recognition I feel I deserve. Man I've been working hard for a long time. It ain't easy when you have six kids. That's a lot of mouths to feed, especially when you have custody.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): You're scheduled to fight Alessio Sakara at UFC 75. Does that feel like a step backwards after the Jardine win?
Houston Alexander: Sakara? Is that the Italian guy? I don't think I'm fighting him. I think the guy I'm facing next is Polish. Check with my manager Monte Cox on that.
(Note: UFCmania confirmed with Cox that his next opponent is indeed Sakara).
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How did the Forrest Griffin rumor get started? Was that fight in the works or was it just talk?
Houston Alexander: I have no idea how this stuff gets started. I don't know man there's a UFC blog that has me doing this and doing that, they have me fighting people before I even get into the cage. I wouldn't mind fighting him, but it was nothing more than a rumor.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): What is your contract status with the UFC?
Houston Alexander: I think we just negotiated my contract. Four fights. Check with Monte Cox (It's actually a new three-fight deal).
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Do you feel pressure now to prove you're more than a one-hit wonder?
Houston Alexander: I don't feel any pressure. This is my job and I do it well. I punch in and punch out. My mental game is intact. I'm always prepared. I train three times a day, seven days a week.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): That's a lot of training! What do you do when you're not training?
Houston Alexander: I have a radio show with NRG Media that focuses on independent music. A lot of hip-hop and R&B. It's on Power 106.9 in Omaha.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): What are your goals in the UFC? Does being thirty-five limit your timeframe to accomplish them?
Houston Alexander: I have five strong years left in this sport. I don't even think about age. I'm in great shape. Look at Couture. I have a lot of respect for that guy. My goal is to win the belt, whoever it's on. I'm not gonna settle for anything less.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Let's say the UFC offered you a six-fight contract with guaranteed fights against some of the top guys like Liddell, Rampage and Shogun. Then let's say Bodog offers you a six-fight contract but all of your opponents are either inexperienced or journeymen. Now assume Bodog offers you four times the salary that the UFC does. If you had to choose...
Houston Alexander: Oh man that's tough. Of course I want to test myself. I enjoy fighting. But I also have six kids, and I want them to go to college. I hope that I can reach a point where I get the best of both worlds.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Are your kids your biggest supporters?
Houston Alexander: Them and the State of Nebraska. Nebraska is on my back 100%.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Name a fighter of UFC past or present that you've admired or tried to model yourself after.
Houston Alexander: Josh Neer. That guy's got a lot of balls. We fought on the same circuit before and I always enjoyed watching him fight. He's a real fighter.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): I agree. I think the Guillard fight said a lot about the kind of fighter Josh Neer is. Where do you rank yourself among the light-heavyweights?
Houston Alexander: I'm not sure. Rankings don't mean much to me because they can change after one fight. I just hope that I've at least gotten respect. A respect ranking is all I want.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Did you always want to be a fighter? What were your aspirations as a kid?
Houston Alexander: I grew up in East St. Louis so I wanted to play baseball as a kid. Then I moved to Nebraska and became a football fan and wanted to play football. But I've always been fighting. Growing up in East St. Louis was hard. You had to fight there.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Do you have any formal martial arts training?
Houston Alexander: Boxing and wrestling is all I did in an organized setting.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): How do you plan to defend against good jiu-jitsu? That has to be on your mind in a weight class with guys like Shogun in it.
Houston Alexander: I'm comfortable with it. I think every style has the same core. It's all about changing and positioning, transitions. It flows easily. I'm working on my Muay Thai with Willy Stewart and Curly Alexander is handling my wrestling.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Curly Alexander? Any relation?
Houston Alexander: He's my cousin. We train together at Mick Doyle's Martial Arts.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): You mentioned being a fan of baseball and football. Did you ever pursue either sport in high school or college?
Houston Alexander: I wanted to but I kind of went in a different direction. I don't think I've told anyone this before, but I was accepted into the Savannah School of Art & Design in Georgia. I was all set to go and then my daughter was born. I just couldn't leave her. I couldn't.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): You have to be pretty talented artistically if you were going to SSAD, tell me about your creative side.
Houston Alexander: I did a lot of graffiti art. I still do. In fact I'm doing a mural for Red Bull on a bridge.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): So I guess if you're thirty-five it's not a stretch to say you were a fan of Beat Street?
Houston Alexander: (Laughs) Hell yeah! Oh man that guy was my inspiration! Funny isn't it that a fake actor was my inspiration. What about Style Wars? C'mon man you can't be from the East Coast and not know Style Wars.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Uh...yeah...sorry I was just thinking about Beat Street back when Rae Dawn Chong was still hot.
Houston Alexander: I still support the culture of hip-hop. I belong to a group called the Culture Shock School Tour. Every Friday in Nebraska we go to schools and community organizations and promote the positive aspects of the hip-hop culture. I have a problem with these kids coming up and missing all the fun we used to have. Hip-hop used to be about battles, beatboxing and breakdancing. All they get exposed to now is the negative stuff. Hip-hop is about guys like Kool Herc. Hip-hop is not about Laffy Taffy.
Jesse Holland (UFCmania): Agreed. Houston, thank you again for taking time to talk with UFCmania and I wish you the best of luck in your future fights.
Houston Alexander: Thank you, anytime.
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This guy is a beast. I hope he continues to perform beastiality on folks and can sprawl/brawl as good as I hope.
by Karo Bro on Jul 3, 2007 3:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think I’m going to go brush up on my hip-hop with Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo.
by PW on Jul 3, 2007 3:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What do you all think of him not knowing jiu jitsu? Do you think it will play a major factor in the kind of game plan his opponents are going to bring to their fights w/ him?
by Sanjaya on Jul 3, 2007 3:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Keep up the good work Alexander, listen to the new Pharaohe Monch album called Desire. Shit is fire.
by DirtyML on Jul 3, 2007 3:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I really didn’t like they way he stood over Jardine and taunted him after he was knocked out… it wasn’t very classy. His fist were pretty impressive though.
by TRavis on Jul 3, 2007 3:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not surprised he was cautious and guarded, your first question was the most confrontational question of the interview. Gotta work up to that, Jesse.
by Michaelthebox on Jul 3, 2007 3:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I hope he stops sucking in his belly like a wuss. Looks like his stomach imploded.
by YouTapped on Jul 3, 2007 3:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lets see how he does when he faces Michael Bisping I think thats gonna be his next fight after UFC75 where Bisping faces Hamill.
It dosent sound like he takes the ju-jitsu threat very seriously,I think hes gonna be in for a shock.
by mcanena on Jul 3, 2007 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice interview Jesse, I like Sakara he has sick tattoos and hits hard :)
by mrskorpion on Jul 3, 2007 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What’s the deal with the 200 fight record he claims? I’m not saying anything but Sherdog has him at 7-1
by TD on Jul 3, 2007 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, you forgot to ask him about that weird stomach thing of his. Anyway, the matchup with Sakara should be pretty entertaining. I’ll go out on a limb and say we won’t see any gogoplatas or flying armbars.
by Hyde on Jul 3, 2007 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed Jesse. I know he’s been asked that a lot, but you should have warmed him up before dropping the best question of the night. I would have liked to have seen a better answer, which you might have gotten had you waited. Oh well, hell of an interview anyways. He sounds like a stand-up guy, a great father, and a great guy to have in your community. A little cocky…but I think its okay to have a little of that in you if you’re a fighter…not tito cocky, but a little. Sounds like he really has his stuff together.
I must say that the guy is a monster!! But…its already been proven, and proven, and proven, that if you dont know ANY jiu-jitsu, you will get submitted. I just don’t see how he his record is around 180-20 if he doesn’t know any bjj. And how does it take him that many fights to get into the ufc if he is winning 90% of the time. I would like some stat checking on that.
Anybody else picking up what I’m putting down?
by Common Sense on Jul 3, 2007 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed Jesse. I know he’s been asked that a lot, but you should have warmed him up before dropping the best question of the night. I would have liked to have seen a better answer, which you might have gotten had you waited. Oh well, hell of an interview anyways. He sounds like a stand-up guy, a great father, and a great guy to have in your community. A little cocky…but I think its okay to have a little of that in you if you’re a fighter…not tito cocky, but a little. Sounds like he really has his stuff together.
I must say that the guy is a monster!! But…its already been proven, and proven, and proven, that if you dont know ANY jiu-jitsu, you will get submitted. I just don’t see how he his record is around 180-20 if he doesn’t know any bjj. And how does it take him that many fights to get into the ufc if he is winning 90% of the time. I would like some stat checking on that.
Anybody else picking up what I’m putting down?
I see exactly where u coming from common……
by Sanjaya on Jul 3, 2007 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What do you all think of him not knowing jiu jitsu? Do you think it will play a major factor in the kind of game plan his opponents are going to bring to their fights w/ him?
I think if Babalu could avoid the strikes he would submit him easily…
by Jesse Holland on Jul 3, 2007 4:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m not saying he has 200 fights, but a lot of fighters claim fights that may not be recgonized by a professional organization. As for his lack of Jiu-Jitsu, that’s going to turn him into another Drew Mcfedries. No one is going to stand with him, just take him down and you’ll probably submit him. the only time he’ll win is when an idiot trys to go blow for blow with him. He will be exciting to watch because he comes out full-tilt, but he will never be a true contender if he doesn’t pick up a ground game.
by getrawbc on Jul 3, 2007 4:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Being as he also has a wrestling backround, Id say he could go up against a good jujitsu artist and do alright.
Great interveiw Jesse.
by Luppers on Jul 3, 2007 4:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
In his interview it doesn’t even seem like he is the least bit interested in learning jiu jitsu, and that right there will be his downfall if he doesn’t smarten up, and learn atleast the basics…..
by Sanjaya on Jul 3, 2007 4:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This guy is no joke…I’m not jumping on the band wagon for this getting ready to attack on that. Truth….being that I see something in this guy. I made the mistake of under estimating this guy and he will be in the 205 mix. I actually rank him 10-11 in my top 10 205 overall
by Stafo on Jul 3, 2007 4:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What you see is him sucking in his belly, lol …..there is no way he should be in any top 10 list, there are guys out there way better, im not saying he sucks by any means, but just stating the facts……
by Sanjaya on Jul 3, 2007 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He may be okay if he does like Lidell and Hughes.
In every interview say how his opponent will be afraid to stand with him and he’ll get the stand up war he wants every time.
by chuckleberry handshake on Jul 3, 2007 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He better practice on his sprawling skills then….
by Sanjaya on Jul 3, 2007 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He better practice on his sprawling skills then….
true dat
by chuckleberry handshake on Jul 3, 2007 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He may be okay if he does like Lidell and Hughes.
In every interview say how his opponent will be afraid to stand with him and he’ll get the stand up war he wants every time.
Sorry, I meant Liddell and St. Pierre not Hughes.
by chuckleberry handshake on Jul 3, 2007 4:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This guy is no joke…I’m not jumping on the band wagon for this getting ready to attack on that. Truth….being that I see something in this guy. I made the mistake of under estimating this guy and he will be in the 205 mix. I actually rank him 10-11 in my top 10 205 overall
Personally, I’m going to wait after a few more fights before I decide where I think this dude should be ranked.
As for his fight with Sakara, he stands a good chance there, because Sakara is also a stand up fighter.
by Mahde on Jul 3, 2007 4:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think alot of the problem with not knowing Jui-Jitsu, is that there isn’t alot of guys in Omaha who are well know for their jui-jitsu. Closet school around here he could go to is the Militech camp. I don’t think its in the cards for him to be a full-time fighter and not have a day job. Besides last I knew they didn’t have anybody at Mick Doyle’s gym who taught Jui-Jitsu, most of the guys over there are Muay-Tai and kickboxing guys. I know there are a couple guys who earned their purple belts under Rodrigo Vaghi over at Mid-America martial arts (Chad Reiner’s camp).
by Jason on Jul 3, 2007 4:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I really didn’t like they way he stood over Jardine and taunted him after he was knocked out… it wasn’t very classy. His fist were pretty impressive though.
Hey, I don’t blame him. No one gave him a chance, even Jardine himself said something along the lines of “I shouldn’t have to fight this nobody”. You would stand over your slain opponent and be hyped if everyone wrote you off and you totally annihilated your opponent. He knocked down Jardine what? 3 times?
That being said I want to see more of Alexander, I think him vs Sakara should be awesome as both like to brawl. I am a bit worried that Alexander’s game may be a bit one sided but if he continues to put on impressive shows like the one against Jardine who am I to complain?
by pr0cs on Jul 3, 2007 5:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I belive his record is true in Iowa there’s 3 events every weekend, thats prolly why it took so long be noticed and not to say he fought complete nobodys but not top caliber opponets.
by terry on Jul 3, 2007 5:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lets see how he does when he faces Michael Bisping I think thats gonna be his next fight after UFC75 where Bisping faces Hamill.
It dosent sound like he takes the ju-jitsu threat very seriously,I think hes gonna be in for a shock.
He’s gonna tear Bisping’s kilt off and bust that brit’s arse out.
by Mamas Boy on Jul 3, 2007 5:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What’s the deal with the 200 fight record he claims? I’m not saying anything but Sherdog has him at 7-1
That guy KillerKevin claims those are all prison fights. There was a guy on IFL the other night claiming about 200 fights also. Okay, now I have 200 fights too. Well, they weren’t against actual opponents though…
by Mamas Boy on Jul 3, 2007 5:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He’s gonna tear Bisping’s kilt off and bust that brit’s arse out.
Rofl, But Bisping is an MMA gawd!
by Luppers on Jul 3, 2007 5:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Monte Cox, that is the guy you need to know if you want a shot in the UFC, no joke.
by Schiro on Jul 3, 2007 5:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lets see how he does when he faces Michael Bisping I think thats gonna be his next fight after UFC75 where Bisping faces Hamill.
It dosent sound like he takes the ju-jitsu threat very seriously,I think hes gonna be in for a shock.
Seriously I think Bisping would try to stand up and bang w/ him and I wish Alexander would knock him the F out! i cant stand Bisping, he acts like he is the isht and for a bit Elvis had his big azz in trouble…..
by Sanjaya on Jul 3, 2007 5:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
In his interview it doesn’t even seem like he is the least bit interested in learning jiu jitsu, and that right there will be his downfall if he doesn’t smarten up, and learn atleast the basics…..
Yeah I’d say he’s toast already if he is that far behind. He isn’t going to be able to thug his way through the next fight.
by Mamas Boy on Jul 3, 2007 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree with post 30. He’s going to destroy Bisping and that’s why they won’t be fighting each other soon. Both don’t have much of a ground game.(Haven’t seen the need for Alexander’s ground game tho!) Yet it would be a lamb to the slaughter as Bisping wh’s a great fighter does carry the same level of intensity that Alexander does.
Jay K.
by Jay K. on Jul 3, 2007 6:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe I was reaching a lil bit with the top 10. I got him at 11, only because he beat the hell out of Jardine, And Jardine beat the hell out of Forrest. This guy will prove to all real soon that he should be in this mix
Top 10
1 Shougun Rua
2 Rampage Jackson
3 Chuck Liddell
4 Wanderlai Silva
5 Dan Henderson
6 Soko
7 Tito Ortiz
8 Ricardo Arona
9 Rashad Evans
10 Lyoto Machida
11 Houston Alexander/Forrest Griffen/Keith Jardine/??
by Stafo on Jul 3, 2007 6:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he went to the Marlon Sims school of fight counting.
by Vince on Jul 3, 2007 6:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he went to the Marlon Sims school of fight counting.
LMAO, funniest thing I read today. Cheers for that
by YouTapped on Jul 3, 2007 6:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
11 Michael Bisping
forest would beat bisbing i think forest in a the next best after that list
by george on Jul 3, 2007 7:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i heard dana ask forest to fight bisbing only catch was forest had to fight blindfolded
by george on Jul 3, 2007 7:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I still just find it hard to completely believe what this guy has to say after the numerous interviews that I’ve seen where he so adamantly states that he “slipped” vs Jardine. So when he says things like I didn’t knee that guy in the head, I have my doubts.
by Tim on Jul 3, 2007 7:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He grew up in East St Louis. That is as bad a place as any. I hadn’t read the interview before so I didn’t know he had wrestling to go with boxing. That might save him but it’s hard to make it far without Jujitsu.
Sakara looks like a sacrificial lamb. Losses to McFedries and Lister, okay. But wins over Sinosic and Valimaki something. Let’s review Elvis Sinosic’s record according to ufc.com:
Result Opponent
Loss Michael Bisping
Loss Alessio Sakara
Loss Forrest Griffin
Loss Renato Sobral
Loss Evan Tanner
Loss Tito Ortiz
Win Jeremy Horn
That’s quite a list there but heck, I could fight those guys and lose to them all too. That doesn’t mean anything.
Sakara is no Jardine. They are giving Alexander an easier opponent and daring him to do that again. If he wins this one they’re going to have to give him a top contender… maybe someone off the above list.
by Mamas Boy on Jul 3, 2007 7:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think Houston is underplaying the strength of his jits. In another interview, he said that “the ground game” was actually the stronger part of his style, rather than his striking, so I think he takes it seriously. The guy knows that this is MMA and not San Shou—he’ll be ready for any ground war.
by Fred on Jul 3, 2007 7:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He is a monster striker, but this is MMA and his test will come if somebody puts him on his back. He’s certainly confident and he’s on my radar. I don’t think he will expand his arsenal until someone submits him though. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
by MrFye on Jul 3, 2007 8:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i heard dana ask forest to fight bisbing only catch was forest had to fight blindfolded
Niether one of them is as good as you think they are.
by Mahde on Jul 3, 2007 8:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He will fall to any better than lucky overrated jardine. But he is as powerfull as I have seen in a long time to man handle any ufc fighter like he did.
by gt on Jul 3, 2007 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jardine was clearly unprepared for that fight. I wouldn’t put too much stock in it as far as Alexander is concerned.
by Big_B on Jul 4, 2007 12:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hey …look over that fight again and u will note it wasn’t 1 hit. It was about a dozen hits!!!!holy piss this guy is awesome!!!!rock that sh*t Alexander!!!
by suspiria on Jul 4, 2007 1:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey …..In the next interview how about asking him what his work out is…????I want arms like that……….ufc mania ….make it happen!!!!
by suspiria on Jul 4, 2007 1:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he went to the Marlon Sims school of fight counting.
I see someone’s been reading my columns…
by Jesse Holland on Jul 4, 2007 2:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He’s gonna tear Bisping’s kilt off and bust that brit’s arse out.
yeah yeah well see,I think you Americans underestimate us Brits dont ya,Bisping is to skilled a fighter to strong a fighter and to smart a fighter for this chump.
Oh and by the way its Scotland where they wear kilts not England.
by mcanena on Jul 4, 2007 4:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
200 is not that much if he fights every weekend and maybe even 2-3 times in one night.
by BHicks on Jul 4, 2007 4:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
200 is not that much if he fights every weekend and maybe even 2-3 times in one night.
Not that much i dont know anyone else that has has 200 fights.
by jason bang on Jul 4, 2007 7:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Alexander is awesome i thought Jardine was going to walk through him, how wrong was i.
by jason bang on Jul 4, 2007 7:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I really didn’t like they way he stood over Jardine and taunted him after he was knocked out… it wasn’t very classy. His fist were pretty impressive though.
I didn’t like the way Jardine was talking shit before his fight.
What’s the difference?
It’s funny, Jardine never acted like a bad ass until his fight with Alexander. I guess Jardine learned the hard way not to try to be something your not. I have always hated Jardine’s stiff style, so I guess you could say I was happy when he got his wig split.
by Frizz on Jul 4, 2007 3:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not that much i dont know anyone else that has has 200 fights.
Jeremy Horn, Travis Fulton?
There are alot guys on the midwest circuit that fight ALOT.
by Frizz on Jul 4, 2007 3:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I would have to say the H.A has great hands, but after watching him fight I also saw that he doesn’t have a great chin. I see him getting K.O’d in the near future.
by PACO on Jul 4, 2007 7:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jeremy Horn, Travis Fulton?
There are alot guys on the midwest circuit that fight ALOT.
Jeremy horn has just over 100 fights.
by jason bang on Jul 4, 2007 8:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think if Babalu could avoid the strikes he would submit him easily…
It would be hard to win 90% of your fights if you didn’t have some sort of ground game.
by jason bang on Jul 4, 2007 8:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It would be hard to win 90% of your fights if you didn’t have some sort of ground game.
That all depends on the level of competition…I’m sure he’s faced some tough guys on the independent circuit but if you want to get to the promised land in the UFC “some sort of ground game” just isn’t good enough…
by Jesse Holland on Jul 4, 2007 10:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sakara doesn’t really have a ground game, but there is no denying his stand up skills.When he fought McFedries he hit him with everything, take a look at the fight again, 90% of his punches connected with McFedries but he just kept on coming like the Terminator.If Sakara was fighting anyone else they would have been knocked out. The only person I have seen walk through punches like that is Mark Hunt. McFedries had a head of stone that night.
This fight will see if Houston can take it as well as dish it out. He went down from one punch from Jardine but recovred nicely when Jardine couldn’t follow it up, I don’t think Sakara will make that same mistake. This fight will really test his chin. As far as Jardine is concerned I don’t mind him as a fighter but he is definately not one of the best. In his defence, Chuck Liddel went down a lot easier than he did. I think most fighters would have been knocked out after the first uppercut. Anybody can be knocked out by a hard enough punch. You cannot measure a fighters skill against that. I also think Alexender was extremely pissed at the way Jardine was waving his arms around like a monkey, showing him no respect as a fighter whatsoever. I don’t think that will happen again.
by Ade on Jul 5, 2007 9:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Its good to see a new face in the light heavywieght divsion, Houstons got power and he knows how to use it. NEBRASKA IS IN THE HOUSE
by rctrue on Jul 24, 2007 12:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe I was reaching a lil bit with the top 10. I got him at 11, only because he beat the hell out of Jardine, And Jardine beat the hell out of Forrest. This guy will prove to all real soon that he should be in this mix
Top 10
1 Shougun Rua
2 Rampage Jackson
3 Chuck Liddell
4 Wanderlai Silva
5 Dan Henderson
6 Soko
7 Tito Ortiz
8 Ricardo Arona
9 Rashad Evans
10 Lyoto Machida
11 Houston Alexander/Forrest Griffen/Keith Jardine/??
Was just wondering why you put Chuck Liddell above Wanderlai Silva?
by jjdnb on Aug 9, 2007 11:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
and can sprawl/brawl as good as I hope.
WHAT!?!
by Laughing Man on Aug 12, 2007 10:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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