Fighting Kimbo: MMAmania quick conversation with Houston Alexander
by Michael McColgan on Dec 5, 2009 2:33 PM EST
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Just a few hours before the biggest fight of his career — against YouTube sensation-turned-The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) veteran, Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson — five-fight UFC veteran Houston Alexander invited one of MMAmania.com’s very own into his corner for a few quick words.
MMAmania’s "Omaha" Mike McColgan got a chance to follow Alexander during the week, and despite the propensity for a knockout that both "The Assassin" and Slice bring with them into the cage, we saw our share of drilling submissions during training.
We’re not going to say which ones we saw … just that Eddie Bravo would be proud.
In between training sessions, Alexander talked about family (he’s a father of six), fighting Kimbo at a catchweight, and the progress he’s made since we last saw him in the UFC (he’s fresh off a victory over 25-fight veteran Sherman Pendergarst at Adrenaline MMA 4 in September).
Check it out:
Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): With the hand injury and you taking the Pendergarst fight in Omaha for Adrenaline, it’s been a while since your fans have seen you fight in the UFC. What should they expect to see tonight?
Houston Alexander: A more complete fighter, you’ll see the development. Some was good and there was some bad. I think that people will see the development and a more complete fighter this time.
Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): Ideally, how would you like to see this fight go?
Houston Alexander: Beat him by submission — that would shut up a lot of people. That would be so great. But the ideal would be to knock the guy out — no, not a knockout, but just make the guy quit. Yeah, make him quit.
Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): You guys are fighting at a 215 catchweight, correct?
Houston Alexander: Yeah, he (would be) moving down to 215, so I get to fight at my normal weight and he still has to cut.
Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): On a different note, with you trying to juggle your fight career, appearances, training and family, what would be the single biggest advice for other single fathers out there that you could give?
Houston Alexander: (laughing) Time management. Hold on for a second. (Houston takes a phone call from one of his children.)
Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): If your oldest son came to you and said he wanted to be a pro-fighter, what do you think you would say?
Houston Alexander: He wants to be a pro-wrestler now, so I think I’m gonna have to wait and see if he wants to be a pro-fighter.
Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): Getting through Kimbo, who would be your ideal pick for your next fight?
Houston Alexander: Anderson Silva, I would love to fight that dude. Everybody is so scared of him. Everyone is so scared of Anderson because of all his different weapons. But I’m scared of no man. That would be a great fight. What better way to test yourself than fight the best in the world.
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I like Houston
I hope he wins.
"He's got a great package and it's an unusual one." - Joe Rogan on Lyoto Machida @ UFC 94.
I like Houston too.
It will be interesting to see how Kimbo moves and how his energy looks after cutting weight. I’m expecting him to lose to Houston, but i’m going for Kimbo.
WAR HOUSTON!!!!!!!
I would love to see Houston and Silva. Houston would kill him with one punch easy too why hasn’t anyone thought of this fight before it not like he has a weak chin or gets caught with superman punches lol.
No but really am super excited to see houston back in the ufc and and he couldnt have a better fight to come back to (A BIG NAME NOT A GOOD FIGHTER in Kimbo Slice).
Also the amont of people that will watch this event cause of Kimbo is unreal so Houston stock will go back up which is always good cause i really dont want to see him get cut from the ufc as he is a exciting fight to watch and you just know that his fights want go the distance.
by Jamie The Peach Hunter on Dec 5, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions
Houston has never left the UFC so this isn't his first fight back from anything
I don’t think this fight is going to help his career either. It didn’t do anything for Seth P, and people aren’t going to remember Big Country because of Kimbo. Beating Kimbo isn’t going to impress anyone, it’s a bad gamble on Houston’s part. This fight is lose-lose for Houston and all other fighters are going to seriously ask themselves if fighting Kimbo is worth it.
Welcome to the circus/ sideshow business, UFC.
Glad to be free from Intro's tyranny.
Circus/ sideshow business, UFC.
Good call Jay, I remember Dana blasting EliteXC for putting Kimbo as a headliner over other talented fighters like Shields, Carano and what not
Now UFC are putting his face every where. I’ve nothing against Kimbo. Seems like a cool dude an all but I do find it annoying that he gets all this hype ( I know its not his fault, I’m blaming prompters) while more credible MMA fighters have to win 4/5 undercard fights to start getting notcied
I guess Houston is the sexy pick, but Im gonna have to roll with Kimbo.
So much is being made of his weight cut, and him being intimidated…I think when the cage doors close he will bring it and surprise a lot of people.
Dana really sosld his soul this time! Lost soooooooo much respect for the UFC! Dana better never utter the UFC’s name in the same sentence as the NFL
Houston left after the irvin fight and fought sherman pendergrast at Adrenaline MMA
and seth signed back with the ufc so i guess beating kimbo did him some good. ; )
This is a good fight for houston, he’s faster and IMO hits harder.
Who else should he be fighting? He isn’t gonna be a contender in the ufc so mine as well put him in interesting fights.
by ItsNormlToSmokePot on Dec 5, 2009 5:58 PM EST up reply actions
He didn't leave the UFC to fight Sherman
Dana let him go fight to make money while people forgot how terrible he is. So technically he didn’t leave.
Signing with the UFC for one fight against someone of Kimbo’s abilities shouldn’t be considered a giant step in your career.(referring to Seth).
Glad to be free from Intro's tyranny.
How do you know its just gonna be 1 fight vs kimbo?? Even if they do make that rematch my money would be on seth and there not gonna cut him after a win.
Bottom line going from fighting on the undercard of an elite xc card to signing back with the ufc is a good step forward for seth. To say beating kimbo did nothing for him is kinda stupid.
by ItsNormlToSmokePot on Dec 5, 2009 6:56 PM EST up reply actions
Really Seth fought on the EXC under card last time?
I could have sworn that was the main event. I know he was booked to fight on the under card before Scam-Rock “hurt” himself. He is signing to squeeze another fight out of the Kimbo money train. Not because he is skilled or fans want to see him. He will be back fighting in a bar near you, faster than Kimbo can say “know what I’m sayin”.
Glad to be free from Intro's tyranny.
I love Houston but
get real. He would give it his all, but Anderson would destroy him easily. That being said, I can’t believe people are gullible enough to think Kimbo will win. Ahh the power of the internets and the marketing machine of the UFC.
Hadoken!!
watching now and saw hulk hogan lol. Im just wondering what your all gonna do when I run wild on all of u?. my god please UFC do not associate yourselves with the fake wrestling. We are better than that.
Stick a fork in him.
The UFC must be pretty confident to allow a senior citizen bust out his flower child dialogue and boast about getting in the ring with his yellow boots… Not even remotely entertaining.
by TapedUpPair on Dec 5, 2009 11:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Shelf Life
If Kimbo took that much damage to his leg from Houston, his career is going to be very short if he fights anyone with more rounded skill sets…
by TapedUpPair on Dec 5, 2009 10:56 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Couldn’t tell much do to houston’s strategy. Kimbo looked a little lost when he could have sunk in the rear naked??? I guess his beard looked to be elegantely groomed? Take downs were pretty good?
by TapedUpPair on Dec 5, 2009 11:21 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
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