Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure
Getbig Misc Discussion Boards => Mixed Martial Arts (MMA/UFC) => Topic started by: SinCitysmallGUY on April 14, 2009, 06:40:12 AM
-
UFC light heavyweight Houston Alexander (8-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) admits he's battling through a tough stretch.
After opening his UFC career with two first-round TKO wins, Alexander has now dropped three-straight contests. But despite the struggles, "The Assassin" recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) that he's not worried about losing his place in the UFC.
"I'm not feeling any pressure at all," Alexander said. "When you have children, the only pressure you feel is taking care of your kids. As far as the world, or pleasing anybody else, I don't feel any pressure from that."
It's not that Alexander isn't working to turn his situation around. In fact, the Nebraska native is focused on doing exactly that when he faces Andre Gusmao (5-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at UFC 98 in May.
"I've kind of stepped up a little bit," Alexander said. "We've been going to different camps and dealing with different bodies and different individuals. It's been working out really good."
It's just that Alexander remains grounded based on his experiences outside the UFC. The 37-year-old still works as a DJ once a week in his native Nebraska, and also speaks to prisoners in the state's correctional facilities.
"If you want to stare reality in the face, you go over there and see the faces of inmates," Alexander said. "It brings you back to reality and makes getting in the ring a lot easier.
"These guys are dealing with a lot of problems, and the problem of me getting my jiu-jitsu together is not so important when you've got somebody staring at you with a life sentence in their face. It brings me back and makes me go a lot harder in the gym. You don't ever want to be in that situation where you're facing life."
Alexander's own experiences have also helped him realize the value of life. The 205-pounder shared a story from his past that nearly changed everything.
"I went to an after-hours place to get a burger," Alexander said. "This after-hours place had the best burgers after club hours.
"I went there and was waiting on my order. A friend of mine that was having a good time at this place, and from what I understood, one of these guys was kind of acting a little rowdy. He ended up slapping a friend of mine on the dance floor because she wouldn't dance with this guy. He slapped her."
Alexander said he wasn't looking for controversy but felt he needed to address the situation.
"I end going up to the guy and saying, 'Hey, you need to chill out,'" Alexander said. "So this guy got to mouthing off at me. Physical conflict is the last thing I want to get into, but this guy kept mouthing off and mouthing off. Finally I just told the guy, 'Look. If you keep mouthing off I'm going to smack you in your mouth.'
"Then he said something and physically challenged me or something like that, so I ended up hauling off on the guy. So I'm punching the guy, kneeing the guy, and the guy is not getting one punch in. So he rushes out the door.
"Now mind you, this is after hours. This is 2:30 a.m. They're pulling us out the doorway, the bouncers are. So I hear this, 'Bang!'"
It didn't take Alexander long to figure out that the loud bang was a gunshot.
"Someone in his group handed him a gun," Alexander said. "According to the bodyguards, because I didn't see it, the guy had the gun up to my head. The bodyguard actually knocked the gun downward, and the guy ended up shooting toward the floor.
"There was a back entrance in the back that I ran out. As soon as I head the shot, I knew what it was. I ran out the back door in two-point-five seconds. I ran out the door. And I'm running, and I look down ay my pants. I'm like, 'Why are my pants so wet?'
"I got shot in the leg."
Alexander was eventually treated at a hospital for the injury and returned to work the next day. His biggest concern?
"I'm looking down, and I'm like, 'Damn. This guy messed up my favorite pair of jeans,'" Alexander said.
It's that toughness that Alexander said will keep him involved in MMA for quite some time, regardless of his result with Gusmao.
"I just have this urge, this drive," Alexander said. "As long as my body tells me that I can go, I'll go as long as Randy Couture stays out there. I've still got another 10 years."
In fact, Alexander's already in fight shape, despite being almost six weeks away from the bout.
"I'm a good, solid 207 (pounds) right now," Alexander said. "I'm probably in better shape than in previous fights. It's going to be really interesting to see."
Alexander believes his conditioning is so solid that he expects to be questioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"They'll probably give me the old cup when I get to the UFC event," Alexander said. "You know what the old cup is? It's the old urination cup. I look that good as far as being a physical specimen according to [my teammates]."
Not that Alexander is concerned.
"Give me that cup," Alexander said. "Take some of this urination."
Alexander has often been criticized as a one-trick pony, a heavy-hitter whose lack of a ground game will keep him from garnering long-term success in the UFC. The knockout artist insists he's doing what it takes to carry on in the organization.
"All I can do is try to improve on the situation – do my best at doing that and going out there and execute," Alexander said. "We're doing the best things possible to put myself in a situation where I am back in the situation I was when I first started."
"I've just been training really hard. I'm just ready to be in the ring for a good 30 rounds."
-
good read... i'm pulling for this guy.. i like his aggression and the fact he is family oriented.. and that's why he fights..
-
good read... i'm pulling for this guy.. i like his aggression and the fact he is family oriented.. and that's why he fights..
I read an interview with him in one of the MMA mags I pick up on occasion. He is a very humble and down to earth guy.. One of them "good ole boys." Type of guy who would let you stand back up if he knocked you down in a bar fight types I think...
But that could also be because his ground game is still questionable. ;D
-
He is really humble and had some exciting wins. But, he talks about himself in the third person constantly and is always referring to things he does as things "we" do. Fooking annoying. For that reason alone, he needs to be beaten severely.
-
"They'll probably give me the old cup when I get to the UFC event," Alexander said. "You know what the old cup is? It's the old urination cup. I look that good as far as being a physical specimen according to [my teammates]."
Just stop the Test a week before and you will be as clean as a whistle. Great way make sure everyone is clean. ::)
I want to like Houston, and he has potential, but you just can't make it in the UFC with limited ground game.
I think he would be better suited for Strikeforce or WEC.
-
He is really humble and had some exciting wins. But, he talks about himself in the third person constantly and is always referring to things he does as things "we" do. Fooking annoying. For that reason alone, he needs to be beaten severely.
bump that. not to mention the way he jumps over the people he fights and knocks out. that drives me crazy. i hate unsportsmanlike conduct whether it is fighting or chess it is uncalled for. no wonder his ass got shot at
toe2toe