jluchau
10-17-2007, 09:34 PM
New opponent could be a lot tougher than the first one
Sentinel Sports Reporter Jeremy Luchau is training to be a mixed martial artist, a project which will end with a bout in the Palace Fighting Championship at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino on October 18.
I’m really not the type of guy to make any kind of predictions.
Not even when everyone in my camp, Team Ochoa, pretty much had an idea of what went down last Thursday.
Fresno’s Shahob Nasrabadi pulled out of our fight this week and the Palace Fighting Championship and Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino Entertainment Director Christian Printup had to scramble to find me an opponent.
Lemoore’s Michael Satumbaga was eager to step up and take the fight on short notice.
For me, though, it doesn’t much matter.
Well, honestly, I was a little annoyed, and I feel like although Satumbaga might not have the MMA experience that Nasrabadi had, he will be a tougher opponent for me.
Printup had told me about a month ago to be prepared of Nasrabadi was to pull out, that he was not returning phone calls and he was a no show for a press conference.
My teammates and coaches all got the same feeling after we signed the contract.
The frustrating part for me was that I could have gave all the “hype” and promotion to a more deserving fighter, who was going to stick by his word and see this fight through.
Satumbaga and I know each other and have actually trained together at Valley Fight Club. He knows what I like to do on the ground and I know from watching him train that he hits a ton harder than Nasrabadi.
And my game plan will not change. It’s no big secret what I like to do —*take the fight to the ground.
I’m comfortable enough on my feet now, but I’m no dummy my strength is still my grappling.
“We are ready. You have good foot work, good defense, excellent conditioning, good power and stamina,” Muay Thai coach Richard Batin said. “You trained with good talented people at Team Ochoa and that’s going to make you a better fighter. I’ve always believed in you that you will do well.
“Now you have proved to me that you’re ready for fight night. Out of all the things that I see in you, the most is confidence. I think you did very well and it’s going to be your night.”
My body feels great. Monday night I weighed in at 158 pounds, seven pounds under my catch-weight fight with Satumbaga.
I’ve been working strictly on my conditioning, technique and timing both standing and on the ground.
The count down is really on now. One more day ‘til I weigh in and then Thursday it’s time to step in the ring.
I’m looking forward to the battle. I know Satumbaga is going to bring it and bring it hard.
I’m full prepared for the fight and ready to bring a “happy ending” to “The Project ... From writer to fighter”.
The sports reporter can be reached at jluchau@HanfordSentinel.com or 582-0471, ext. 3055
Sentinel Sports Reporter Jeremy Luchau is training to be a mixed martial artist, a project which will end with a bout in the Palace Fighting Championship at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino on October 18.
I’m really not the type of guy to make any kind of predictions.
Not even when everyone in my camp, Team Ochoa, pretty much had an idea of what went down last Thursday.
Fresno’s Shahob Nasrabadi pulled out of our fight this week and the Palace Fighting Championship and Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino Entertainment Director Christian Printup had to scramble to find me an opponent.
Lemoore’s Michael Satumbaga was eager to step up and take the fight on short notice.
For me, though, it doesn’t much matter.
Well, honestly, I was a little annoyed, and I feel like although Satumbaga might not have the MMA experience that Nasrabadi had, he will be a tougher opponent for me.
Printup had told me about a month ago to be prepared of Nasrabadi was to pull out, that he was not returning phone calls and he was a no show for a press conference.
My teammates and coaches all got the same feeling after we signed the contract.
The frustrating part for me was that I could have gave all the “hype” and promotion to a more deserving fighter, who was going to stick by his word and see this fight through.
Satumbaga and I know each other and have actually trained together at Valley Fight Club. He knows what I like to do on the ground and I know from watching him train that he hits a ton harder than Nasrabadi.
And my game plan will not change. It’s no big secret what I like to do —*take the fight to the ground.
I’m comfortable enough on my feet now, but I’m no dummy my strength is still my grappling.
“We are ready. You have good foot work, good defense, excellent conditioning, good power and stamina,” Muay Thai coach Richard Batin said. “You trained with good talented people at Team Ochoa and that’s going to make you a better fighter. I’ve always believed in you that you will do well.
“Now you have proved to me that you’re ready for fight night. Out of all the things that I see in you, the most is confidence. I think you did very well and it’s going to be your night.”
My body feels great. Monday night I weighed in at 158 pounds, seven pounds under my catch-weight fight with Satumbaga.
I’ve been working strictly on my conditioning, technique and timing both standing and on the ground.
The count down is really on now. One more day ‘til I weigh in and then Thursday it’s time to step in the ring.
I’m looking forward to the battle. I know Satumbaga is going to bring it and bring it hard.
I’m full prepared for the fight and ready to bring a “happy ending” to “The Project ... From writer to fighter”.
The sports reporter can be reached at jluchau@HanfordSentinel.com or 582-0471, ext. 3055