Top Turtle Podcast: Kurt Holobaugh Aiming To Leave Legendary Impression
Top Turtle Podcast: Kurt Holobaugh Aiming To Leave Legendary Impression
Kurt Holobaugh says he's looking to pick up contract and leave impression at Dana White's new series.
In April of 2005, a new wave of MMA fans turned into what is widely considered one of the greatest fights of all time. Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin’s three-round war sold new fans on more than just the UFC and MMA; it sold them on the concept of The Ultimate Fighter. It did this so well that the show has lasted for 25 seasons and over a dozen years.
Two months ago, the UFC announced a new platform to showcase incoming fighters. Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series brings fighters looking to make an impression on the UFC’s head cheese at the gym where The Ultimate Fighter is staged. According to the headliner from the first scheduled event, Kurt Holobaugh, the parallels with TUF don’t end there.
Holobaugh attributes the comparison to legendary fight to the fact that not only does he have an exciting style, but that his dance partner for Tuesday, CES MMA featherweight champion Matt Bessette, is also down to scrap.
“There’s no doubt about it; I think we’re definitely going to be fight of the night. We’re two guys that can give you a fight like Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a boring fight, even when I fight wrestlers… I’m the type of fighter that can make that fight exciting. I think Matt Bessette’s style is basically the same and that’s why they wanted us to headline this event.”
Because of this style match-up, Holobaugh believes they might get the full Griffin/Bonnar treatment after the fight is over.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they signed both of us afterwards. I’m pretty sure the fight will be damn good.”
Apart from just expecting excitement, Holobaugh does think that after brawling for a while, Bessette will likely be looking to turn it into a grappling match. Citing his striking prowess and a breakdown of his past losses, Holobaugh recognizes that Bessette likely thinks that’d be the easiest way to get the win.
“I think he’ll probably [try to brawl] for a while, but I think eventually he’ll try to get the takedown...It’s no secret, all of the fights I’ve lost came from good wrestlers who take me down and try to point me up.”
However, Holobaugh’s confidence in his grappling game, particularly the wrestling aspects is way up; so much so that he welcomes that gameplan from Bessette.
“You could even see in the last fight against JZ [Cavalcante], and the fight against Yosdenis [Cedeno], my wrestling has improved… If he wants to try to go that route, I welcome him. I’m actually a BJJ fighter myself.”
And if that’s the route he chooses to go, Holobaugh sees a finish from there as being just as possible as one standing, if not more.
“I have way more wins by submission than I do knockout. And that’s just because the simple fact that guys always look to get me down and find themselves in trouble when they get me down there.”
Regardless of where this fight takes place, it would appear that fans are in for an instant classic.
Two months ago, the UFC announced a new platform to showcase incoming fighters. Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series brings fighters looking to make an impression on the UFC’s head cheese at the gym where The Ultimate Fighter is staged. According to the headliner from the first scheduled event, Kurt Holobaugh, the parallels with TUF don’t end there.
Holobaugh attributes the comparison to legendary fight to the fact that not only does he have an exciting style, but that his dance partner for Tuesday, CES MMA featherweight champion Matt Bessette, is also down to scrap.
“There’s no doubt about it; I think we’re definitely going to be fight of the night. We’re two guys that can give you a fight like Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a boring fight, even when I fight wrestlers… I’m the type of fighter that can make that fight exciting. I think Matt Bessette’s style is basically the same and that’s why they wanted us to headline this event.”
Because of this style match-up, Holobaugh believes they might get the full Griffin/Bonnar treatment after the fight is over.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they signed both of us afterwards. I’m pretty sure the fight will be damn good.”
Apart from just expecting excitement, Holobaugh does think that after brawling for a while, Bessette will likely be looking to turn it into a grappling match. Citing his striking prowess and a breakdown of his past losses, Holobaugh recognizes that Bessette likely thinks that’d be the easiest way to get the win.
“I think he’ll probably [try to brawl] for a while, but I think eventually he’ll try to get the takedown...It’s no secret, all of the fights I’ve lost came from good wrestlers who take me down and try to point me up.”
However, Holobaugh’s confidence in his grappling game, particularly the wrestling aspects is way up; so much so that he welcomes that gameplan from Bessette.
“You could even see in the last fight against JZ [Cavalcante], and the fight against Yosdenis [Cedeno], my wrestling has improved… If he wants to try to go that route, I welcome him. I’m actually a BJJ fighter myself.”
And if that’s the route he chooses to go, Holobaugh sees a finish from there as being just as possible as one standing, if not more.
“I have way more wins by submission than I do knockout. And that’s just because the simple fact that guys always look to get me down and find themselves in trouble when they get me down there.”
Regardless of where this fight takes place, it would appear that fans are in for an instant classic.