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DREW FICKETT The Amazing Arizonian
© Marc Wickert Drew Fickett is strike-poised like a desert cut-snake, and can’t wait to rattle the cage at UFC 51: Super Saturday. Although making his debut against seasoned Octagon combatant Nick Diaz, Drew is no stranger to the canvas, and boasts an impressive MMA record of 24-2-0. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Drew has been involved in a variety of martial arts since age 10. "I was doing a traditional art called Ka Ju Ken Bo for eight years, and during that time I began wrestling at high school," says Fickett. For his UFC bout on February 5, 2005, Drew will be entering the match on an eight-win streak, with various submission techniques being his main means of victory. Many of his grappling skills were acquired whilst under the guidance of two-time world BJJ champion Gustavo Dantas at the Arizona Combat Sports gym. Also fighting out of this renowned MMA school is fellow UFC 51 debutante, Joe Riggs. As well as outstanding wrestling skills, Drew possesses an exceptional stand-up game, and is happy to end an opponent’s bad night via the knockout. "My strike game is very good. But I don’t get a chance to use it that much because I’m a really good wrestler, so if I’m hitting someone, they usually want to tie up with me. And as soon as they do, I’ll take them down. Often I get a submission, but if not, I’ll stand them back up. But usually in the midst of a scramble or grapple, I end up getting some sort of choke."
Directly after leaving high school, Drew took up boxing with pro boxer Chris Valdez, and continues to train with Chris today. "Chris has had a few fights, including a shot at the world title. He’s a pretty tough guy and a very good coach. I began boxing with him when I was 18. "Then I moved up to Phoenix and commenced doing Jiu Jitsu with Gustavo. I also began kick boxing with the Lally brothers. Their instructor was Maurice Smith, so I have a lot of the hand-knee skills – their style of striking from Maurice Smith - when it comes to kick boxing." For his match against Diaz, Drew expects Nick to come out hard, but regards him as being a reactionary fighter. "I think Diaz is more of a passive opponent. It seems if you’re aggressive with him, he tends to not be able to deal with you unless you’re aggressive with the punches. We saw how Robbie Lawler came right at him with punches, and Diaz responded with counter punches. "So I think it would be a bad thing for me to be over aggressive with the punches. But with his grappling, I think he’s a little too passive. I see some holes in his game when it comes to being more aggressive towards him, and turning the fight on at a later round and seeing he doesn’t have the conditioning of some of the better athletes: like in his last fight against Karo Parisyan. I was impressed with Karo, but at the same time, I could see where I could capitalize on a lot of positions that he had Diaz in. But Karo didn’t know the techniques that I know." Fickett says he’s excited about making his UFC debut and his match-up with Diaz. "Nick already has an established name. And if I had to pick anyone for my first fight in the Octagon, it would definitely be Diaz."
Drew, do you think Diaz will want to keep it standing? He’s not going to want to take you to the ground, is he? "Well I don’t think he can. I mean, he doesn’t have any wrestling…nuh. He’s not dumb, and he knows where his strengths are. His strengths are in his Jiu Jitsu from his back, and his boxing." How will you win this bout? "I believe I will win it by either submission or knockout." Standing knockout? "I hope so." Do you include weights in your training? "Oh yeah. I do a lot of lifting. I do a good periodization of training throughout the year. I’ll build muscle, and then do power training: like heavy deads, heavy squats, heavy bench. Getting closer to the fight, I’ll make it more sport specific so I can gain more muscle endurance, and more speed specific for the skills I’m trying to do as a fighter." So you focus more on the powerlifting exercises rather than the weightlifting clean-and-jerk techniques? "Yeah, I try to stay away from the clean-and-jerk exercise. I don’t believe it’s a very functional technique, and can cause a lot of injuries. I think there are a lot of better ways to improve power without the risk of injuring yourself with a jerk movement like that." How many hours a day do you train? "It depends on the day, but not usually more than four or five." Six days a week, Drew? "Seven days a week. But I do it smart. I won’t swim on the same day I’m going to spar, or I won’t do shoulder-lifts on the same day I’m going to spar, because there’s more risk of an injury. On a leg day, I’m not going to run because my legs are already going to be burning." Drew, is there anything you’d like to add to this article? "Ah, no. That’s me - in a nutshell." Sponsors? "Throwdown Fight Wear and Arizona Combat Sports." For more on Drew Fickett: www.azcombatsports.com For more on UFC 51: www.ufc.tv
DREW
FICKETT The Master’s Ready for the Showdown
©
Marc Wickert, March
23, 2008 Special
thanks to Bryan Hamper On
March 29, 2008, two of MMA’s toughest 170-pounders will be shooting it
out for EliteXC’s World Welterweight Title. And joining us from San
Jose, California, to talk about the showdown is ‘The Master’
himself, Drew Fickett, who says he’s ready for war with Jake Shields
this Saturday night. “I’m
in the best shape of my life right now. I finally was able to devote
myself to training properly for this fight. Jake’s always in shape, so
I think we'll both bring the best out in each other,” says Fickett. Drew is presently resting up after doing cardio this morning and will return to the gym in the evening for a second training session, having recently returned from Jupiter, Florida, where he’s been working with his former opponent from UFC 61: Bitter Rivals. “My camp for this fight was down in Florida at the Armory with Kurt Pellegrino. “I also trained with Greg Jackson and his team prior to my last fight in England. At Jackson’s there are world-class fighters to train with everyday: You have to come ready to go, because you are constantly being pushed. At the Armory training was great as well. Kurt Pellegrino and the guys there were an amazing addition to my camp. I also brought in my friend, James Terry, who helped get me prepared.” And
Drew can see similarities between Jake Shields’s style and
Pellegrino’s. “Kurt is a tremendous fighter; he is training
for his April 2nd fight with Nick Diaz, so it was good to be able to
push each other while we are both training for tough fights. Jake is
very slick on the ground, and Kurt is top-notch there, so it was a great
camp to be able to train with guys that fight like Jake.” A native of Tucson, Drew further supplemented his preparation with sessions in his home state. “I’m also training back in Arizona with Team Scrubb and Southwest MMA. We have a lot of tough up-and-comers in Arizona.” Drew, you and Jake have both notched up impressive victories over big-name opponents. Will experience be similar for both of you going into this fight? “I’d say the experience is pretty similar: Jake’s fought some of the best in the world and beat some of the best. It’s gonna be a great fight. I think experience won’t play a role since we both have been in the game for a while.” You’re known as an extremely well-rounded fighter. Do you expect Jake to be as well rounded as you are? “Jake is very well rounded. I think we fight pretty similar, that’s why this fight will be such an incredible test.” How
long have you been training for this match? “I have been training for three months for this fight and this is the best prepared I have ever been for a fight. My camp started in Arizona, then I spent five weeks in Florida, and I’m finishing up in Cali this week leading up to the fight.”
On
the net they’re calling you a veteran. Are you still as
motivated as ever? “Yeah, they are calling me a veteran. I’ve been called a lot of things before... I think a veteran sounds good. I am extremely motivated for this fight; it is Live on Showtime, and it’s for the EliteXC Welterweight World Title. But more importantly, I get a chance to fight a top-five world-ranked fighter in Jake. The title is just an added bonus.” Your fight is also being categorized as a battle between two incredible ground technicians. Will it necessarily be fought on the floor? “I think this fight will take place everywhere. We both like taking people’s backs and choking them. We can both stand and bang and also fight on the ground. I’m prepared either way.” I believe Jake has said he intends making an example of you. What do you think of that? “I don’t read into all of that stuff. If he wants to make an example of me, then he’s got another thing coming. I’m coming out to win, and I’m gonna bring the fight to him.” Also
on the card is Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le. How do you see that going? “Cung Le and Frank Shamrock should be a great fight: The whole card is gonna be great. It’s one of the best fight cards of the year. Whoever executes their game plan will win. Cung’s stand-up is insane, but Frank is one of the most well-rounded fighters out there. I see Cung Le taking this one.” Do
you have a prediction for your bout? “My prediction is that it’s gonna be a great fight and ‘The Master’ will be the EliteXC Welterweight Champ.” Drew,
is there anything you’d like to add? “Thanks a lot for taking the time to interview me, Marc. All the best, and I look forward to talking to you soon when I’m the EliteXC Welterweight Champ of the World!!” Your
sponsors? “I’d like to thank my sponsors for this fight: VAS.tv, Proper English Clothing www.properenglishclothing.com, Island Supplements, MMA Overload, MMA Pro Sports, Patiently Waiting Fight Gear, and my manager, Bryan Hamper, and Xrfighting.com.”
For more on Drew Fickett: www.drewfickett.net. Late News: It is believed Jake Shields has sustained a back injury, and is a late scratching for his bout with Drew Fickett. Hopefully, a replacement will be found for Drew to lock horns with on the EliteXC card. News
Update: Drew
is now fighting Jae Suk Lim, Live on showtime.
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