|
EVAN TANNER
" This Fight Is Wide Open
"
Evan Tanner delivers a shin kick to Robbie
Lawler at UFC 50
© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges
Evan Tanner made his Octagon debut in
dynamic fashion at UFC 18 when he defeated Darrell Gholar by rear
naked choke.
"It was great. I was extremely nervous getting in there the first time. I’d watched the shows on TV…you know, Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock…all those guys. I’d been watching UFC since the beginning. It was strange to be stepping in there myself. And against a high-level athlete like Gholar, it was definitely an experience," says Evan. Although Tanner and Gholar were both born in Amarillo, Texas, and had worked their way up to the UFC arena, they had not previously crossed paths on the lower level MMA circuit. After Evan’s victory at UFC 18, fight commentators were surprised to learn Tanner hadn’t had any formal BJJ training, but had picked up his Jiu Jitsu skills from watching Gracie videos. "I wrestled in high school. I did very well and had a great coach, and I was able to watch the Gracie tapes to kind of add on submissions and some different positioning to my wrestling. It was the wrestling that enabled me to make that transition. "As for my Thai boxing techniques, I can’t say I studied anything formally. I picked up a few things here and there, and I think the lack of formal training in that area has shown in some of my fights. But recently I’ve acquired a very good striking trainer, Curtis Crawford. I think I’m making very good improvements in that area. I’ve been working with Curtis since UFC 45." When Tanner returned to the Octagon at UFC 19 to face Sambo practitioner Valerie Ignatov, Evan opted to fight barefoot as part of his strategy. "At that point in the UFC you could wear shoes. In the past, because of my wrestling background, I did prefer to wear shoes. But for this fight, I did know Ignatov was very skilled with the ankle locks and leg submissions. Shoes can act as a grip, and allow competitors to get a better grip to apply those submissions. I didn’t want to give him that advantage, so I chose to go without shoes because of that." Today, along with Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz, Evan is known as being one of MMA’s fittest fighters. But Tanner says that wasn’t always the case. "There have been fights where I haven’t been in the best condition, but I was fortunate to be more skillful, and I pulled out the win. I think lately I’ve been a little more focused in my training. And I think my conditioning has been a factor. Some of my victories have been the result of my fitness. Being in superior condition is a tremendous advantage, and I think going in to the fight this weekend, I'm going to be in better shape than my opponent."
For the Tanner vs Phil Baroni II match, MMA enthusiasts were surprised to see Evan out-strike Baroni, after Baroni had opened round one of their previous meeting with savage strikes. But for Tanner, his tactics in their second encounter were part of his strategy. "Well, that was part of my game plan. In the first fight with Phil Baroni, he definitely hit me with some great shots. He showed me that I had a few big holes in my game, and some areas that I needed to improve on - definitely stand up. So after the first Phil Baroni fight, I started training with Curtis Crawford. "I trained with him for three months, and the goal in the second Baroni fight was to stand up and out-strike him. But I didn’t want to stand directly in front of him and exchange punches, because he’s a more powerful striker and was a little more precise with his punches at that time. So our plan was to really work the movements, to be a hard target to hit, and to unleash my punches when I thought they were there." In a clash that didn’t go quite as Tanner had expected, Evan later took on Team Miletich star Robbie Lawler at UFC 50: War of ’04, and Evan chalked up another impressive victory that put him one step closer to wearing the UFC middleweight belt. "I was really surprised that Robbie took me down. I didn’t expect that. I thought he’d want to stand up and punch it out. I thought that maybe he thought he could out-punch me. I caught him with a few hard right hands, and he went for the takedown. I wasn’t really prepared for that, and my defense wasn’t very good, so he got an impressive slam on me, and we ended up going to the ground. "I’d studied his tapes before: how he moved on the ground and some things that were open. I knew he’d be open for the triangle. So I immediately went for the triangle choke. I didn’t have it properly secured, so at first I went for an arm bar from the triangle choke. He didn’t seem to be reacting to that, so I had to adjust my positioning and really secure the triangle choke to finish the fight."
Evan, are you keen to fight Rich Franklin again? "Oh. I’d very much like to fight Rich Franklin again. Nothing against Rich. Nothing personal. He’s a very skilled fighter. We had a chance to fight at the 205-weight class, and I was extremely under weight. I believe I weighed 195, and I think the fight was stopped too early. I’d definitely like a chance to fight Rich again at 195. And if I am successful this weekend against Dave Terrell (Super Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005) it’s possible I could face Rich again at my next competition." What do you expect David Terrell’s strategy to be? "I’m not sure what his strategy is going to be. I know he’s very skilled on the ground, and I hear that he’s really been working his stand up, and that he wants to show some of his stand up. He’s been successful with that in the past: heavy hands, heavy strikes. I think that if I happen to catch Terrell with punches, he’s going to start thinking about his strength, which is his groundwork. And he’s going to try to move the fight to the ground. "He’ll probably try to stand up with me a little bit and then go to the ground. Either way, I’m prepared for what he does." How will you win the fight? "This fight is wide open. Terrell has so many weapons. I’m not positive what he’s going to be bringing to the fight that night. I feel I can win the fight standing. I feel I can win the fight on the ground. I really don’t see myself winning with a submission, but that’s always a possibility. I see myself winning with strikes: either standing or on the ground." Evan, is there anything you’d like to add? "Just tell the fans thanks for their support, and I’m definitely going to try to put on a good fight for them Saturday night." Sponsors? "I’d certainly like to thank my sponsors: sportsbook.com, Cobb 28, HCK Fight Gear, Inspirit, Lite Force Nutrition, and Full Contact Fighter." For more on Evan Tanner and UFC 51: Super Saturday – www.ufc.tv
EVAN TANNER
Part 2
The Desert Warrior
 UFC Middleweight Champion Evan Tanner
© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
All photos copyright 2004
Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges On February 5, 2005, Evan Tanner became Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Middleweight Champion after defeating David Terrell at UFC 51: Super Saturday. But it was a long way to the top for Evan who has "Tannerized" some of the toughest competitors in MMA, including Phil Baroni and Robbie Lawler. While Evan agrees he paid his dues to become champion, he also adds there is a high price attached to staying number one. "It feels great being champion, but what’s going to be the true test is holding onto it. Anyone can have a good fight and win a championship, maybe. But like I say, holding onto it is the true test. So we’ll see in this next fight, how it goes," says Tanner. Evan’s match for the title against Terrell was no walk in the park, and many thought he was gone when David had him in a guillotine choke. However, Evan remained cool under pressure and escaped the hold, before defeating Terrell by TKO. "I just knew I needed to stay on my feet and keep him pressed up against the cage, and that would keep the pressure off the choke. If I fell to the ground and let him get the leverage, I’d be gone. So I really concentrated on keeping it standing and pushing him up against the cage, even though he did have his lock around my neck." It often seems as though MMA fighting is a lot like flying: You have to get your hours up. There’s no substitute for experience. And Evan has certainly served his apprenticeship since first making his Octagon debut at UFC 18. "I think putting in the time and having the ring experience - that played a big factor in the Terrell fight. That plays a big factor in any fight. Having the ring time and experience is a tremendous advantage. You have a different feel for things – the ring and the dynamics of a fight." Another big factor in Evan’s success is his fight preparation: "I like to have a full three months to prepare for a fight. But it depends… Sometimes you’re not expecting a fight. You can get offered a fight and you’re not in training at the time. So the lead up can be a bit shorter than usual. Sometimes you have to make do with the time you have. But ideally, I like a full three months to get ready." Whilst Evan did not have the luxury of such a long warning for his bout against Rich Franklin at UFC 53, he says he’ll be ready for Franklin. "I had an idea that I’d be fighting in June. After the Terrell match I took a little time off, but I always had the knowledge pretty much that I would be fighting in June. So I’m ready." Tanner was in the audience for UFC 52: Couture vs Liddell 2. He says no match really grabbed his attention more than any other, but he enjoyed just being able to observe the action from the sideline. "Nothing really stood out. But it was a lot of fun being able to hang out in the crowd and not worry about fighting: being able to sit back and watch the fights, more as a fan than as a competitor."
Evan, through the huge response to The Ultimate Fighter series, the general public is starting to realise there is a lot more to fighting than just boxing. Are you getting more recognition now as one of the world’s most elite and well-rounded athletes in your sport? "I really don’t feel that I’ve gotten much recognition yet. I’m still being underestimated…undervalued. I think I’ve got a lot more to show than I’ve shown so far. Hopefully I’ll get an opportunity to do that in this next fight." You don’t want to be undervalued, but being underestimated wouldn’t worry you, would it? "When your opponent is overconfident, it works to your advantage. So if you’re underestimated and your opponent is overconfident, that’s good to get in the ring and surprise him, and put him off his game." At The Ultimate Fighter, what did you think of the Franklin vs Shamrock bout? "It was a strange fight. Franklin looked good, of course. He capitalised on a few of the mistakes Shamrock made, but some of the stuff Shamrock did – some of the kicks and slips were kinda strange. Because of the strangeness of that fight, I can’t really judge a lot on Franklin. There’s not a lot I can say about it." At the time of your last interview for knucklepit, you’d just come back from a long ride on your motorbike. Is that what you do to chill out? "Let’s see. I did ride down to Texas from Oregon. That’s a pretty big drive. Then I rode a different bike, my fiancee’s motorcycle, back up. She was trading it in and her dad owns a Harley shop down in Texas. I picked up her new one and rode it out west, through New Mexico and Arizona, then up through California into Oregon." So riding Harleys is one of your hobbies. "Oh, Yeah. I like to get out and ride as much as possible. And I definitely like riding in the desert: the long, straight roads where you just kinda lean back and zone out. You don’t have to worry about too many dips and turns. Just let the motor roar and go. So yeah, I definitely like that." When you go for those rides, do you stop being Evan Tanner the fighter, and just block the world out? "The only time I’m really Evan Tanner the fighter is when I’m in the gym training to fight, or when I’m in the ring. It’s not something I ever expected to be doing. I never planned to be a fighter. It’s just something that kinda happened. "I’ll take care of business when it’s time, but away from the gym and away from the ring, I’m just a regular guy doing my thing."
How will you win this match against Rich Franklin? "I don’t know. There are a lot of different ways I feel I can win this fight. You never know. There are so many variables in this game, and so many different things that a fighter can do. I think I’m prepared in all areas and I’m ready to get in there and go. I’m excited about this fight." Have you decided which hairstyle you’re going with this time? "I’m not quite sure yet. I have considered cutting the hair, because it’s a pain in the arse when you’re training and it gets in your eyes. It gets in everybody’s mouth when you’re training and then they’re coughing up hairballs. It’s almost disrespectful to your training partner. So I’ve been thinking about cutting it. "But at UFC 52, I talked to a lot of the fans, and they’re really liking the hair. And they don’t want me to cut it, so I’ll probably stick with it for a little while. "But as far as the hairstyle for this show, I’m not really sure." No one knows what to expect. One time you came out looking like the Highlands Drifter. You always get right down to business, but there’s a bit of novelty there too. "Well, you know, it’s not like a fight in some dark alley. This is show business. The stage is the Octagon and UFC. It’s the fans that you have to appeal to. They are the ones who pay the paycheck. So anything you can do… I’m not going out of my way to do it. It’s just if the fans happen to dig what I’m doing, that’s cool." Evan, is there anything you’d like to add? "Let’s see. I’d like to thank the fans for making all this possible. They’re the only reason I can get out there and do what I do in the sport I love. And I hope to put on an awesome show, June 4th." Sponsors? "Sportsbook.com, Cobb28, HCK Fight Gear, Inspirit, Lite Force Nutrition, and Full Contact Fighter."
For more on Evan Tanner and UFC 53: Heavy Hitters – www.ufc.tv
EVAN TANNER
Part 3
UFC’s Lone Wolf
© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges For this interview, Evan Tanner is relaxing in his Hard Rock Motel at Las Vegas after flying into town just four days before his match with David Loiseau for the live-to-air Spike TV show The Ultimate Fighter. When Evan is not preparing for or competing in a UFC match, chances are he’ll be cruising amongst the rattlesnakes and tumbleweeds on some desolate highway – alone. Like the bluesman George Thorogood, who likes to drink alone, Evan says he prefers to gun his Harley Davidson out into the wilderness with nobody else to get in his way. "Yeah, for good or bad, that’s just how it is. I tend to be very independent and I have my own ideas and a certain way of approaching things. I’m not a really big…you know, a lot of fighters run in groups. They get their strength from being in a group. Not that that’s good or bad: It’s just not my way. I tend to do my own thing and run on my own," says Tanner. "And when I’m out riding my Harley, I’m by myself. I’m just not into groups at all. It’s kinda like a time for meditation almost – the roar of the engine and the wind on my face – it’s more a solo thing." At UFC 53: Heavy Hitters, Evan displayed the true warrior spirit when he fought to retain his middleweight title against Rich Franklin, before referee Herb Dean stopped the fight 3.25 into round four. Although Tanner had bravely and skilfully battled for over 18 minutes, he did sustain what appeared to be a number of bad facial cuts, and the title was awarded to Franklin via TKO. Evan doesn’t believe the fight should have been pulled up any earlier, and he stands by Herb’s decision. "I think the referee did a good job. He stopped the fight when he should have. The cuts weren’t bleeding so much that they were a problem, and the referee gave me a chance to change the tide of the fight. I wasn’t really doing anything. Then I was getting caught with some more shots on my cuts. "I think Herb did a good job and let it go for just long enough. He watches out for the fighters. He gave me enough time to work, but he stopped it when things were looking worse for me," says Tanner.
Evan, will you be getting a rematch with Rich? "You know, down the road, if I win a few more fights, and Rich Franklin is still the champion, I’d be happy to do that. I’ve gone into both of my fights with Franklin a little distracted and under-prepared. And that showed in the fights. I’m definitely not going to let that happen if I fight him a third time." One of the things that really stands out about you is that you can really turn the tide on a loss. For example, where there was some doubt about your first match against Phil Baroni, for the rematch, you totally dominated that meeting. You’re a master at turning the tide. "Thanks, but Franklin has beaten me twice now, and I should have learnt from the first time. Basically, I feel I gave Franklin those two fights. I didn’t put in the time and the effort to study what I did wrong and to study Franklin. I just went in under-prepared. And I think if I do put in that time and study my flaws and Franklin’s weaknesses, and really prepare physically, I think I will beat him." Besides preparing for your match with David Loiseau, what have you been up to - riding Harleys? "You know, I haven’t really had the chance to ride my bike much. I took a little bit of time off, turned around and re-evaluated everything. I decided to look for a new camp to train with. For this fight with Loiseau, I had to go up to Olympia, Washington, to train with Benji Radach, Dennis Hallman and Jeff Monson. Anyway, I moved to Vegas and got some good days in training, to get me really enthused for this actual fight." So after this fight, are you looking at being based in Las Vegas? "Well, you know, in this fight game everything’s kinda up in the air. You can’t really have concrete plans…You lose a fight and everything changes. Your worth to the company changes…Your standing in the eyes of the fans changes. You know, if I win this fight, I’m definitely looking at getting settled in Vegas. But who knows? If I lose the fight, then everything’s up in the air."
Are you looking forward to your match with David Loiseau? "Yeah. It’s going to be a great fight. David - he’s got some big wins. He’s looking really good. Both the guys from Canada – Georges St. Pierre and David Loiseau - have been looking really good. It’s going to be a big challenge. He’s coming in with a lot of steam behind him." What will David’s game plan be? "I’m sure he’s going to come out and try to punch me. Let’s see… I’m thinking he’s got some really good, really fast punches…quick, strong elbows. I imagine he’s going to try to stay out and hit me with some of those kicks that he has, which are very dangerous. I like to clinch and I think he’s going to be prepared for that. I believe he’s going to be ready with those elbows if I go for the clinch. I’ve got to watch out for that. "I’m going to be stronger on the ground. I’ve watched his tapes and I’m much, much stronger on the ground. I’m not as technical as he is, but I think I might be able to stand in there and dig it out a little bit. But it’s not going to be in my best interest. He’s got some really good tricks, and like I said, I don’t want to get caught with one of those spinning back-kicks or anything." How are you going to win the fight? "I feel the best strategy for me is to apply high pressure. I’ve watched Dave: He doesn’t like a high-pressure game. I need to make him back up. He doesn’t like to counterpunch. He does most of his damage coming forward, so I’ve got to make sure I don’t back up, and I have to keep the pressure on him and engage. I don’t think he can deal with that. I plan on keeping him on his heels, go for the takedown, and kinda work him over." Evan, is there anything you’d like to add? "Yeah, I’d like to thank all the fans for supporting the sport. It’s because of the fans that we can get out here and do what we love. Thank you to them for supporting me and supporting the sport." Your sponsors? "Sportsbook.com, Cobb28, HCK Fight Gear, Inspirit, Lite Force Nutrition, and Full Contact Fighter."
|
