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JEFF LAWSON The Jiu-Jitsu Calculator
© Marc Wickert Special thanks to Wad Alameddine
On May 15, 2010, Jeff Lawson (14-3) will be throwing down against UFC veteran Dave Lee at BAMMA 3: Reid vs. Watson in the LG Arena, Birmingham. This may be Jeff’s last MMA outing in the UK for some time with his having just signed a three-fight contract with US group Shine Fight Promotions. His first fight is expected to be at Shine Fights: 4, later this year. This is a great opportunity for Lawson, who will be sharing the Shine Fight’s limelight with other noted combatants such as Ray Mayorga, Din Thomas, Ninja Rua, Niko Vitale, Jeff Monson, Nick Thompson and Luiz Azeredo. Jeff’s “overnight” success can be traced back to 23 years ago when he began practicing a martial art. “Judo was my first fighting art. I started when I was about eight years old and I was a total wimp. I quickly progressed to being one of the best kids in the lesson and I began to compete when I was about twelve. I strongly believe that being in a competitive sport from an early age has really given me a leg-up on the competition for MMA,” says Lawson. So what originally inspired Jeff to take up a fighting art? “To be honest I think I went to the Judo lesson to take the piss out of the guys wearing old custard-colored Judo suits, thinking it was going to be like Karate Kid lessons. My judo coach, Jeff Hatcher of New Forest Park Judo Club, wasn’t the type of guy to ignore young chavs interrupting his lessons, and I’m sure he grabbed me and threw me in with the other kids in my jeans and T-shirt. I turned up every week from that day on.” Some websites have referred to Jeff as an arm-bar specialist, but to be fair, his submissions have come via numerous holds, including guillotine, knee bar, and RNC. But Lawson remains stoic about the tags: “I just lock up what the opponent gives me. One guy has described me as a Jiu-Jitsu calculator, which I like. Sometimes I tap people out with things I don’t even think are ‘proper’ submissions.”
Jeff, how is your striking game coming along? “Awesome. All I do is technical boxing – 1 to 1’s with John Orchard, the multiple kickboxing world champion. I’m really pleased with how it’s developing. Watch this space!” Who are your trainers? “I don’t really have an MMA coach: All I have is my desire and drive to win and improve. On the BJJ side I am a member of DeSouza Dojo with Alex DeSouza as my coach. As I mentioned before, John Orchard is my kickboxing coach. Kris Caan is my conditioning trainer and the guy who is responsible for my being where I am today is Jeff Hatcher, my long time Judo coach.” Your training partners? “Many different training partners – mostly my own students. Stand-outs would include Sam Rocha, Phil Harris, Mark Adams and Alex DeSouza.” Have you been training exclusively at Bulldog Ultimate Training Academy in Dorset? “Yes, I do it all there for my MMA training and my kickboxing training.” Is it true you also practice Capoeira? “Yes, that’s true. I have done Capoeira for about seven years and I have had to put it on a back burner for a couple of years to really concentrate on my MMA career. I miss it terribly but it is still ingrained into my body so it will be waiting for me when my fighting stops.” I believe you suffered a chest infection at TUF 9. Did that have a bearing on your cardio for the fight with Jason Dent? “Of course. For anyone who has ever had a chest infection they will know that trying to jog up a flight of stairs is hard enough. I think I owned the first round of that fight despite being ill and I would have kept that up in round two, but my lungs had other ideas. I have suffered from asthma since I was four years old and it has always made me even more prone to serious chest infections. Since leaving TUF, I have really studied the condition and have found a fantastic company called Viridian Nutrition that has supplied me with an asthma-busting supplement package. Since then I haven’t had to take my reliever inhaler for over a year, which is quite incredible for someone who was on them at least four times per day.” What was it like being involved in TUF 9? “It was an absolutely amazing eye opener. I have made friends for life and my training changed and improved ten-fold because of it; it was great.” What are your thoughts on your bout with Jason? “Jason Dent is one hell of a tough guy… very quiet, very polite. Looking back, it was the right choice for the fight but I wish it had gone the other way. I believe everything happens for a reason and this time it’s made me change my weight category, amongst other things, so I feel it’s for the best.” What lessons did you learn from the experience? “Don’t live with 15 other guys – your skin will hate you for it forever!”
Can you tell readers about your fight deal with Shine Fight Promotions, please, Jeff? “I am so excited to be going back to the US to fight. I really hope this takes me onto bigger and better things. It’s a three-fight deal I’ve signed with Shine Fights and it’s amazing to be part of a new, growing MMA promotion with the sorts of goals and aspirations that they have about their future in MMA. I don’t know who I’m going to be fighting yet, but the next card on May 15th with former WBA/WBC Champion Ricardo Mayorga fighting should set the tone for what Shine are going to be doing as a promotion.” Will you be relocating to the US for this contract? “No. I have a very young family here and where I live in Bournemouth is such a wonderful place to bring my children up I wouldn’t want to make my family move anywhere. I really can’t stand to be apart from them even for a day. The sacrifice of time missed with my family fuels my desire to fight and my will to win.” Where will you be training? “I will be doing the bulk of my training at the Bulldog Gym, of course, but I will be doing the odd week here and there at the Rough House in Nottingham with my old TUF Team UK buddies like Dean, Dre, Ross and Nick, and the other top guys they have there as well as down at South Coast Submissions in Gosport.” What are you expecting from the Dave Lee fight at BAMMA 3? “A victory.” Has it been difficult for you to drop down to featherweight? “It’s been the easiest weight cut I have ever done because rather than crash-dieting a couple of weeks before, I now do a comprehensive diet program over six weeks. It’s not a quick no-carb fix or separating meals: I have whatever I want. It’s just calorie controlled. It does make you very anal counting every calorie in and out, but it gets easy over time and it’s so simple.” Will this fight go straight to the ground? “One way or another, one of us will be on the ground.” Your prediction for the fight? “A victory.” Jeff, is there anything you’d like to add? “I’ve always wanted to go to Australia. If you have room for me over there I will happily come and share my knowledge with your fighters…….Worth a try!” Jeff Lawson’s sponsors: Clothing www.frontlinefighter.com Vitamins & Minerals www.viridian-nutrition.com Nutrition www.nutrichef.co.uk Recovery www.cherryactive.co.uk
JEFF LAWSON’S STATS MMA record: 14-3-0 Height: 5’6” Division: Featherweight Style: Judo DOB: August 19, 1978 Stance: Orthodox Gym: Bulldog Ultimate Training Academy in Dorset.
For more on Jeff Lawson: www.jefflawson.co.uk.
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