Javier Torres’ TUF 13 Blog: A Poor Game Plan!

The catchy Mixed Martial Arts saying these days is “styles make fights”, but how about a new one of “poor game plans ruin fights”. Maybe not a catchy or as often used but still a true statement.

On this weeks episode (#2) we saw a perfect example of over thinking a game plan when you know too much about your opponent. Team Dos Santos had control of the fights and picked Javier Torres (2-0) to take on Chris Cope from Team Lesnar. Coach Lew Polly of Team Dos Santos had prior experience with Cope so he “thought” he knew what it would take to win.

If you watched the fight you could easily have guess what the game plan was against Cope, put him against the cage, take him down and control the fight. For 15 minutes both fighters engaged in a clinch dance with each fighter taking his turn to lead. Not the most impressive fight you’ll ever see, but as MMAValor.com blogger and Team Dos Santos fighter Javier Torres will tell you, it wasn’t the best of game plans.

Each week throughout season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter, Javier Torres will be doing a weekly Q & A blog. Make sure to follow Javier Torres on twitter at http://twitter.com/JavierTorresMMA.

When did you know that you’d be fighting next?

We talked about it a little bit before; it was kind of like between Ramsey Nijem and myself. They switched it around too thinking I might fight Tony Ferguson or Len Bentley but I didn’t care who I fought. I didn’t officially know under before the actual fight announcement that I’d be fighting next though.

In the actual episode they showed the fight announcement but we didn’t see you again until fight day. What happened that the viewers didn’t see?

Not making excuses but there was a party the night before the fight and I ate something bad that just messed me up, they didn’t show any of that. Standing there before the bell rung my stomach was still upset and I was worried that I’d get sick in fight and embarrass myself on national TV.

It seems the game plan was to clinch in the fight, what was the actual game plan?

The game plan was to put him up against the cage. Coach Lew Polly wanted me to get him against the cage, put him down and control him. I like to strike, I’m well rounded but he wanted me to do the stuff I don’t typically do. Coach Polly told me what Chris cope likes to high kick, triangle choke, had no wrestling and average striking, so I worked on that. The game plan was what he (Lew Polly) would do and not what would work for me with what I do best.

Did you think you won the fight?

I feel the first round was completely mine, second round was more even but I felt I still won. A lot of people who saw the fight from the UFC said the second round was yours, but you can’t leave the fight in the judge’s hands.

What did Junior Dos Santos say to you after the defeat?

He was disappointed but told me that bad things happen for a reason and you’ll get better from it. Don’t be sad, everybody losses and you come back from your mistakes better and stronger. That’s what I’m going to do!

What did you think about Keon Caldwell leaving?

It was too tough for him! The last day of sparring he was sparring with me and I was kicking him a lot and he stopped. That was the same time that Dana White came there to talk to him and I asked him if he was ok but when we got home he was packing to leave. He never told us about his daughter, we all have family we were away from and my wife is pregnant. I don’t think he can handle it and was using his daughter as an excuse to quit, you don’t want to be he then get out of here man.

Make sure to check back each and every week for a new blog from Javier Torres, exclusively on MMAValor.com

Tags: Blog, Chris Cope, Dana White, Javier Torres, Lew Polly, MMA, Team Dos Santos, Team Lesnar, TUF 13, UFC, Ultimate Fighter

Category: Exclusive, Featured, Interview, MMA, UFC, Ultimate Fighter