|
Gurgel packs punch,
personality
Alex Marvez
FOXSports.com
WEST CHESTER, Ohio - Rich Franklin isn't the only fighter
with a home-field advantage on Saturday night's UFC 77 pay-per-view show.
Jorge Gurgel, the Brazilian-born lightweight who now lives
in the Cincinnati area, will have his own cheering section when facing Alvin
Robinson (9-2) at U.S. Bank Arena.
"(Robinson) is a tough wrestler, very big for the weight
class and is very explosive," Gurgel told FOXSports.com in a recent interview.
"He's a very good athlete, probably the best opponent I've had so far. But I'm
going to beat him down. I think he lacks heart. If things don't go his way, I
think he'll fold."
Gurgel and Franklin — the Cincinnati native who is
headlining against Anderson Silva in an Ultimate Fighting Championship
middleweight title bout — trained together for their fights. The duo returned
home this week after moving their camp last month to Wyoming.
The close friends made the shift from Gurgel's gym (JG MMA
Academy) in the Cincinnati suburb of West Chester for two reasons: The chance
for better cardiovascular training at high altitude and the desire to avoid
pre-fight distractions. Uncomfortable with the heavy public and media attention
he was receiving locally months ago, Franklin knew the frenzy would
progressively grow as the Silva fight approached.
In that regard, Franklin wishes he could trade places with
the lesser-known Gurgel.
"He'd like it the other way around and it wouldn't bother
me one bit," a smiling Franklin said.
Gurgel agrees.
"Rich handles publicity very well and has gotten better
with it, but sometimes he thinks it gets old and it annoys him," Gurgel said.
"I'm the jokester and the wild guy who says something first and thinks second."
A standout in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Gurgel's outgoing
personality made him well-suited for the second season of the Ultimate Fighter
reality show. Gurgel was eliminated with a loss to Jason Von Flue and then
dropped another decision against Mark Hominick on the season-finale.
Gurgel rebounded on subsequent UFC pay-per-view cards with
decision victories over Danny Abbadi and Diego Saraiva. Gurgel vs. Saraiva was
selected as the Fight of the Night for UFC 73 in July by the promotion's
management. Gurgel won despite suffering a broken jaw in the second round.
Other injuries have previously derailed Gurgel's mixed
martial arts career. Gurgel, though, said he has taken extra precautions
entering the Robinson bout.
"I've been fighting for 15 years and I think I've learned
how to peak at the right time," said Gurgel, 30, who has a 14-2 record. "I was
notorious for overtraining and missing out on opportunities because I was always
hurt."
Franklin also said Gurgel's mental preparation has
improved.
"We keep talking to Jorge about his mindset and the way he
approaches fights," Franklin said. "I think it's finally sunk in this time. I
think you're going to see somebody who doesn't get set on doing a certain thing.
You'll see him flow a little more."
Gurgel is just as optimistic about Franklin rebounding
from last October's devastating knockout loss to Silva.
"He trained, but he wasn't mentally there," Gurgel said.
"It didn't surprise me. He came out with a different look on his face. We didn't
know what to do. At the same time, Rich is not the type of person who would pull
out of a fight with excuses. He decided to gut it through and, of course, it
didn't work out.
"He's doing everything right this time regardless of the
pressure. I think this time he's going to come out to fight. If he doesn't, he
obviously didn't learn his lesson."
Alex Marvez is a senior NFL writer who also covers mixed
martial arts for FOXSports.com.
|
