Hess two fights away from dream…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Had a chance to talk with Jared Hess earlier this week as he prepares for his semifinal bout Friday night at the Bellator event in Monroe, La.
Here’s the story from Wednesday’s paper, and here’s some more with Hess.
At the last event, Hess didn’t step into the cage until after midnight, which was a good and bad thing.
He said around 5 that he was nervous. But after all that waiting around, he no longer felt the nerves and just wanted to get out there and get the job done.
Hess had never fought on such a big stage before, but he handled the environment well. He’s fought in Texas a couple of times, but nothing as big as the Bellator event.
He gets excited when he starts talking about Bellator. That makes sense as the company took a chance on a young kid with no real MMA pedigree. And now he’s making Bellator look smart, too.
Hess takes on Yosmany Cabezas in the semifinals of the middleweight tournament. Cabezas submitted Edwin Aguilar in the first round. After re-reading the report, I remember that fight well.
Aguilar found a home for his uppercut, and I think got a little too overconfident. Cabezas did a great job of not getting flustered and took his time to work his plan.
Hess said though Cabezas won by rear-naked choke, it’s the leg kicks that are giving him some concern.
Hess surprised Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney with how easily he defeated Daniel Tabera of Spain.
In the other semifinal, it is Hector Lombard vs. Damien Stelly. Lombard is being groomed as the “it factor” fighter of Bellator. And you know what? I’m buying into the hype.
He had the sensational knockout at the Norman show and has the look. You know, passes the “eye test” with flying colors.
I’ll be following along on the Bellator site Friday night to see what happens, and then Hess said he would be OK with me calling him over the weekend to talk about things.
***
Not much news on the boxing front. Shaping up to be a rather eventful summer with Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey as well as Floyd Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez. But before we get there, it’s Andre Berto vs. Juan Urango on Saturday on HBO.
I don’t view this as a step up for Berto but some do. I don’t blame Berto for the fights being made, but I wish his team would stop coddling the kid and let us see what he’s got.
***
My condolences go out to Mike Tyson and his family after the tragic accident that has taken the life of his 4-year-old daughter Exodus.
Apparently, she was hung by a cord on a treadmill before being found by her brother.
She battled but was taken off life support Tuesday. Prayers go out to the Tyson family.
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