Submission victory over a TUF alum on Friday night. I had a real interesting week for a 31-year-old guy.
I worked out hard Sunday night with a couple training partners. After some refreshing sleep I went to the gym Monday morning for some circuit training.
When I got back to my beautiful ‘93 Chevy Silverado my cell phone was flashing a voicemail. It was some guy from Tulsa, Oklahoma offering me a fight four days later in that very city.
Who was the opponent? None other than The Ultimate Fighter: Season 8 cast member Ryan Lopez.
The name clicked in my head because I had watched a video one week prior of his demise to my last opponent, Aron Lofton.
I told the matchmaker I’d get back to him after that night’s training session. I sprained my neck during that session but made the excepting phone call anyway, lying on my couch after finishing chicken thighs and black beans.
One hard day of heavy hand training and two massages later, I was on my way to Tulsa for Thursday night’s weigh-in.
I got to attend my best friend’s memorial service on the way out of town. Rano Papini died the Thursday before of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was a positive selfless man. I am so glad to have known him and I cherished his friendship. But enough about grieving.
I was on my way to Oklahoma for redemption. Heavy on my mind was the fact that in my two previous fights in Oklahoma I had been finished in a total of less than three minutes. Frankly, I thought I had worn out my welcome on red dirt.
The fight was promoted by 5150 Cage Combat*. Brandon, the promoter, told me when I arrived at the fight that he reads my blog. Flattering of course, but that would reveal his awareness of my dismal performances in his locale.
My how things change. I spent six minutes on my back Friday night under an established physical specimen receiving heavy blows to my nugget. Then I decided I was tired of being on the short end of Oklahoma ass-beatings.
With my sprained neck shoved against the cage in Ryan Lopez’s corner, I sat up, sank a kimura on his left arm, rotated my body, and nearly broke that arm off.
He tapped on the canvas in a frenzy.
After a week of surprise, scrambling, injury, therapy, grieving, travel, and nerves; there was the ultimate relief and glory.
And there I was on my knees pointing up to my friend Rano and saying thank you.
I am no tomato can. I come to fight. And one way or the other, I FINISH FIGHTS!
What’s next for Brian Imes?
This hillbilly cannot wait to find out.
By: Brian Imes
“The Human Cock Fighter”
Brian Imes is a professional mixed martial arts fighter, brother of TUF 2 finalist Brad Imes, and author of “The Human Cock Fighter Blog” at PROMMA.INFO (promma.info). You can learn more about Brian and Brad and check out their clothing line at www.hillbillyfightwear.com.
*Editor’s Note: Here are the complete results from 5150 Combat League’s “Season’s Beatings” event that took place at the Rose Bowl Event Center in Tulsa, Okla., on Dec. 11, 2009.
Ryan Lopez is a good win. Nice job.