Jake “Dirty Bird” Brown vs. TJ “The Spider” O’Brien

Jake Brown

Strengths:  Knock out power in both hands, good wrestler, endurance
Keys to Victory:  Jake Brown will have to close the distance to land big punches on his feet.  If he takes the fight to the ground, he will need to immediately move to half guard or side control to deliver any damage.  It will be imperative that if he stays in the guard of O’Brien that he stays postured up and remains aware of O’Brien’s legs.

TJ O’Brien

Strengths:  MMA record holder for most wins via triangle choke, reach advantage, experience
Keys to Victory:  O’Brien should avoid getting into a slugging match with Brown.  Using his reach, he can effectively pick Brown apart with punches and kicks to try and force him to shoot for a takedown.  On the ground, O’Brien should avoid letting Brown get the distance needed in order to land big shots.  O’Brien will need to remain patient while he searches to lock up his patented triangle choke.

Since this bout is scheduled for five rounds, the advantage is with TJ O’Brien who will be searching for a submission as soon as the fight hits the mat.  O’Brien is very good at avoiding damage due to his lanky frame.  Using his long legs, he’s able to keep his opponent not only wrapped up, but he also has the ability to extend and keep them away.  Jake Brown will need to pick his shots wisely, but if he finds an opening he needs to take full advantage of it.  Brown is known for his heavy hands, and for good reason.  If he can remain in half guard or side control, he will be able to land the shots he needs to either out point O’Brien or win with strikes.

Styles make fights, and this one has the potential to be one of the most exciting bouts of the year.

Co-Main Event

Alonzo “Zo Diddy” Martinez vs. Paul “The Gingabread Man” Bird

Alonzo Martinez

Strengths:  Experience on big shows, aggressive, dangerous on the feet and ground
Keys to Victory:  Martinez will look to rely on his experiences in high profile fights.  He has a brutal ground and pound game and a big right hand.  He will, however, want to avoid getting into an exchange with Bird as this is where Bird is incredibly experienced.

Paul Bird

Strengths:  Lightning fast punches and kicks, good takedown and submission defense, performs well under pressure
Keys to Victory:  Bird will want to keep the fight standing where he is the strongest.  Although he has good submission defense, there is no need to spend anytime on his back taking shots from Martinez.  In the clinch, Bird will want to remain active and not let Martinez settle into his rhythm.

This is another high profile fight, and in my opinion, the winner could likely get thier shot in WEC or UFC.  Although this could put pressure on both fighters, Martinez has been in several of these bouts.  He has wins over three UFC vets and a five round draw with another.  Bird is extremely hungry, and he also has a recent first round stoppage over WEC and Pride veteran, Joe “The Triangular Strangular” Pearson.  He has flirted with the UFC already as a prelinary cast member of The Ulimate Fighter, so he will use this opportunity to try and catapault him back into their good graces and show the superbowl of mixed martial arts that he is deserving of a spot on their roster.  With both fighters possessing the ability to end the fight at any moment, I do not see this bout going the distance, but I do see this it as a highlight reel in the making.

Jason “Type One” Louck vs. Andy “Danger Zone” Branson

Jason Louck

Strengths: Former MCC Champion, experience with tough opponents, KO power in both hands Keys to Victory: When Louck has proven to be the strongest is right off the bat. I look for him to come out of his corner and go right after Branson. Louck has devastating punches and can end the fight with any one of them he lands.

Andy Branson

Strengths: Polished muay Thai skills, good submissions, relentless attacks Keys to Victory: Branson will want to avoid getting into a striking exchange with Louck as Louck has lighting fast, powerful punches. Branson would be better served using his punches to set up kicks and vice versa. Branson is a patient fighter who will look to land the right shot. If the fight goes to the ground, Branson has shown that he can submit his opponents from the top or the bottom, but I see him being strongest on his feet.

This fight will crown the number one contender to the MCC Welterweight title. Louck has tested the waters at 170 pounds before, and this is Branson’s first fight as a welterweight mixed martial artist. The fans at MCC 24 will get a show with this bout for sure. I would like to see this fight stay on the feet, but often times, when you have two good strikers, game plans change and take downs, dominant positions and submissions come into play when putting together the ultimate game plan.

Katy Klinefelter vs. Cassie Roddish

Katy Klinefelter

Strengths: Nationally ranked boxer, experience
Keys to Victory:  Katy will need to rely on her boxing experience to keep her relaxed and one move ahead of her opponent as Roddish will look to put pressure on her from the opening bell.  Klinefelter is well versed in the submission game as well, so she does not have to rely on her hands to get the job done.  Klinefelter will want to watch out for kicks and unorthodox strikes that Roddish will surely fire off when given the chance.

Cassie Roddish

Strengths:  Heart, durable, never gives up
Keys to Victory:  What Roddish lacks in experience she makes up for with heart and drive.  She needs to apply pressure early and work her clinch game with knees and elbows.  Klinefelter will, most likely, look to pick her apart from the outside range, so Roddish will need to keep her hands up, chin down, and be relentless with her attacks.  Although Roddish has not finished any fights by submission, she has another female in her camp that is a purple belt in Brazillian Jiu Jitsu, so she is sure to be well versed in submission defense.

This could be a great fight as I do not look for either of them to shoot for a takedown.  We may see the classically trained boxer versus the muay Thai technician.  Although either could end the fight with a punch or a kick, I see both of them having the heart to tough it out for all three rounds.  I think at the end of the fight when the dust settles, these two may gain thousands of fans, a standing ovation, and possibly fight of the night honors.

Katy Klinefelter

“But You Don’t Look Like a Fighter!”

By Randy Thomas 

Female kick boxer, actress, model turned mixed martial arts sensation, Gina “Conviction” Carano has been paving the way for women’s MMA for the last few years.  She’s been featured on Showtime, CBS, and has made the top ten in ESPN’s “Most Beatiful People in Sports.”  Although some may view her looks as that of a ring card girl, don’t be fooled- she can throw down with the best of them.
 
It seems, on a smaller scale, Katy Klinefelter is taking that same path.  An undefeated boxer and Thai fighter, Klinefelter has made the transition to mixed martial arts to compete along side her team mates and MCC veterans, Andy Branson, and Nick Lepa.  At MCC 24, Klinefelter makes her professional debut against local kick boxer, Cassie Roddish.  Excited for the opportunity and exposure, she plans on making a statement loud enough to let the other girls know that there is a new player in town.
 
Katy Klinefelter began boxing in 2000 as a hobby.  She was involved in gymnastics, diving, track and field and volleyball, but the competition and challenge inside the ring is what she truly loved.  Although she never expected much to happen, as boxing was viewed as a man’s sport, she was good enough to not only stay undefeated in twenty outings, but also represent the United States nationally and internationally in Turkey and Brazil.
Training her Thai boxing under Chris Weitz at ICOR along with the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu team at the University of Iowa, she’s made the transition from boxer to mixed martial artist.  Klinefelter recalls, “In 2008 after one week of learning how to kick, I had my first MMA fight.  In retrospect that was a really horrible idea, knowing nothing about the sport, but it ended up going well.  I won a unanimous three round decision against Jessica “Baby Bull” Hilger.  She was tough, and bigger than me, and she was saved by the bell from a couple of submission attempts and did not like my punches.  It was enough to get me the decision.”
 
 
Her second MMA fight was in 2009.  This time, her opponent was 185 lbs- a difference of over 50 lbs. It didn’t matter.  Klinefelter won by TKO in the very first round. 

 
We recently caught up with Katy to ask her a few questions.
 
MCC: Do you get positive or negative attention from being a female fighter?

KK:  Overall it is positive.  I train just as hard, if not harder than any male fighters, and anyone who sees that is able to look past any gender differences.  The comment I get most often is “..but you don’t look like a fighter!” It seems that sometimes I am considered a novelty of the sport.  The vast majority of attention is positive though, only every once in a while are there people who are incredulous to the fact that I am a fighter, and a decent one at that. 
 
MCC:  How does it feel to be one of few female fighters MMA?
 
KK: It’s hard to find people to train with.  I train mostly with males, but even then it is hard to find someone my own size.  Females fight differently, they don’t have quite as much muscle, and their makeup is different so it is different fighting males and females.  Overall I think it is a good thing because the guys I train with push me harder, and hit harder and faster than a lot of my opponents which makes me ready for anything that could be thrown at me in a fight. 

MCC:  Did you get a lot of support from your family and friends when you started boxing? What about MMA?

KK: Initially my parents thought I would try the sport and quit, but once they saw I was sticking with it they have been nothing but supportive.  My grandma openly tells me that she hates that I fight, and she wishes I would quit, but none the less she comes to all of my fights and supports me if its what I choose to do.  My family has been incredibly supportive of both my boxing and MMA endeavors.  My friends are in the sport, so they are always supportive as well. 
 
 MCC: Where do you see yourself going in MMA in the upcoming year?
 
KK: I would like to see how far I can get.  No specific goals as of yet because a lot of things come up on short notice.  I plan on training hard to be ready for anything and I would like to make 2010 a really active year for fighting for me. 

MCC: What do you know and expect out of your opponent, Cassie Roddish?

KK: That’s about it.  I know her name, and that she is from Des Moines. 
 
MCC: How do you see the fight playing out?

KK: I never go into a fight with a distinct game plan with a definite ending.  I enjoy the flow of the sport and I just try to work on new things, capitalize on whatever weaknesses my opponent has, and play up my strengths.  Not knowing anything about my opponent, I can only work on making myself stronger in every aspect of my game.  When the fight starts, I will be able to figure out what her weaknesses are and what I can capitalize on.  In a perfect fight, I would win by submission.  I already know what I can do with my stand up, but I would really like to see how I would do on the ground.  I would really like to show that I know some submissions too. 
 
MCC: How does it feel being on MCC 24, knowing your bout will be televised, with a lot of attention on you?

KK: It feels great.  I really look forward to the exposure. 
 
MCC: Tell us about your day to day preparations for this bout?

KK: I’m in the gym about every day.  I work with a lot of people that have taught me a lot.  I alternate between practicing Thai Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Wrestling, and then putting it all together.  And of course there’s the cardio/weights everyday.  Although we have a great team at ICOR MMA in Iowa City, I am also training a bit at Des Moines MMA in order to be fully prepared for the fight.