When Chris Wilson enters the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, this Saturday night at UFC 82: “Pride Of A Champion,” he will be stepping into the famous Octagon for the first time in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career.
However, his ultimate goal is to walk out of Columbus with a win over top 10 welterweight fighter and UFC title contender, Jon Fitch. Wilson is thrilled to have an opportunity to fight in the UFC.
“It means a lot to me,” Wilson told MMAmania.com. “I always put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well. In that sense, there is some pressure to perform well.”
The Team Quest fighter replaced Japanese fighter Akihiro Gono on the UFC 82 card and he plans on taking full advantage of his opportunity.
“I’m coming in kind of as the underdog, kind of the unknown guy, not unknown completely, people who follow the sport might know a little bit about me,” Wilson said. “Being in the UFC, for the reach that the UFC has, the general public may not know who I am nearly as much as they know Fitch is, so I’m definitely the underdog.”
“To me, it’s really just a great opportunity to go in there and show my skills and show that I’m competitive at the top-level and just because you haven’t heard of me doesn’t mean I’m not a threat to your career. It’s a great opportunity for me and it really couldn’t be any better.”
Wilson views this fight against Fitch as a rare opportunity. It’s not everyday that a fighter who makes his UFC debut against a top 10 contender who is undefeated (7-0) inside the Octagon.
“Obviously it’s not normal for someone who is in their UFC debut to come in against a guy who is in that title shot situation like Jon Fitch is,” Wilson said. “So yeah it’s not normal, but at the same time, I’m not looking for an easy fight. I plan to establish myself in the welterweight division.”
To prepare for the fight, Wilson has been working out with his fellow Team Quest-mates in the mountains of Big Bear, Calif. He had just five weeks notice to prepare for this fight.
“It was a good opportunity to train against tough guys at (high) elevation,” Wilson said. “I feel like I got a lot out of it and I really feel like I’m optimizing the time I have.”
Wilson — who has an impressive career MMA record (13-3) — has been around the sport for a while. He’s fought in many promotions such as King of the Cage, BodogFight and the IFL, defeating the likes of Jay Hieron, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season five contestant Brandon Melendez, Rory Markham and more.
Wilson is a well-rounded fighter who has strong stand up with a fairly decent ground game. Before joining Team Quest, in fact, Wilson was unsure of his ground game. But now that Wilson is with the prestigious camp, he feels confident in taking the fight to the ground. And he credits Team Quest with the assistance.
“I came into Team Quest with a decent repertoire of striking, but when you’re trying to use your striking against that caliber a fighter, even you’re striking has to get better,” Wilson said. “My all around game has risen from being at Team Quest. I am the fighter I am today because of Team Quest.”
Wilson gets to work out with the likes of former UFC middleweight contender and Olympic wrestling silver medalist, Matt Lindland, as well as Chael Sonnen and, of course, the main event challenger for UFC 82 this Saturday, Dan Henderson.
He acknowledges that Fitch is a good wrestler, but he believes he has dealt with better in training.
“Fitch, he may have been captain of the Purdue wrestling team, but sorry, Fitch is no Lindland, Fitch is no Chael Sonnen, Fitch is no Matt Horwich,” Wilson said. “I don’t think he’s got the wrestling skills of the room that I’m in and I don’t think he’s got the submission skills of the room I’m in, but a fight is a fight.”
Wilson knows that Fitch won’t be an easy task, but he believes that he will be prepared, come Saturday night.
“I definitely don’t underestimate Jon Fitch, he’s number four, he’s earned his spot and he’s a tough fight no matter how you look at it, but I do think that I have a much better chance against Fitch than most people give me credit for.”
A win on Saturday night is the most important thing for Wilson. He isn’t feeling the pressure and is looking to make a lot of noise this weekend.
“There is a little less pressure on me because nobody really expects anything out of me. Hell, half the people don’t even know who I am and the other half want to see me to lose. It’s because they like Fitch,” Wilson said. “So it’s like I’m going in there as the underdog and I’m looking to ruin everybody’s night, except mine. I plan to stop his streak and ruin Dana’s (White) plans for his title shot.”
No doubt about it, if Wilson can go out there and win, he would do just that.
Chris would like to thank his sponsors, including Premier Fighter, Metabolic Adaptation, Mike Dolce at Strengthcoachonline.com and Sports Lab. For videos of Wilson in action click here and here.
15 Comments »
Can I get some of that good crack that you’re smoking???
Best Quote I have ever heard out of a fighters mouth:
“Just because you haven’t heard of me doesn’t mean I’m not a threat to your career.”
Chris Wilson isn’t a bad fighter at all. He is more than UFC worthy. I am not saying he will defeat Fitch, but Fitch is going to be in a fight against this guy!
Im betting on Chris. Whenever the guy who has nothing to lose is at 425, its a winning bet.
It sounds like he already lost the fight he just seems happy to be just in the UFC, yeap yeap yeap the sky is blue the birds are singing I am fight in the UFC.
Come on man put your head up have some confidence take him out, I’m cheering for Chris not because he impresses me it’s cause I can’t stand Fitch.
Fitch is nothing spectacular and everyone makes him out to be dominant figure in WW division the only dominant figure in WW is my boy GSP.
This should be a good fight. This Wilson guy seems to me to be a year or so away from being a real threat in the division with various of his fighting attributes being “good” as opposed to “deadly” or “excellent” at the moment.
Fitch is a tough customer and can win a fight in many ways With good technique and discipline plus much more octagon experience, on paper Fitch takes it easily but we all know things don’t always go that way.
My money is on Fitch but Wilson is not to be taken lightly.
I hope he does well. That is gutsy of him to take this fight. I guess for him it is a win-win no matter what. I definitely would bet on Fitch and I want him to move up the ladder. I wish it was Karo taking this fight even though it has been said that he wouldn’t.
I forgot to ask, but does anyone have any links to some highlights of Chris Wilson? I have searched his name and not found anything.
[quote comment=”329016″]I forgot to ask, but does anyone have any links to some highlights of Chris Wilson? I have searched his name and not found anything.[/quote]
I am not sure, but if you have searched all the usual sites and have found nothing….you best bet would be to check out http://www.myvideofight.com and search by his name. He isnt a common name so if nothing comes up under that search, click on the “other rings” link and scroll through it, you should be able to find something on that site!
like houston alexander when he faced keith jardine this guy has a chance to make a massive name for himself
fitch is a beast tho and is probably the #2 WW and possibly the only guy who can seriously trouble GSP
wilson would need to be a 10/1 shot for me to bet on him… i fear for the guys safety in this one it could be another chris lights out lyttle style beatdown against that poor kid last time
i hope fitch doesnt look past this guy
can somebody explain how chris leben is on the main show
chris leben is in the terry martin marvin eastman group the fight all the time and never win
[quote comment=”329011″]I hope he does well. That is gutsy of him to take this fight. I guess for him it is a win-win no matter what. I definitely would bet on Fitch and I want him to move up the ladder. I wish it was Karo taking this fight even though it has been said that he wouldn’t.[/quote]
I agree it’s a win-win for Wilson. Fitch has everything to lose and nothing to gain except a paycheck…..which I guess we all need. I also wish Karo would have stepped up so we’d have a clear #1 contendor.
[quote comment=”329280″]i hope fitch doesnt look past this guy
can somebody explain how chris leben is on the main show
chris leben is in the terry martin marvin eastman group the fight all the time and never win[/quote]
Chris Leben = 7-3 in the UFC and brings it every time (except for the Kalib Starnes fight which I found to be very lackluster on both of their parts)
[quote comment=”329394″][quote comment=”329280″]i hope fitch doesnt look past this guy
can somebody explain how chris leben is on the main show
chris leben is in the terry martin marvin eastman group the fight all the time and never win[/quote]
Chris Leben = 7-3 in the UFC and brings it every time (except for the Kalib Starnes fight which I found to be very lackluster on both of their parts)[/quote]
You gotta love Leben. How could you not be a hater with a name like chuckisover-rated.
[quote comment=”329394″][quote comment=”329280″]i hope fitch doesnt look past this guy
can somebody explain how chris leben is on the main show
chris leben is in the terry martin marvin eastman group the fight all the time and never win[/quote]
Chris Leben = 7-3 in the UFC and brings it every time (except for the Kalib Starnes fight which I found to be very lackluster on both of their parts)[/quote]
VM: I was watching UFC 78 yesterday, and it came to me….. I want to see if Bisping can get past Leben, that would be an entertaining scrap!
[quote comment=”330404″][quote comment=”329394″][quote comment=”329280″]i hope fitch doesnt look past this guy
can somebody explain how chris leben is on the main show
chris leben is in the terry martin marvin eastman group the fight all the time and never win[/quote]
Chris Leben = 7-3 in the UFC and brings it every time (except for the Kalib Starnes fight which I found to be very lackluster on both of their parts)[/quote]
VM: I was watching UFC 78 yesterday, and it came to me….. I want to see if Bisping can get past Leben, that would be an entertaining scrap![/quote]
For sure! A Leben vs Cote rematch would also be VERY interesting at this point. Or Bisping vs Cote for that matter. Throw any 2 of those 3 in the octagon an you got a fight!