Well, I am sure a lot of you probably thought I wouldn’t have the marbles to come back and finish my blog after having a disappointing fight Saturday night. I am a man. And I can take what people dish out because I am by far my worst critic so anything you have is only motivation for next time.
First, I want to congratulate Brad Blackburn on his win. It was his night. He was the better man plain and simple. He controlled where the fight went and I fought like crap. So big props to him on his first UFC win!
I woke up Saturday morning (fight day) feeling good and relaxed. I mostly just relaxed the entire day leading up to the fight. I ran a few errands to pick up some gear from my sponsors, but other than that I just hung out in my room.
At 2 p.m. I had to report to the arena for my fight. When we first got there they took us down to the cage so we could feel it out. To be honest I thought it would be bigger than it was. I asked Kevin [Burns] if it was smaller than the ones they use in the big arenas, but he said it was the same and he should know. One thing that I did forget to mention is that there are like eight flights of stairs you have to go down to get to the cage.
Back up stairs, I got my hands wrapped and started warming up. The warm up went pretty well. It was weird not having Kevin there because he has cornered me for my six-fight win streak. Then it was time to go to the Octagon — we got down there and had to wait. Before I knew it was time to make my way toward the cage. It was a good feeling to finally be there. I am usually focused and don’t really realize what is going on right before but this time I realized.
When the fight started, we exchanged some punches and I dislocated my thumb. This is not an excuse either, things happen in fights. I went for a takedown and wasn’t able to finish it — I just couldn’t grab very well with that hand. We separated and that is when I made the stupidest decision ever in my fight career. I decided to fight his fight instead of my fight.
BIG MISTAKE!
The exchanges were going well until he clipped me once and it put me down. Most of you don’t know what it is like to get punched so I will provide a brief description. As you feel the contact, your eyes close naturally and you see a bright white light. The pain of the punch itself isn’t that bad. I can tell you that it is the first time I have ever been put down in a fight. We went to the ground and I controlled him but was unable to get a submission.
The ref stood us up and we started trading again and that is the last thing I remember really about the fight.
I must have got a concussion that second time he hit me. I do remember a doctor asking if I was okay during rounds and saying yes. The next thing I remember is being back stage sitting in a chair. So I fought for three minutes on instinct and heart without having a clue what was happening.
I had to go to the hospital after to get a CT Scan … no big deal. Let’s just say that I was not alone — a lot of fighters where there win or lose. I had to find out how Kevin did by phone play-by-play because the hospital didn’t have Spike. I got back in time to watch the last two fights, which was nice.
I really enjoyed my experience at the UFC and really hope to get another chance to prove myself real soon. I want to thank MMAMANIA for allowing me to share the experience, the UFC, my teammates, my fans and my sponsors: TapouT, Warrior Wear, Eternal unltd, MMAwarehouse, Zappos.com, Stagr and Vegas.com. Thank you guys and girls for reading my blogs. Hopefully I have some new fans!!
James Giboo (11-2) is a professional mixed martial artist and Iowa science teacher who will make his Octagon debut against Brad Blackburn at UFC Fight Night 14 on July 19. He has competed extensively (and successfully) in the Midwest circuit, which has earned him a rare opportunity to now put his skills to the test against the top fighters in the world under the UFC banner. James will frequently detail his journey to the big time right here at MMAmania.com this week, providing our readers and his fans with a behind-the-scenes account of what it’s like to fight for the biggest mixed martial arts promotion on the planet for the first time. To check out more from James here at MMAmania.com click here.
38 Comments »
Mania, all the new UFC fighters that you give publicity to, loose! U r like Eddie Mush “put him in the bathroom” -Bronx tale
I havent seen the Giboo fight yet so I wont bash this guy. Does anyone know if it was an exciting fight!
LMFAO!!
-Great flick!..One of my favorite mob movies..
john, Have you ever tried “the Mario test”..lol
yeah, of course when I was a young buck, running around pimping all the south Philly hoes, we all held the mario test to high standards….until I got a car, with automatic locks! lol
loss*
It’s also important to note that the majority of Giboo’s wins (all except 3 I think) were over opponents with losing records. Fighting someone in the UFC isn’t the same as fighting in XKK Trials against 1-7 Ezra Rowlinson.
Your not exactly making freinds on this site.
It’s important to note that the_mexicutioner has no wins over anyone ever. Fighting nobody and calling into question someone who has the balls to step inside a cage isn’t the same as some kid tapping keys on a computer.
Try and appreciate what James does and what he provided our readers with leading up to the biggest fight of his life — a backstage pass on what it’s like to make it to the UFC.
thank you
absolutely! HIs info about the behind the scenes of a UFC event was awesome. I found it really interesting. Does Giboo have a muti fight contract signed with the UFC, or was he just (1 and done) signed because the UFC needed fighters on short notice to try and Cock block Affliction?
BURN!!!! (in my best Mike Kelso voice) (that 70’s show)…I love that show!
My post was factual. And if he couldn’t get past Blackburn, Im guessing you’ll never see him in the UFC again. Sorry to hurt your feelings Mania, didn’t know you would take it so personal. And since I dont kiss you’re ass like a lot of other guys do on this blog, I’m guessing this will be moderated and not posted. With that, I’m also guessing you would be the expert on having no balls and tapping on a computer.
he put up ur post.
like u said he would not.
who has the balls now?
hahahahaha!
he got u agian!
BURN timez two u boob!
Mania, that should warrant a lifetime ban! lol
I think you are missing the point dude. what mmamania said was factual. Anybody can sit at their computer and talk shit on people trying to do stuff with their lives. Not everyone can get to the UFC and put it all on the line. Giboo went in knowing he could lose infront of alot of people, and still had the balls to go in there and test himself…you dont, never will, but yet think you have a right to bash the people that do.
Although I agree 100% in principle with Mania, it is something every single one of us has done on here (ashamedly, myself included). It is easy to call guys “cans” or chastise their efforts in the cage, however 99.99% of us will never know what it’s like to be a fighter, so we live vicariously through them. And all these guys we critique could whip our @sses if they wanted.
People get bashed on here all the time, and what I typed was far less worse than other things posted about other fighters. I didnt say anything that was untrue. I got the point, and was just making another point. Sorry I’m not one of the ‘cool kids’ on here.
although i don’t think much of mexictioners post(most of the time he might have a couple good ones) i do agree he didn’t say anything close to what most of the idiots say here about dives roids and just putting down fighters.
If I were Mania, I wouldnt even post the nonsense that some of you say about the dives and roid accusations!
Yeah, I don’t like those baseless assumpions and accusations myself. I can’t understand why people would think Tim took a dive! He could have been the ONE MAN to beat Fedor, which would have paid out in $ and respect far more than any bribe. Yeah Affliction needed him to win, but just cuz he did is no reason to assume tampering. Fedor is #1, Timmy was #3 or 4. Not much difference on paper just looking at that, but in all actuality fedor is light years in front of ALL of his competition.
unfortunetly we have had this discussion before and there answer is scroll past them.
A lot of people on here, myself included along with several people with posts right above this, have ripped Tito Ortiz pretty hard and pretty frequently, and Giboo sure as fuck ain’t no Tito Ortiz. All Mexicutoner said is Giboo hasn’t fought anyone worth a damn, which is true. Giboo provided a unique look into a sport we all love and enjoy, but in all likelihood his 15 minutes are up.
On the bright side, Mexicutioner is also undefeated! lol
no he is not!
he just got burned twice by mania.
that boob is 0 and 2.
LMAO
According to this line of reasoning, I shouldn’t criticize any fighters in the UFC. But this is what everyone here does all the time. As fans, we have this right.
Perhaps it’s all in how tastefully we do it. There is a difference between critiquing someone and blasting them as a can.
Thanks Giboo for all of the blogs. The insight was great and was nice of you to do when you definately didnt have to. Blackburn is known to hit hard and has been in the ring with some good guys, theres no shame there. Hope to see you back soon.
James - thanx for the inside stuff - I personally found it interesting. Perhaps it might be a good idea to ask if you can make a lateral transfer into the WEC for awhile. You must be one organized guy to do all that you do. Kudos to you.
yeah it was a veery interesting set of articles, with some good insight on the behind the scene stuff that a UFC fighter goes through. I really enjoyed it….thanks Giboo!
Regardless of wins or losses or level of competition, the guy made it to the UFC, the big leagues. That’s an achievement all by itself. We’ll see him again for sure.
I have respect for anyone that has the moxy the step into a cage and get punched in the face for a living. I mean, I love to watch it but you wouldn’t catch me in there.
Thanks for all the behind the scenes stuff, I found it really interesting to learn what really goes on, as we never get a chance to get this kind of info. Cheers, I hope to see you in the cage again!
THANKS GIBOO FOR ALL YOUR COMENTS I FOR ONE APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME YOU TOOK , GOOD FORB THE FUTURE MAN.
sorry that should be good luck not good forb! dont know how that happened.
Sounds like something the real Rampage would write right about now. Oooohhh, was that too soon?
i defenitly enjoy giboos post! very interesting 2 know the behind the scenes take! good luck giboo & hopfully we will see you again in the ufc! i can only imagine the stress first time out in such a big promotion! PEACE!!!!
Funny how on a “feature piece” nobody is allowed to critique the fighter and in every other post there is “He sucks” “he’s done” “He’s overrated” “Fedor is a can” “Tito sucks” etc.
And Mania never says anything to any of these people.
Either make a rule of no fighter bashing or just don’t bother trying to act pretentious about people critiquing the fighters in the sport as a viewer. Since it is happening in every post on here, not just these lame feature interviews.
How does MMAMania know who has fought on here and who hasnt?
“Funny how on a “feature piece” nobody is allowed to critique the fighter and in every other post there is “He sucks” “he’s done” “He’s overrated” “Fedor is a can” “Tito sucks” etc.
And Mania never says anything to any of these people.
Either make a rule of no fighter bashing or just don’t bother trying to act pretentious about people critiquing the fighters in the sport as a viewer. Since it is happening in every post on here, not just these lame feature interviews.”
Exactly.
People bash fighters here all the time. You have to be kidding me to claim that one ought not do so. Surely, you are joking.
It was a rough night for Giboo, hopefully he’ll be back and do better in his next fight.
It’s NOT the worst UFC debut, not by far.
James Giboo seemed much stronger than Brad Blackburn and had some good things going, not much though.
The fight wasn’t very good but I’ve faith in Giboo and would like to see him fighting again.