“I had told my manager I wanted the summer off because I had fought 14 times in the last 20 months and the average fighter only competes 3 or 4 times a year. He then called on Sunday the 27th and asked if I would be interested in fighting in the UFC and I could not believe my dream had come true. It still feels like a dream that I just can’t seem to wrap my head around. I don’t think I will be able to until I get in the octagon and get tagged a few times…. [Ben] is good at striking and ju-jitsu and my ju-jitsu and Muay Thai are good but wrestling is my strongest skill and I feel his weakest. Saunders I think is a good match up for me. He has the height advantage and has had months to prepare to my 12 days, but I’m stronger and my wrestling gives me a strategic advantage. The great thing about wrestling is that I can out there and try and take him down and knock him out. If I feel he is getting the better of me striking or if I get hurt, I feel I can easily take him down to protect myself. If the situation is reversed, the ability to take him down becomes a strategy for me which limits him to striking as a way to defend himself. In a lot of ways, it’s like a chess match.”
– Ryan Thomas — a 23-year-old part-time student at Eastern Illinois University — talks to the Commercial-News about getting the last minute call to take on Ben Saunders at UFC 87: “Seek and Destroy” on August 9. With Jared Rollins hurt, Thomas has just 12 days to prepare for the biggest fight of his career to date. Talk about stepping up to the plate.
12 Comments »
Ben Sauders is back..that dude has got a ton of heart. He should run over Thomas
I’ve never heard of Thomas. It will be interesting to see how good a guy that fights as much as he does is compared to pretty much a newbie in the UFC.
He may be a UFN newbie, but tHomas has had many more fights then Ben has!
Still I am going with Ben ” Ross Gellar” Saunders. I am probably his #1 fan! I really like this kid! His body adds a new dimension to the welterweight division. He will have reach advantage over anyone that he faces. His stand up is good and his Jist is pretty good as well. Traning with ATT, he should show much improved skills in this fight. His best asset is his mind! The kid doesnt get Nervous, he smiles and laughs his way through fights….U gotta lkove and respect that!
I will be really rooting for Ben and I hope that his fight gets aired! I really want to see the Barncat, Kongo, and Saunders fights! Dont want to see Manny vs. B-rad at all!
Yeah I agree. I think he has potential. He is big for a WW and I beleive that he will have a good career!!
Know who else is from Eastern Illinois? America’s Heartthrob Tony Romo. For that reason, and that reason alone, I have to back Thomas on this one.
Don’t know Thomas But definitely will support a fellow Illinoisian! Go get him, Ryan!!
Jay K.
Was there ever a reason given why Jared Rollins is not his opponent anymore? Here it says “hurt” but on the UFC when this new fight was originally announced they didnt say he was hurt and made it sound very vague, almost fishy.
word is jroc blew his ACL
really? I was wondering why he withdrew.
from jroc “On July 24th @ 230pm I was training with my strength and conditioning coach. It was business as usual preparing for my fight. I was doing an explosive training sprint drill with an elastic bungee cord attached to a harness (which i was wearing) that was tied to a pole in my gym. On my second to last sprint as i took off my calf muscle popped”
then he goes on to say the ufc sent him for an mri and he has a grade one gastrocnemius tear…
thanks for the intel.
Speaking of Knee injuries, Kid Yammamotto had surgery to repair his completely torn ACL and wil be out of action for the rest of the year.
Yeah, Saunders beat Thomas, but I’ve seen other Thomas fights. I hope the UFC gives him a second chance because Thomas belongs there and with more than 12 days training I have no doubt he would destroy Saunders.
Saunders has nowhere near the heart of Thomas… Thomas has broken his hand EARLY in a fight and still come out the victor.