.JPG)
Mark Munoz (Photo by: MMAjunkie.com)
Related Articles
- PHILLIPE "THE FILIPINO ASSASSIN" NOVER INTERVIEW
- REPORTER ELIE SECKBACH SAYS PACQUIAO GETS MORE WEB HITS OVERNIGHT THAN KOBE, SHAQ OR LEBRON
- IS NONITO DONAIRE JR. THE PHILIPPINES' OSCAR DELA HOYA?
- WHO IS MARK MUNOZ? (dSource INTERVIEWS MARK MUNOZ)
-
Dennis "D Source" Guillermo is on FACEBOOK!
Mark 'The Filipino Wrecking Machine' Munoz (9-1) has been on a warpath in the UFC in 2010 after two impressive victories against top opponents like Kendall Grove and Ryan Jensen. His most recent victory against Grove earned him Fight of the Night honors at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi in front of several adoring Filipino fans.
On August 1, this Sunday, Munoz continues his journey to the top of the middleweight division when he faces the highly dangerous Japanese fighter Yushin Okami as the main under card of UFC on Versus 2 which will be aired on the Versus TV network and headlined by Jon 'Bones' Jones vs. Vladimir Matyushenko.
To help him prepare for Okami, Munoz trained extensively with the UFC middleweight champion himself, Anderson 'Spider' Silva, who has fought Okami in the past. "Me and Anderson, we get along really well. I've been training with him for a while now. I train with him on and off when he comes in from Brazil, but he's had his camp here for this fight (Silva will headline UFC 117 vs. Chael Sonnen on August 14) for me to help him out. I'm pretty excited. He showed me a lot of stuff, I showed him a lot, it's a two-way relationship so it's pretty cool," Munoz told me when I interviewed him recently (video of the interview attached below).
Everything seems to be going right for the recently inducted California State Wrestling Hall of Famer. Munoz, who has also trained at the Wild Card Gym, home of one of his biggest inspirations, pound for pound boxing king Manny Pacquiao, opened up his own MMA gym called "Reign" in Lake Forest California early this year and has not stopped seeing fighters from all around the country come in and train since.
When I asked what his strategy was coming in against Okami, Munoz replied succinctly, "I'm going to take him down and pound him out". Silva agrees. After training with Munoz and having experience against Okami, Silva was confident about Munoz's chances against his Japanese opponent. Munoz said in a separate interview, "Anderson actually told me that after sparring with me, and after fighting Okami, Yushin has nothing for me. He knows what Okami has, so we've been working really hard to understand how he moves and how to counter back. He's got a lot of great stuff that he's showing me."
Don't get it twisted though. This fight is far from a mismatch. A lot of MMA and UFC analysts have actually picked Okami on this one, but if there's one thing that Munoz has shown in the past, he is not one to back out from a fight. If Okami is indeed intent on beating him, he will have to knock the full Filipino-blooded Munoz out. This is too close for me to predict as it could go either way and Okami will definitely be Munoz's biggest challenge to date.
(CLICK HERE IF YOU LIKE OR DISLIKE THIS STORY)
Check out my interview with Munoz below:
.jpg)
Dennis "D Source" Guillermo is a freelance sportswriter. You can contact him through e-mail at dennisguillermo2@yahoo.com. (Art by: Justino Magalona / check out his art works by clicking this link)
(Art by: Tim Saguinsin of Rice Cooker Studios / Barriors.com)
OTHER STORIES FROM THIS WRITER:
.jpg)
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO OF MUNOZ'S MOST RECENT WIN OVER KENDALL GROVE
THE WOMEN IN MMA
(click images for larger and more images!)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
.jpg)
CHECK OUT THIS PHOTO GALLERY OF THE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN MMA (CLICK THIS LINK)
Comments
Anderson was on his way to beating Okami when he was DQed for illegal kicks
Ang aangas ng mga tao dito ah, bakit mga expert ba kayo.
Kung ayaw nyo kay DSource , wag kayong pumunta dito sa Examiner.
STFU you people that knows nothing.
What kind of Internet troll repeatedly goes back to hate on a site anyway. Get a life you are just riding on the writers nuts.
Go ahead Dsource. Iilan lang naman ang mga maangas. Mas marami ang sumusubaybay sa mga article mo. More power.
What kind of Internet troll repeatedly goes back to hate on a site anyway. Get a life you are just riding on the writers nuts.
Munoz lost a lot of baby fat. He had trouble competing against the Big Boys and had to come down in weight.
More power to our Pinoy brother.
Mark Munoz is the UFC Wrecking Machine, Manny pacquiao is Boxing P4P king but Floyd jr. the P4P chicken
if mark can gain experience and learn some defensive boxing, he can be a real threat, his only loss was from a devastating chamba head kick and if he can avoid haymakers and headkicks, there is a lot of potential. His ground and pound is awesome and can be easily voted top 3 in MMA. Just watch him fight and look for that ground and pound Mark Munoz style. Just improve on that defensive boxing and this guy has a long way to go.
mark can really improve his stand up if he took some training in boxing maybe someone should ask mark munoz to trained with freddie roach at the wild card gym because his take downs and ground and pound is unbeliveable
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!