The Professional
Time for a Title
Jason Probst Jun 13, 2008
"Islanders love fights. They're like the best fans to fight in
front of. So I'm just looking forward to this," Edwards said. "This
is an opportunity for me to fight for a world title, a quality
world title. And I'm looking for my chance to grab it, man. I'm
just ready to go. I'm kind of antsy right now. I'm moving around on
my feet right now just excited about the fight. I think this is
going to be a good one. You guys better not blink because you've
got two explosive guys in there and you just never know what can
happen."
When he turned pro in 1997, Edwards, like many fighters, had to scramble to find training partners to prepare as he trained mostly in his home state of Texas. Since joining the Florida-based American Top Team, he feels like his preparations are better than ever.
"For a while in Houston, I had that. We had guys go in all the time
working out. We had good, high level guys working out all the time.
But guys started moving away," he said. "Guys moved back to Brazil
and Louisiana. Guys fell off, and I was kind of left alone.
"Moving to American Top Team, we've got everybody in the gym every day of the week. That's been the big difference for me, besides the fact that everybody in there brings something to the table. We have a lot of really good coaches that have helped sharpen my game up quite a bit. It just exposes you to what you're weak at. [So where] your game is not strong, you can work on getting it stronger at that point."
Noons overcame a lot of critics in his last two fights, stopping Berto in a gutty showing in addition to the win over Diaz. With some professional boxing bouts under his belt -- Noons has assembled a record of 7-1 (5 KO) in the Sweet Science, fighting nondescript opposition -- his hands looked exceptionally sharp against Diaz.
"K.J.'s got some strengths that can help keep you away from parts of his game that you think he's weak at," Edwards explained. "But you really don't know. You don't want to go out there and get surprised. I've been surprised before, and I'm not going to let that happen again."
The surprises have been shocking at times for Edwards, who dropped five of six fights over a 21-month stretch beginning in 2005. He seemed to be slipping down the ladder, perhaps too many fights, too much mileage.
But since then he's gone on a three-fight win streak and looked his old self against Berto. Slick. Unflappable. And salty as only a hard-boiled pro can be, having seen every angle, so many times for so many years. Despite Berto's imposing physique and clear strength advantage, Edwards played cool while the young buck pressured him, waited it out, and, suddenly, exploded with the crushing knee. Game. Over.
And while for years he's billed his grappling style as "Thug-Jitsu," it's one of the more refined ones in the game. At his best, Edwards moves skillfully into positions with deceptive efficiency, staying cool under pressure and when compromised, and consistently plying his advantages regardless of where he finds himself. Put him up against the cage, on his back, whatever. He can be one of the canniest veterans around.
The benefit of experience -- and Edwards has a big edge in that department Saturday -- is seeing things before they happen, and capitalizing appropriately, like an aged chess master slamming the trap shut on an opponent who has perhaps more talent but less cunning. That, more than anything, defines The Professional, in that he knows how to win even when he shouldn't.
If Edwards' old-school approach and revamped training regimen hit on all cylinders Saturday, he'll finally have achieved the one thing that's eluded him thus far -- a championship. Currently he's an 8-5 favorite with the oddsmakers.
"Definitely this fight's the biggest of my career up to date. As far as goals for my career, I want to leave this game with a legacy. I want to be talked about when my son is my age. When my son is 25 years old and he's doing whatever it is he's doing, if he decides he wants to fight, I want people to say he's better than his dad. But I want his dad to be great," Edwards said. "I want to be somebody that people remember as a pioneer in this sport 50-100 years from now when MMA becomes whatever it is it is going to be. I want to leave a legacy behind by fighting the best guys."
Being called "champ" certainly wouldn't hurt.
When he turned pro in 1997, Edwards, like many fighters, had to scramble to find training partners to prepare as he trained mostly in his home state of Texas. Since joining the Florida-based American Top Team, he feels like his preparations are better than ever.
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"Moving to American Top Team, we've got everybody in the gym every day of the week. That's been the big difference for me, besides the fact that everybody in there brings something to the table. We have a lot of really good coaches that have helped sharpen my game up quite a bit. It just exposes you to what you're weak at. [So where] your game is not strong, you can work on getting it stronger at that point."
Edwards has looked spectacular in some fights, knocking out
Josh Thomson (Pictures) with a gorgeously timed head
kick, showcasing his sublime jiu-jitsu in holding off Hermes Franca (Pictures) to two close decision wins. He's
also looked disconcertingly ordinary in others, and in his last
fight in the UFC, was elbowed into a one-sided TKO defeat by
Joe Stevenson in July 2006.
There was so much blood on the Octagon floor it looked like a crime
scene. It was almost as though Edwards literally left part of
himself in the cage.
Noons overcame a lot of critics in his last two fights, stopping Berto in a gutty showing in addition to the win over Diaz. With some professional boxing bouts under his belt -- Noons has assembled a record of 7-1 (5 KO) in the Sweet Science, fighting nondescript opposition -- his hands looked exceptionally sharp against Diaz.
"K.J.'s got some strengths that can help keep you away from parts of his game that you think he's weak at," Edwards explained. "But you really don't know. You don't want to go out there and get surprised. I've been surprised before, and I'm not going to let that happen again."
The surprises have been shocking at times for Edwards, who dropped five of six fights over a 21-month stretch beginning in 2005. He seemed to be slipping down the ladder, perhaps too many fights, too much mileage.
But since then he's gone on a three-fight win streak and looked his old self against Berto. Slick. Unflappable. And salty as only a hard-boiled pro can be, having seen every angle, so many times for so many years. Despite Berto's imposing physique and clear strength advantage, Edwards played cool while the young buck pressured him, waited it out, and, suddenly, exploded with the crushing knee. Game. Over.
And while for years he's billed his grappling style as "Thug-Jitsu," it's one of the more refined ones in the game. At his best, Edwards moves skillfully into positions with deceptive efficiency, staying cool under pressure and when compromised, and consistently plying his advantages regardless of where he finds himself. Put him up against the cage, on his back, whatever. He can be one of the canniest veterans around.
The benefit of experience -- and Edwards has a big edge in that department Saturday -- is seeing things before they happen, and capitalizing appropriately, like an aged chess master slamming the trap shut on an opponent who has perhaps more talent but less cunning. That, more than anything, defines The Professional, in that he knows how to win even when he shouldn't.
If Edwards' old-school approach and revamped training regimen hit on all cylinders Saturday, he'll finally have achieved the one thing that's eluded him thus far -- a championship. Currently he's an 8-5 favorite with the oddsmakers.
"Definitely this fight's the biggest of my career up to date. As far as goals for my career, I want to leave this game with a legacy. I want to be talked about when my son is my age. When my son is 25 years old and he's doing whatever it is he's doing, if he decides he wants to fight, I want people to say he's better than his dad. But I want his dad to be great," Edwards said. "I want to be somebody that people remember as a pioneer in this sport 50-100 years from now when MMA becomes whatever it is it is going to be. I want to leave a legacy behind by fighting the best guys."
Being called "champ" certainly wouldn't hurt.
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