Reinhardt Takes Aim at WEC’s Chinese Investment
Brian Knapp Sep 24, 2010
Jason
Reinhardt respects the time, money and effort World Extreme
Cagefighting has invested in Chinese import Tie Quan
Zhang. Still, at age 40, he wants nothing more than to throw a
wrench into the promotion’s plans.
Reinhardt will meet Zhang in a preliminary matchup at WEC 51 “Aldo vs. Gamburyan” on Thursday at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo.
“I’ve got so much motivation for this fight it’s incredible,”
Reinhardt said. “Everything’s on the line in this fight. It all
comes down to this moment.”
A China Top Team representative, Zhang has finished all 11 of his opponents, three of them in less than a minute. The 25-year-old cut his teeth inside the Art of War and Universal Reality Combat Championship organizations. Zhang, nicknamed “The Mongolian Wolf,” last appeared in June, when he needed just 30 seconds to submit Daniel Digby with a neck crank at Legend Fighting Championship 2. Reinhardt looks at Zhang’s unblemished but unproven resume and sees opportunity.
“When [my manager] Monte Cox told me [he was undefeated], I thought, ‘What an opportunity to beat China’s best and send him back to China to re-evaluate his career.’” Reinhardt said. “That’s what’s going to happen. This guy will not beat me.”
Reinhardt, a late replacement for the injured Alex Karalexis, has rattled off back-to-back wins since his defeat to “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 semi-finalist Joe Lauzon at UFC 78 in November 2007. In 21 professional appearances, the 40-year-old has never gone the distance. Reinhardt has secured 16 of his 20 career victories by submission. In advance of his WEC debut, he trained heavily with UFC veteran Jeremy Horn in Utah, where the higher altitude adds a new dimension to his pre-fight regimen.
“I’ve known Jeremy for 12 years,” Reinhardt said. “He accepted me into his gym. I couldn’t be happier.”
For many average MMA fans, one memory of Reinhardt lingers -- his submission loss to Lauzon nearly three years ago. He entered the fight at 18-0 and walked out 74 seconds later with his first defeat. Reinhardt admits the setback and its fallout still burn.
“I want acceptance from fans, from whoever judges me on that fight,” Reinhardt said. “I’ve been through a lot of crap the last two and a half years. I know what I’m capable of. I know how hard I train. I don’t have anything to prove to myself. I’m 20-1. I deserve this.”
Reinhardt will meet Zhang in a preliminary matchup at WEC 51 “Aldo vs. Gamburyan” on Thursday at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo.
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A China Top Team representative, Zhang has finished all 11 of his opponents, three of them in less than a minute. The 25-year-old cut his teeth inside the Art of War and Universal Reality Combat Championship organizations. Zhang, nicknamed “The Mongolian Wolf,” last appeared in June, when he needed just 30 seconds to submit Daniel Digby with a neck crank at Legend Fighting Championship 2. Reinhardt looks at Zhang’s unblemished but unproven resume and sees opportunity.
“When [my manager] Monte Cox told me [he was undefeated], I thought, ‘What an opportunity to beat China’s best and send him back to China to re-evaluate his career.’” Reinhardt said. “That’s what’s going to happen. This guy will not beat me.”
Reinhardt, a late replacement for the injured Alex Karalexis, has rattled off back-to-back wins since his defeat to “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 semi-finalist Joe Lauzon at UFC 78 in November 2007. In 21 professional appearances, the 40-year-old has never gone the distance. Reinhardt has secured 16 of his 20 career victories by submission. In advance of his WEC debut, he trained heavily with UFC veteran Jeremy Horn in Utah, where the higher altitude adds a new dimension to his pre-fight regimen.
“I’ve known Jeremy for 12 years,” Reinhardt said. “He accepted me into his gym. I couldn’t be happier.”
For many average MMA fans, one memory of Reinhardt lingers -- his submission loss to Lauzon nearly three years ago. He entered the fight at 18-0 and walked out 74 seconds later with his first defeat. Reinhardt admits the setback and its fallout still burn.
“I want acceptance from fans, from whoever judges me on that fight,” Reinhardt said. “I’ve been through a lot of crap the last two and a half years. I know what I’m capable of. I know how hard I train. I don’t have anything to prove to myself. I’m 20-1. I deserve this.”
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