Sherdog.com Preview: UFC 61 “Bitter Rivals” Part I
Josh Burkman vs. Josh Neer
Jul 6, 2006
BURKMAN: 5’ 8”, 170 pounds, 26, Salt Lake City, Utah, known
as “The People’s Warrior”
BACKGROUND: Burkman wrestled in high school, played running back on the football team and was the third baseman on the baseball team. He had 1,400 yards as a running back and was both an All-American and All-Conference champ in his senior year at Dixie State College. Josh moved from Utah to Oregon to train with Randy Couture (Pictures) and Team Quest, but has returned to Salt Lake City to train. He has a professional MMA record of 6-3 and likely a dozen amateur bouts.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Was submitted via triangle choke by Matt Horwich (Pictures) at SportFight 1. Submitted
Chilo Gonzalez
(Pictures) via guillotine choke at
SportFight 2. Submitted Kyacey Uscola (Pictures) via rear choke at SportFight 4.
Was submitted via choke by Jeremy Horn (Pictures) at XFC 1.
UFC EXPERIENCE: 2-1. On season two of The Ultimate Fighter he defeated Melvin Guillard (Pictures) in an elimination bout by decision. At the show’s finale, he slammed Sam Morgan (Pictures) to win by knockout. Burkman submitted Drew Fickett (Pictures) via guillotine choke on Ultimate Fight Night 3 and was caught in a rear choke by Jon Fitch (Pictures) at Ultimate Fight Night 4.
NEER: 5’ 9”, 170 pounds, 23, Des Moines, Iowa, known as “The Dentist”
BACKGROUND: Neer is a wrestler and Muay Thai fighter. He began training at the Des Moines Mixed Martial Arts Academy but now trains at the Miletich Martial Arts with Pat Miletich (Pictures). He carries a professional MMA record of 17-3-1 and is rumored to have more than 50 amateur bouts. He is also the Xtreme Kage Kombat welterweight champion.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Fought to a draw with Joe Jordan (Pictures) at the AFA: Judgment Night. Lost a decision to Spencer Fisher (Pictures) at VFC 7. Submitted Kyle Jensen (Pictures) via armbar at Extreme Challenge 57. Stopped Anthony Macias with strikes at FFC 11. Stopped David Gardner (Pictures) with strikes at XKK Des Moines ‘04. Submitted Derrick Noble (Pictures) via triangle choke at XKK Des Moines ‘05. Beat Jay Jack (Pictures) by decision at Extreme Challenge 61. Submitted Forrest Petz (Pictures) via triangle choke at FFC 15. Was submitted via rear choke by Nick Thompson (Pictures) at Extreme Challenge 64.
UFC EXPERIENCE: 2-1. Was submitted via rear choke by Drew Fickett (Pictures) at Ultimate Fight Night 1. Submitted Melvin Guillard (Pictures) via triangle choke at Ultimate Fight Night 3. Beat Joe Stevenson (Pictures) by decision at Ultimate Fight Night 4.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: He has a ton of experience and is still very young. Neer came in with a solid base of amateur fights and is in a premiere camp that knows how to train champions. He spent a significant amount of time on the local circuit pounding plenty of wannabe’s and those under the influence of liquid courage. The important thing is that he raised the level of his game and surpassed the competition to continue winning at the highest level.
OVERALL OPINION OF MATCH: Fair. It’s Team Quest against Miletich Fighting Systems. These guys are the future of the sport. Both fighters prefer the submission as their route to victory so a chess match on the canvas is likely. Burkman is coming in off a submission loss so the pressure is on him to stay alive in a division brimming with talent.
BACKGROUND: Burkman wrestled in high school, played running back on the football team and was the third baseman on the baseball team. He had 1,400 yards as a running back and was both an All-American and All-Conference champ in his senior year at Dixie State College. Josh moved from Utah to Oregon to train with Randy Couture (Pictures) and Team Quest, but has returned to Salt Lake City to train. He has a professional MMA record of 6-3 and likely a dozen amateur bouts.
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UFC EXPERIENCE: 2-1. On season two of The Ultimate Fighter he defeated Melvin Guillard (Pictures) in an elimination bout by decision. At the show’s finale, he slammed Sam Morgan (Pictures) to win by knockout. Burkman submitted Drew Fickett (Pictures) via guillotine choke on Ultimate Fight Night 3 and was caught in a rear choke by Jon Fitch (Pictures) at Ultimate Fight Night 4.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: He has solid wrestling skills. He will
work feverishly for the submission and the majority of his bouts
end quickly (whether he wins or loses). He also trains with a camp
that is known for producing champions.
NEER: 5’ 9”, 170 pounds, 23, Des Moines, Iowa, known as “The Dentist”
BACKGROUND: Neer is a wrestler and Muay Thai fighter. He began training at the Des Moines Mixed Martial Arts Academy but now trains at the Miletich Martial Arts with Pat Miletich (Pictures). He carries a professional MMA record of 17-3-1 and is rumored to have more than 50 amateur bouts. He is also the Xtreme Kage Kombat welterweight champion.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Fought to a draw with Joe Jordan (Pictures) at the AFA: Judgment Night. Lost a decision to Spencer Fisher (Pictures) at VFC 7. Submitted Kyle Jensen (Pictures) via armbar at Extreme Challenge 57. Stopped Anthony Macias with strikes at FFC 11. Stopped David Gardner (Pictures) with strikes at XKK Des Moines ‘04. Submitted Derrick Noble (Pictures) via triangle choke at XKK Des Moines ‘05. Beat Jay Jack (Pictures) by decision at Extreme Challenge 61. Submitted Forrest Petz (Pictures) via triangle choke at FFC 15. Was submitted via rear choke by Nick Thompson (Pictures) at Extreme Challenge 64.
UFC EXPERIENCE: 2-1. Was submitted via rear choke by Drew Fickett (Pictures) at Ultimate Fight Night 1. Submitted Melvin Guillard (Pictures) via triangle choke at Ultimate Fight Night 3. Beat Joe Stevenson (Pictures) by decision at Ultimate Fight Night 4.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: He has a ton of experience and is still very young. Neer came in with a solid base of amateur fights and is in a premiere camp that knows how to train champions. He spent a significant amount of time on the local circuit pounding plenty of wannabe’s and those under the influence of liquid courage. The important thing is that he raised the level of his game and surpassed the competition to continue winning at the highest level.
OVERALL OPINION OF MATCH: Fair. It’s Team Quest against Miletich Fighting Systems. These guys are the future of the sport. Both fighters prefer the submission as their route to victory so a chess match on the canvas is likely. Burkman is coming in off a submission loss so the pressure is on him to stay alive in a division brimming with talent.
