James Brasco Signs With Bellator For Non-Tournament Middleweight Fight In Inaugural Event
by:Jos
eph Cunliffe
Pennsylvania-native James Brasco (2-1) fighting out of TeamPopovitch in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, steps up on just five days notice to face Kevin Abrante (3-0) fighting out of Gracie Barra in Orlando, Florida, in a non-tournament middleweight fight in the inaugural Bellator Fighting Championships this Friday, April 3, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The three-time NCAA Eastern Regional and AAU Grand National champion in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling made his MMA debut defeating William Parker by first round TKO at World Extreme Fighting in August 2007. Passed up by the UFC for Season 7 of The Ultimate Fighter, Brasco went on to defeat Gareth Joseph by Split Decision at Cage Warriors USA in March 2008. The 2007 World Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt Champion fell to Yosmany Cabezas by first round TKO at Real Fighting Championships in September 2008. With months of down time between fights, the self-named “Last Minute” has had a tough time securing fights. Now, the 34-year-old six-time N.A.G.A. champion and ADCC North American Trial Invitee steps back into the cage after another seven month lay-off from competition. ADCC News had an opportunity to get with Brasco shortly after he accepted the fight.
ADCC: You’re stepping up on just five days notice to fight this Friday in a non-tournament middleweight fight in the inaugural Bellator Fighting Championships. How did you secure the fight? BRASCO: I secured it when a bout fell thru at the show and they wanted to replace it. They wanted a local guy and my opponent is Latin (Puerto Rican), so I guess it fit just right for the show.. They are trying to target that market, as I guess it will be shown on ESPN Desportes? Our records are also similar, so it all just fell into place. Also the money purse was great so here I am ….ready to go man !!!!!!!!!!
ADCC: Who is your opponent and what do you think about him? BRASCO: My opponent is Kevin Abrante from Gracie Orlando, I guess. I think I outmatch him in every area and feel good. I do respect him for taking the fight with me on short notice. I look forward to the opportunity !!!!
ADCC: As a consummate athlete, and although taking the fight on short notice, it’s safe to say you’ve been training. How do you see the fight going? BRASCO: I am always in shape and I am well prepared as I have trained much more like an MMA fighter as opposed to a grappler the last six months. My mind is also stronger and I have a better idea of how to utilize my strengths much better. I have also worked on my stand up and ground and pound a lot to go with my submission skills. People haven’t even seen a focused fully prepared James Brasco yet. It is a work in progress and on its way !!! The fight will come to me — I am just going to react at that moment. You can’t plan a fight.
ADCC: Who will be in your corner? BRASCO: Pablo Popovitch, Vagner Rocha (BJJ Black Belt and Undefeated in MMA) and Larry Bolden (World Combat League “Miami Force” Kickboxing Coach) or Justin Haskins will be in my corner.
ADCC: Where have you been training? BRASCO: I have been training at Pablo Popovitch BJJ Center in Ft. Lauderdale mostly. Hermes Franca and Jeremy Stephens have been there a lot and its been beneficial.
ADCC: How has that enabled you to progress in BJJ, Submission Grappling and MMA? BRASCO: My BJJ level is rising fast as I am working the Gi a lot and working on flowing more. Our black belts are very good and I learn a lot. My goal is too just be the best in my school someday… LOL. That wont be easy. Pablo is absolutely amazing and I can’t help but get better. He is also an amazing wrestler and pushes me to the limit. We also have a very good kickboxing instructor. His name is Larry Bolden. He is sooo fast !!!
ADCC: You started training MMA in 2006 and made your MMA debut in August 2007 winning by first round TKO. That win was followed up by another in March 2008, your most recent fight was in September 2008, and now this one in April 2009. Why all the down time between fights? BRASCO: The down time is not by choice. I have had a tough time securing fights. I have tried to get on cards but my wrestling/BJJ accomplishments kind of haunt me so to say. The fighters that I should be matched up against have around 5 fights or less. But they are trying to build a record also and sometimes would rather pass on me. The last fight I took was against a very good fighter who is now 7-1, and has beaten every top fighter around. I took it on 10 days notice in a boxing ring, which I have never trained in. I lost on a cut, but definitely wasn’t prepared for it. I really didn’t know where my level was at that point, as I beat a very tough opponent in my 2nd fight, so I wanted to test myself out I guess. I was in the middle of training for the Pan Ams and was in grappling mode, but thought my level was high enough to handle him. He cut me in the first round and my eye basically closed by the end of the 1st round, the doctor stopped it. So I guess my nick name is going to be “last minute” !!! LOL James “last minute” Brasco…that seems to be the only way I get fights. Promoters call me and ask me to take fights with guys who have had 10 fights and try to persuade me that I am at a level where my record doesn’t reflect my skill level. But there is no reason to rush it as “you can’t teach experience.”
ADCC: Your wrestling accolades are near endless, as is your submission grappling resume, including an ADCC Amateur Open Champion, a Grapplers Quest Champion, a six-time NAGA Champion, a Gracie World Silver Medalist and an ADCC North American Trial Invitee (losing negative one to zero to the champion). How do you do it? BRASCO: My accolades are a product of just competing and throwing my hat out there and seeing what happens. I am confident in my ability and I like to challenge myself. I am not done either. Look for me this year to compete in the ADCC Trials again, and the Worlds. I won the Brown Belt Worlds last year. I want to improve on that.
ADCC: The UFC passed you by for Season 7 of TUF. You watched the season on SpikeTV. What are your thoughts on the training, fighting and season winner? BRASCO: As far as being passed by…I know the deal now. Most of the guys who make that show have been recommended by current and former UFC fighters such as Matt Serra and Randy Couture. Its kind of like a stamp of approval. The Spike network also has to like you as it is a (Reality) TV show, so they need the Latin guy, the tattood guy, the kickboxer, the guy from a broken home, the criminal etc, etc. It’s ok. And sometimes the guys have to try out 3 to 4 times before they get picked. But my mind has changed, I will earn my way into the UFC. I don’t want to be in that house with those kids. It was a blessing in disguise not getting picked I guess. Also, a few guys from the show have turned down fights with me anyways, so I am not that impressed. As far as the winner — Amir. Tough kid and surprising winner. Who would have thought?
ADCC: How did you become involved in MMA? BRASCO: Getting involved in MMA was a process. It might have been a faster process at a more established MMA school, but I am happy how it went as I learned the right way at my academy. I would just have holes I would have to go back and fill anyways. This way, I am solid on the ground and getting better. I think GOD put me in the right place on purpose. I just decided to take a fight and see what I had…it worked out well. My goal was to do 5 fights then assess where I was and go from there. I am almost there.
ADCC: As a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, what are your thoughts on legislation recently signed legalizing MMA in PA? BRASCO: The fact that MMA has passed in Pennsylvania is great. There are a lot of great wrestlers and the interest and fan base is there. It is a very positive thing. I hope one day to come back and fight in Pittsburgh at a huge venue such as the Civic Arena. Kind of like a homecoming — that would be awesome.
ADCC: What is one thing about you that would have people saying “hmmm… I didn’t know that about James Brasco?” BRASCO: I guess the one thing about me is that I really feel connected to the earth and value life of all kinds. I feel bad when trees get cut down and cleared out for “progress”. I guess I am kind of an environmentalist. I get mad when people think they deserve to shower for an hour and waste all that water etc. I also am trying to work on and improve my relationship with GOD.
ADCC: Is there anything you’d like to say? BRASCO: The only thing I would like to say is “MMA teaches you a lot about yourself” There aren’t any lies in the cage. I know who I am. Do you ????
How fast can someone start to see the results from using it?