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Former IFL fighter Reese Andy ready to face The Truth on Saturday night |
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Written by Neil Davidson, THE CANADIAN PRESS
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Monday, 14 July 2008 |
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Reese (Riptide) Andy is an underdog with something to prove. Which makes him dangerous.
The 35-year-old mixed martial arts fighter from Renton, Wash., makes his UFC debut Saturday night against Brandon (The Truth) Vera in the co-main event of a fight card headlined by Anderson Silva and James (The Sandman) Irvin at The Palms in Las Vegas (Spike TV, 9 p.m. ET).
Andy (7-1) arrives in the UFC after a roller-coaster ride in the International Fight League. Andy went 5-1, competing in two weight classes, but was one of several fighters cut in December 2007. He had won his last four fights at the time.
"They didn't see me as an asset no more," said Andy. "If they didn't want me, I didn't want to fight for them no more."
Now he has been handed an even bigger stage. Some see him only as a stepping stone for Vera (8-2), a former heavyweight glamour boy trying to regain some of his lustre by moving down to light-heavyweight. But Andy relishes the role.
"I'm looking to make an impression again and try to prove some people wrong that have chosen me as the underdog again," he said defiantly.
"I look at it as a good challenge," he added. "He has more to lose than I do. So I'd rather go out with a giant or well-known guy and prepare and fight hard to beat him. I wouldn't get excited fighting a guy who's 7-3 or 10-8."
Winning when you are expected to win is not what Andy is after.
"If I can go out there and prove people wrong by beating a bigger guy or fighting a bigger name guy, it means more to me," he said.
Just 5-10, Andy is a compact but defiant package. And as a three-time all-American wrestler at the University of Wyoming, he has skills to match some mighty motivation.
Still, in the 30-year-old Vera, UFC matchmaker Joe Silva has given Andy a sizable challenge. The six-foot-three fighter with the megawatt smile opened his UFC career with four straight wins at heavyweight - with three of those victories coming in the first round.
Vera's career was derailed for almost a year over a dispute with his then manager. And he was beaten twice after sorting out his business affairs, losing by decision to Tim Sylvia at UFC 77 and a disputed first-round stoppage last time out against Brazilian Fabricio Werdum at UFC 85.
On paper, it's a formidable challenge. Vera, who has excellent striking skills, will have five inches on him.
"The only thing that makes me nervous about Reese is that he has nothing to lose," Vera told ufc.com, "and sometimes that's all somebody needs to make them get to the next level." Andy and Vera share an opponent in Werdum, although when Andy took on the big Brazilian in 2005 it was at a submission wrestling tournament and Werdum was two weight classes above him. The two met because Andy's cornerman, noted trainer Matt Hume, likes to enter him in the absolute or open division.
He lost to Werdum, but it took the Brazilian some 10 minutes to find a solution.
Andy is no stranger to beating big men. One of his submission wrestling wins came over 330-pound South African Mark Robinson, a former world champion.
Andy looks to even the odds Saturday night by taking Vera down to the ground, where size does not matter as much. That won't be easy, he acknowledges, but says Vera's style may help him.
"Vera's a hard-nosed guy. He goes forward. Vera goes in with his kicks and punches and he stands toe to toe. And he always ends in the clinch in his fights. All of his fights end up on the ground."
Andy's last win, a split decision over Winnipeg heavyweight Krzysztof Sosynski, came in an IFL card in June 2007. He had knee surgery that month, was then dropped and had elbow surgery in January to have six bone chips removed.
His IFL experience was mixed despite the winning record (his lone loss as a pro was a split decision to Mike Ciesnolevicz in June 2006). He found himself fighting with little rest between bouts and then, after being told his services weren't required, he was asked to fight at heavyweight.
Making it all the more awkward, his IFL team was training at the West Coast Fitness, a gym he owned.
"I wasn't about to let some other guy come in my gym and go fill the spot," he said.
The pink slip came again after two wins at heavyweight. Andy underwent elbow surgery and new agent Ken Pavia got him the UFC gig. The July 19 card was put together on short notice by the UFC, looking to take away some of the spotlight from Affliction's first show the same night in Anaheim, Calif.
"I basically went to the trunk of my car, grabbed my bag and hopped on the treadmill," Andy said after getting news of the Vera offer.
Andy says he feels comfortable fighting at 205. He can make 185 - and has won as a middleweight - but doesn't feel "fully charged" when it's time to get into the ring one day after making that weight.
"That's one thing Brandon Vera will have to deal with," he suggested. "Yeah, he can make the weight but how is he going to respond a day later?
"I could make 170, if I had to. You give me six months, I'd make it. But that doesn't mean I would perform well."
Five weeks ago Andy was walking around at 218, so the move to 205 is a gradual and natural progression. He is doing what most fight fans can only aspire to - "I've lost some inches on my waist and I'm tightening up."
Whatever happens, Andy says Vera can expect a rude welcome at 205 Saturday.
"I'm hard-nosed," he said. "I don't lay down easy and I go to fight."
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