Popular Canadian veteran John “The Natural” Alessio returns to action March 16th in Hamilton, Ontario for the Score Fighting Series. Alessio’s opponent will be Team Quest product Ryan “Diamond” Healy and Alessio is hoping that the end of the evening not only sees his hand raised in victory, but leads to an invitation back to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Long-time fans will remember Alessio’s first trip to the UFC in 2000, where as a fresh-faced nineteen year-old he stepped into the Octagon against the UFC Welterweight Champion at the time, the legendary Pat Miletich. Alessio made a strong accounting of himself before submitting to a second round armbar. Looking back, he admits that it was far too soon in his career to be matched up with a veteran on the level of Miletich, but being full of youthful exuberance took the opportunity anyway.
“If I was at the beginning of my career and had that fight opportunity now, it would be stupid for me to take. But back then it was kind of something you kind of had to do to get out there and get known and stuff so I did it. But yeah, it definitely was too early in my career. I wasn’t developed enough maturely and technique wise, you know, considering everything that Pat Miletich knew defending his belt for the fifth time against a 19 year old kid.”
Alessio spent the next few years racking up wins in promotions as diverse as Canadian TKO precursor UCC, King of The Cage, Pride and others before being brought back to the UFC in 2006 to fight TUF winner Diego Sanchez. The fight was on the undercard of the famous Matt Hughes-Royce Gracie fight, which at the time set pay-per-view records for the UFC. Alessio lost that fight by decision but had one of the more memorable moments in UFC history when with Sanchez having back control, a standing Alessio attempted to armbar Sanchez, using his own head as a fulcrum.
“I knew that if I isolated the arm on that side of the head that he wouldn’t be able to choke me. And then I realized, you know, once I was doing it that it was kind of arm barring a little bit. So I had Jeremy Horn in my corner at the time and you know he was like ‘Keep trying to do that. If you can catch that arm deep enough over your shoulder, you know, it should work. But I mean Diego was wise to what I was trying to do and stuff. So yeah, it was an attempt to do…something. (laughs)”
After dropping another decision to Thiago Alves, Alessio again left the UFC. He had a moderately successful run in the WEC, challenging Carlos Condit for the promotion’s welterweight title before heading out on a multinational journey that rivals “Mr. International” Shonie Carter. Alessio has fought in Canada, the U.S., Japan, Belgium and the Netherlands over the last three years; compiling a run of nine wins in his last ten fights. While he’s not looking past his opponent on March 16th, his ultimate goal remains to be back in the UFC.
“It’s one of those things that I’ve had a hard time getting into UFC and things but I really feel like I’m right there. Anytime, you know. I really feel like beating Ryan Healy is a great win for me. I think it’s a fight where I can really showcase all my skills and look really good and I think I’d do it so, you know, I think I’ll be right there getting that phone call. Whether it be one more fight after that or directly but I am absolutely ready. I’m ready for a short notice phone call to step up also. You know, I’m ready.”
The road to UFC for Alessio goes through Healy, twin brother of Strikeforce’s Pat “Bam Bam” Healy. Alessio has a clear respect for his opponent, while remaining supremely confident in his ability to win the fight no matter how it plays out.
“Healy’s tough man. Both those brothers. Tough guys. I’ve said it before, I respect them. They work out real hard. You know, they’re in it to win it. I have trained with his brother Pat before. I’m very familiar with the brothers. But with that being said, I’m too much for him. I think I’ve got him beat everywhere. I’m going to show that on March 16th and put it on him. I’m going to attempt to make a highlight reel to get into the UFC and I’ve got to use him to do it. I’ve got no problem with Ryan, you know what I mean? Like, he’s a good guy but I’m there to win a fight and I have to kick his ass. ”
The thirty-two year old Alessio seems acutely aware that he’s entering the later stage of his career, no longer the wide-eyed teenager he was when he made his UFC debut. A call back to the big show could be Alessio’s last opportunity to perform at the highest level of the sport. Alessio is more matured and focused then in past years, with his anchor being his wife and child.
“I just stay out of clubs and things like that you know, that Las Vegas has to offer. So, I just live a nice clean life and try to just do outdoor stuff. I’m married now and have a kid. I’m just trying to be a family man. It’s really fulfilling too. It gives you lots to work for. I’ve got tons of motivation, you know, trying to support my wife and kid, you know, with fighting so, it’s good. It works good for me.”
His training has become more focused as well. In addition to spending time at Xtreme Couture training under the more famous “Natural” Randy Couture (“I’m the Little Natural”, Alessio jokes), he has enlisted grappling guru Robert Drysdale to shore up his jiu-jitsu prowess. He believes the combination of the two will have him ready to face any and all elite competition.
“There are so many good training partners and sparring partners [at Xtreme Couture], your confidence goes up when you know you’re working with such good fighters all the time. Getting into a fight really isn’t that much of a big deal. I feel like I spar crazier dudes in the gym all the time. It helps a lot and of course there’s a lot of guys in Vegas that train so I get a lot of training partners. And the coaching is really good here, you know. I’ve recently made a move over to Drysdale Jiu-Jitsu, uh, still an Xtreme Couture member for sure and part of the team to train there. But I do most of my Jiu-Jitsu with Robert Drysdale. He’s helped me out so much man, I feel like my ground game is always improving and getting more dangerous daily. It’s fun.”
Fighting in Canada is something that Alessio is looking forward to as well, the contest in Hamilton will mark his first bout in Ontario since the province regulated MMA. Alessio will likely be the crowd favourite, despite hailing from the other side of the country, having grown up in Vancouver. Ironically, despite having played host to two UFC events the state of MMA remains unclear in Alessio’s hometown, being bogged down in city politics. It is a situation that clearly frustrates Alessio, being unable to fight in his own hometown due to the dithering of bureaucrats.
“ Vancouver is missing out. I mean, the shows, when it comes, they sell out. It does nothing but generate money for the province. They’re missing out, they need to get their stuff together. UFC did really good there, both shows. They want to go back, I’m sure, it’s they just don’t want to have to deal with the headaches. So, I’m just hoping the commission will get their act together. They’ll make money off of it. The city will make money off of it. The fans want it. I want it. I want to fight in UFC in my hometown. That’s like a dream obviously so… if I could do something to make UFC legal there, that’d be great.”
In the interim, he will be content with watching the fights as they roll through his adopted hometown of Las Vegas, the fight capital of the world. The next one being the welterweight clash between Nick Diaz and his one-time opponent Carlos Condit. Alessio obviously has an insider’s perspective of the fight but speaks about it as excitedly as any fan would.
“This is a hell of a fight. First of all, it’s going to be a great fight for everybody to watch in my opinion but picking a winner is going to be tough man. They’re both so talented and similar in different ways. They’ve both got good striking, but not the same kind of style. They’ve both got great jiu-jitsu, different styles a little bit. And neither one can really, really wrestle. So, they’re very similar but I’ve just got to give a slight edge to Nick Diaz. [Based on] the streak he’s been on. The guys he’s fought. Not that Condit hasn’t been on a good streak or fought good guys either, you know, but I just think it’s kind of Nick Diaz’s time right now. He just seems to be really shining right now in all his fights and really doing a lot of damage to guys, you know, he’s been been beating some people up.”
With his focus on Healy and a possible call-back to the UFC, Alessio tries not to look too far into the future. But when asked to name someone he’d love to fight, his voice perks up with anticipation as he states who could really use an Alessio-style beating.
“Mike “The Situation” from Jersey Shore. I love Jersey Shore because it just makes me mad to watch it. (laughs) But yeah, I’d love to fight that douche. Oh man, just hit him in the club. Not that I want to promote street fighting.”
When pointed out that the “Situation” has been backstage at a couple of UFC events, Alessio laughs again and devises a plan.
“I might have to [lean into him]. I might have to do the old walk by and bump him in the shoulder.”
We’ll see what the situation is for Alessio after March 16th.
Follow John on twitter @johnalessio79
UFC is missing out, bring this guy back asap