This Saturday night a lightweight battle will kick off the pay-per-view portion of the UFC 159 fight card, as Pat Healy takes on Jim Miller.
Healy got a shot inside the octagon back in 2006, but was cut after a single loss to Anthony Torres. Since that time, the Salem, Oregon native has piled up a nice 14-4 record and is currently riding a six-fight winning streak.
This past weekend Gilbert Melendez took on Benson Henderson for the UFC lightweight title. Healy was slated to recieve a Strikefore lightweight title shot against Melendez twice but injuries to the champion prevented it fromt aking place. Those were hard times for Healy.
“I was frustrated and it was really hard at the time, especially the first time it was really hard. I was basically packing my bags to go and leave for the fight and then I found out he was injured and ultimately the whole show was cancelled. That was hugely disappointing. I never really had anything personally against Gil, it was all about I wanted to be champ. It was one of my goals when I got into Strikeforce I’d written on my bathroom wall ‘to become Strikeforce champion in 2012’ and I looked on pace to at least have a chance to accomplish that goal. That was really the disappointing part, just seeing what you’re working for, that chance fall through.”
The bathroom wall may seem like an odd place to write your goals, but for Healy it works. He gets to reflect on them daily and his goal for 2014 is an obvious one… “To be the UFC Champion.”
UFC President Dana White let fans know that the winner of Gray Maynard vs. TJ Grant at UFC 160 would be next in line for the championship. However, Healy believes a win over Miller puts himself right up there in the mix.
“I think Miller is kind of in that conversation already. So beating him in good exciting fashion should leave me pretty close to the top. Especially because, I know Strikeforce isn’t around anymore, but I had a good run there. I won six times in a row and I’m riding that streak, so I think I’d be right up near the top.”
Healy has a very good clinch game. Many casual fans think that is a boring style, but “Bam Bam” doesn’t feel this is the case and in his so-called “first fight in the UFC” he will showcase this.
“When you say clinch, people get that image in their head like ‘oh he’s just going to push him against the wall and just hold him there.’ I certainly don’t want people to think that and I think that would be a huge mistake in my first UFC or really my second, but as far as I’m concerned it’s my first fight in the UFC.”
At UFC on FOX 7 another Strikeforce veteran made his UFC debut. The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion, Daniel Cormier, squared off against former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir. He smothered his way to a unanimous decision victory, however following the fight he signaled that nerves were to play. Healy doesn’t plan on having nerves be a factor on what is unquestionably the biggest stage of his career.
“That’s something I’ve been trying to prepare for. I think if you don’t think you are going to have butterflies in the UFC on such a big stage then you’re doing yourself a great disservice. I’ve been trying to visualize a lot and kind of feel that nervousness far out. I kind of want to take that nervousness and turn it into excitement because this is what everybody in the sport works for and this is where everybody wants to be, amain card of a UFC pay-per-view. I know they’re going to be there come fight time, so I’ve just got to embrace that and turn it into some positive energy.”
Miller is a very dangerous 155-pounder who is inching towards a rematch with Benson Henderson and the top of the stacked lightweight division. Does that scare “Bam Bam”? Not one bit. Healy feels that he will be able to either submit the submission specialist or ground and pound his way to a referee stoppage.
“I see me grinding him out. I may have to weather an early storm; I know he likes to come out just firing at the start. I can really pick it up as the rounds go on, so I may have to weather an early storm, but I’m going to be in it til the end. I think I can wear him down, use my size and I think those takedowns are going to come in to play more in that third round. I think I can catch him in a sub or stop him with strikes, ground and pound style.”
At 29-years old, Healy has fought an astounding 45 times. This may sound like it would take a toll on the young fighters body, but he believes he has never felt better. His new training home and his reclaimed outlook on life are opening his eyes to a new way of training.
“The body feels great; I’ve made some changes in my training over the past couple of years. I’ve really focused on my technique and not sparring as much. I’ve switched to the Sports Lab and that was a big change. I think focusing more on the technique and getting better is kind of a big deal. I was always one of those guys who really wanted to spar hard and go hard all the time and you just can’t do that. Now with Sports Lab they’re so scientific with their approach; I see my flexibility increasing, they’ve got me working with a massage therapist to do the whole nine-yards just take care of the whole body and not just fighting all the time.”
“Bam Bam” Healy will look to roll with the punches come Saturday night as he takes on Miller. Fans should be prepared for fireworks as the pay-per-view gets underway.
You can catch our full interview with Pat Healy on this past weeks episode of MMASucka Radio HERE.
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