Report: Joe Stevenson Joins Greg Jackson's Camp, Looking for Change
by Leland Roling on Apr 28, 2009 9:28 AM EDT
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According to a report at MMAMadness.com, Joe Stevenson will be leaving Cobra Kai gym and heading to Greg Jackson's camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico:
MMAMadness.com has learned that Joe Stevenson will be leaving Cobra Kai and head trainer Irvin Bounds to join the Greg Jackson’s Submission Fighting Gaidojutsu School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Stevenson makes the decision as he faces a possible "must win" scenario to stay in the UFC when he takes on Nate Diaz on June 20.
"We both agreed it would be better if he moved on and try to change a little bit so he can continue to stay in the UFC," Bounds said.
...
"Joe just basically wanted to make a change in his routine. He needs to be more isolated. He wants to completely be away to focus and train with some better people like St. Pierre and Rashad and push himself," Bounds said.
This is an unconfirmed report at the moment, but I would file this one under "probably happening". Stevenson went from a number one contender when he took on B.J. Penn at UFC 80 to sporting a 1-2 record in his last 3 fights.
While he's taken on very good competition in eventual number one contender Kenny Florian and newcomer to the Lightweight scene Diego Sanchez, Stevenson lacks the skillset to be a dynamic finisher. Most notably, his striking isn't heavily technical or powerful and his submission game is lacking. Relying on the guillotine choke to be there isn't a solid game plan.
This should be a good move for Stevenson. He'll have a top camp to work with, fighters who will push him to the edge and increase his skills, and hopefully he can tighten up those areas of his game that he isn't overly great at. If Greg Jackson and his team can bring Stevenson's striking to a higher level and teach him the finer points of a dynamic ground game, Stevenson may very well be able to pull himself back from the brink of losing his UFC contract.
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Joe Daddy might have just saved his career…he hit a rut and quit growing as a fighter (in my opinion) and this is exactly what he needs for some breakthrough. I really like Joe, he’s got intense heart and brings it every time…he just has alot of untapped potential. I don’t think the UFC would cut him, he’s a solid fighter and is pretty scrappy. I know that he’s a draw for me, simply because of watching the countdown show to his fight with BJ.
by Kaleb Kelchner on Apr 28, 2009 10:00 AM EDT reply actions
A twitter pic would help to strengthen the rumor – 
http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com
It’s a pretty solid report. MMAMadness really doesn’t do a bad job at all. Plus, quoting Stevenson’s former coach is a pretty easy way to confirm it.
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by Leland Roling on Apr 28, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Good move for Stevenson. Provided he can fight using his new skill set instead of reverting to his old ways even after the visit to GJ’s camp, he should be good to go. I’d hate to see him leave the UFC, but after the Diego fight it became VERY clear that he’s a one dimensional fighter who doesn’t look for other avenues to travel during a fight.
This is a last ditch effort, that I cannot blame Stevenson for,
but even Greg Jackson needs fighters with strong skillsets to be successful.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
How is his submission game lacking? The guy just recieved his black belt in bjj under Mark Laimon (i think). BJJ isnt karate you cant buy a blackbelt or get one in 3 years (unless your BJ Penn) He probably has a better guillotine at lw than anyone else in the world fighting in mma. Just because you dont see him throwing flying armbars and landing gogos and doing cartwheel passes dose’nt meen hes not a world class bjj practicioner.
His guillotine not withstanding,
what else are you talking about? Maybe Daddy has gotten better at BJJ, but he has not shown anything to suggest that.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
Yeah, there’s jiu jitsu, and then there’s jiu jitsu actually applied during an MMA fight. I don’t think that Joe’s BJJ is anything to sneer at, but he needs to show that he can use it effectively during a fight for more than just scrambles and single choke. THat’s where I think the Jackson gameplanning can really help him.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
I have admitted that Jackson could certainly help with gameplanning,
but Joe has to stick to their plans to be effective. Are we to believe that his previous camp gameplanned Joe standing & “shadowboxing” with Diego for three rounds?
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
I don’t think his last camp gameplanned very much at all, certainly not the way that many top camps are now. From what I heard, he was pretty much “the guy” at his usual training location, and didn’t have the benefit of a lot of top guys watching tape of both him and his opponent and coming up with creative strategies.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
He absolutely schooled Pellegrino on the ground and was able to turn the tables on Mishima and Tibau.
by George Lucas on Apr 28, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
And those three guys rank where right now?
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
Pellegrino is ranked fairly high. Tibau is on a win streak, and will likely win his next fight. I see your point, however.
by Hardcharger on Apr 29, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
I am not knocking those guys,
but they are not world beaters either.
Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.
They are all superb submission grapplers, which is the point.
by George Lucas on Apr 29, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Robert Drysdale
gave Joe Daddy his black belt, not Laimon. I don’t believe Stevenson trains with Laimon anymore.
I just want to know if Stevenson will start tweaking his nipples before his fights now…
by madiq on Apr 28, 2009 5:05 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
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