Alex 'Bruce Leroy' Caceres Emerges as Potential Star on TUF
by Nate Wilcox on Sep 23, 2010 12:58 PM EDT
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I found myself enjoying last night's The Ultimate Fighter episode much more than I have in years.
For one reason and one reason alone: Alex 'Bruce Leroy' Caceres.
The kid has a very appealing personality with the goofy Bruce Lee obsession, the ridiculous story telling and constant smile. Throw in a commitment to bringing flashy kung fu and karate moves into MMA and I'm sold.
His fight last night with a very game Jeff Lentz had me and my friends on the edge of our seats throughout.
Here's Cage Writer talking about Caceres:
A huge fan of martial arts' legend Bruce Lee and named after a character in the 1985 film "The Last Dragon", Cacares is seen meditating, doing breathing exercises and showing off wacky kicks in the backyard. Lentz even comments that it may look cool but the technique is terrible.
...
Bruce Leroy is cocky. Next week's tease includes a mention that he may have crossed the line in rubbing the victory in Lentz's face a little too much. He's certainly confident and afraid of no one. The kid is built like a beanpole but apparently he's been in his share of scraps. Before getting into legitimate mixed martial arts training, he was a street fighter cashing around $600 a fight. Lentz should've watched the "Bruce versus Chocolate" fight on YouTube. You can't slam your way out of a Bruce triangle.
Video of the "Bruce versus Chocolate" fight on YouTube is in the full entry.
Here's Cage Potato:
The day of the fight, Bruce Leroy suits up in full kung fu regalia. Jeff is not impressed by the gimmick. (Dyeing your hair isn't a gimmick, by the way, it's a lifestyle.) Alex explains that the proper mindset is "as if you're sleeping but not dreaming...ready but not tense...calm but not asleep. In between." He gets in a sparring/visualization session with GSP before the fight. GSP raises Alex's hand in the Octagon. Alex used to get smacked around by his parents a lot because every time he got in trouble he would smile. He's just a smiley dude.
...
Dana is happy to see Bruce Leroy win. He likes the kid, and digs his personality. Alex is amped. "I feel sorry for whoever I get in the next round...you better be ready for a gooddamn fight 'cause I ain't handin' out no free tickets."
Obviously it takes much more than making a big impression on one episode of TUF to build a career. Even dominating a whole season ala Junie Browning or winning ala Efrain Escudero isn't enough to ensure a lasting UFC career. Hell Phillipe Nover, who placed second to Escudero on season 8, had a huge head of steam coming out of the season with Dana White calling him "the lightweight Anderson Silva" repeatedly, only to be cut after losing a couple of fights.
Caceres is off to a good start, but his fighting style doesn't convince me he's a blue chip prospect, but I am pleasantly surprised to find myself rooting for someone on The Ultimate Fighter for the first time in years.
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I like this kid, I think he’s a fun personality for the show. That being said I’m not to impressed with any of his skillsets. I feel like it’s only a matter of time until the Bruce Leroy hype train utterly and completely derailed.
by ssstute89 on Sep 23, 2010 1:07 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Agreed
He was getting soundly beaten by a smoking, drinking, dye blonde for F"N Jersey.
For all the flash in his kicks. His strikes are wild and not very damaging. Top control wrestler with any kind of sub defense stops this kid in round 1.
He does have personality. So thats going for him.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
by aaronb on Sep 23, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Give me a break
All these keyboard MMA guys crack me up from a MMA point this kid has a lot of potential. His stand up is decent, his takedown defense is ok and he has a lot of heart not to mention he’s extremely marketable personality (which is important because most MMA guys are lame meat-heads). Not to mention he’s only 20! Any MMA school will love to have this guy under their flag. Yes like many BJJ guys I cringed at how sloppy he was with applying the triangle and was even more shocked he didn’t even bother to hook the leg! I agree that a solid wrestler will be nemesis but its MMA dudes everyone is going to get smashed sooner or later! With him having a chance to train with GSP and Greg Jackson, the sky is the limit for this kid. I’m not saying this kid is ready for the likes of BJ Penn, but in five years he just might be ready.
by sportmaster on Sep 24, 2010 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Yep
his fighting style doesn’t convince me he’s a blue chip prospect
I keep thinking the same thing, sooner or later he is just gonna get handled doing that stuff. In the meantime I’m just gonna sit back and enjoy the kid having fun fighting. No other person I know that watches can stand him because of his personality, which is what I like about him.
"Don’t quote old fucks to me" – Brent Brookhouse
I like his personality, too.
He’s like your best friend’s stupid little brother who is annoying and gets in trouble but still is a sweet kid and makes you laugh. He has a really great smile.
by KatGirl on Sep 23, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Alex isn’t ready yet.
First he must find the Master, meet a loud mouth antagonist, catch a bullet with his teeth, get the glow, and lastly he has to get the girl. It’ll be hard, but if you got the glow you know the feelin’s right.
If you want to hear my opinion on Les Miles go to BJPenn.com.
by DayGeaux on Sep 23, 2010 1:11 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
Every Barry Gordy reference I make goes unoticed so good reference!
Drink to remember, drink to forget.
by doonerthesooner on Sep 23, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Folks aren't familiar with Barry Gordy
Now Berry Gordy would probably get more nods
"Wait why didn't I kill that motherfvker"
excuse me
Drink to remember, drink to forget.
by doonerthesooner on Sep 23, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I got you dude, besides it's the internet if you get mad your dumb.
What is your pick from?
Drink to remember, drink to forget.
by doonerthesooner on Sep 23, 2010 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Picture
Drink to remember, drink to forget.
by doonerthesooner on Sep 23, 2010 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
City of God
One of the greatest films ever made can’t recommend enough
"Wait why didn't I kill that motherfvker"
by Ze Pequeno on Sep 23, 2010 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
truly
"I trained with Steven Seagal."
by B.H. Farnsworth on Sep 23, 2010 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Gotcha, I heard the sequel sucks though
Drink to remember, drink to forget.
by doonerthesooner on Sep 23, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
There is ONE place, that you have no looked, and it is there, ONLY THERE, that you shall find the TRUE master"
Sholl look like a master to me
/sarcasm
SCM aka Black Lesnar aka Wesley Types aka Slap ya Favorite MMA Writer
Follow me on Twitter
Read me at WatchKalibRun
by S.C. Michaelson on Sep 23, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Its like that triangle was going on in slow motion
Everybody in my house saw it coming, the coaches saw it coming, the only person who didn’t see it coming was Lentz. Bruce is fun to watch, but I don’t see any thing that makes me think he’ll stick around.
"I am a man who pisses largely and frequently, which they say is a sign of great mental activity" -Henry Miller-
I agree
But is this before his little brother Pop Locks his way out of Rope restraint?
"Wait why didn't I kill that motherfvker"
Next Episode
Alex has gained many fans with his unique character but I believe he’ll lose many fans as well next episode when his arrogance takes over in rubbing it in Lent’s face, don’t forget that Lentz also gained many fans with his performance (myself included).
There’s nothing wrong with a commitment to bring Kung Fu into the octagon same thing did wonders for Machida with Karate although there’s a huge difference in commitment and actual knowledge of their respective Martial Arts.
Lentz would have won that fight if his sub defense was a little better he should have seen that triangle coming a mile away it was not impressive to be honest. Alex has a loooong way to go but he’s still young abd his character/style makes a promising prospect for the UFC.
"Common sense is not so common"
“Lents won many fans with his performance”
Really? Pushing alex against the cage and leaning on him there for 90% of the round doesn’t gain fans, IMO.
I was desperate for him to lose after round one, and cheered out loud after the triangle.
by CstBoog on Sep 23, 2010 1:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Is he related to Nick Lentz?
Cause it looks like they fight the same way
Drink to remember, drink to forget.
by doonerthesooner on Sep 23, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
Lentz’s standup technique was horrible too. I wasn’t impressed with either fighter, but at least Bruce has personality and star potential.
Lentz won round 1
And I think most people agree on that one, pushing against the cage and dirty boxing is very effective (Randy vouches for that lol) the Judo throw at the end was sweet.
So far I love the goofiness from Alex but seriously his skill set was not impressive. Lentz was also not impressive but I enjoyed the mindless-punching-back-full-power-when-attacked.
Thanks for replying.
"Common sense is not so common"
But Lentz wasn't even doing a lot of boxing for most of round 1
Its one thing to work the clinch, its another to clinch and not work. I kept expecting the fighters to get reset because there didn’t seem to be a lot of punchs thrown or advancing of position.
Me too, I thought lentz won the first round just because of the judo toss, didn’t do anything else besides holding his opponent
by sportmaster on Sep 24, 2010 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Lentz would have won that fight if his sub defense was a little better he should have seen that triangle coming a mile away it was not impressive to be honest.
The fact is that he lost the fight. It doesn’t matter if he shouldn’t have…. he still got beat. I mean…. Shane Carwin would have beat Brock Lesnar if his Lactic Acidosis hadn’t been acting up.
by davidhamilton83 on Sep 23, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Very True
Same thing with Silve vs Sonnen but you have to give some credit to fighter who dominated the majority of the fight.
Thanks for replying.
"Common sense is not so common"
In that sense, you have to give Alex credit because if his stand up had been just a little more crisp, he would have won the fight more convincingly….
by davidhamilton83 on Sep 23, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh wait…. He made the guy who said he would never tapout….. tap.
by davidhamilton83 on Sep 23, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Nope Sonnen was on PED’s so he gets no credit since he couldn’t even win with the PED’s!!!
by sportmaster on Sep 24, 2010 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions
"Lents won many fans with his performance"
No he didn’t.
WIN
"Don’t quote old fucks to me" – Brent Brookhouse
by Chris Barton on Sep 23, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Needs to add muscle weight?
He seemed to get backed into the cage with ease on last night’s episode. He has great balance and ability to get back on his feet, but he doesn’t have the muscle to sustain the competition in the division.
I like his personality though. He’d be a fan favorite for sure.
Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p
I wonder if he’s ever fought in a cage before. He had plenty of opportunities to whip an elbow into Lentz’s head from the clinch, and barely threw any knees when he briefly grabbed the plum. I like him, but I expected a bit more from him standing.
What's this war in the heart of nature? Why does nature vie with itself? The land contend with the sea? Is there an avenging power in nature? Not one power, but two?
by Kwisatz Haderach on Sep 23, 2010 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't see anything that Bruce has that impresses me
in terms of his skill set. I think once he gets to the UFC, he’ll be eaten alive. However, I do like the dude. He is amusing, and last night’s episode was the best TUF episode in years, IMO. It had everything. You had GSP’s team approach of training the mind as well as the body vs Kos’ mindless training, Bruce Leroy winning, and Kos looking like an idiot after GSP tricks him into picking the wrong guy first. I honestly didn’t think that would work, but it did, incredibly. They say GSP forces you to fight his fight. Well, looks like he makes you pick who he wants you to pick as well, lol.
At first I felt that Alex would be the next Jamie Yager or Junie Browning. I felt he would be very much style over substance and bark over bite. Also, taking on the name of a martial arts legend like Bruce Leeroy (sorry Bruce Lee) kind of rubbed me the wrong way. After seeing more of his personality (albeit an edited reality tv view) I definitely have changed my tune on him. Next episode did foreshadow him being the villian after the fight with Lentz and riding him a bit too hard for underestimating his ability.
I like his taoist philosophies. The kid may not be a master yet, but he has his paintbrush. Oh, and Dana obviously loves him too, which is sure to help his career.
Jamie Yager wishes he had Bruce Leroy's ground game, no matter how obvious the triangle appeared to everone but Lentz.
Turbo had better moves, IMHO…
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
On his Sherblog he says it's all bullshit
Drink to remember, drink to forget.
by doonerthesooner on Sep 23, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Seriously?
I totally believed him.
[/sarcasm]
Get over it.
Who cares if it is 99% bullshit? Telling the occasional tall tale is all in good fun.
My little brother killed two deer with his bare hands.
Well, one with a knife. But he snapped the other one’s neck. I’m 100% serious. The kid is a savage. He used to bring home 40lb salmon that he caught, with his hands. He’d chase them up stream then bash them with a boulder. Its way harder than it sounds. King salmon are huge and hella tough during the before they spawn.
So, like a mark, I actually believed him.
"I trained with Steven Seagal."
by B.H. Farnsworth on Sep 23, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I got a buddy that does crazy shit like that.
He got into a lot of trouble cause he was caught with a truck bed full of Diamond Backs that he captured. I’ve seen the guy catch a snapping turtle as big as a dog
Drink to remember, drink to forget.
by doonerthesooner on Sep 23, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Snapping turtles
Will fuck you up. That guys got a pair on him.
We almost went to jail for salmon poaching once. Apparently they
watch from towers.
"I trained with Steven Seagal."
by B.H. Farnsworth on Sep 23, 2010 6:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Well I killed a 800lbs lion with by bare hands, The Mutha——er look at me wrong so I punched and the lion died on the spot!
by sportmaster on Sep 24, 2010 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions
That's impressive
Lions don’t usually get that big. Plus, I heard the only way to kill a lion is RNC.
"I trained with Steven Seagal."
by B.H. Farnsworth on Sep 24, 2010 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions
I talked to Taimak
/sarcasm
SCM aka Black Lesnar aka Wesley Types aka Slap ya Favorite MMA Writer
Follow me on Twitter
Read me at WatchKalibRun
by S.C. Michaelson on Sep 23, 2010 5:36 PM EDT reply actions
While I think Caceres has a lot of room for improvement
(he’s not too strong or too accurate a striker or great a wrestler), he seems to have a knack for sneaking out a win.
I could also see him backing into the finals like other “unorthodox” TUF contenders in the past.
Good call
He seemss to just find way to pull off wins.
He could improve by leaps and bounds. His body is under developed and his striking looks self taught and lack luster. If he had a lot more strength and confidence in his strikes he could he decent.
"I trained with Steven Seagal."
by B.H. Farnsworth on Sep 23, 2010 6:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Exactly
I don’t see him gaining muscle or becoming a brand new fighter in the 6-8 weeks he’s on the show, but I wouldn’t put it past him to be greatly improved if he ends up on the finale card.
He’s already on the final card no matter what happens. Dana White didn’t turn MMA into a mainstream sport by being an idiot you know…
by sportmaster on Sep 24, 2010 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
^^this^^
Drink to remember, drink to forget.
by doonerthesooner on Sep 24, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
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