SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 27: Ross Pearson of Great Britain punches Spencer Fisher of the USA during their Lightweight bout UFC 127 at Acer Arena on February 27, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Spencer Fisher has a stiff test in front of him Friday night when he takes on Sam Stout for the third time at UFC on FX 4. From what Fisher has been doing to prepare himself for the bout, it is clear that he is not taking this fight lightly.
Matt Roth at Bleacher Report was at the open workouts for the event today and got this quote from Fisher:
It's been a dream come true. I got to train with Freddie Roach and that in itself, I didn't get to spend my full camp with him but I was able to work with him so it was a blessing to do that. Also I got to work with Rashad Holloway who is Manny Pacquiao's training partner which was great. They just see these small things that Sam's going to try and exploit and see things on him that is open quite a bit. I think they've shown me some things on him, his head sticks out a lot and I'm gonna look to hit the chin whenever his hands are in a position to do so. I only got to work with him a couple times but I got to work with his right hand man Paul as well. Just being in the presence of those guys there's no other feeling in the world.
Holloway is a welterweight (147 pound) boxer who trains with Roach and occasionally spars with Pacquiao in preparation for his fights.
The reason Fisher would have only been able to work with Roach "a couple times" would be that Freddie's attention was primarily focused on Pacquiao's fight with Timothy Bradley.
The week after the Pacquiao vs. Bradley fight, Roach's other superstar pupil, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., was in action. So, beyond not being a full time boxer, there were plenty of other things keeping Fisher from getting much of Freddie's undivided attention.
Still, being in that environment can help a guy get his punching right, and that gym does have many other good trainers who can teach Spencer a lot of subtle things.
I don't buy into going and training with a boxing trainer as being a surefire way to improve a mixed martial artist's career. And a lot goes into what techniques and skillset they bring to the camp to begin with. But for a fight like this one, better striking is a good idea.
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