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Dean Amasinger: Mina will not get me to the ground
05 Feb 2010
By Jimmy Page
Dean Amasinger’s career took a turn for the better after his appearance on The Ultimate Fighter show in the States. He has since shown considerable all-round improvement since his return, over-powering and submitting two opponents in the first round.
Dean faces a stiff challenge at Ultimate Challenge on Saturday night as he goes up against London Shootfighter, Alberto Mina for the organisation’s welterweight title.
Mina fights like a man possessed and boasts a sick jiu-jitsu game, but Amasinger did not appear at all flustered as he revealed his thoughts on the match just moments after the official weigh-in.
Is it alright to talk me through your last fight in Poland?
It was the co-main event. Maciej Gorski, He’s the guy that Paul [Daley] fought and [Fabricio] Nascimento. He’s got a good record 10-3, and I submitted him in the first round. We exchanged a bit, I threw a low kick and he caught it and took me down. I reversed it, he tried to get me in a triangle and I slammed out of it. I passed his guard, given him some ground-and-pound. He tried to come up, but I got him in a guillotine – 2 minutes.
You also had a good fight before that to Scott Jansen. How was that fight for you?
Yeah, it was good. It went how I expected the fight to go really. I thought maybe not that quick because he’s a tough guy, but I knew that as soon as I took it to ground, I’m too powerful, too tight now – I’ve worked so hard on tightening up my game and matching my potential to my ability.
I’ve been working on everything at the Leicester Shootfighters, I’m so powerful and strong, but at times it’s been wasted. It’s technique now. I’ve been working really hard, I’m in the best shape of my life. This is my third fight on the trot; I’ve stayed in shape, my weight has been low. Everyone has been having fights so I’ve been keeping really busy.
Before, there have been times when I’ve had gaps [between fights] and I’ve got out of shape, and you spend half your time trying to get back to where you were before. If I stay busy and in the gym, I find myself getting better, rather than just getting back to where I was.
What are you expecting from Alberto? What do you know about him?
He’s good in the scramble, he’s always looking for the takedown, but his takedowns aren’t actually that good. He’s not a technically good wrestler. He wants things on the ground, but he’s got to try and get me there. So it’s not going to be good for him.
I noticed you gave him a little bit of an eyeball at the end of the photoshoot, do you always do that?
Well, I think I’m an intimidating character…
You say that with a big smile on your face!
Well, when I want to be, you don’t have to be like that all the time. I did it… just to show him, do you know what I mean? ‘I mean business’. That’s going to be playing on his mind tonight. He’s not going to be thinking fight.
I’m a big lad, I’m physically imposing, there’s a lot that he is going to have to do tomorrow if he’s going to beat me. I’m not a walkover for anyone. I know that from training with Paul [Daley], Dan [Hardy]… I know how good I am. I see what they are doing, Dan’s fighting for a world title, Paul’s top 5 in the world and I’m giving them a hard time in the gym.
So when it comes to these guys, I’m thinking, they are going to have to do a lot to beat me – and I let them know that, with a little bit of a heavier staredown.
I’ve got to ask you what you’re drinking to rehydrate you, because it’s obviously what you trust to get the job done properly [some light Ribena-looking substance].
It’s top secret. I have a nutritionist that I work with, he’s a PHD student…
Is that Lewis [innovative mad scientist from the Cage Warriors forum]?
Yeah, he made it for me, it’s a bit of a concoction of a few things. This bottle is straight after the weigh-in, [rummages in bag full of bottles]. That bottle is for 2 hours after the weigh-in… and this bottle is 4 hours after. I’m about to have an IV as well. This is one more aspect of my training and preparation because I’m going to come in heavy tomorrow, over 80 kilos.
You seem quite cheerful, a lot of people who cut a lot of weight tend to get moody.
Once I start drinking I’m fine!
What kind of performance can we expect from you in this fight?
A very good one, solid, tight and that’s that. First round or early second round, I’m looking to stop him, TKO or knock out.
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