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John alession looks to rebound at MFC 21
After having lost his last two fights, former UFC and WEC welterweight John Alessio found himself at a crossroads.
He could either resign himself to possibly never getting back to form, or he could make some serious changes to improve himself and get back on track.
Alessio chose the latter.
As he explained to MMAWeekly.com, “I had to re-evaluate what was going on. I had to do a little soul searching to figure out what I thought might have been wrong. Whether it be in training or my personal life, I just re-evaluated everything.”
While deciding to remain at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Alessio shook things up by adding top Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor Robert Drysdale and famed boxing coach Gil Martinez to his coaching staff.
Those additions, including his already established work with Muay Thai guru Shawn Tompkins, have him anticipating great things in his future performances.
“I think you’re going to see a big difference,” he stated. “You’re going to see a guy who is willing to stand in the pocket and trade more punches because I know now that my footwork and head movement have improved a lot.
“My jiu-jitsu has gotten a lot tighter and we'll be adding more submissions to my arsenal, but the main thing I’m looking for is more control on the ground. I’m excited to get out there and showcase the stuff I’ve been working on.”
Scheduled to face Andrew Buckland at the Maximum Fighting Championship on May 15 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Alessio knows he’ll be in for a tough fight against an up-and-comer looking to make a name for himself.
“It’s a dangerous fight when you’re fighting a kid who’s got nothing to lose,” said Alessio. “He’s probably going to let it all hang out and be aggressive. But that’s just going to help me and fall into my game plan.
“I’ve got the experience, strength and all those things on my side. I’m going to use that to my advantage and take him out.”
Further motivating Alessio is his desire to rank among the top fighters at 170 pounds.
“Honestly, I’ve had enough of sitting in the middle,” he admitted. “I’ve been a fighter where you can say I’m not Top 10, but I’m not trash. I’m sitting in that middle zone and I’m (expletive) tired of it.
“My goals now are to become a black belt in jiu-jitsu, for my boxing and Muay Thai to be world class, continue to learn, develop my game and make my mark on this sport. I want to end up in the Top 10 and be a guy who isn’t forgotten about in 10 years down the road when I’ve stopped fighting.”
A win on Friday could not only put him back on the winning track, but it could also bring Alessio one step closer to his goals.
“I want to say thanks to Tapout, Knockout Wear, GAMMA-O, Dr. Shaw Chiropractic and Denaro Sports Marketing,” he concluded. “Thanks also to my girlfriend, my family and friends for all their support.
“I want to dominate this fight and then figure out what’s next. Whether it’s a run at a title in the MFC – which I’m very interested in – or fighting in the UFC; I just want to fight good opponents, get paid decent and have a good time.”
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