Victory in Defeat
February 14th, 2010It’s not often I actually get to see one of our fighters fight in person. I have an awful fear of flying and hate smoke and noise, which explains why Las Vegas is my least favorite city in the world. So I don’t miss a chance to go to the local shows to see our fighters, especially Josh Calvo. At barely 21 years of age, his game is simply on another level. It’s scary to think where he could be 3-4 years from now.
The event is at a beautiful casino about 30 minutes from my house. I’m flying solo, since our videographer is sick, and carrying a bunch of equipment I know very little about. After the usual “I have no idea where your all-access pass is”, someone eventually finds it and I head to the locker room. On the way there, local vendors display their gear – lots of aggressive names with demonic goth designs that somehow manage to blend rhinestones and dragons on what appear to be menswear. One booth has an actual plastic skull with eyes that light up. I shake my head and move on.
I get to the locker rooms and find my way to the red corner. Josh is taking a nap and I feel bad about waking him up. He gets up and greets me with a hug and a smile. I’ve never seen this kid sad. He’s in the co-main event, but he doesn’t really seem to care. We chat about Guam (where he’s from) and his training. He’s fighting up in weight class, and fighting a kid that won in Strikeforce, seven years his elder. His MMA coach had told me they are looking for tougher fights for him, since he’s been steamrolling the opposition.
One of Josh’s team-mates comes in. Foster’s BJJ and Combat Sports and Fitness have 3 guys on the fight card. Tough decision loss. Coach Foster and Jeff Hougland walk in behind him. Someone’s asking for ice. No cuts, but he’s got a really nasty bump above his left eye. Josh gets up to give him a hug. There’s an awkward moment of silence in the locker room, but inevitably, someone says something funny and the tension disappears. We start talking training. Josh is cracking jokes. Coach Foster and I venture into the crowd to watch Josh’s second team-mate fight. He wins by a spectacular armbar in the first round. I realize it’s the first time I ventured into the venue. It’s totally sold out.
We go back – Jeff Hougland is taping Josh’s hands. After much trouble with what appears to be an extremely complicated DSLR camera, I get a group shot of Josh and his corner. Then the warm-up begins. They start stretching a bit, then Josh starts shadow-boxing. Fast, fluid movements. The mitts come out, and he begins to let his hands fly a bit. Josh’s speed and accuracy frighten me. He’s gotten even faster since his last fight, and he’s moved up in weight. Jeff is calling out combinations. ”Give me a 1-2-3. Now 1-2-3-4. Watch the counter.” I feel my pulse quickening a bit. The fight is minutes away.
Suddenly, someone calls out “Calvo!”. Instantly, the nice, easygoing demeanor is gone, and Josh turns into… something else entirely. He bolts out of the locker room so fast we’re all running to catch up. I finally go find my seat inside the ropes, by one of the cageside photographers. The crowd loses control when Josh walks out and the announcer calls his name. He’s the hometown hero, and his opponent is from Portland. Josh is no longer smiling. He basically sprints into the cage, waiting for his prey.
The fight is a 3 round war. Josh’s opponent – John Heath - wants nothing to do with his power and speed, and shoots for takedowns at every opportunity. His strategy is ground and pound, but Josh catches him with several submissions and sweeps twice - with the second sweep going into mount. For the educated fan, the fight is a thing of beauty. The crowd is in a frenzy. His opponent is tough though, and doesn’t submit. In the end, the decision goes away from Josh due to the takedowns.
There’s not much to say afterward. A loss is a loss. John Heath comes in to shake hands and offer respect. He has a huge bag of ice under his right elbow and it looks like it’s popped. Josh isn’t even breathing heavy, and there’s not a scratch on him. He’s asking his coaches for advice on what went wrong, what he could have done better. ”He fought a smart fight and studied you well”, Jeff Hougland says slowly, and everyone agrees. There’s still a lot of work to do.
I look at Josh and tell him to stop saying “I’m sorry”. He’s afraid he let everyone down. I tell him we’ll be there for him for his next 10 fights, or however many he plans to have. It’s the truth. Within 15 minutes, Josh is already thinking of his next fight, and what he needs to improve upon. And about where to eat. I tell him I’ll take him out for steak next week, and the grin is back.
Josh Calvo and his corner - Rumble At the Ridge VIII - Hostile Intent
