Springs’ Jeremy Kimball puts in long camp ahead of UFC fight
It’s been a long 12 weeks for Jeremy Kimball. Maybe even a longer six months.
The Colorado Springs mixed martial artist and former Doherty High School student will step into the octagon for his second UFC bout on Sunday at UFC Fight Night 112 in Oklahoma City.
He will fight Josh Stansbury (8-3) in a light heavyweight bout.
Kimball is hoping to make up for a rough UFC debut.
“When they (the UFC) called and gave me the news about that long ago, I jumped right back in because of what happened the last time,” Kimball told The Gazette from Oklahoma City on Thursday. “I wanted to train hard for it.”
The last time was Kimball’s UFC debut, and in Denver, no less.
Kimball (14-6) was stopped in the first round (punches) by Marcos Rogerio de Lima in a fight Kimball took on short notice. After Kimball slipped on the canvas, de Lima pounced and finished him.
Kimball was coming off winning the light heavyweight title at FFC 27 (Final Fight Championship promotions) in Zagreb, Croatia, and felt like he was still in shape for de Lima.
When it didn’t go his way, he was ready to get back in as soon as possible.
“I didn’t like how that one ended,” he said. “So I definitely have to show who I really am this time.”
Kimball usually puts in an eight-week camp. But with the bad taste from January’s loss still fresh, Kimball jumped into a 12-week camp.
“Long camp,” Kimball said. “Just a lot of ‘Am I doing camp the right way?’ Feeling like I’m peaking at the wrong times, but then feel like everything is going good but then feel like everything is going bad. … Yeah (that’s normal), especially when you do a 12-week camp.”
Gilbert Smith, co-owner and operator of Victory MMA and Hustle Hard Boxing Gym in Colorado Springs, sparred with Kimball ahead of the fight. Smith, who was eliminated last week from the UFC reality show “The Ultimate Fighter,” is interested to see how Kimball does.
“Jeremy Kimball is an explosive, funky dude,” Smith said. “I think the biggest thing for him is being confident and just going out there and banging. If he stays technical, he’s a tough dude.
“… I’m really looking forward to him putting work in.”
Kimball trained mostly in Colorado Springs at Shin Gi Tai jujitsu, his father’s gym. But as he usually does, Kimball also spent a portion of camp (four weeks) training at MMA Labs in Arizona. That gave him a chance to spar with bigger fighters, such as UFC’s Jared Cannonier. He also sparred with former Springs resident and former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson and with Johnny Case, who will fight immediately after Kimball.
“I got to train with some big-name guys and some bigger bodies,” Kimball said.
Kimball’s fight will not air on television. His fight will be the first on the card (approximately 3:30 p.m.) and available only via the UFC’s subscription-based “Fight Pass” website (www.ufc.tv). The organization does offer a free, seven-day trial.
Michael Chiesa (14-2, ranked as the No. 6 lightweight in the world by Sherdog.com) and Kevin Lee (15-2, No. 9) battle in the main event. Chiesa, originally from Aurora according to the UFC, is ranked sixth in the UFC and Lee No. 11.
Jeremy Kimball, (L) gets his foot held by Maarcos Rogerio De Lima during their Light Heavyweight bout during UFC Fight Night January 28, 2017 at Pepsi Center.
Jeremy Kimball, (L) gets his foot held by Maarcos Rogerio De Lima during their Light Heavyweight bout during UFC Fight Night January 28, 2017 at Pepsi Center.