Friends, how many of us have them? As once asked by the great Whodini, it is something we at FightHub can say we have many and one of our good friends is MMA/ boxing cutman, Jacob “Stitch” Duran. Always eager and fun to talk with, we were able to speak with him after this past weekend’s UFC and hear his thoughts on the main event, Donald Cerrone and what Mirko CroCop will be enjoying in his retirement.
FHTV: What did you think about the main event and how everything played out?
Stitch: It was a great fight and I’m not just saying that as an answer, it was really a great fight. You saw two champions, ready to fight and they went to war. That was a battle of two hungry guys and went how I thought it would. I was also impressed with Roy Nelson in his fight, he looked great and was fighting a really good CroCop, probably the best he has looked in a while. Both good fights
FHTV: Were you surprised at the outcome and how dominant Diaz was?
Stitch: Nick Diaz is a fighter, nothing else to it. He has a great skill set and showed that in this fight. Before hand, I went in and wrapped his hands, first time I have wrapped his hands before a fight. He was calm and quiet and we were done and then he smiled and kind of chuckled, you knew he was focused to go out there and let the world know why he is a champion.
BJ on the other hand, I have wrapped his hands before and went into his room to prep him and he is all hugs and smiles but he is always like that. He was ready to go as well. They both went inside the cage to go to war.
FHTV: After the fight when BJ announced his retirement, do you think it was emotion or truth?
Stitch: I think it was a little of both. In between rounds when I go in there, my job is to fix him physically, his trainer Jason went over there to get him back in I t mentally and he went out again and ultimately lost but his head was there, his heart was there – Nick was the better man.
BJ retiring is a sad thing for the sport, he is a legend and I felt honored to be there for his in ring announcement; I was there for when Randy walked away and CroCop as well. However, where he is in his career compared to the guys at the top, it is the smart move for him at the moment.
FHTV: Speaking of CroCop, what did he say to you pre or post fight in regards to retiring?
Stitch: When we ran into each other backstage he came up and asked if I would wrap his hands because this was his last fight. I was honored and of course I said yes, this is Mirko CroCop, a legend and I have known/ worked with him since PRIDE. He was in a great mood and I asked him – what’s next, what are you gonna do? He said, “I have cars: Mercedes, Porsche and others – I have been all over the world for twenty years. I have been all over the world but it’s been in a gym or a hotel room, I want to really see the world. I am going to enjoy my money.”
FHTV: Aside from these fights, what else impressed you with the card?
Stitch: It was a great card and I was impressed with “Cowboy” Cerrone. I was prepping guys and caught glimpses of his fight on the monitors but heard it was another great performance on his part. That’s the type of guy who I would wanna meet in a bar and he would beat me down there like he does in the cage. He is a great guy and he always comes to fight.
FHTV: That he does; he is slated to fight in December against Nate Diaz, what do you think of that?
Stitch: I don’t like to predict fights but I will call that “fight of the night” right now, there are two guys coming to fight. You won’t have to motivate either one, two bad dudes and two dudes who are ready to go. I’m excited for that one.
FHTV: November 12 – Will you be working Pacquiao/ Marquez or UFC on FOX?
Stitch: I will be at the UFC, working in Cain’s corner – I always work the champion’s corner so I am excited for that fight and looking forward to it. My schedule is pretty full until the end of the year between boxing and MMA, so it is something to be grateful for, I have work and love what I do.
FightHub is grateful for our friend Stitch and be sure to watch him working the red corner at UFC 138 this weekend at the LG Arena in Birmingham, England on SpikeTV.
