Eddie Wineland - Just Getting Started
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- Category: UFC News
- Published on Wednesday, 10 August 2011 05:00
- Written by By Jordan Newmark
When did 27 years old become “old”?
Eddie Wineland is not old. Nor is he even slowing down. With this influx of younger and younger talent into the UFC’s lighter weight classes, there seems to be a misconception that a guy having a fight dating back to 2003 on his record must mean he’s ancient. Quite the contrary, it means Wineland is a veteran of cracking skulls and he started doing it when he was even younger than those new recruits are now. And judging by Wineland’s last five fights - he’s getting better at it.
It probably doesn’t help his case that Wineland was the first ever WEC bantamweight champion and won it before most of his current opponents had laced up their first pair of MMA gloves. That’s the danger this Indiana resident presents, as Wineland has all the experience of his 18-7-1 career and the training to go along with it, plus the physical aptitude those who are still in their 20’s always seem to have. After helping blaze a trail for 135ers to the big leagues, Wineland is still looking to fight the best.
“Going into a fight, whether it is the main card or the undercard, it is the same because I always want to go out there and perform,” says Wineland. “I always want to win. I train the same whether it is a main event or I'm the first fight of the night. I'm still fighting top competition and I have to be ready. Every fight I train and prepare as best as I can.”
The UFC has certainly obliged him by pitting Wineland, in his first two Octagon appearances, against Team Alpha Male stars Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez. In March at UFC 128, Wineland made his organizational debut versus Faber in the co-main event. In his second UFC fight, Wineland will battle Faber’s teammate Benavidez on August 14th in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At first glance, many could easily say it’s like Wineland is fighting the same fight twice - a tough one.
“I think Benavidez and Urijah share a lot of similar traits as far as their fight game. With that being said, I think Joseph may be a touch faster, and strength wise I don't think he is going to be as strong as Urijah, but I could be wrong. I think his wrestling is going to be on par with Urijah. His striking, he's got really fast hands and he's unorthodox, so it's almost basically like fighting Urijah.”
