Dotseth’s Blog: Recap of Week #1 on Clinch Gear Radio & Week #2 Preview

Well, after what feels like forever, the first edition of “Clinch Gear Radio” is history. Thank you to all of you who listened either live, or to the podcast on clinchgear.com. I mentioned on the show that I have been in the radio business for almost 20 years. One of the many things that amazes me about radio is how stubborn people are when it comes to change, but then complain that there are no fresh ideas.

I am lucky that I had been working at XTRA Sports 1360 in San Diego for almost 3 years before the launch of CGR, which meant that I had plenty of time to lay the groundwork for an MMA themed show. I will tell you this right up front…the show is, and probably always will be a work in progress. “The Fight Professor” Stephen Quadros and I both have the same approach to the show, which is “We will cover the biggest fights, talk to the biggest names, and have a great time with you guys on the phones”.  We would like nothing more than to have the phones packed for the entire hour each Saturday, since we are fans just like you.

This Saturday we will take the show on the road for Diaz/Noons 2. I can’t wait for this fight. They always say “styles make fights”, and I agree, but who doesn’t love a fight that features 2 guys that really don’t like each other. I could see this fight starting off a little cautious as both guys try to find their range, but I don’t think it will take long before the haymakers start flying. I remember watching Nick Diaz for the first time when he KO’d Robbie Lawler. I was stunned. Diaz was this skinny little dude, and Lawler was one of the biggest names in the UFC. I will never forget the visual of Lawler dropping face-first onto the mat. Since then there were times when I wondered why Diaz was on every card. Every time I looked up, there was Nick Diaz. It didn’t take long for me to figure it out, since the guy is an action fighter who seems to have trouble follow him where ever he goes. I mentioned it on the radio show, I am fans of guys like Diaz. I like guys that stir it up, and Nick is one of those guys. I am really looking forward to seeing him in action Saturday night.

On the other side of the cage is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet in KJ Noons. KJ trains not far from our Clinch Gear offices in San Diego, and every time I see the guy he has a huge smile on his face. (His girlfriend being named Playboy’s Miss October, I’m sure has nothing to do with it!) Don’t let the smile fool you, KJ throws major bombs, and you can see it whenever he is in the cage. His fight earlier this year with Connor Huen was a total slugfest. KJ ended up winning the decision in that fight, and comes into the Diaz rematch after a convincing win over tough Jorge Gurgel. There are so many questions about this fight. Have Diaz’s cuts healed, or could they be a problem like they were in the first fight? What will KJ do if the fight goes to the ground? Or, will they just stand in the middle of the cage and throw knockout blows until only one of them is standing? I am kind of hoping for the final scenario. We are proud to be sponsoring a lot of the fighters on the card including Tyron Woodley, Sarah Kaufman, James Terry, Marloes Coenen, and Josh Thomson.

I hope you will listen to “Clinch Gear Radio” this Saturday at 11am on xtrasports1360.com. Make sure and go to clinchgear.com after the fights Saturday night for a podcast from myself and Stephen Quadros. We will break down the card, and hopefully talk to some of the winners. Thank you for your support of Clinch Gear, if you have any questions you can always email me at jeff at clinchgear.com. Thanks again, and I will see you on the radio.