HOUSTON, TX, February 27, 2012 – We sure don’t rest here in the Houston MMA Fight Scene. Up next is Garcia Promotions coming back to the Humble Civic Center this coming Friday for their eighth event, aptly named Cage Combat 8.
If this upcoming show is anything like their last event, Houston MMA fans should once again see their fair share of exciting knockouts and thrilling submissions with this one. Though it has likely changed by this point with fights dropping off for one reason or another, you can check out the most updated card we have from promoted Eric Garcia right on our TXMMA Calendar or directly on the event page for a sneak peak at some of the names you might expect to see on Friday.
We’ll be talking to more of these athletes in further detail leading up to the event. Here’s our first pre-fight interview with Team Tooke’s Jose Angel Llanas.
Cage Combat 8 Pre-Fight Interview – Jose Angel Llanas (Team Tooke)
Well originally I started doing boxing at George Foreman Youth Center for a bit when I was in middle school. I also did Tae Kwon Do for a bit, but I fell off the wagon for some time. A couple of years later I got started in BJJ with Jayhson Rodgers, a Brown Belt at the time and now a Black Belt under Travis Tooke. Honestly what got me started was the UFC. As a kid I used to rent the VHS tapes from the local video store. I remember the adults at home didn’t know why I had such an interest in watching guys beat each other up but I was just fascinated how Royce Gracie submitted everyone.
What else was like for you growing up besides those trips to Blockbuster?
Man, growing up was tough for me. I grew up in the Northside of Houston. My mom is a single mother but thankfully my older brothers helped us out so much. Plus it (Jose’s neighborhood) was one of those neighborhoods where fighting was a normal everyday thing, in school and basically everywhere else around. It didn’t help that I would not take anything from anyone either. For the most part I would get in trouble a lot. My mom eventually sent me me over to the Tomball area where life was/is a bit easier.
That’s pretty insightful. I’d never expect you be the fighting type considering how nice and respectful of a person you are now. What else don’t people know about you?
I’m a purple belt in Tae Kwon Do! <laughs> Well I’m a pretty independent person I guess… I work for Team Tooke and live in a house with 2 roommates and 2 dogs… So basically I train and work and then I head to my room to rest watch Family Guy every night. I love Family Guy!
Yes sir I love to compete. Competitions motivate me to stay in shape and healthy. As any BJJ player might say, my ultimate goal is to earn a Black Belt and become a World Champion. In MMA I just want to take it each fight at a time and see where it takes me. I want to get a few amateur fights and see if I can go pro.
You’re headed into your MMA debut this Friday at Cage Combat 8. What should we be expecting out of you?
I want to be a well rounded fighter, I work everything between my ground, wrestling and striking. I’m not sure how to describe myself as a fighter because this is my first fight but the fans can expect someone who has been working on everything.
I feel great though. My cardio is great and training has been awesome. Honestly I think about the fight but I have done competitions for so long that so far I haven’t had any nerves. It’s just another competition for me.
Camp has been great. I started training for the fight right after New Year’s. I grapple with Travis Tooke every day. I have been working a lot with Jace Pitre too. Luckily, Andrew (Musquiz), G (Moreira) and Levi (West) all had fights scheduled on the same day so that’s helped a lot. All my teammates have helped me. I’ve also been working on with Yves Edwards along with Todd Moore and Alex Morono who’ve come over to cross train with us while I’ve also been going to Gracie Barra North Houston to spar with Alex, Todd and the guys out there.
What do you know about your opponent? Do you have any predictions for the fight?
I know his name is Carver Bennet from Brazos Valley MMA but I don’t know much about him. Predictions? Well, I don’t like to talk about any opponents. I just feel confident that I’ll win and want to thank him and his camp for taking the fight.
Any last words before Cage Combat 8 this Friday?
I would like to invite everyone to check out the fights and support our local talent. I would like to thank my coaches Travis Tooke, Jace Pitre and Andrew Craig, Plex Performance and my coaches Dr Luu, Q and Sammy for getting my cardio ready. Thanks also to all my teammates for pushing me in training and Todd Moore and Alex Morono for letting go train with them at their gym. Thanks to my sponsors Rick from Formless Fight Co, My friend Louie Alaniz he has done a lot for me, Novatech, and Never Die Records for all the support. Of course thanks to Eric Garcia and Garcia Promotions. Thanks to my family, friends and students for all their support. And obviously TXMMA.com and Mike Calimbas for the interview.
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