For those of you that don’t remember, Jose made his MMA debut this past March at Cage Combat 8, winning by second round TKO over another tough fighter in BVMMA’s Carver Bennett.
Now he’s coming back for a second time and moving straight into a championship opportunity after former champion Ryan Spann and several other exciting amateur welterweights fighting for the organization opted to go pro, leaving an opportunity for others like Llanas and Powell to step in and take their place.
Is Jose Llanas ready?
What he lacks in MMA experience, he certainly makes up for in life experience, work ethic, and determination. In short, the feeling is that there’s no doubt he’ll be ready to make the most of this opportunity against yet another formidable opponent. Now he just has to get out there and prove it with a win.
Read on and learn more about this exciting young prospect.
Cage Combat 10 Interview – Jose Angel Llanas (Team Tooke)
Thank you Mike for the interview always a pleasure. I’m feeling great, excited to get back in there and this time for a belt. As always very relaxed and focus.
Go back a little bit and give our readers a little insight on your history with mixed martial arts, if you don’t mind.
Well I’ve been training BJJ for just under 6 years with Team Tooke. Before that, I did a bit of boxing and just a bit of Tae Kwon Do when I was in middle school. I started training BJJ with the hopes of fighting MMA but I just got hooked in Jiu Jitsu and started competing. A few years later I started working for Team Tooke MMA. I was also helped by our team to raise funds to be able to travel to some of the best camps in the nation as well as compete in the best international BJJ tournaments versus the best guys in the world in my weight class. It’s been fun to test myself against the top guys in grappling and now I’m here fighting MMA which was kind of my goal in the first place.
I remember seeing you at both the Pan-Ams and the Worlds this year in California so you’ve definitely been around. What’s your favorite memory so far?
My first MMA fight that was quite an experience but I have to say that competing in the IBJJF World Championship has to be my most memorable moment. Just being there is quite an experience… It gets so crazy watching the black belts and feeling the atmosphere. I think everyone who is a Jiu Jitsu fan should experience it at least once.
What’s your typical training day like over at Team Tooke? Do you supplement that training anywhere else?
I have different schedule every other day. I attend Plex Sports Performance for Strength and Conditioning 3 times per week with Travis and Andrew Craig which is awesome because we compete against each other and push each other to try harder. I attend Michael “Irish’ Corley’s Muay Thai class. He’s a phenomenal Thai fighter; one the best in the nation who has trained and fought in Thailand. Another person I worked with is Coach Lewis Wood. He’s an awesome boxing coach who has helped me a lot. Then of course I always train with coach Travis and coach Jace who have always helped me along with my teammates Andrew Craig and G Moreira. They’ve both really helped me and spars a lot with me. Also Chris Lopez helps me a ton along with the rest of my team mates.
Do you have anyone you’d consider your biggest influence, in and out of training?
Absolutely! Outside of MMA it has to be my hardworking, humble, and honest family. They know how to earn their living the right way – by working hard for it. In MMA I’ve had many coaches who have helped me but Travis Tooke has been a great mentor for me, even outside of martial arts he has guided me towards the right path and for that I’m very thankful.
What been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome personally?
I would have to say growing up and making the right decisions. I come from a background where drugs and violence were always around me. I was such a fan of getting in trouble for fighting but I grew up and started making better decisions. Some people feel that pride to have a street mentality but I have been there and know how it works. I decided that’s not the way I want to carry myself or live my life. There are many kids out there in the same situation and it’s just up to them. Either end up in prison and ruin your future or make the best of it and follow a dream. They have to make that choice.
Back to your MMA career, tell us a little bit about your debut fight. What was that like?
The goal obviously was to get the win. It didn’t matter how but thankfully I was able to stop my opponent using my wrestling and jiu jitsu to ground and pound a victory. Carver was a tough task. I knew his wrestling was going to be good as I knew Bubba Bush (his coach) is a great wrestler and had been working with Carver but that’s what I wanted, a tough guy with good wrestling who is hard to hold down. On paper it’s a harder match up for me so I looked forward to the challenge.
What time of fighter do you see yourself developing into?
I guess a grinder someone who is gonna grind, a pressure fighter who is gonna keep coming until I break my opponent. Jace says my nick name should be “Hell Raiser” and Chris Lopez says it should be “The Savage Cat.” I laughed at both of those but I guess they can both describe my style.
Tell us about your fight at Cage Combat 10.
I was originally schedule to fight Michael Alvarez but I believe he suffered an injury and had to pull out. Now I’m schedule to fight James Powell who is CDM 170lb champ and the last person to beat Alvarez. Much respect to James for taking the fight in short notice, it really shows his true fighter spirit. That dude is very tough and I expect a war. I personally want to thank James and no matter what ends up happening when we face off, hopefully we can enjoy a beer afterward. He looks like a cool and respectful dude.
Anything else you’re thinking of as far as this fight goes?
I just want to do well for my students – especially the kids, my friends, family, our team and God. I feel great and am thankful for the opportunity. I know people are asking why I’m getting a title shot since I’m only 1-0 but a lot of the top 170 lbs. amateur fighters are going or moved on to the pro league and new guys have to step up. Because of my background and the experience I have training they gave me an opportunity.
Any predictions for how you win the title?
It’s a fight so anything can happen but in the end my hand will be raised and the belt will go around my waist. Andrew Craig is great with stuff like visualization and mental preparation so I’ve learned a lot from him. I can see myself winning a bunch of different ways.
What’s next for you after this?
In MMA I’m not sure… I don’t like to look ahead of my schedule as far as fights go but Jiu Jitsu I have in mind the No Gi IBJJF Pan Ams in New York which I competed at last year and No Gi IBJJF World Championship in Cali which I also competed at last year and made it to the top 8 in the world. Hopefully this time I can make it to the podium.
Do you have any last words before Cage Combat 10 next Friday?
Yeah I will like to invite everyone to come out and check out the fights! Thanks to my coaches Travis Tooke, Jace Pitre, Michael Corley, Lewis Wood and my team mates Andrew Craig, G Moreira, Chris Lopez for the working with me and the rest of my team mates for all the help. The staff at Plex Sports Performance, Dr. Luu and Sammy our main S&C coaches. Thanks to Ragan McDaniel and B3 management, my awesome students for the support, and my friends for being there for me. My family and God for allowing me to follow my dream. TXMMA.com and Mike Calimbas for the interview and all the hard work and support towards MMA or Jiu Jitsu, without guys like you, people wouldn’t even know our names.