By TXMMA Staff | Emil Fischer
“Smash” relying on blistering pace and a willingness to engage everywhere to create his opportunities at LFC 31
HOUSTON, TX< June 13, 2014 – Elias Garcia (4-1) is one of the many exciting fighters coming out of the Corpus Christi, Texas area. The Weapons at Hand MMA prospect first caught the attention of TXMMA when he fought against Matt Schnell back in 2013. By all accounts, Garcia was not the favorite in that match but he was dominant with his stellar performance. Tonight Garcia will find himself experiencing a bit of Déjà vu when he faces Damacio Page at Legacy Fighting Championship 31.
Garcia’s opponent is much more experienced and also favored heavily over him this time around, but the Texas native is one of the gutsiest fighters around and jumped at the opportunity to fill in for Henry Cejudo. Garcia will be trying to bounce back from his first defeat against the person he’s filling in for, but isn’t planning on changing up very much of what he does because he believes that loss was more due to unfortunate circumstances than lack of proper game planning or training:
“Other than working a lot on my ground game as well as being more technical in the stand up. My fight with Henry was going well that first round; I was getting back to my feet and starting to get in my groove. The very first punch of the second round is when I completely broke my hand and changed the game. I couldn’t close my right hand for wrist control or anything so that played a huge factor.”
Garcia keeps a blistering pace that is hard to match and if Damacio Page can’t catch him early with his finishing power the chances of Garcia getting the W will increase exponentially. Garcia isn’t planning to rope-a-dope though, he fully intends to give back as much as he gets, but will go about it intelligently. “I will utilize a lot of footwork, a lot of angles, and let my strikes go to make openings for myself [against Page].
Page is a powerful striker who is able to draw opponents into close quarter slug fests that play to his strengths. Garcia is more of a volume puncher although he has an impressive finish on his feet so he should not be written off standing. Garcia would be wise to exploit Page’s weaknesses and take the fight to the ground where he has the highest chances of winning. The Corpus Christi representative has shown he is able to finish fights by submission as an amateur and is aware that grappling may be his easiest route to victory, but is willing to take things anywhere.
“I know the majority of Damacio’s losses have come via submission. Fighting a guy like Damacio you can’t just try to stand or try to just go to the ground; I believe to beat him I’m going to have to make this a MMA fight and take it everywhere to create my opportunities.”
Fighter Acknowledgements
Thanks a lot. I would also like to send a shout out to Rabalais Electric, Pure line nutrition, AWI, Dunne Electric, Trey Lopez at 110 premium training plus, Hughes Hangar, and Smoothie King, and SWOLLE fitness apparel for their continuous support! Also Weapons at Hand, Full Contact Fight Academy, and Roufusport! Last but not least my wife for helping me out; especially prepping my meals! Thank you again and thanks to all my supporters!