By Matt Serra
UFC welterweight champion
Matt Arroyo got us on the winning side of things with an impressive victory, and we were looking to build off that. But before we get to that…more drama with Joey (Joey Drama?).
Before I get to the latest incident(s), let me give you some background on how Joe got on the show. He wanted to be on ever since Luke was on Season 2, but I had my doubts about his ability to take it in the house. He was persistent in asking, so in time, we considered it, and had our sports psychologist, Dr. Sherry Wulcan, talk to him for an evaluation. In her professional opinion, she didn’t think he could make it in the house for six weeks, and her recommendation was not to send him. I respected her opinion, and wasn’t planning on sending him to Las Vegas for the show. Still, he persisted, and, eventually Ray Longo persuaded me to reconsider saying “Look, let him find out for himself. He’s an adult, and if he can’t hack it, he’ll live with those consequences.” I eventually gave him my seal of approval and he got a tryout for the show, but I made it clear to him from the get go, that if he made it through auditions and onto the show, he would get no special treatment from me at all. Our friendship could not get in the way of my responsibilities as a coach out there. He was just another member of Team Serra once teams were selected.
Enter that day’s practice…Joey was asking for a day off because he wasn’t sleeping well. Given what Dr. Wulcan had said, I guess we weren’t surprised that he was quitting on us, but I was definitely surprised by the level of selfishness on display. You lost, get over it, I’m over it too, now do your best to help the guys that are still in this competition, and who knows, if someone gets hurt, maybe you get another shot. That was what you agreed to coming into this experience, and if, for no other reason than for honoring that commitment, make yourself an asset to this team. He wasn’t being a team player, and that’s not my style, and it hurt to see a friend of mine act that way. More on Joey later…
As far as fight selection went, I was thrilled with Hughes’ selection. John said he wanted to fight Billy early on, and I think we’d have picked that one had we been making the matchup. Billy’s a bigger and stronger guy, and probably a better wrestler, but I thought John’s experience and attitude would win out. And let me know tell you, there are not a whole lot of guys easier to root for than John Kolosci; he has one of the best attitudes I have ever come across among fighters. A very down to earth, smart and nice guy, his personality was as much an asset to our team as his fighting ability.
Regarding the guys in the house making the most of their time there, for the first time in my life, I completely agree with Matt Hughes. It’s a six week training camp with some of the best coaches in the world, and you’re going to be a better fighter if you dedicate yourself to training.
Some people have questioned my thoughts on Hughes in comments on the blog here, and I must say, it’s the little things that annoy me about him. For example, I would not have dealt with his guys the way he handled my guys coming into the training center early. Instead of saying “can you guys come back in 5 minutes?” he pointed towards the door, back to them, and said “no, go out”. I don’t know, maybe I am overreacting, but that is not how I deal with people. And that whole deal about the chicken wings, seemed like he was fishing for compliments. Given that the guys in the house can order whatever food they want, and Richie Hightower had said that he might even cook for our team, I didn’t even think to bring anything with me. So sue me. I know that if I did I wouldn’t be drawing attention to the fact that I brought food. It’s kind of an empty gesture if you seek credit for it.
After the fight, guys got a little bit crazy in the house. I’ve got no problem with guys cutting loose, but that stuff should wait until after you fight. Rudeboy aka Troy was struggling a little bit the next day at practice, and I told him to take it easy and stay focused until his name was called to square off in the Octagon. He agreed with me, and appreciated the input.
Back to Joey…for the last time I promise, as he decided that he wanted to leave. It’s a pattern with him, he has the tools to do things, and quits on himself when it isn’t fun anymore or if any kind of resistance stands in his way. Here he was, on television no less, quitting on himself again. He’s a friend of mine, and I really wanted him to see this through. I also made it clear to him that quitting here would have serious repercussions when the show was done taping – I couldn’t have him teaching at my schools, and that would have a ripple effect on our relationship as friends. I thought, when I laid that out, maybe he’d see my side of things. This guy was the best man at my wedding! In spite of all that, he brushed off my advice.
Dana came in to talk some sense into him, and didn’t blow up and give him some loud speech about wanting to be a fighter. He was cool about it, he didn’t berate him, but tried to explain to him just how much of an opportunity he was throwing away, and how much he’d regret it in time. Joey wasn’t hearing that either. He had already made up his mind, and that was that. Off the show, out of the UFC, probably forever…he’s going to have to live with that for the rest of his life. And, true to my word, he’s not teaching at my schools anymore.
After bending over backwards to convince him to stay, Joey finally leaving was a relief. I wasn’t stressed about it anymore, and now I could focus on the seven guys who wanted to be there. The first of the remaining guys I had to focus on was John, who was coming down with something. John’s not one to mention something unless it’s a real problem, so I was definitely nervous when I saw him in the locker room – coming down with the flu could sap some of his energy if the fight went more than one round. Luckily, that proved to not be an issue. Going into the fight, the plan was to keep it on his feet and pick him apart, and wait for Billy to make a mistake before taking the fight to the ground. Jon improvised, changed it up on the fly, and took him down unexpectedly, and while they were down there, he sank the guillotine in. As you could see back in the locker room, I was very proud and happy for John. It was a well deserved victory for a great guy.
That’s two straight for Team Serra, and we’re looking to make it an official winning streak come next Wednesday night.
Until then…
Comments (19)
First of all, I just wanted to say that I think you’re a great coach. You do a fantastic job of not only training these guys to fight but also supporting and encouraging them.
Onto Joey: I sat there watching the show with my boyfriend last night and the two of us were in shock. What was this guy thinking??? I don’t even understand what’s so hard about spending 6 weeks in a house with a bunch of fun guys and getting expert training every day. It’s pathetic that he couldn’t hack it and if I were his girlfriend, I would dump him just for being so friggin’ weak. You did all that you could and I don’t blame you for feeling relieved that he’s gone.
Good luck with the rest of the season!! We’re rooting for Team Serra!! :)
Matt Serra's team is pickin em off one by one.
http://www.freestylemma.com
Hey Coach, I just wanted to say that as good a fighter as you are, your coaching credentials are exceptional. You are vocal, fair, honest, and intelligent (all the ingredients that make a well rounded leader).
I am an amateur fighter and I love mma. I fork out about $200.00 a month to train with my gym. I could not believe what I was seeing from Joey on last night's show. Here he is getting the exposure of a top rated cable show, expert training, Dana White's respect, and living in a mansion in Sin City with other mma fighters. I went to Marine Corps boot camp for over four months and it was a breeze! Anyway coach, its not your fault and I have much respect for you as a fighter and a coach. Good luck in December.
Congrats on the two wins! I think the win by John shocked a lot of people since Billy seemed to have such a muscular build, but hey, that's the UFC! The incredible training that these guys go through makes me think that UFC fighters are probably the greatest athletes in the world. You guys inspire me to work out and achieve and I think that you Matt, are a cool guy I'd like to train under. Your victory over St Pierre was awesome and proved your talents in the UFC. Take it easy, Al
Hey Matt, I just wanted to tell you that I think you're an excellent coach, and any fighter is lucky as hell to have you on their side. Secondly, I spent 3 months in Marine Corps boot camp getting screamed at, mentally beaten down as well as physcially drained....I don't see how a person couldn't hack a mere 6 weeks in an MMA style environment with guys like you as well as other fighters. It just doesn't make sense to me, maybe I'm not reading between the lines. Joe, I hope you're glad you made that decision, but I don't think that Joe Silva is gonna be calling you anytime soon.
Matt Serra, keep kicking Team Hughes' ass into the ground...
John did a great job in that fight, but I was a little surprised at how easily he got the choke on a good wrestler like Billy. It's almost like Billy stuck his neck out and begged John to grab it!
You are a great coach and awesome fighter...but so is Matt Hughes. You guys just have different styles.
About Joey...glad he is gone.
Good luck to you!
Hi. This was the first episode I was able to catch, and it was enough to make me disappointed in Joey.
Anywho
My question regarding the fight, and for possible future fights.
What do you do to get your guys ready for a fight, to the extent that they do not freeze up like Billy seemed to do?
Finally, my unsolicited advice about your friendship with Joey.
He was this way when you became friends with him, and you were able to accpet him for who he was to the point you made him your best man at your wedding (Belated Congrats BTW). Knowing this, dont let your disappointment about this let it interfere with the relationship you two have already established. He is a guy who tried this path, and it did not work out for him. Im sure you two have more in common than MMA, and let that be re-inforced towards repairing any hurt feelings and disappointment that occured because of this show.
In the end, Joey quit on the team, the show, and on himself.
But if he is willing, and if you are, neither of you need to quit on this friendship.
"In life, if you can count the number of true friends you have made on one hand, you are still a lucky person.
Good luck in December, Your fellow NY'er will be rooting for you
Grimmy
Hey Matt, I'm a huge fan of yours and MMA in general. I was the only one of my friends who didn't count you out when you fought St. Pierre. I mean looking at your record you have fought some of the best and gone the distance against some top tier guys and a former champion. I can not believe people put you as such a huge underdog. My hat goes off to you champ for giving the people a true underdog, feel good story.
I have to side with Robert and Lon on the Joey issue. I went to Marine Corps Boot Camp, got injured while there, and had to stay at MCRD two weeks longer than normal. Yes it's hard, but you get through it to accomplish your goal of becoming what you want to be. I was in Iraq where I lived in a squad bay with 40 other men for a year! Six weeks in a sweet ass house with a pool, alcohol, and some privacy is cake.
That being said, Joey will probably need a friend when the reality of his decision hits him in a few months, or years down the road, and I hope that you will be there for him Matt. I know you're probably dissapointed in him and feel a little betrayed, but it was his decision to make and i hope as a man, friend, and mentor you can respect that and still be there when he needs you for some support.
That shot John took and his capitalizing on billy's huge mistake while minimizing his own was brilliant. Good luck this season and in December.
Fun episode. No massive drama, some good training footage.
Great fight that showed an intelligent thinking fighter taking advantage of an opening. Keep up the good coaching and we look forward to seeing you in Toronto soon.
Piz Doff
www.bullshido.net
It was a good episode- joey is weak and it's unfortunate that you stuck your neck out for someone like that. When are you going to open a branch in brooklyn so i can train with the champ!?!
I love you because you say the things that need to be said. Hammer fist elbow! Go team Serra!
Lance
www.FilmDrunk.com
Matt Serra is a great person, fighter and coach. all of these qualities are pretty obvious through the way you handle yourself inside the octagon and outside it. i do agree that Matt Hughes was rude the way he talked George when he walked into the gym but Geroge being the nice guy he is just walked out and closed the door. it is really the way Hughes deal with the people that made me change my opinonon him. Serra was right, Hughes was a complete jackass in TUF 2 not just that but now he is pushing his religious beliefs on others, what the hell is he? is he a fighter? or a missionary wacko? Serra, please, beat him down and submit or knock his ass out.
more power to team serra,
bigmo
One interesting thing about the Ultimate Fighter is you see what people are really like. They may look good or bad in the ring but certain things about their personality or lack thereof come across very clear.
I'm not a big Matt Serra fan but I respect the guy for fighting with his heart and beating a number of really tough people.
I used to like Matt Hughs until I realized what type of person he is. He is just a big mouth punk bully. I guess the UFC is a good place to ply your trade when you have that type of dysfunctional personality disorder. And what is with Hughs praying now? I'm all for praying but he didn't used to do that. Do you pray to God to beat the crap out of somebody else?
Maybe they should change the name of the show to Ultimate Crybaby. I've never seen a bunch of grown men act like such babies. It shows what happens when the fighting arts are separated from the moral arts. Kung Fu for instance was always taught with spiritual lessons as well. Some of these "Ultimate Fighters" need to grow up.
Matt serra is wonderufl fighter and coach, so as team hugh. Yet, Like matt serra always better than anyone at this level.
good luck.
Arjun K.C. Halifax, Canada
Hey, I just wanted to drop a line letting you know how well you are doing with your team, and I agree about Hughes, he is arrogant and many other things I wont say here. I respect him as a fighter, but not as a person.
As for Joey, I know he is your bud and im not going to berate him either, but if i can make it through 13 weeks of hell in the marine corp bootcamp, living in tiny barracks with like 30 other smelly pissed of Marines, training to not just fight but kill, I think he should be able to handle 6 weeks in a mansion, with great food, great couches, hell its better than what I have now. Anyway, sorry things didnt work out with joey, but you still have a whole team of great fighters that need your attention more now than ever, watching a guy walk out is going to have negative effects for the whole team. I wish you all the luck, and come December kick some ass!
p.s. I am also an atheist, and I have nothing against what people believe, but dont force anything on me, or try to influence what I believe, and trust me atheists most of all catch flak over what we believe. Most people assume that since I dont believe in a god, I must worship satan, well news flash, i dont believe in either one of them.
MATT FREAKIN SERRA! I dont see how someone could do what Joey did to you! Your one of the Greatest! You know everything when it comes to makin someone win a fight and become Great! Even in "The Comeback", You were pretty much the coach and a fighter!
I would say Good luck but you wont need it against That HAS-BEEN!
First I'd like to say Way to go on winning this weeks fight Champ.John fought an intelligent fight & came out on top because he used his head, skill and had a great coach in his corner, all resulting in an impressive win, BRAVO !
Now on to Matt Hughes, what in the heck is that guys problem? I had several things I wanted to say in reference to your blog entry but those all changed once I read his blog entry about you. I can not believe he had the audacity to say Joey leaving is YOUR FAULT ! Are you kidding me ? You can clearly see that Joey has immaturity & psychological issues. Nothing you or anyone else could have said or done would change his situation and it's obvious that you already had a bad feeling about him going on the show by wanting him to be seen by a doctor before going on the show to begin with. How Hughes says it was your fault and if one of his fighters would have left he would admit it was his fault is a crock of doo-doo. I've been watching TUFF since the very beginning & have NEVER missed an episode and I watched his coaching methods which personally I think are terrible and every time one of his fighters would loose he would blame them for not being prepared, not training hard enough or not wanting to win bad enough. Never did he say "Oh it was MY fault for not coaching him better, I take responsibility" so come on now. I think one of MY favorite UFC moments was when GSP KNOCKED Hughes out, my second favorite will be when YOU knock him out Champ ! So please, train hard, be ready & DESTROY him in the cage ! As for Joey's situation, I see an immature young man that has some issues, I've seen it time & time again while in the Army & as a civilian police officer. There are those who can take the pressure & build upon it and there are those who fold. You can't blame him personally, it's something that is in him. You & Dana tried to enlighten him on what leaving would do to his career and to his future in general. He's a grown man and makes his own decisions, a BAD decision IMO but his non the less. I fully understand and AGREE with you not allowing him to coach at your school from now on and the reasons behind it BUT after the smoke clears and this show is all over with you may want to re-think your position as a FRIEND toward him. If he is a GOOD friend as you state, try not to take his decision to leave personally, sit down with him and have a conversation man to man with him. Good TRUE friends don't come along very often in life brother and it would be a shame to lose a good one over this. Only a suggestion, I would be disappointed in a buddy if he did that to me as well but it's not a reason to toss him to the curb either. He's going to be having a tuff enough time dealing with his choice to leave, he may need a good friend to help him get through it. All I can say is I was mad as hell to watch someone just give up an opportunity like that without thinking it through, all over a girl & being home sick. That's pretty weak and from what I see he would not have ever been a champion with that attitude and outlook anyway.
I lost my 13 year career as a police officer in 2001 after being wounded & permanently disabled in the line of duty for a 3rd time. Even after being wounded twice before I kept going back because it's something I LOVED & Enjoyed, it took a serious spinal injury to finally take me out but I would still go back on the streets if I could. I never gave up and someday I hope to have an opportunity to turn my life back around and be happy. That's what makes me so mad about Joey leaving like that and I'm sure you as well, there are many people like me who would give anything to have that kind of an opportunity.
Anyway, thanks for being such a great UFC role model & I hope to watch you destroy Hughes in December. Good luck to team Serra and I will continue to be a UFC fan for life ! The UFC is the BEST sport & organization out there ! Someday I hope to see you fight in person, being on a police disability pension doesn't allow for many EXTRAS in life so I've only been able to afford to see one card LIVE in person back in 2001 in Vegas, but it was the best sports night of my life. I'm hoping someone treats me to see the fights in Newark NJ in November which are a few days before my birthday or back in Vegas again someday. I'd like to shake your hand someday Champ, I’ve enjoyed watching you come up the ladder to become champion, that had to be the best feeling in the world, Keep up the good work !
Best Regards,
Bill
Hey Matt congrats on the recent team win(the first of many I'm sure)...I'm with you on Hughes I'm not sure what's up with him.A whooollleee lotta ego is behind this guy,like he ties everything to how people view him and pushing his ideas and beliefs on the others and not letting his team grow as fighters.I would also go as far as to say that it's his greatest weakness as a fighter;not technique or strength issues,his is a lack of imagination.Sorry,just doing some armchair observing.Anyway,hope you beat him in december. -Trevor D