We’re just a few weeks away from ONE FC: Pride of a Nation which goes down on August 31st live on ONEFC.com and we thought it would only be right to give Phil Baroni an exclusive Fight Blog hosted on MiddleEasy. The New York Bad Ass will take on Evolve MMA’s Rodrigo Ribeiro in Manila at the end of this month, so check out what’s floating through Baroni’s mind in this second installment of his MiddleEasy Fight Blog, created by Phil Baroni. Check out Phil Baroni’s first fight blog here.
I’m really happy with my progress for my ONE FC fight. I’m doing really good in sparring. I feel great. I feel ready to go. I could fight tomorrow.
I’ve been sparring real hard with Nate James who is Josh Koschek’s sparring partner —- he is also a fighter for Strikeforce. He’s a really good guy.
Everyone has been asking me about BJ Penn coming to AKA so here’s my take on it: Jon Fitch is the team captain and he wants to fight BJ Penn again, so BJ can’t train here. So if he gets a rematch or if that fight is not a possible fight -— BJ Penn still has love from AKA. Fitch is a team captain and has some animosity towards BJ Penn for whatever reason.
As far as my diet, I’m eating a lot of berries — I’ve just been eating a lot of fruit. It’s nice to be out of the desert and have some fresh fruit once and while. I didn’t realize what I was missing out on.
ONE FC is definitely comparable to Pride —- the production aspects and what not. The first time I fought there it was in a smaller venue. This one’s going to be big. There are going to be 18,000 people there -— it’s going to be sold out. It’s going to be good. It has more exposure internationally than Pride. It’s on ESPN Asia, which I believe is in 600 million homes. It’s definitely getting the exposure. The rule set includes soccer kicks and knees to the head on the ground and elbows too —- it’s Pride rules and UFC rules combined together in a cage. There are going to be some nasty finishes. I think it’s really well run and well organized. My goal right now is to win a title.
I’m a prize fighter — and I fight for the biggest prize. I’m getting a really good deal from One FC and I’m happy. As long as they keep it that way and as long as I am welcome and they want to take care of me, I’m going to fight for them. I’m happy to fight here. I’ve fought here before. I like it. I enjoy it. I’m a road warrior. Fuck Vegas. I lived there. I fought there.
I’ve been training with brand new equipment—- not my old, smelly shit. I have some new equipment that I’m rocking. I have all new, fresh stuff, so I’m fresh and clean. I feel really good. I look too fucking good right now to lose this fight. I just look good right now. I’m not going to lose this fight.
