By Adam Martin
MONTREAL — Often times, when a fighter is at the crossroads of his career, he will contemplate changing weight classes.
Randy Couture did it, and it worked for him. Dan Henderson did it, and it worked for him. So did B.J. Penn.
For Canadian Patrick Cote (18-8), who has fought at 185 pounds for most of his career after starting at light-heavyweight for his first seven pro fights, his contemplation is now over and the decision has been made.
Cote, the pride of Rimouski, Que., steps in the Octagon on Saturday night at UFC 158 to face Strikeforce import Bobby Voelker (24-8) in what will be his 14th bout in the UFC, but just his first at 170 pounds, as the former UFC middleweight title challenger is fully committed to a new life as a UFC welterweight.
With a 5-8 record in the UFC, including a 1-1 mark in his latest stint in the promotion – with the one win by way of disqualification, when he was stopped by Alessio Sakara but it was determined that some of the knockout blows were to the back of the head – the 33-year-old Cote knew that he needed to reinvent himself.
“With all the knowledge of all the nutrition and cutting weight, the guys at 185 are big dudes,” Cote told a group of reporters at Wednesday’s open workouts in Montreal. “They walk around at 225, 230 pounds – guys like Yushin Okami, Chael Sonnen, even Alessio Sakara. So for me a couple years ago, I was an average middleweight but now I’m a small one, so it was a logical choice to cut down to 170.”
In order to make sure the cut goes smoothly, Cote, who looked in great shape Wednesday, hired a team of nutrition experts. He says they’ve made the process easier for him.
“Pretty well,” Cote said as to how the cut is going with weigh ins just two days away. “I’m working with pro nutritionists now, and everything is on schedule. I followed the plan and I’m looking forward to (making weight).”
According to Cote, the move to 170 was the best decision he could have made at this point in his career, which he hopes he will kick-start Saturday.
“I’m faster and I can push the pace longer (at 170),” he said. “I feel awesome physically and mentally.”
But the weight cut isn’t the only giant that Cote has to tackle this week, as he has to not only first make the weight, but then he has to step into the cage against Voelker, who is making his UFC debut after a stellar 4-1 run in Strikeforce.
Cote knows what he’s up against, and he’s not taking his opponent lightly – at all.
“Well, the thing is, that’s going to be the mistake if I brush by thinking I got (the win already),” Cote said about his opponent, who has never fought someone as experienced as ‘The Predator.’ “This guy is a gamer, it’s his first fight in the UFC and he has everything to win. He’s aggressive, he moves forward, and he can take a punch. He always comes back in his fights — even if he’s in big trouble he’s able to come back and win the fight.
“He has a good left hook, he’s decent on the feet, and he’s going to come hungry. That’s why I trained very, very hard. I have no right to lose this fight.”
Cote is most definitely looking at this fight as the launching point of a new era in his career, but he knows he has to pass the Voelker test first if he wants to move on to the next challenge.
“(This fight) is going to put me on the map at 170 because it’s my first fight at 170,” he said. “I have to take it one fight at a time, and Bobby Voelker is the first guy. “
And with all the recent cuts the UFC has made — and with 100 more fighters scheduled to be culled — Cote knows this fight is make or break for him.
“This is probably the biggest fight of my life, of my career,” he said. “With all the cuts the UFC has made, the message is clear that when you step in the Octagon you have to put on a show, so it’s the same thing for me. I have to go in there and perform.”
Win or lose, though, 185 pounds is in the past, for Cote is a welterweight now, and for the rest of his career.
“With the way I feel now, I’m staying at 170,” he said.
