THE CANADIAN PRESS
Houston Alexander’s UFC account currently stands at two brutal knockouts in less than two minutes.
But his story outside the cage takes a little longer to tell.
In addition to being a mixed martial arts fighter, the 35-year-old Alexander is a graffiti artist, former break dancer, hip-hop historian, radio DJ, and a single parent of six children who donated a kidney seven years ago to save one of his daughters.
There is much more to Alexander than heavy hands.
"I keep active man, I don’t like staying stagnant for too long," Alexander explained.
The muscular, tattooed fighter known as The Assassin meets unbeaten Brazilian Thiago Silva on Saturday night at UFC 78 in Newark, N.J.
The six-foot, 205-pound Alexander has been fighting for seven years, entering mixed martial arts on a dare from a friend. He stepped into the ring against a bigger man who was winning a local event every week in Omaha.
"I didn’t do too bad, so they asked me to come back and I came back every week and there you have it," said Alexander, who acknowledges he had always been a decent street fighter.
Today his pro record is listed at 8-1 but Alexander reckons he has fought some 200 unsanctioned fights, sometimes as many as five in one night. By his count, Alexander has won 95 per cent of all his bouts.
MMA was a hobby, a way to make some extra money. Then came the call from the UFC. Alexander was handed a difficult bout with Keith (The Dean of Mean) Jardine, who was coming off a shock TKO over Forrest Griffin.
Little was known about Alexander, although his build and glare both seemed major league as he waited for the bell to ring at UFC 71 in May. He wasted little time introducing himself to the MMA masses, however.
Alexander absorbed an early Jardine charge — he says a blow grazed him and he lost his balance on the slippery mat. He got up and got busy. A vicious uppercut sent Jardine to his knees and, as the punishment continued, the Dean of Mean crumpled face down to the canvas, his mouthpiece falling out on the way.
It was over in 48 shocking seconds. The UFC light-heavyweight division had yet another alpha dog.
There was more of the same at UFC 75 in London in September, when Alexander needed just 61 seconds to crush Alessio Sakara who was toppled by a brutal knee to the head.
Alexander relishes the elite opposition — and the chance to fight at his own weight level after years of taking on bigger men in little towns on minor league cards.
"I’ve probably seen every type of fighter there is, every size, every shape, every skill level," he said.
Competing against people who weigh the same, "it’s a beautiful thing, brother, believe me," Alexander added with a chuckle. "It’s wonderful. They told me 205 (pounds) and I was like `What, 205? I’m there."’
The bad news for UFC fighters? Alexander says he still has to catch someone just right.
"You know what, I don’t think anyone’s actually really seen the punching power. They’ve probably seen a few punches here and there but I don’t think they have ever seen me hit someone square. But I’ve always had heavy hands, though."
That’s down to more than the exercise device he squeezes all day. Alexander credits years of break dancing — his crew once opened for Tone Loc and Salt-N-Pepa — and even gymnastics for developing his strength.
He builds on that foundation daily with Curlee Alexander, a "distant cousin" who serves as his strength and conditioning coach.
"You don’t need anything special. Just bring your attitude and work ethic," Curlee said early on.
The fighter has not disappointed him yet.
Alexander is no pampered pro. He takes his responsibilities seriously in and out of the gym.
"A lot of these athletes who say they aren’t role models in the eyes of kids, excuse my French, they’re full of shit. Because we’re in the public eye and the kids are looking up to us, for some type of guidance," he said. "I feel if a lot of the adults actually took time to say `Hey I’m a role model,’ then I think some of these kids would be better off."<
He does his bit to educate, via his Culture Shock School Tour, visiting schools from elementary to college to "teach the kids about the positive aspects of the hip-hop culture."
"A lot of kids, the generation that’s coming up right now, know nothing about the culture itself and so I go and teach them about the positive aspects because they don’t get it from radio or television. They don’t even know who the founding fathers of the culture are. So I go in and teach them about that and we have fun doing it because I have the kids dance, rap, beatbox (vocal percussion). Then I have the (school) administrators do it also. So it’s a fun program."
His lessons are those of pioneer DJ Kool Herc, the Rock Steady Crew breakdancers, rapper and producer Doug E. Fresh, and Taki 183, a groundbreaking graffiti artists.
"I go in and teach them about foundation and who got the culture started. And that it’s not about the bling or any of that. It’s about the music, it’s about the dance and it’s about the art," said Alexander. "A full-blown culture that’s expanded to clothing, communication, stuff like that."
Once a week, he hosts Sunday Night Raw, a two-hour radio show on Power 106.9 in Omaha that features independent R&B and hip-hop music from all around the world.
His radio name? Strong Arm.
Then there’s the Alexander family: three boys and three girls. The ages are 16, 12 (two of those), 10, 8, and 4.
"Man, that’s a handful, you talk about stress, you talk about the ability to handle it," Alexander says cheerfully. "Deal with some kids and then tell me about pressure then."
Oldest daughter Elan has his kidney. She was 10 when she needed it in 2000 after being born with a defective organ. The whole family was tested to see who could donate.
"I was a match, there was no second thought to the situation. I gave her a kidney and that was it," Alexander explained.
Father and daughter are both doing well, with Houston making his opponents feel the pain these days.
Silva, 25, is next in line. He’s a jiu-jitsu black belt who likes to trade blows.
"I expect him to come after me like he’s come after everyone else," Alexander said. "So it should be an interesting fight because we both like to stand up. But also if he decides he would like to take me to the ground, then the world will be introduced to my ground game."
Alexander insists he knows what to do on the ground, but enjoys not having to show it.
"If they can’t get past the first line of defence, why show them the ground game?"
In a stacked weight class that includes champion Quinton (Rampage) Jackson, Chuck (The Iceman) Liddell, Wanderlei (The Axe Murderer) Silva, Dan Henderson, Mauricio (Shogun) Rua, Rashad Evans and Griffin, there is plenty of opposition left for Alexander.
UFC president Dana White says the winner of the Alexander-Silva bout will be top five in the division.
Alexander, who takes pains to thank his coaches and new-found fans at the end of an interview, is just grateful to be included.
"I’m still new to the organization, I’m still new to the division. I don’t know everyone. Wherever they put me, I’m satisfied to be a part of it," he said. "But eventually my goal is to win the belt. Where I stand after this fight is where they put me, because I know there’s a lot of guys who have seniority over me."
