THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — Middleweight Mark (The Filipino Wrecking Machine) Munoz may be a former NCAA champion wrestler but he jokingly credits Chuck E Cheese for his ground-and-pound prowess.
Munoz (10-2) says his fierce attack from on top is akin to Whack-A-Mole, an arcade game where you use a padded hammer to pound a mole when it pops up.
“I’m playing Whack-a-Mole on Saturday night,” he said, adding: “I’m actually a skilled Whack-a-Mole player.”
He credits fellow fighter Mike (The Joker) Guymon for the analogy/tip.
On Saturday, Munoz will be looking to whack Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Demian Maia (14-2) at UFC 131.
Munoz is known for his wrestling but says don’t underestimate his jiu-jitsu.
“I’m here to prove a point,” he said. “And if the point is to submit a jiu-jitsu back belt, one of the (most) awesome jiu-jitsu black belts in the UFC right now, I’m going to do it.
“I have faith in my jiu-jitsu … You guys haven’t see the jiu-jitsu part.”
Still Munoz knows his strengths.
“These things are packed with power,” he said, pointing to his fist. “And he (Maia) knows that. … These heat-seeking missiles are going straight for his face.”
Maia believes the fight will be contested on the ground. But he has been working hard on his striking with Junior Dos Santos’ boxing coach.
“I enjoy it but it’s a bit dangerous,” he said of his striking, drawing laughs. “I enjoy (it) more in the training than in the fight.”
He says he spends half of his camp on striking and half on grappling.
GOD’S WARRIOR — Brazilian featherweight Diego Nunes says people misunderstand his nickname “The Gun.”
The 28-year-old Nunes, who meets Kenny Florian in the co-main event, says it has nothing to do with firing shots.
“A lot of people ask me about the gun, ‘Oh what is it? Is it shots, firing shots?”‘ an animated Nunes said through an interpreter.
“It’s not about that. I really feel I’m a blessed guy and I have a message to show the world that I’m the weapon to show everyone what I’m here for.”
Deeply religious, Nunes takes a moment for prayer after each training session.
“I have strong beliefs,” he said.
Nunes (16-1) defeated former WEC champion Mike Brown last time out.
A training partner and friend of Jose Aldo, Nunes says he would fight the featherweight champion for the title if told to.
“I’m not going to call out Jose. Jose is my brother,” he said. “But if the UFC asks, I’m going to be fighting Jose. We’ll see when it gets there.”
REIGN OVER ME — Munoz also considers himself a “man of faith” and he uses whatever opportunities he has as a mixed martial artist and as a gym owner and coach to be a positive influence on other people.
“I believe in one Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and without him, I wouldn’t be doing anything in this world and I give him all the praise and glory,” Munoz told sportsnet.ca’s James Brydon.
Munoz said he believes strongly in the famous saying, often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel always. If necessary, use words.” He said his beliefs are part of the reason he named his gym Reign Training Center.
“I know who reigns over my life and I want Him to reign over the gym too.”
The gym, which is located in Lake Forest, Calif., is currently home to such fighters as Krzysztof Soszynski, who is also fighting Saturday night, and Jason (Mayhem) Miller, who is set to coach the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter. Munoz said Miller will have him on his “staff” as a special coach.
Another opportunity to be a positive influence on people.
