Sports RSS Feed
Print Story
E-mail StoryEx-CSUB wrestler to fight in MMA TV event
| Wednesday, Jul 23 2008 10:53 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, Jul 24 2008 7:45 AM
Former Cal State Bakersfield wrestler Brian Cobb is set to get some national exposure: as a mixed martial arts fill-in for CBS' televised show on Saturday.
Our readers recommend:
Loading Stories
Photos:
Mixed martial artist Brian Cobb, center, is pictured in this file photo.
Cobb, who competes as a lightweight (155 pounds), will take a 15-4 record into his bout against David Douglas (3-1).
Cobb agreed to fight Douglas on Wednesday after an injury sidelined Douglas' scheduled opponent.
It will be part of the CBS Elite XC Saturday Night Fights broadcast from Stockton Arena, which will be telecast from 9 to 11 p.m. (Channel 29). It is part of the undercard for the Robbie Lawler-Scott Smith main event.
"I got called at the last minute to fill in," Cobb said Wednesday afternoon following a workout in the CSUB wrestling room.
Cobb said he competes with various MMA organizations but is under exclusive contract with PFC (Palace Fighting Championships), which operates out of the Tachi Palace casino outside of Lemoore.
"I have to make sure any fight I take is OK with them," Cobb said, adding that PFC officials quickly approved his request.
Cobb said he holds two belts — the PFC middleweight title and another from winning a four-man tournament in March 2007.
Saturday's contest is a nontitle bout.
After working out Wednesday, Cobb spent some time in front of a computer, studying a Douglas bout on YouTube. An MMA Web site listed Douglas with a 3-1 record over the last three years although it's possible the list is incomplete. Different Web sites also list Cobb with fewer than 19 pro bouts.
Cobb said viewing video of Douglas can help him prepare for Saturday's contest.
"It's an eye-opener," Cobb said. "I know what he brings to the table."
Cobb added: "He's kind of wild. He throws wildly. He's got decent jiu-jitsu from his back. He doesn't look like he's a very good wrestler at all."
MMA allows a wide variety of fighting techniques. Rules allow the use of striking and grappling, both while standing and on the ground.
"He hits hard but his technique isn't real clean," Cobb said. "I've just got to be smart about it.
"I've got a pretty good chin, knock on wood. I've been hit hard a few times."
Cobb said he is scheduled to defend his PFC title on Sept. 26 and will follow that up with a bout in Hawaii in October.