UFC Fight Night: Fight For The Troops 2 Mike "The Joker" Guymon vs. Demarques Johnson

It was my job to keep Joker mentally and physically prepared for his pending fight with Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 113 in Montreal, Canada. For most, weight management is the biggest issue the last few days leading up to competition, and it was....

UFC Fight Night: Fight For The Troops 2 Mike "The Joker" Guymon vs. Demarques Johnson 12.01.2010– Walking into Jokers MMA in Lake Forest, you see what you would expect to see in any Mixed Martial Arts gym in Southern California - heavy bags, boxing ring, a cage and Jujitsu mats. The difference in this gym is Mike “The Joker” Guymon. While there are other MMA gyms in the area with several quality instructors, Mike “The Joker” Guymon stands alone as a pioneer in the sport. As one of the original members of the famed Tapout crew, the introduction of MMA in the Orange County area can be traced back and largely credited to the works of Mike Guymon and the Tapout crew.

In 1995, Joker began to train in all aspects of MMA including jujitsu, kickboxing, and wrestling. Shortly afterward, he began to fight in events, most of which were unsanctioned at the time because MMA contests were still banned in California and most of the United States. Joker’s early sacrifices paved the way for all of today’s local mixed martial artists. Joker is special because while he is undoubtedly one of the pioneers he is also one of the few who continue to evolve with the sport. This is evident as he remains one of the welterweight contenders in the sports premiere organization, the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Not only has Joker evolved technically in all aspects of combat, but his mental toughness and regimented nutritional plan have allowed him to maintain a competitive edge in the fastest growing sport on the planet.

As a new addition to Joker’s corner, it was my job to keep Joker mentally and physically prepared for his pending fight with Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 113 in Montreal, Canada. For most, weight management is the biggest issue the last few days leading up to competition, and it was no different for us. We arrived in Montreal two days before weigh-ins and Joker was 18lbs over weight. With such little time, we had no choice but to repeatedly train tremendously hard and to recover as quickly as possible. He was successful in dropping the weight while maintaining his strength. This would be partially attributed to his use of products from PROGENEX, a growing manufacturer of high-end recovery supplements. With a new training program combined with new supplements by PROGENEX, the 24,000 fans at the Bell Center in Montreal witnessed
a much-improved Joker. He would go on to a career defining performance at UFC 113, applauded with a standing ovation by the Canadian crowd. The feeling was surreal and the win was a weight lifted for Joker, who garnered his first UFC victory.

Joker is equally committed to his training regiment and his students at Joker’s MMA – a rarity in the sport. Joker takes on Demarques Johnson at UFC Fight Night: For The Troop 2.
The event takes place Jan. 22 at Fort Hood in Texas and serves as a fundraiser for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
You can follow Joker’s progress at www.Jokersmma.com.

Article written by Shannon Slack