EVENT: Boss Fight #3 Press Conference
VENUE: Orpheum Theatre
LOCATION: Phoenix, Arizona
DATE: November 9, 2018 @ 5:00 PM PT
[The scene opens up inside the amazingly designed Orpheum Theatre where it’s packed from wall-to-wall with various media reporters and fans. The dimly lit room is illuminated with spotlights shining up the Roman inspired pillars on the walls, and the stage is burning bright. As the final few media members lack into the room, Dante Reed walks on stage with the fighters for tomorrow’s card following behind. Everyone takes theirbreserved seats, with Roscoe Robinson to the left of Dante and Cal McCluskey to his right. After the crowd calms down, Dante begins his opening statement.]
DANTE REED
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming tonight. This past month has been an amazing, chaotic stretch for our fighters, but now we’ve finally crowned our first division champions. But now is not the time to slow down, these fighters sitting here with me tonight continue their hunger to climb the ranks in hopes of capturing a title. Boss Fight #3 is our first event since deciding our champions, and it’s time to dig deep and see what everyone is made of.
Before I turn it over to you all in the audience, let me rundown the lineup for tomorrow night. Our opening fight is two debuting Heavyweights, Damiko Conrad and Bobbi London, who are looking to quickly ascend themselves to a title fight. The Heavyweight Division is a little scarce, so really all it takes is a couple of wins and their name could be called upon.
Our next fight is between two struggling fighters looking to climb out of the basement. Xabier Belazco takes on Amedea Rao. These fighters are great all around and we’ll see who wants it more.
After that we have a Cruiserweight bout between Nathan Lucas and the debuting Kaukau Havili. We’ve seen a glimpse of what Lucas is capable of, but Havili brings a great ground game that’s complimented with a solid wrestling and judo background.
Then our Headline fight, the rematch of our very first main event fight. I’m sure Shotgun Koa and Donnie Calabrese would have like to see things a bit differently in the Heavyweight Championship Round Robin, but tomorrow night they work to get back into the title discussion. Like I said with Bobbi and Damiko, with this division being a little thin, all it takes is a couple good fights and you could be looking at a big opportunity.
And then finally, our main event. Roscoe Robinson looks to rebound fro his semifinals loss to Seth Daniels as he takes on the debuting Cal McCluskey. Now we’ve seen what Roscoe is capable of during his run in the tournament, but McCluskey is a bit of an unknown. From what I’m told, he trains in his garage with father up in Michigan and would have entered the initial Cruiserweight Tournament, but was finishing up a prison sentence. So I’m sure you’ve got plenty of questions, so let’s hear ‘em.
[Dante peers out to the crowd and calls on our very own Danica McDaniel.]
DANICA MCDANIEL | UNION GP & TDZ
I actually had a question for you, Dante. After UGP 4, there seemed to have been some blowback towards the officials and yourself in regards to some of the missed calls and specifically the Kenzi/Hailey decision from fans and even some of the Union fighters. Did you ever respond to those comments?
DANTE REED
I did not and to me it’s a nonissue. This is America, people have the freedom to say whatever they want and feel however they please. I think specifically some of the fighters were upset about how things went in a couple matches, but it’s the nature of the business. But since it’s been brought up, allow me to clarify. The referees and the judges are not on the Union payroll directly. These are men and women who are voted upon by the State Athletic Commission and I have no say in the matter who judges and who officiates. With regards to the fight between Hailey and Kenzi? Yeah I was blown away just like the rest of you. I don’t know how you rule that any other way than a win for Kenzi, and that’s not a knock on Hailey. Hailey is a tremendous fighter and a great asset to this company. She’s consistently been one of, if not, the biggest trending fighters at every event she’s been apart of. But that’s something that unfortunately happens in our sport.
DANICA MCDANIEL | UNION GP & TDZ
So how do you feel about Hanako Takeuchi, in a post fight interview, essentially bashing Union while in the same breath praising the new Slaughterhouse Fight Nights promotion, and then shortly after signing a deal with them joining the likes of Annie Zellor and Xabier Belazco? She even brought up the fact that they will be instituting five judges which was something that really enticed her.
DANTE REED
Listen, we do not write up exclusive contracts. If someone wants to fight, wrestle, commentate, or whatever somewhere else, that’s perfectly fine. But you have to understand, we have to take that into consideration when we’re matchmaking. We don’t necessarily want to schedule someone a fight a few days after they’ve been in a wrestling deathmatch or went 12 rounds in a boxing match. It’s a safety issue at that point, and in a scenario like that, that could open the door up for someone else to leapfrog into a bigger fight, possibly even for a title.
DANICA MCDANIEL | UNION GP & TDZ
And what about the five judges?
DANTE REED
You’ll have to ask Shark how he managed to pull that off. But in my opinion, the answer to these controversial decisions isn’t more judges, it’s smarter judges. MMA is still widely scored based in an ancient scorecard that is not effective for this sport.
MMA, as a sport, is on a tightrope on staying sanctioned and we have to abide by the rules and regulations set forth by those commissions. And on top of that, those criterias are different anywhere you go. There’s a unified rules set in place by the ABC, but state commissions aren’t required to follow it. The rules and criteria in Houston may be different than that in Chicago.
We’re pretty much regulated by the government to keep our legal status. We’re still in the infancy of MMA, as the sport just became legal in all 50 states two years ago, but it’s vastly evolving and unfortunately a lot of the athletic commissions are rooted in an archaic regimen and are having a hard time keeping up with the times... That’s all I’m going to say on that matter so let’s turn it over to the fighters.
[Dante eases back behind the podium as a sea of hands shoot up to be called upon.]
[Once the floor has been given for the fighters to speak, REAL Killas MMA fighter Robert Guilliman clears up his voice. Having intently heard Dante Reed’s opening statement, he maintains the same air of dignity, and the distant and professional demeanor that has characterized him up until this point. One more time, he’s dressed the part for the Orpheum Theatre, in his formal blue suit and blue tie. As the eyes of every correspondent set on him, he taps his microphone for a sound check, before beginning to speak.]
“THE PRIMARCH” ROBERT GUILLIMAN:
If our esteemed Mr. Reed may excuse my impertinence, may I be so bold as to bring to your attention one fight that he has forgotten to announce in this Boss Fight card.
[Pointing to a nearby layout of the card in the backdrop, he arches his eyebrows in a complicit gesture.]
“THE PRIMARCH” ROBERT GUILLIMAN:
There is a Middleweight bout which marks the debut of newcomer Adegoke Müller from Throne MMA, and I bring this to your attention because, well…
[his lips curve in a small, matter-of-fact smile]
... he just so happens to be booked against yours truly. I would not want this detail to go unnoticed, what with having a new name and all.
[The reporters share a murmur of chuckles among themselves, before one of them stands up to address the Primarch.]
JOHN MORENO | PRAETORIAN MMA
John Moreno with Praetorian MMA, for Mr. Guilliman...
“THE PRIMARCH” ROBERT GUILLIMAN:
[Raising a hand] Please, Robert is fine.
JOHN MORENO | PRAETORIAN MMA
Alright, Robert. You made an impressive debut in the last Boss Fight event with a high kick K.O. at 2:43 of the very first round. Do you believe you can attempt to get a similar result in this bout?
[Guilliman narrows his eyes.]
“THE PRIMARCH” ROBERT GUILLIMAN:
HOW I win the fight isn’t important, Mr. Moreno. Whether by knockout, submission, split or unanimous decision, WINNING the fight is all that matters. Sparks have already flown on social media with this Müller fellow already calling me his first win. For his sake, I hope that he was paying attention at the last show - because I certainly would not like his debut to end the same way as my last fight did.
[One more time, his lips curve in a smile, with a certain touch of sarcasm in his eyes]
“THE PRIMARCH” ROBERT GUILLIMAN:
That would make him look even more foolish than spouting off in German on social media, but then again [he raises his palms, in a conciliatory manner] far be it from me to dictate people’s behavior online. [He raises both eyebrows once more as that hint on irony shows up on his lips once more.] Some of us are actually busy training at REAL Killas.
JOHN MORENO | PRAETORIAN MMA
That brings me to my next question. REAL Killas have come back strong in the last UGP event after some losing results, with a spectacular win by Lauren Moore and Daniel Fisk becoming the new Cruiserweight Champion against one of Throne’s own, Seth Daniels. Do you think Adegoke Müller will use your bout in an attempt to avenge Throne?
“THE PRIMARCH” ROBERT GUILLIMAN:
He certainly can TRY, Mr. Moreno, but I TOO have a duty to represent REAL Killas to the best of my skill. I’ve proven that I am more than capable of doing so at the last Boss Fight, and I intend to keep that going this fight, and the next, and the one after that. That’s how things are done in REAL Killas, and that’s how I plan to act.
[As the reporter starts jotting down notes, seemingly satisfied, it is the turn of another journalist.]
LINDSEY HORNER | KNOCKOUT POWER
Lindsey Horner with Knockout Power. Robert, you’ve stated last time that you don’t walk into a bout unprepared…
“THE PRIMARCH” ROBERT GUILLIMAN:
[Nodding] Information is victory, Ms. Horner.
LINDSEY HORNER | KNOCKOUT POWER
Has yet anything been revealed about Adegoke Müller?
[Guilliman takes his hand to his chin for two seconds before answering]
“THE PRIMARCH” ROBERT GUILLIMAN:
Nothing yet. Only that he has a fondness for the word “Dummkopf” and that he apparently likes punching things. Any regular person would probably not think much of that, but the greatest thing that we have to watch out for is someone of whom there is little to no information. I am not, however, planning on waiting around on seeing what he says or does, either on Twitter, or the airwaves, or inside the cage. I’m going to be aggressive and relentless, and shut him down before he even warms up. THAT’s how fights are won, for me, and for REAL Killas.
Perhaps after the fight is over, he’ll find someone else to tell to bite the dust in German. But I’m going to serve him his first taste.
LINDSEY HORNER | KNOCKOUT POWER
You seem to be confident in your chances, then, and your one win so far gives you a solid enough backup. Are you not concerned about a potential upset?
“THE PRIMARCH” ROBERT GUILLIMAN:
I take my fights seriously, Ms. Horner. I did not underestimate Sang-Hyun Lee in our fight, nor am I doing so with Adegoke Müller now. When the first thing I hear from this fellow is “You’re my first win”, and “you have no chance”, well - I’m sure all the people in this room don’t need me to help you see those statements for the platitudes they are. But I hear them, and I say “Is that so? Very well, then.” [He nods] I’m going to take those words at face value. I’m going to come at him like he HAD the chance of those words becoming true.
[After this, the Primarch gives a very amiable, very warm smile, although the glacial look in his eyes tells a different story.]
And I will very gladly prove him otherwise. With some cold, hard evidence, in the shape of a foot.
[He presses one of his palms against the left side of his head.]
Right on the button.
LINDSEY HORNER | KNOCKOUT POWER
Alright, Robert, thank you very much.
“THE PRIMARCH” ROBERT GUILLIMAN:
It is my honor, Ms. Horner.
[The reporter sits back down to compile the answers to her questions, and Guilliman takes a sip of the water bottle next to him, as the interview moves on to the other fighters.]