Dec 02 Moving On Up: Jimmo to Face Former Champ at MFC 23

While being known for his break dancing moves, Ryan Jimmo is best known for being one of Canada's top 205 pound mixed martial artists.  Currently singed with the Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC), Jimmo looks to make his chance a title shot when he faces Emanuel Newton at MFC 23: Unstoppable Friday in Edmonton.  Jimmo is confident he will be showing off his dances moves like he does when he wins a fight.

"Newton is a good wrestler and a good boxer but I don't think he has any power in his hands," says Jimmo.

"I think I can pull the win out.  I want to keep it standing and I am going to be aggressive and I am going to break him down.  I am going to be relentless."

While Jimmo will try to add to his 11 fight winning streak, he still feels that he has to put on a better show.  His last fight was a close split decision to Marvin Eastman at MFC 22 in October.  While fight fans are wondering how he will fare against Newton, Jimmo believes that the judges won't be needed for Friday.

"I just really need to open up a little bit," says Jimmo.

"I haven't been pulling the trigger.  I have been conservative, I think I was worried about my winning streak.  I got to take more risks and I am in better shape this time.  I moved across the country a month and half before the Eastman fight.  I didn't have myself settled in.  I am training with some great wrestlers, as well kickboxing.  Everything has improved now.

While he may be settled down in Edmonton, it has been a hectic the last year and a half for Jimmo.  Since appearing on season eight of the UFC's Ultimate Fighter, after failing to make the house after losing to Antwain Britt, his fight career has done well with wins over the likes Jesse Forbes, Rick Roufus and Eastman.  There was a switch of gyms in Halifax and at the first of the year he went for a month to Thailand to work on his stand up game.  When he came back from his trip he had little money to his name.  He had numerous fights that he prepped for only to see them be cancelled,  Even for this bout, his original opponent was going to be Steve Bosse but the ex hockey enforcer had to pull out for undisclosed reasons.

In July, he knew it was time for a change, so he moved from Halifax to Edmonton to bring his training up.  It has worked out for him.  With a win Friday, he should get the shot at the MFC light heavyweight title.  Even though this is a fight Jimmo wanted, he didn't think that the Newton fight would come this quick along the way.

"To be honest out of all the people in this division, me and Emanuel are the top two contenders," says Jimmo.

"He is the former the champion who lost a tough 5 rounder to Trevor Prangley then there is myself.  It does make me scratch my head why were fighting now then not make us fight someone else first but I am rather indifferent."

There are a number of situations that can happen Friday night.  Jimmo could have to go back to the drawing board with a lose or he can get his winning streak to 12.  While he wants that title so much  he could maybe get that call to fight for the UFC.  Only time will tell, but he can say that he knows he will ready Friday.

(Editor's note: I had erroneously reported that Jimmo was facing former UFC champion Newton, and I have updated the title as a result of this error)

Tags: MFC \ MMA \ Newton \ Ryan Jimmo