Dion "The Soldier" Staring is going to face one of his biggest challenges on January 12 in Oklahoma. He's facing top ranked Daniel Cormier in what will be the very last Strikeforce event in history. Cormier, who has already signed a new deal with the UFC, is considered one of the most promising talents in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. He recently announced that after his fight with Dion, he will drop down in weight and fight as a light heavyweight fighter to avoid fighting his training partner and friend Cain Velasquez, who just reclaimed the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 155.
Staring, who's pretty known in the European MMA circuit, was waiting for his big break to fight on the big stage in the US. His teammate, Alistair Overeem, who left Holland to move to America invited him to come and train with the Blackzilians. Everything looked good for Dion as he was offered a contract to fight in Strikeforce as a light heavyweight. He adjusted his training and diet and was ready to fight Mike Kyle on September 29. Then he got news that the whole event was canceled due to the fact that the main event fighter Melendez got injured. It was the first writing on the wall that Dion was going to miss his big break. Then he got the phone call that Frank Mir was out of the Daniel Cormier fight which was supposed to be November 3. The UFC asked him to be his replacement. Dion did not hesitate and said yes.
When it rains it pours. Strikeforce then had to cancel its November 3 event. All the hard training and time away from his family and his wife, who he had just wed was basically for nothing. It looked like Dion would not get his big break any time soon. Until he finally got the call that they where going to make the Cormier fight happen in January. Although Dion was very happy to get that chance, the news that it would be the last Strikeforce event that made it bittersweet.
Dion who has faced adversity in this ordeal stays positive and still believes his time will come.
We asked him some questions;
How do you remain positive when you had to deal with all that drama?
"My dream was always to fight in the UFC, so when I signed for Strikeforce it was for me being one step closer to my ultimate dream. I knew if I would win my fights at Strikeforce I might get my chance in the UFC. Now I'm facing a fighter who's already signed with the UFC and is considered one of the best heavyweights in the world. So if I win, it will bring me one step closer to the UFC. It might be a shortcut in the road to get there but it's also the hardest road to get there."
A lot of people are not giving you any chance in this fight. How do you feel about that?
"Well I can understand why Cormier has some great wins under his belt and has never lost, but it's still a fight, that's the beauty of the sport. I honestly believe I have a chance in this fight, otherwise I wouldn't take it. It will be a hard fight for sure, but I love challenges and being able to fight the top of the world is just an honor. I train with Alistair on a daily basis and his motto "Kill yourself in training so you don't die fighting." That's exactly what I'm doing every day in the gym so I'm more than ready to go to war.
How is training with the Blackzilians?
"It's great, I was used to training in Holland where the facilities are not as good as in the States. If I walk in the gym I see so many professional athletes and trainers - it's crazy. My training has improved so much and the guidance I get from my management is so professional. I'm very proud to be part of the Blackzilians."
Why did you take such a big fight?
"I was waiting all my life to fight on a main-card in a big show and unfortunately it's not the UFC ,but it's an historical event anyway as it's the last Strikeforce show and being part of history in MMA is pretty awesome. I still hope my biggest dream will come through and that's to fight in the Octagon. That's the only reason why I left the military, is to purse my dream to be on the UFC roster.
Anything you want to say?
"I would like to thank all the Blackzilians everbody at Authentic Sports Management and a big thanks to my beautiful wife who understands my dream and passion. She accepts that I'm away from home to chase my dream. I lover her so much, and I will fight my heart out for her and all my people back home in Holland. Old Soldiers Never Die!
bron: blackzilians.com
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