Jackson, Winkeljohn will be hard at work in Chicago for UFC card

Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn are going to be extremely busy Saturday night.

That’s OK; they’re used to it.

Albuquerque’s Jackson-Winkeljohn Mixed Martial Arts has four fighters on Saturday’s UFC card at the United Center in Chicago.

	Saturday John Dodson vs. Demetrious Johnson for Johnson’s UFC flyweight title, several other fights: United Center, Chicago. TV: FX, 3-6 p.m.; Fox, 6-8 p.m.

John Dodson is fighting the main event, seeking to take the UFC flyweight title belt from Demetrious Johnson.

Three other J-W fighters – lightweight Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, newly minted featherweight Clay Guida and heavyweight Shawn Jordan – have fights crucial to their careers.

That’s a lot for Winkeljohn, the fighters’ stand-up coach, and Jackson, their ground coach, to handle in one night. But Jackson says that, on past cards, they’ve had as many as five fighters.

“It’s kind of another day in the office for us,” he says. “We have such a large team right now at (the UFC) level that it’s kind of what we do.”

The Dodson-Johnson fight has gotten by far the most attention regarding Saturday’s card, and understandably so. It’s an exciting matchup in a weight class (125 pounds) that hasn’t seen the spotlight all that often.

But, from a career-advancement standpoint, Cerrone, Guida and Jordan’s fights are almost as important.

Here’s how Jackson describes those fighters and what they must do to have their hands raised Saturday:

♦ Jackson believes a victory for Cerrone (19-4) over Anthony Pettis (15-2) could lead directly to a shot at the UFC 155-pound title now held by Benson Henderson (who defends against Gilbert Melendez on April 20).

Against the well-rounded Pettis (six wins by KO, six by submission), Jackson says, Cerrone’s chances for success lie in the details.

“Against a guy that skilled, it’s not like you’re gonna dominate him in (any) one area,” Jackson says. “You’ve got to kind of dominate him in all areas.

“It’s really gonna come down to fighting for these little things, these little, important things in the fight. If (Cerrone) can do that, if he can kind of master the little things, the big things will happen easier.”

♦ Guida (29-13), an Illinois native, is in a sense starting over at age 31. He’ll fight Saturday at the 145-pound featherweight limit after a long career at 155.

Jackson believes Guida will be a stronger fighter at the lighter weight. Though he was highly successful at 155, he was facing fighters who were actually bigger men.

“The funny thing about Clay is that he’s fought at 155 for so long but he never really had to make weight,” Jackson says. “What I mean by that is he would cut maybe 2 or 3 pounds the day of the weigh-ins, so he would, like, go for a jog. So, he was always, really, a 45er.

“… For him, it was a natural move. I think it’s better to cut maybe 5 or 6 pounds and actually have to make weight than just show up on fight day and say, ‘OK, I’m ready to go.’ ”

Guida will debut in his new weight class against Japan’s Hatsu Hioki (26-5-2).

“He’s getting thrown into the deep water early on,” Jackson says. “This guy (Hioki) is a legend in Japan; he’s fought a long, long time. He’s very good, he’s got some very good tools, and Clay’s got his work cut out for him.

“It’ll be interesting to see how Clay steps up and addresses the challenge.”

♦ Jordan (13-4) is a former LSU fullback who won a national title with the Tigers in 2007. Jackson believes his MMA potential is virtually unlimited, but says his knowledge and experience level need to catch up with his athletic ability.

“He’s so athletic,” Jackson says. “He’s (245 pounds), and he can do back flips and all kinds of crazy things. … Now, it’s just getting the information and experience and doing it the right way.

“I think he will (have a big future), I really do. I have a lot of faith in him.”

Jackson likes Jordan’s chances for victory Saturday against Mike Russow (15-2), provided his fighter can stay on his feet – or, at least, off his back.

“Shawn has really heavy hands, and he’s very explosive (in stand-up),” Jackson says. “(Russow) will to want to take Shawn down. We’re gonna go do our best to counter that.”

If the two fighters do go to the ground, Jackson says, that’s OK – provided Jordan’s the guy on top.

“We do want to stay off our back,” Jackson says. “That’s not where we’re at our best.”

One Night, Four Fights

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— This article appeared on page D4 of the Albuquerque Journal