** This thread discusses the content article: The 'Mexicutioner' talks UFC 109 win and pre-fight jitters **

As this past Saturday's "UFC 109: Relentless" event kicked off with a trio of un-aired preliminary bouts, UFC newcomer Joey Beltran entered the octagon for the first time.

His legs were sluggish, his feet like concrete blocks. Punches were hitting him, and he soon became oddly aware of his own breathing. None of it made any sense to the first-rime UFC fighter.

As the refreshingly honest heavyweight today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio), Beltran initially was fighting nerves more so than opponent Rolles Gracie.

"The Mexicutioner," though, ultimately would beat both of them.





The San Diego-based fighter took the fight with Gracie, a fellow UFC newcomer (and member of the famed Gracie clan), on just seven days' notice. In fact, just a few weeks prior, he had defeated ex-UFC fighter Houston Alexander at a 5150 Combat show in Oklahoma.

That fight – a scheduled five-rounder that Alexander lost via second-round TKO – had Beltran physically prepared for his Feb. 6 bout at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Admittedly, his mental game was a different matter as the fight began.

"I wasn't really fighting Rolles Gracie," Beltran said. "I was fighting the event. I box way better than I did in that event. I had the jitters. (There's) no way he should have been able to hit me that cleanly. But it was like my feet were in concrete. It does affect you, the event and all the hype."


 


Full Article: mmajunkie.com/news/17871/mmas-big-stage-...admitted-jitters.mma