For Longview-based welterweight Josh Lee, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has been a safe harbor for the amiable MMA fighter’s career. Lee has found a measure of fame and fortune traversing I-20 in order to ply his fistic trade in the cages of some of the regions bigger promotions. However, for the most part, few fights fans in North Texas are familiar with the humble young man who reps East Texas with a tangible pride. However, if Lee’s performance this past December at XKO 13 is any indication of his fight talents then Lee may find himself with a bandwagon filled to the brim with new fans.
Pitted against Dallas’ Roy Spoon, a fighter who knows no fear, Lee had watershed performance beating at XKO 13 battering the talented fighter before submitting him in the second round. It was a stunning upset in the eyes of many in attendance. After all, North Texas fight fans are well acquainted with Spoon’s tenacity and to seem him handled in such a dominant fashion by an unheralded fighter out of East Texas came as a major shock. Of course, the one person who was not surprised with the outcome was Lee himself.
“With Spoon, I knew and our team knew we could beat him,” explained Lee. “He is a good fighter, very strong, but we just knew our cardio and technical ability was better.”
Lee’s foundation as a fighter was strengthened by his coach and manager JC Cox. Together the duo have rattled the cages of carious promotions thorough the country. For Lee, who credits his strength as a striker, the partnership with Cox has taken his game to new levels.
“I came from a Chuck Liddell affiliate originally and I was known early on as a striker,” said Lee. “Then, once I began training with JC Cox my jiu-jitsu got to a level that I was comfortable, that is when I switched to being a ground fighter. But, honestly, I feel very good standing or on the ground. “
This newfound evolution in his game will serve Lee well as he readies for yet another fight with one of North Texas’ dangerous fighters. This Saturday, Lee will take on the Marcus “The Wrecking Ball” Hicks in the main event of the Element Fighting Championship card taking place at the Plano Convention Center, in Plano, TX. Hicks represents one of the region’s most talented and dangerous fighters having been a former lightweight title contender in the WEC. To say that Lee will have his hands full with Hicks would be a gross understatement. Yet, in light of it all Lee and his team feel that they are ready to upset the apple cart once again.
“Well, it will be a continuation of the camp for Spoon,” explains Lee. “I got a couple weeks off to rest, now I have a few weeks to get mentally in the right place and find that peak in conditioning.”
Lee continues, “Hicks is experienced, but I have just as many fights. I feel his strength will be his ground game. I have watched his video and I have competed at the same level. So, honestly I feel I can win this fight on the ground, but I hope he stands with me.”
“My biggest strengths are my cardio, my heart, and not really having any area that is weak in my game. Also, that we always have a great game plan. Our coach dissects these opponents and we create a battle plan…to win. “
While a fighter is alone in the cage, the build up to that moment is dependent on a team of dedicated and understanding individuals to help the fighter on his journey through training came. For Lee this is no different and he makes it a point to give credit to the people who have helped him get to where he is at as a fighter.
States Lee, “I want to give a shout out my coach and manager JC Cox, to Jorge Gurgel the leader of our team up in Cincinnati, to Josh Foster and the guys at the gym that I train with and to Dustin Cason my strength and conditioning coach. Also, to all my sponsors.”
Inarguably, Lee’s biggest measure of gratitude goes to his family. The dotting father of two uses the love of his family as motivation to give his all in the cage.
“I want to win this fight for my future wife Desirea and my daughter Heaven, and my son Damian,” boasts Lee.
With the huge fight lowing this weekend Lee seems confident that his trip to the DFW will not be in vain.
“We feel that with the Hicks fight we will be the bigger guy in the cage but this will be a more physical chess match. We will be prepared. We don’t drive three hours down I-20 to lose fights.”
Photo © Beck Malone/Becky Malone Photography
Roland Gamez contributed to this story.
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