MMA Recap

Recapping With Jay Hieron - No One Knows About Me

by Brent Todd - 10-04-2009

Jay Hieron started wrestling at the age of fourteen.  He wrestled through high school and became the Junior College National Champion at Nassau Community College.   After going through a rough period, Hieron turned to boxing to get his frustrations out.  He started working with Phil Baroni who was an already accomplished mixed martial artist.  In 2004, Hieron decided two things: that New York was not a good environment for him anymore and Las Vegas was the mixed martial arts capital of the world.

Hieron is arguably one of the best-unknown fighters.  He was the IFL welterweight champion before the IFL went under.  He has fought in the UFC, WEC, Affliction and most recently Strikeforce.  But even with as impressive of a record as he has, Hieron can't seem to get on television.  At "Affliction: Day of Reckoning" he was scheduled to fight Jason High on the night's HDNet preliminary fights.  But that fight got relegated to a swing bout and happened AFTER the main event and was only aired on HDNet's "Inside MMA".

After Affliction folded, Hieron fielded offers from both the UFC and Strikeforce.  Hieron's said, "The UFC came in with a great offer, they stepped up money wise.  They were going to honor my Affliction contract.  But Strikeforce came to the table with an immediate title shot which lead to me signing with Strikeforce."

But that title fight didn't happen.  Nick Diaz withdrew from the fight after no-showing a pre-fight drug test and Hieron instead went on to fight former "Ultimate Fighter" contestant Jesse Taylor.  While the fight with Taylor became a non-title fight, it was still scheduled to be on apart of the live broadcast.  Unfortunately for Hieron, a last minute decision was made and his fight with Taylor was relegated to the unaired preliminary card.

This was the second straight fight that Hieron's fans would not see.   Hieron gave his thoughts on the possible mistreatment by Strikeforce.  "Yeah man unfortunately it is the hurt business not only physically but mentally.  I believe I am a top ten fighter, yet no one knows about me.  I can't get a fight on tv.  People ask me all the time how I do it, how I go through all this stuff, and I tell them I believe it makes me stronger.  I go day-by-day and I train and bust my butt and hopefully something will open up."

A fight with Diaz is the only fight that Hieron is looking for at this point.  "He is the reason why I signed with Strikeforce.  I think it is the only fight worthy of a title shot right now.  I mean there is Jake Shields, but he went up to 185.  I think me and Diaz makes the most sense.  I am trying to be smart about this fight too.  I don't want to jump on a stupid fight.  At this point in my career I need to fight guys with a name.  I need a reward for fighting a guy.  I have beaten the no-names and the undefeated guys.  That's where I feel I am at."

Unfortunately for Hieron, Strikeforce doesn't know what is going on with Diaz or when Hieron will fight next.  "Really I am getting frustrated now.  I ask Strikeforce on a weekly basis when am I going to fight and they don't know nothing."

But Hieron stays positive and knows that his hard work will payoff.  It's hard not to stay positive when he trains out of Xtreme Couture.  "The best thing about training at Xtreme Couture is we have a great core group of guys who have been training together for about four years now.  Everyone has each other's back.  We don't go in with egos, we just want to help each other get better."

Training partners Tyson Griffin and Gray Maynard both stated they wouldn't have a problem fighting a teammate for the title.  Hieron was quick to back them both up saying, "First and foremost we have a great bond with our training partners.  But if it is something for the title, then it is what it is. We will go out and fight each other and then after we will go eat dinner together.  It is bound to happen one day.  I mean a guy really can't turn down a title shot.  It's why we are in this business."

Hieron is a very laid back and relaxed guy when he is not fighting.  "When I am not training I just like to chill and watch movies.  I love old cars.  I have a 76 Impala I am trying to fix up.  I like restoring old cars.  I also like to go out to the desert and shoot guns with the guys.  It's amazing, just going out to the desert and unloading a few rounds."

And his thoughts on his favorite breakfast cereal?  Cookie Crsip for Thorobred.

Hieron would like to thank Xtreme Couture, all of his training partners, wholesale connections, Everlast, Tiara Grills and Affliction.
 

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