The Past and Future 02.07.09: Dustin Hazelett
Posted by Robert Steele on 02.07.2009
The Past and Future profiles the career paths of the known and the unknown in MMA. This week a profile with UFC welterweight up and comer, Dustin Hazelett. Plus, a note on the Penn vs. GSP Vaseline controversy.
Beyond Infinity
"Beyond Infinity" is a reference to 2001: A Space Odyssey, a classic. Basically I like the title and the name fits. I am going to use this section now and then for anything of note that I feels needs mentioning.
This week, there needs to be some mention of the epic BJ Penn vs. Georges St. Pierre II fight. In particular, what needs mention is the Vaseline controversy that followed the fight. "The 5-Round Transition" gave a nice break-down of this whole fiasco.
What I find most interesting about the whole thing is that BJ Penn himself has said nothing about it. After Penn vs. GSP I, Penn ran his mouth plenty. Sure, he was beat up after the last one and never had a chance. But even now, a week later he has only mentioned retirement. All protests have come to Penn's camp, rather than Penn himself.
My point is that a fighter knows when he has been beaten. (Some of the stories in Rope Burns by F.X. Toole analyze this in great detail). Penn knows he has lost to a better fighter. That being said, I give all the credit in the world and see tremendous bravery in a guy risking the legacy of his career by moving up in weight.
The Past
There is something different about Dustin Hazelett. Yeah, he's a country boy from Kentucky. He sometimes sports a wild beard. And sure, he came out to Credence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" at UFC 91. His nickname isn't "Rampage" or "Iceman," but instead borrows from Superbad's nerdy comedy character "McLovin."
For most fighters this image ends once they enter the ring or cage. This isn't true for Hazelett. He has become one of the most unique and exciting fighters to watch in MMA. Where most fighters might bring excitement with knockout power or quick blows, however, Hazelett has his audience giddy over submissions. Three-quarters of his wins have come by submission. The crowd watches Hazelett like a child watches a spider mangle an old fly inside a web. He loves that; he takes pleasure in winning by submission. Like any artist who enjoys their craft, he can talk at length about it. He knows in detail what moves work best for transition, and which for finishing.
At just 22 years old, he is a young and humble fighter. He has expressed patience with moving to the top, feeling that once his ability improves, the bigger fights will come. He has had some big ones already. Most notable to date was his fight against Josh Koscheck at UFC 82, where Hazelett scored some big kicks and knees in the first round before losing in the second.
The set-up elements of a Hollywood movie are all there. "McLovin" is apt and more than just a catchy nickname. It was being picked on as a nerd in high school that got Hazelett involved in martial arts. In the beginning he learned purely out of a need to defend himself. He has not forgotten this. In a recent interview for ESPN Radio he even expressed remorse for beating Tamden McCrory, a young man with a similar nerdy background and story.
He stuck with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since the age of 16. Then last September Hazelett earned his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the somewhat recently released UFC fighter Jorge Gurgel. He had been training under Gurgel for nearly six years. Gurgel declared afterwards that it was through Hazelett's strong display of Brazilian jiu-jitsu shown in competition, as well as his worldwide recognition in mastering the art, that earned him the black belt.
At age 22 Hazelett already has a small handful of impressive wins. He quickly submitted veteran Jonathan Goulet. Since his loss to Koscheck, Hazelett has gone on to beat Josh Burkman and Tamden McCrory. And with all of his impressive submissions, he even has a seven second knockout victory by punches.
Hazelett was scheduled for a fight against Ben Saunders at UFC 96, but Hazelett had to pull out of the fight due to an injury. Since Saunders will face Ryan Madigan as Hazelett's replacement, the question of who Hazelett will fight next becomes a big question.
The Future
While the set-up elements of a Hollywood movie are in place, there hasn't been a Hollywood resolution just yet. Hazelett is still young, and both his ground game and striking continues to improve. With all the excitement that his fights have brought (Fight of the Night once and Submission of the Night twice) it seems he will remain in UFC for awhile, even if he should suffer a few more losses.
His technical strengths are complemented by a unique physical frame. Being a tall welterweight at 6'1" puts Hazelett at a big advantage over most opponents for both stand-up and ground. On the ground he is almost unbeatable. Not only does he defend well, but he is incredible at transitioning quickly from defense into offense. His lanky body and his skill puts him in the superior position most of the time. While his striking has improved, against better fighters he is still vulnerable to a stand-up attack. Because of his height and reach, he should be able to keep most welterweights in check with a jab before going for a take-down and submission. While improving, his stand-up still needs more work.
As good as he is already, the difficulty for him will be competing in a deep and talented UFC Welterweight Division. There are many steppingstones in his way before getting a title shot. He is not yet at the right level to compete against a Georges St. Pierre, Jon Fitch, or even go toe-to-toe again with Josh Koscheck. Time, however, is in his favor.
With all of his technical and physical strengths, his best attribute might be his personality. He truly is a humble country boy, and his dedication to improving himself as a fighter shows in his interviews. After a few more impressive wins in the division, and a win against a top fighter, he may be ready to fight in a Hollywood-esque climax, and show whether he has what it takes to be a nerd champion.
