CR Exclusive Interview with Roland Delorme!

Roland celebrating after submitting Josh Ferguson  (Photo from thescore.com)

Roland Delorme is an exciting bantamweight in the UFC. His record is 8-1 with all 8 wins being finished. He was a member of The Ultimate Fighter 14 cast and was on Jason “Mayhem” Miller’s team, going against Michael Bisping’s team, in the first season to ever have bantamweights competing. He is now 2-0 in the UFC and has a big fight coming up at UFC 149 on July 21^st against Francisco Rivera (for our interview with Francisco Rivera click here). We were able to get a great interview with Roland before his big fight. (Go follow him on Twitter @rolanddelorme1) (CR in bold)

CR: Hey Roland, thanks so much for doing this interview. We look forward to your fight with Rivera.

1) You are fighting Francisco Rivera at UFC 149. Talk about that fight. How do you envision it?

Roland Delorme: I envision myself feeding him right hands like he's hungry. Getting in his face and making it a bloody war. My blood or his blood it doesn’t matter. People want blood and I want to give it to them.

2) What typically goes through your head before each fight?

RD: Before each fight I just try to keep positive thoughts going through my head and stay relaxed, like the calm before the storm.

3) How much are you looking forward to fighting in front of your home country? How will that play out in the fight?

RD: I can't wait to fight in Canada in front of everybody in Calgary. I’m going to do my best to make it an entertaining fight. I see myself winning and being on TV is going to make it that much better knowing all my friends and family back home are watching.

4) You took your last fight on short notice against Nick Denis. How much do you think that hindered your performance, despite the fact that you won?

RD: I don’t think it hindered my performance at all actually. I knew I was going to get smacked around the first little bit and the same is going to happen for this fight. It might take me a bit to pick up on his striking habits but when I do you'll know it. Besides if I don’t get beat up then it’s not really a fight and what’s the fun in that?

5) Talk about your experience on TUF. What was it like training under Jason Miller? What was your mindset following being in the house?

RD: The training in the house was great and Jason (“Mayhem” Miller) seemed very into helping me improve my ground game and all around MMA game; which to this day I appreciate very much. Before I got to the house I wasn’t sure if I could compete on a UFC level but by the time I left I knew I was on that level and not only compete but win and my confidence went through the roof. Now, every time you see me fight I'm getting way better than the last and I want to keep this ball rolling.

6) Following your last two wins, where do you rank yourself among your fellow 135ers?

RD: I think I’m in the top twenty in the world and with a win over Cisco (Francisco Rivera) will solidify that. I don’t live in the past or the future. I live in the now and right now Cisco is all that matters and after that we will see where I sit.

Make sure you watch his fight on July 21^st against another rising star Francisco Rivera. It has huge chance at being Fight of the Night! Make sure to follow him on Twitter at @rolanddelorme1

The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale

Dave’s Picks

Main Card

Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller: This is an interesting fight because there are some unknowns. Miller is the major question mark in this fight. He hasn’t fought in over a year, he hasn’t fought any of the same opponents that Bisping has and he hasn’t fought in the UFC in over 6 years. I’m very sure that Bisping will have the superior standup and takedowns. However, Miller should have the better takedown defense and ground game. So, it’s an interesting blend. But if I was Miller I would take this to the ground quick because Bisping will be able to outpoint him to a decision victory. This is five rounds and only Miller has gone that distance before (his fight with Jake Shields). Should be a fun match = Bisping by unanimous decision.

Dennis Bermudez vs. Diego Brandao ("TUF 14" featherweight finale): I called before the beginning of the show that Diego would win the featherweight tournament. He has a great skill set and his only downside is his cardio. However, I don’t know if he will ever be a force in the UFC but time will tell. Dennis on the other hand, I truly believe will find some success in the UFC due to his decent wrestling, as long as he works on his standup. However, Dennis got caught several times by Akira and Diego is ten times better than Akira = Diego by tko in round 2. My Pick for KO of the Night!

John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw ("TUF 14" bantamweight finale): I also called that TJ would win the bantamweight tournament before the show started. A big strong wrestler with decent standup from the Alpha Male camp will always get my vote. He looks and fights like an Urijah Faber or a Joseph Benavidez or a Chad Mendes. I think both Dodson and TJ will be forces in the bantamweight division. Dodson has some insane athletic ability with power in his punches and an incredible low center of gravity; which makes it very difficult to take him down. This fight is a little hard to call but I’m going with my early pick = TJ Dillashaw by unanimous decision. My Pick is for Fight of the Night!

Yves Edwards vs. Tony Ferguson: In this fight anything can happen. Edwards will have the more technical striking and has the experience advantage. Tony should have the striking power advantage. Yves probably has the upper hand on the ground game. Not too sure on this one = Tony Ferguson by split decision.

Johnny Bedford vs. Louis Gaudinot: This should be a fun fight with a lot of good grappling. I think this fight will be based on who gets the takedowns. Bedford had a very hard time getting Dodson to the ground but Louis is no Dodson = Bedford by split decision.

Prelims

Marcus Brimage vs. Stephan Bass: Brimage by KO in round 1.

John Albert vs. Dustin Pague: Pague by submission in round 2. My Pick for Submission of the Night!

Roland Delorme vs. Josh Ferguson: Ferguson by TKO in round 1.

Josh Clopton vs. Steven Siler: Siler by unanimous decision.

Bryan Caraway vs. Dustin Neace: Caraway by split decision.

Sam’s Picks:

Main Card
Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller: I want to start by saying that I really, really don’t like Bisping anymore. He’s turned into an overconfident, arrogant, and homophobic psycho crybaby. He whines and complains about everything and is a dick to everybody and someone else is a dick to him, he freaks out. He was constantly giving Miller crap and Miller was actually being a nice guy, doing the “I do the talking in the cage” method. Anyway, let’s talk about the fight. Miller has’t fought in over a year which could be a pretty big factor in how this plays out. We don’t know how the ring-rust will have an effect on him. Bisping, though, has come off a heated bout with Jorge Rivera, looking rather impressive. It’s a hard fight to pick but I’m going to go with my gut, which could be a bad idea = Miller by unanimous decision.

Dennis Bermudez vs. Diego Brandao: Diego is insane, in the bad way. He is an insane fighter but he is literally INSANE. He is possibly the most emotional person I have ever seen. He gets so angry at the drop of a hat. Saying Dennis Bermudez, who is a really nice guy, was talking crap when he wasn’t? I don’t get him but he is a really scary dude. Bermudez has huge heart, he doesn’t give up and he has really good wrestling and standup. I have a really huge feeling that Diego will gas out if it goes out of the first round. Bermudez needs to get this fight to the ground and ride out a decision, not exciting but smart = Bermudez by unanimous decision.

John Dodson vs. TJ Dillashaw: Now this is an exciting fight. Dillashaw was my pick to win the show from the beginning, but Dodson is showing a lot of promise. Dodson is an animal, literally: looks like one, acts like one, fights like one. He has great cardio from what I saw and he has a lot technique and speed. Dillashaw has the strength and power advantage which I think will be the deciding factor in this fight = Dillashaw by split decision. My pick for FOTN!

Yves Edwards vs. Tony Ferguson: Ferguson looked great in his last fight with Aaron Riley and Yves also looked really good. One of the big deciding factors in this fight is Ferguson’s power because Yves’ chin seems to be waning after that brutal KO loss to Sam Stout = Tony Ferguson by 2nd round TKO. My pick for KOOTN!

Johnny Bedford vs. Louis Gaudinot: This should also be a good fight and I hope to see both of these guys stick in the UFC for a while. They both have a bright future = Bedford by split decision.

Prelims

Marcus Brimage vs. Stephen Bass = Bass by 1st round submission (choke). My pick for SOTN!
John Albert vs. Dustin Pague = Pague by split decision.
Roland Delorme vs. Josh Ferguson = Delorme by unanimous decision.
Josh Clopton vs. Steven Siler = Siler by 2nd round TKO.
Bryan Caraway vs. Dustin Neace = Caraway by unanimous decision.