New Blood

Name: Josh Queen Professional Record: 2 – 0 Class: Heavyweight Representing: The Lion’s Den Idaho Notable Wins: Jeremiah Constant and Josh Bennett

One of the rarest of phenomena in mixed martial arts is a quality heavyweight prospect. However, one such fi ghter is starting to emerge from the Northwest fi ght scene. That fi ghter is Josh Queen, who after just two fi ghts has already become the Sportfi ght heavyweight champion, beating two of Team Quest’s young heavyweight prospects.

Training out of the Lion’s Den Idaho with former Bodog Fight middleweight champion Trevor Prangley, Queen is quickly becoming one of the more entertaining heavyweights to watch.

It seemed as though Queen was brought in as a sacrifi cial lamb when he made his mixed martial arts debut against a more experienced Jeremiah Constant for the vacant Sportfi ght heavyweight championship. Although the underdog, Queen showed tremendous heart and will while taking a beating for most of the fight.

However, as the fi ght wore on Constant became tired from trying to prematurely end the fi ght and that is when Queen made his move as he started to overwhelm the tired veteran. Once the fi ght hit the ground, Queen was able to lock in a rear naked choke for his fi rst mixed martial arts win simultaneously becoming the new Sportfi ght heavyweight champion.

He would make his fi rst defense against Constant’s teammate Josh Bennett and much like his fi rst fi ght, Queen had to overcome a rough start to become victorious. Bennett was continuously tagging Queen on the feet, but he stayed strong, returned fi re, and just like in his debut, won by sinking in a rear naked choke to defend his title for the fi rst time.

One of Queen’s greatest attributes is something that a fi ghter cannot learn, heart. Combine that with an eager mind and a willingness trade on the feet, and it is understandable how Josh Queen has quickly become one of the better heavyweight prospects to look for in the future.

Name: Scott Jorgensen Professional Record: 5 – 2 Representing: Ultimate Fitness Class: Bantamweight Notable Wins: Kenji Osawa and Chris David

A new generation of wrestlers is entering mixed martial arts signifi ed by their tremendous strength and athleticism. Scott Jorgensen is a prime example of this trend. Fighting out of Boise, Idaho, where he attended Boise State University and was a three-time Pac-10 wrestling champion at 133 pounds, Jorgensen has quickly become one of the brightest prospects in the bantamweight division.

After a successful collegiate wrestling career, Jorgensen began training in mixed martial arts on the advice of good friend and training partner Urijah Faber. “It was my senior year of college and Faber kept telling me I had to train mixed martial arts, so as soon as I graduated I started to train.”

In addition to his training with Jesse Brock at Combat Fitness in Boise, Jorgensen also trains with WEC featherweight champion Faber at Ultimate Fitness in Sacramento, California.

A native of Alaska, Jorgensen began his mixed martial arts career by winning his pro debut in the Alaska Fighting Championships. He then went 2-1in the Colorado-based Ring of Fire promotion before moving to EliteXC and getting his fi rst national TV exposure, where he won a unanimous decision over Californian fi ghter Chris David in an exciting high-paced bantamweight bout.

After sitting out for seven months, Jorgensen got the call to the big show as he made his World Extreme Cagefi ghting debut at WEC 32, taking on late replacement Damacio Page. It was a back and forth battle that saw both fi ghters on the verge of triumph. In the end, most believed Jorgensen had done enough to win the fi ght, yet he found himself on the losing end of a controversial decision that still has the fi ghter scratching his head. “The one thing that I learned from that fi ght is that you have to fi nish a fi ght and not take a round off, I’ll never do that again.”

His toughest test to date would be next, as he took on Shooto standout Kenji Osawa at WEC 35. Jorgensen took control from the onset by using his wrestling ability to ground the striker Osawa and pound on him from above. Although it looked as though Jorgensen had the fi ght wrapped up after two rounds of action, he came out even stronger in the third, dominated the round with pure aggression as he slammed Osawa, and pounded on him without relenting until the fi ght had ended; he was awarded a unanimous decision for his efforts.

Jorgensen has found a home in World Extreme Cagefi ghting and has big plans for the future. “My goal is to get a title shot, take it win by win and they can’t deny me if I keep on winning.

“It feels good to fi ght in the WEC; I like to fi ght in front a lot of people and on a big stage.” Jorgensen truly enjoys fi ghting and will take on anyone who gets in his way. “Whoever they put in front of me I’ll fi ght, I’m just looking to have a good time.”

Name: Josh Grispi Professional Record: 9 – 1 Class: Featherweight Notable Wins: Mark Hominick and Micah Miller

Not one fi ghter has made such a quick impact in a fi ght promotion as Josh Grispi has in World Extreme Cagefi ghting. After fi ghting and training in the Northeast for much of his career, Grispi was fi nally given a shot to prove himself on the biggest stage for featherweights, the WEC. At the age of 19, Grispi was one the youngest fi ghters to make his World Extreme Cagefi ghting debut.

For his debut fi ght, Grispi was given the task of fi ghting UFC veteran and former TKO featherweight champion Mark Hominick at WEC 32. Grispi looked crisp on his feet and effectively used low kicks and body kicks while landing the occasional power shot that had Hominick on the defensive. After working on the feet, Grispi dove in for a heel hook and then transitioned by getting Hominick’s back and sinking in a rear naked choke that made the UFC veteran pass out instantly.

After the biggest win of his young career, beating one of the better featherweights in the world at the time and in impressive fashion, Grispi would make his return to World Extreme Cagefi ghting at WEC 35, where he took on fellow young and upcoming featherweight Micah Miller; a highly anticipated fi ght because of the potential both young prospects had at the time.

Grispi wasted no time and took it to Miller, dropping him with a series of inside low kicks and continuing the onslaught once Miller got back to his feet. Suddenly Miller charged in with a combination and Grispi returned fi re with a big overhand right that dropped Miller, fi nishing him off with strikes as the referee charged in to stop the fi ght.

For someone so young and talented, Grispi has turned out to be quite a humble fi ghter; he truly enjoys fi ghting. When asked what is next for the young fi ghter, he replied, “Anything, I’ll fi ght anybody they’ll put in front of me.” No doubt, Josh Grispi has a bright future in the WEC, and just a couple of more wins should earn him the title shot he’s sure to desire. “I don’t care, I just love fi ghting and will fi ght anybody they put in front of me.”

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