Bowles Hopes to Avoid Scrambles, Chokes Against Faber

Brian Bowles says he must stick to the game plan against Urijah Faber at UFC 139. | Photo: Dave Mandel

He also knows sticking to the game plan is a must.

“Everybody always says you’ve got to go out there and execute your game plan, but this is really it,” Bowles told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Savage Dog Show.” “I’ve got to do what I’m best at and avoid getting in those scrambles with him, keep his arms off from around my neck -- he’s got a really good choke game -- and not be taken down and be on my back. Keep it standing and be on top as much as I can.”

Bowles believes he has the advantage standing, but a history of broken hands has changed his approach to striking.

“I’ve really worked on trying not to throw all my punches as hard as I can,” he said. “[I’ve been] trying to work on my speed, work on my combos and work on my technique. One of the reasons I broke my hand in the [Dominick] Cruz fight is I threw a sloppy punch. I didn’t throw it technically right. It doesn’t take me throwing my punches as hard as I can to knock somebody out. I think that just sets yourself up for more broken hands. I’ve really been trying to work on that in the gym, hitting pads and stuff.”

With that said, Bowles doesn’t expect to stay on the feet for the entire 15 minutes. At some point he thinks he’ll be in a bad spot on the ground, under Faber, but he wants to minimize how often and how long he’ll be down there.

“Odds are he’s going to end up on top at one point or another,” Bowles said. “All I can do is realize what he’s good at and know that he’s probably going to want to take me down. I’ve worked my wrestling in the camp, worked getting out from bottom, just worked a lot of clinching and boxing, burning my shoulders out and then having to box. I’ve really worked on all the stuff I feel like I need to do to win and to stay off bottom.”

Bowles has had plenty of time to scout his opponent. He was climbing toward the WEC bantamweight title while Faber was the promotion’s featherweight champion. Now both are in the UFC, in the 135-pound division, trying to get back to gold. With a win, Bowles could earn another shot at champion Dominick Cruz.

“It means everything to me,” Bowles said of winning a UFC belt. “It’s why I do it. I don’t want to come out here and fight and just be mediocre. The reason I step into the cage is to win and to keep winning and become champ, then to keep defending that belt and build a name for yourself, build a legacy. When it’s all over, said and done, and when I retire, I don’t want to just go away forgotten. I want to leave my mark on this sport and I think that’s how you do it.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 54:33).