Conor Heun Putting Everything on the Line at Saturday’s Strikeforce

Conor Heun (courtesy of ConorHeun.com)

After suffering back-to-back losses for the first time in his career, Strikeforce lightweight Conor Heun has taken steps to ensure his return to the promotion this Saturday will go differently.

“I’m not one to keep doing the same thing and expect different results,” Heun told MMAWeekly.com. “I packed up everything and left Hollywood, drove out to New Mexico, and am living on (Donald) ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone’s ranch up in Edgewood and began training at (Greg) Jackson’s with the best fighters in the world.

“I’ve sacrificed just about everything to make this happen. I’m single-minded in pursuit of the goal of being the best. I think when I step in the cage this Saturday night; people are going to see an entirely different fighter.”

Heun also employed the help of his brother Aaron, a professional cyclist, to develop a workout that’s going to allow him to push the pace for a full 15 minutes if need be without gassing out.

“He sort of explained to me the science of lactate threshold and VO2 Max and how to build up your body’s ability to process lactic acid and expand the amount of oxygen you’re able to get to your muscles,” said Heun. “With him sort of at the helm of my cardio; I feel better than I ever have.”

While he’s made changes to his game, do not think that means he’s changed his fight philosophy.

“I lost both my fights with Strikeforce and they re-signed me to a contract, and it’s certainly not because I back up and avoid people,” he said. “I go out there to smash people and prove that I’m better than him.

“When I go out there and the door closes and the bell rings, I’m looking to establish my dominance and show the other guy that he made a mistake in signing that dotted line to face me. I think anybody that’s ever fought me will tell you that win or lose, they were in a war.”

Such is the mentality he’s carrying into his bout with the debuting Magno Almeida on the HDNet televised Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum undercard from Dallas on Saturday night.

“I know he has excellent jiu-jitsu – definitely the best jiu-jitsu of anyone I’ve fought – but to the best of my knowledge, that’s gi-based jiu-jitsu, and I’m not wearing a gi in the cage,” said Heun. “I’m going out there, bite down on my mouthpiece, and throw bombs.

“If Magno isn’t up to speed, it won’t be a war; it will be a real quick night. If he’s training and he’s as bad as they say he is, then it looks like we’re going to war.”

Never one to back down from a challenge, Heun saw his own limitations as such and aggressively eliminated them so he could begin to move up the 155-pound ladder and inspire others.

“Come out to the fight or check it out on HDNet,” he closed out. “Follow me on Twitter @ConorHeun and stay in touch and let me know what you think.

“I’ve never been in a boring fight, and come fight day I’m looking to go out there and shine and inspire people to chase their dreams; the winning and losing come second.”