In following up with my article from two weeks ago, “Can’t Just Jump Into MMA”, I wanted to  go into further depth on when a fighter should make the transition from amateur to pro.

Listen to the entire Nick Thompson interview here.

A meeting with newcomer Chad Mendes less than a week away, Erik Koch is looking to follow up on his victory at WEC 45 with a winning performance, which he feels would put him among the top contenders at 145. But despite his past successes and his undefeated record, the attention has largely been on Mendes, something that Koch has dealt with plenty in the past. His focus remains on moving up the ladder.

In a return to the WEC last December, lightweight Bart Palaszewski collected a close, split decision victory over Roufusport’s Anthony Pettis. USCS had an opportunity to catch up with Bart at the Midwest MMA Expo in Lac du Flambeau to talk about his extensive fight history, his time in the IFL, and where he sees himself in the WEC’s 155-pound division.

A stop at the Midwest MMA Expo earlier this month allotted some time for USCS to catch up with Dan Henderson, the newest signee to the ever-improving Strikeforce promotion. Confident a still indefinite April meeting with champion Jake Shields will result in a victory, “Hendo” is far from ruling out the desire to clash with both Gegard Mousasi and Fedor Emelianenko.