A Mature Stevenson Inches Closer to The Lightweight Title

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By Thomas Gerbasi

When you’ve been a pro fighter since the age of 16, and have gone through nine years of seeing pretty much everything there is to see and hearing everything you could possibly hear when it comes to the sport of mixed martial arts, nothing really fazes you too much.

So when Melvin Guillard put the full court trash talk press on Joe Stevenson before their April fight in Las Vegas, Stevenson refused to take ‘The Young Assassin’s bait, opting instead to keep his mind – and his mouth – on the fight.

“I treated him like my kids,” laughed the father of three when asked how he dealt with the bashing he took from Guillard. “I didn’t listen to him and told him what I wanted him to do.”

Then the bell rang, and as Guillard charged, Stevenson calmly stuck to his gameplan, briefly dropping his foe with a left hand. He then dodged some bombs, took Guillard to the mat, and choked him out with a guillotine choke.

It took all of 27 seconds.

And while the post-fight interview could have been the place for Stevenson to dish out some verbal payback, he didn’t, instead saying, “I was nervous with his athletic ability and explosiveness and it could have gone just as fast the other way.”

Is this guy for real? How could he not want to fire back when insulted by his opponent?

“I guess it depends on the timing,” Stevenson explains. “If I was having a bad day and that would have happened, I’m sure I would have been very, very different. If I walk up to you with a subpoena that you’re getting sued, you would be very upset. But if I walked up to you with it after you won the Lotto, you’re really not gonna care. (Laughs) Everything’s timing.”

A dose of maturity never hurts either.

“I’ve had a lot of stuff happen to me in my life that’s aged me,” he said. “I’m sure I’ve got a few gray hairs. Three kids will make you grow up pretty fast, and I guess that’s where that comes from. I can be a big kid just like anyone else; it’s just that I choose the right time to be that kid.”

That time hasn’t been when the bell rings, as evidenced by Stevenson’s rapid ascension up the lightweight ranks after he won the second season of The Ultimate Fighter’s welterweight division, dropped a close decision to Josh Neer, and then went down to 155 pounds, where he is currently 3-0 in the division. And though he didn’t get to show his complete arsenal against Guillard earlier this year, he’s not complaining.

“I’m sad that the fans didn’t get the fight they wanted, per se,” he said. “My fans were happy. There were four types of people watching that fight. There were the people who wanted to see a brawl, the people who wanted to see Melvin win, the people who wanted to see me win, and the people who just wanted to see Melvin lose. To the people who wanted to see me win, they saw me win, I did my job and they were happy. The people who wanted to see a brawl, I feel bad for. And the people who were Melvin’s fans, I’m sorry I disappointed you. But I was glad I didn’t get hit – it was the second fight I haven’t got hit in. I’m trying to stay as good looking as I can in this game.”

And with the exception of a bloody battle with Yves Edwards that made it into the second round before the Octagonside doctor halted the bout, Stevenson hasn’t been sticking around long, with the 27 second win over Guillard preceded by a 2:07 win over Dokonjonosuke Mishima, with both fights ending via guillotine choke.

“It’s kinda like that bully headlock,” said Stevenson, 32-7. “I lock on to that bad boy and I’ve got it, so I’m pretty happy with it.”

So with all this success at 155 pounds, the question is, will he be extended and tested by his UFC 74 opponent, Kurt Pellegrino, on August 25th?

“I think Kurt’s very tough and gifted in a lot of different aspects,” said Stevenson. “I think stylistically we match up pretty well. I think I might have the better grappling ability and wrestling, so I think he’s in for a rude awakening.”

Should we expect to see more of Stevenson’s standup attack, which he has been threatening to reveal for a few fights now?

“Maaaaybe,” he chuckles. “What someone does in the fight all depends on where the fight takes place, game plan, and what is he good at, what is he not. Sometimes you’re gonna see me stand and sometimes you’re gonna see me take it to the ground. And when I take it to the ground I want you to be impressed and when I stand I want you to think the same thing.”

Plus, he adds that we did get a brief taste of his improving striking game in the Guillard fight.

“I did drop him with a jab and I did close the distance without getting hit, and I think he had thrown five or six punches and I was able to slip, roll, and continue getting on the inside,” he said. “So that’s good.”

With a win over Pellegrino later this month, Stevenson would have to be on the short list to battle for the UFC Lightweight Title, something “Joe Daddy” definitely agrees with, but that he won’t think about until it actually happens.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if I got a title shot after this fight,” he admits. “But I’ve got to win this fight first, and I’m sure Kurt’s got thoughts against that, so I’ve got a war in front of me. The title is not in front of me, but it’s ahead of me, and I’ll get there after this fight.”

It’s the kind of attitude, coupled with his deadpan humor and work ethic in the gym that has made him a favorite, not only among fans, but among his peers, who hold him in high regard. As expected, he doesn’t beat his chest when this topic is brought up, instead answering with a joke.

“I pay them,” he says. “I send out quarterly checks just so they can say good things about me. Did you get yours? It’s in the mail.”

Seriously though, he enjoys being spoken of in a positive manner, while not dwelling too much on it.

“I’m definitely glad it’s there and I try not to think about stuff like that,” he admits. “You don’t want to get a big head. Being married and having a wife will ground you pretty much. Anytime you get a big head, they pop it. (Laughs)”

Losing fights will also knock the ol’ ego down a few pegs, but that’s not in Joe Stevenson’s plans. As for what the future does hold for the 25-year old Las Vegas resident, he’s got an idea, but he’s not talking.

“I’m a very optimistic person, but you don’t know where you’re gonna be,” he explains. “You have an idea of where you’re going to be in a year, an idea of where you’re gonna be in three years. You know what you want to be and what you want to do, but it all depends on what God’s plan is for you.”

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