Fighter to make UFC debut on home turf
Edmonton’s Boser has been all over the world in pursuit of cage competition
When someone is willing to pack his bags and fly to Chechnya for a cage fight, it tells you all you need to know about his competitive spirit and passion for the sport.
Tanner Boser will take on anyone, anywhere, any time. No place is too sketchy or too far away.
So, no, he isn’t at all freaked out about making his UFC debut in his own back yard.
“It’s a cool experience to do this in my home city,” said the 27-yearold heavyweight, who will open UFC 240 Saturday against undefeated Brazilian Giacomo Lemos (6-0).
“It’s awesome. There is a lot of stuff going through my mind. I’m ready to go. I’m pretty calm going into my debut. I’m ready to get it done.”
Boser (16-5-1) is asked a lot if making it to the UFC is the culmination of a lifelong dream, and the answer is always the same: No.
It’s cool. It’s a great experience and a good opportunity, but for him it’s never been about the trappings, just the fight.
“Being in the UFC was never a dream, it was a never a singular focus,” said the 6-foot-2, 260 pounder, who is originally from Bonnyville. “I just wanted to fight the best guys, be the best I could. I wanted to be good.
“I like the competitive aspect of it. I like the process. Wherever I am I just want to be considered a good fighter.”
Having said that, he knows that Saturday night is going to be something special. Although, as he is quick to point out, any time you climb those steps and they close the gate behind you, it’s a special occasion.
“It’s paradoxical. Every fight is just another fight, but your next fight is always your biggest fight. This is my biggest fight, but at the same time, whatever, it’s just another fight. I’m not going to let any sort of extra pressure or a bigger platform put extra pressure on me. I’ve fought a lot, and I’ve fought in a lot of crazy circumstances. This is a big deal, but it’s not.”
When you’ve squared off in Australia, England, Kazakhstan, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, as Boser has, you learn to deal with any situation. This is no different.
“It’s been cool. I’ve been all over the place. You just have to take the opportunities when they come. If it’s a short-notice fight in some borderline Third-world place, whatever, just do it. You take the opportunities.”
Even when they seem a little scary.
“Fighting in Chechnya was pretty wild,” he said. “It’s a place where people don’t just go. Same with Ingushetia, another republic in Russia. I cornered my training partner there and that was definitely a different place as well. We’ve been to some crazy places.”
What’s Chechnya like, for those of us who never plan on going there? Can you go for a leisurely stroll around town? Take in the sights?
“You can, you just have to be careful, stay in your lane,” said Boser, adding things were kind of smoothed over before the fighters arrived.
“The dictator puts out a broadcast telling citizens that any foreigners there at that time are there for the fights, and he puts on the fights himself, so they have to be nice.”
This time he just has to drive across town, which is nice. As for his 6-0 opponent, Boser is expecting a serious, well-rounded challenge.
“I watched his last two fights and he’s good all around. He’s got credentials everywhere. He’s comfortable no matter where the fight goes.
“But I think my experience is going to pay off. I’ve had a lot of tough fights. Professionally I’ve fought 22 times. He’s only had six. I think he’s good, but I think the fact I’ve been in a lot of tough fights is going to play to my advantage.”
LOVE AT FIRST FIGHT
Cris Cyborg never planned on being a fighter. She was more into track-and-field and handball growing up, but the sport kind of found her and they’ve been together ever since.
“Somebody watching me play handball said I could be a great fighter,” she said. “So I started training. The first fight (in 2005) was to see if I liked it or didn’t like it.”
She lost that first fight, rather gruesomely, but it was enough to sink the hooks in her.
“I dislocated my elbow on the floor when I tried kicking her in the head.”
And, for some unexplained reason, she knew right then and there that this was the sport for her.
“I said I’m born for this. I like to do this. I want to come back.”