Cuddles Looks to Take Title from Cyborg

While some will look at Jan Finney’s 8-7 record and dismiss her as fodder against the likes of Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, let me inform you that you should look deeper in to the record than just wins and losses. Finney has not lost since a 2008 decision to Erin Toughill, Cyborg’s original opponent and current number one contender in the weight division. Since then she has reeled off four wins since October of 2009. Without question Saturday night will be her toughest fight to date, but Finney is getting better with every fight.

Jan Finney entered MMA in 2004 after playing softball in college. Jan stated, “When I got out I was looking for something to stay competitive. One day I saw this Martial Arts demo, it was pretty cool. These guys were choking each other, the instructor was Chris Benevides, and I went to his gym and signed up. About a year later I had my first MMA fight.”

She would win that fight by decision.

Many fans have questioned her about her nickname – Cuddles – and while she is not a fan of the nickname herself, she does like how it may look on the marquee this Saturday. “I got in the gym. I was sparring with men and I hurt a couple of them in the same night. One of the guys called me cuddles and it stuck. I really don't like it, but do have to say Cuddles vs. Cyborg sounds pretty cool.”

On paper Saturday’s fight looks like a tailor-made match-up for Santos with an inferior opponent, but fights are not fought on paper. Cyborg’s opponent, Jan “Cuddles” Finney, will come from relative obscurity to step up for the biggest fight in her career. And while some will look at her 8-7 record and disregard her chances on Saturday, don’t tell Jan that.

“I am hearing that I am the underdog, but I love being the underdog. No one thinks I can win, that is great for me. I have no pressure on me,” says Finney, “I am fighting the champ, and this is MMA. Funny things can happen. I have had my best camp I have ever had, I am ready to fight. My cardio is great, I am hitting very hard.”

The 8-7 record consists of a poor 2007 for Finney as she lost all four of her fights in that year. But those fights consisted of bouts against three of the top fighters in the division: Miesha Tate, Julie Kedzie, and Shayna Baszler. Since 2007 Finney has reeled off a 5-1 record, winning her last four in a row. Jan learned that fighting is more than stepping in to the cage: “I am just becoming a complete MMA fighter. I have a lot of experience now traveling, cutting weight, eating right, sleeping in hotels - which take a while to get use too. I have been getting so much better.”

Cuddles shows no fear when it comes to accepting fights against the big-name opponents. She accepted this fight without knowing anything: the date, the venue, or even the purse. She knew an opportunity such as this only comes once in a lifetime. She understands the importance that her fight will have on women’s mixed martial arts as a whole.

“I think this [fight] is huge,” Finney says, “Fedor is the best fighter in the world and so many people will be watching because of him. I would love to be on an all women’s show on TV. I think this would help [expand] women's MMA.”

The Ohio native has a stiff task ahead of her this Saturday night in San Jose against the consensus number one fighter in the division. However, for all of Cyborg’s accolades of being a devastating striker, it is Finney who has two pure KO victories to her record. Cyborg has overwhelmed her oppoents to the point of the referee stopping the fight or the opponent's corner throwing in the towel. If Finney can weather the storm that Cyborg will bring into the cage, she may only need to land one clean shot on the button to turn off the lights and be crowned the new Strikeforce champion.

“She is very aggressive, hits hard, great ground, a complete MMA fighter. I do not think this style ‘favors’ me, but I do say I like it,” Cuddles continues, “I know what she is going to do, she is going to come out strong and try to KO me, well I have the same plan. I am ready to bang with her.”

For those who don’t know Jan Finney, watch Strikeforce on Saturday night on Showtime – she promises to bring the action.

“I have no quit in me. I am going to meet Cyborg in the middle of cage and I am not going to back up, and I know she is not either. Tune in to see what happens,” Finney states, “You will see the best Jan Finney this Saturday on Strikeforce.”

Strikeforce emanates from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California this Saturday night. Tickets are still on sale at www.ticketmaster.com and will air on Showtime at 10:00p.m. ET. Stay tuned to WomenTalkSports.com all week long for Strikeforce coverage! Friday we will be live at the weigh-ins, and we will bring a live chat and play-by-play from HP Pavilion on Saturday night!

You can keep up with Jan at www.JanFinney.com

Jan Finney would like to thank:
My trainers Mike Patt, and Jon Stutzman. My manager, Wade Hampel. And all my sponsors: Clinch Gear, Cage Candy, Cage Walker, MMA Girls, Doctor Mark and Red Arme.

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• Filed Under:  
• MMA, Sports, SportsPLUS, Events

• Tags:
• mma
• Cyborg
• Strikeforce
• Finney
• Fedor

This post is related to an event on our Calendar:

• Strikeforce M1 Global presents Cris "Cyborg" Santos vs. Jan "Cuddles" Finney

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Title9

Shocking Cyborg again fights an under sized opponent. Carano was the only legit 145 opponent she's faced and even so Carano should be 135 same as Marloes Coenen. Finney was a 135 fighter up until this fight, so she increases her weight 10% just to get to 145 while Cyborg probably fought at about 150-155. Remember when she fought Hitomi Akano and came in nearly 6 pounds overweight.

Two factors play into this of course. 1. Fighting Cyborg is probably the biggest payday in women's MMA. 2. Cyborg's handlers know to maintain her image as unbeatable they need to dodge fighters that are close to Cyborgs weight. It's kind of like Fedor not joining the UFC, dodging better fighters to preserve the image.

Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 1:03am PDT