David “Bull Dawg” Michaud (bottom row third from the right) poses with his teammates from TheLab in Phoenix, Ariz. Photo by Brandon Ecoffey
Oglala Sioux fighter ready to ‘throw hands’
By Brandon Ecoffey
Native Sun News Managing Editor PHOENIX –– It is fight week for Pine Ridge’s David “Bull Dawg” Michaud as he continues his run as a mixed martial artist under the banner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Despite the bright lights Michaud is more than ready to “walk in to the cage and get in a fist fight.” “I feel good. This has been my best fight camp ever. Every day I've been improving and going with some of the best guys in the world. It's starting to get to the last couple days and I know I'm more prepared than ever and all I have to do is show up to the fight and throw my hands at this guy,” said a fired up Michaud. Michaud (7-1) has been one of the most successful mixed martial artists to ever emerge from the wrestling hot spot that is South Dakota, but the Oglala Sioux fighter is far from satisfied with only being invited to the party. In his fight on Dec. 13 he will be opposite of Garrett Whitely. Whitely (7-2) is a product of Indyboxing and Grappling of Indianapolis, and comes in to the fight trying to kick to the curb a 2 fight skid in the UFC. Although Michaud is coming off the first loss of his professional career he does enter the fight knowing that he will have several of his teammates to keep the former South Dakota Class A wrestling champion focused. “I have been going through this camp with a few other guys, Bryan Barberena and former title contenders Joe Riggs and John Moraga. It's great to see how people at their level prepare and Bryan and I have been working hard every morning getting ready. Having teammates there to push you definitely makes everything easier.” The fight will also take place near Michaud’s training camp at The Lab in Phoenix, Ariz. meaning that Michaud will be able to lean on the experience of his teammate and former UFC lightweight champion Ben Henderson leading up to fight night. Although Henderson’s experience may prove to be invaluable on fight night, Michaud says that the work ethic of Henderson has taken his conditioning to an entirely different level allowing him to continue to develop his strength as an aggressive submission minded grappler. “Ben gives me great practices. I’ve been wrestling with Ben and he’s pushing my grappling cardio,” said Michaud. “I’m just trying to keep pace with him because no one has a gas tank like him.” It has yet to be determined if Michaud will be featured on the nationally televised portion of the card. Check local listing in your area for the finally lineup for UFC on Fox 13. (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at:ecoffeyb@gmail.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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