A Man on a Mission; James Giboo is Ready to Prove It

A Man on a Mission; James Giboo is Ready to Prove It

By Randy Thomas
 
A high school science teacher by day, James Giboo’s precious free times consists of coaching wrestling and baseball, spending time with his two children, his wife Kelly, and kicking ass!  His mixed martial arts career began in 2004 with a first round submission of MCC’s former middleweight champion, Mike “Mini Van” Van Meer.  He racked up several wins, none of which, made it out of the first round, and he eventually caught the eye of UFC’s matchmaker, Joe Silva.  Finally ready for the big show, Giboo was pitted against IFL veteran, “Bad” Brad Blackburn at UFC’s Ultimate Fight Night: “Silva vs. Irwin”.  He lost.  Now, he’s ready to do it all over again.
 
James Giboo was born in Franklinville, New York where he grew up wrestling.  He was the New York state tournament of Champions runner up and wrestled throughout college.  Mixed martial arts was the natural transition because the competition was one on one and relying on his fierce drive was something that always inspired Giboo.  Standing five feet eleven inches and chiseled the the bone even on his worst day, Giboo is an intimidating figure who is willing to mix it up and grind out victories whether on the feet or the ground.
 
When he moved to Des Moines, he recalls his early days of MMA training and his first experience.
 
“I like to push myself and see what I am made of. It is all about mental toughness and the love to compete. I started wrestling when I was in second grade, wrestled on and off through elementary school and wrestled full time in high school and college. I started training everything else when I moved to Des Moines seven years ago.  I trained at the Des Moines Mixed Martial Arts Academy with Josh Neer and Anthony Porcelli.  I had only trained a couple months when Josh Neer asked me to fight on his show against Mike Van Meer. I won the fight by putting him to sleep.  He was a tough guy, and I thought if I could do that to him, I could do it to others.  I was hooked.  After that fight I have trained full time when I was not injured.”
 
Throughout the years Giboo has had his share of ups and downs and most fighters experience.  Nagging injuries that turn more serious is a fact of life that mixed martial artists endure and come to expect.

“Injuries have been a major problem for me since I started wrestling in college. I just seem to get freak injuries that have caused me to miss major amounts of time. I have had anything from a bulging disc, torn Achilles, broken ankle, ribs, the list goes on.  This fight at MCC 28 is so important to me because the last time I competed I fought with a broken ankle. I had a terrible performance, lost the fight and feel like I let too many people down.  I want to win and prove that my loss was the result of an injury- not the fighter I am.”
 
Now training at Des Moines Jiu Jitsu Academy where he is also a wrestling instructor, Giboo has a bevy of qualified training partners, including Kevin ” The Fire” Burns, who will compete alongside Giboo at MCC 28.  Giboo is set to take on fellow wrestler and MCC newcomer, Cole Williams.
 
“I really don’t know much about him as far as fighting goes yet. I know he is a really good wrestler so I would assume he will use his strong point to try and control the fight.  I am coming to win, so I really don’t care what his game plan is.  I know what I am capable of, and when I fight to my full potential, it’s going to be impossible for his to beat me.  I am very focused right now, so come August 6, he had better be prepared to go to war.”
 
Giboo started his MMA career with the highest expectation in mind; make it to the UFC.  He did that.  Now, he starts his journey back to the top, and a win over Williams is the first step to, once again, fulfill that goal.
 
“Making the UFC was a dream come true. I used to tell people in college that I was going to fight there some day and they all laughed at me. I train hard everyday so I can get back there and get a second chance to prove myself.  I will be back.  I know it.”
 
MCC 28: “Impact” takes place Friday, August6 at Vets Auditorium.  Tickets are available on-line at www.MidwestCageChampionship.com, by phone at 515-229-8566 or at all Dahl’s ticket outlets.  For more information about the the fight card, fighter blogs, interviews and video’s, check out the web site.

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