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UFC ON VERSUS

--THE SAVAGE SCIENCE will present live play by play coverage of UFC on VERSUS on March 21 live from the FirstBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. Join us for the BEST live fight narrative in the world–the action begins 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific!

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DREAM 13

--THE SAVAGE SCIENCE will present live play by play coverage of DREAM 13 coming to you from the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on March 22. Join us for the BEST live fight narrative in the world–the action begins 3 AM Eastern/12 AM Pacific!

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STRIKEFORCE: CHALLENGERS

--THE SAVAGE SCIENCE will present live play by play coverage of STRIKEFORCE: CHALLENGERS on March 26 live from the SavMart Center in Fresno, CA. Join us for the BEST live fight narrative in the world–the action begins 10 PM Eastern/7 PM Pacific!

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UFC 111: GSP VS. HARDY

--THE SAVAGE SCIENCE will present live play by play coverage of UFC 111: St. Pierre vs. Hardy live from the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on March 27. The event will be headlined by a welterweight title fight between Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy and feature a heavyweight showdown between Frank Mir and Shane Carwin! Join us for the BEST live fight narrative in the world–the action begins 10 PM Eastern/7 PM Pacific!

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UFC FIGHT NIGHT: FLORIAN VS. GOMI

--THE SAVAGE SCIENCE will present live play by play coverage of UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi live from the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC on March 31. The event will be headlined by a lightweight battle between Kenny Florian and Takanori Gomi. Join us for the BEST live fight narrative in the world–the action begins 8:00 PM Eastern/5:00 PM Pacific!

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BELLATOR XIII

--THE SAVAGE SCIENCE will present live play by play coverage of Bellator Fighting XIII live from the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida on April 8. Join us for the BEST live fight narrative in the world–the action begins 7:30 PM Eastern/4:30 PM Pacific!

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BELLATOR XIV

--THE SAVAGE SCIENCE will present live play by play coverage of Bellator Fighting XIV live from the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois on April 15. Join us for the BEST live fight narrative in the world–the action begins 7:30 PM Eastern/4:30 PM Pacific!

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STRIKEFORCE: NASHVILLE

--THE SAVAGE SCIENCE will present live play by play coverage of Strikeforce: Nashville live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN on April 17. The event will be headlined by a middleweight title fight between Jake Shields and Dan Henderson and feature the US debut of Japanese submission god Shinya Aoki! Join us for the BEST live fight narrative in the world–the action begins 10 PM Eastern/7 PM Pacific!

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MFC 25: VINDICATION

--THE SAVAGE SCIENCE will present live play by play coverage of MFC 25: Vindication live from the Edmonton Expo Center in Edmonton, Alberta on April 17. Join us for the BEST live fight narrative in the world–the action begins 10 PM Eastern/7 PM Pacific!

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“If you go by the rules, you end up being an accountant.”

Robert Evans

Lambert ventures into new territory

Written by Ralph Gonzalez   |   Wednesday, September 03 2008

Jason Lambert makes his middleweight debut Saturday at UFC 88.

Ralph Gonzalez talks with Octagon vet Jason Lambert, who'll make his middleweight debut against Jason McDonald at UFC 88.

What’s great about living in southern California if you’re a boxing or M.M.A. writer is that fighters and gyms are abundant in this part of the country. Even better for me personally is the fact that a management company called the North County Fight Club has sprung up in the last couple years not too far from where I make my home.

Just like that, one call, one text later and I was in touch with UFC veteran Jason “The Punisher” Lambert (23-8) who makes his first foray into the middleweight division against Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald (20-10) on Saturday as part of “UFC 88: Breakthrough” from Atlanta, Georgia.

Having more than thirty fights to his credit against top fighters in the world like Tim Sylvia and Renato “Babalu” Sobral has given the San Diego resident a taste of what it’s like to go up against some of the biggest boys in the world of M.M.A. He fought the 6 foot eight Sylvia as a heavyweight. Literally, a tall order for Lambert who stands at 5 foot ten. Sylvia was his third opponent in the tournament which took place in April of 2002. Lambert lost by TKO in the last minute of the fight against the man who would later become the UFC Heavyweight champion.

It’s been a long and interesting ride for the single father of one who never imagined he’d be involved in the fight game. “I was into drafting,” Lambert said. “I though I was going to be an engineer or something like that. Once I took a Jiu Jitsu class I was hooked and that eventually led to this.” He made his debut on February 18, 2001 with a win by submission over Jorge Lavama.

He put together some meaningful wins but it was a loss to Chael Sonnen in November 2003 that really tested Lambert for the first time in his career. “All my fights have had their difficulties. I was fighting guys at 205 and higher. It was the fight with Chael that really pushed me to the limit,” Lambert recalled. He lost a three round decision. “He was put in as a replacement and I was training for someone else. It was very grueling. It’s when I found out that I could go hard for three rounds.”

After that loss, Lambert went through an impressive eight win tear as he defeated the likes of Marvin Eastman, Travis Wiuff, Rob McDonald, Terry Martin and Branden Lee Hinkle. The successful run was broken by Rashad Evans who defeated Lambert by stoppage in the second round. He came back with one of his biggest victories against the well regarded Brazilian Renato Sobral at 205 lbs. whom he defeated by knockout on UFC 68.

But it’s his last two fights, both of them losses by stoppage to Luis Cane and Wilson Gouveia which have created some doubts about the thirty year old. It was then that Lambert felt a change was necessary. You don’t stay in the U.F.C. by compiling losses on your record. Lambert hopes that dropping from light heavyweight to middleweight will even out some of the size advantages his foes usually enjoy. “I’ve competed with the bigger guys and more than held my own,” Lambert said. “Now I’ll be fighting guys that are a lot closer to my natural size.”

There’s no room in the U.F.C. for “gatekeepers”. Lambert knows he has to win, preferably in impressive fashion. “I’m looking to make a statement at 185 lbs. I know it won’t be easy against MacDonald. He’s definitely a tough guy,” Lambert said. “But I’m ready for him and I’m ready to get back on the winning track.”

Lambert asserts that his training has been more intense than ever. He feels physically ready for the challenge. “I feel great. I feel strong. I feel faster. I think I’m going to do well at this weight,” Lambert said. “Dropping down in weight is something I’ve been thinking about for a while so I said why not? I want to see what I can do at this division and how far I can take it.”

The current 185 pound crop is stacked with talent but few have developed the experience and mental toughness that Lambert has after having taken on some of the top light heavyweights and heavyweights the sport has to offer. If he wins, it could open up a whole new world of possibilities. Maybe a title shot? “Who knows? If I win impressively, then I’ll be right in the mix,” Lambert said. “Going down in weight isn’t easy but nothing worth-while is. This is going to take me to another level.”

Jason “The Punisher” Lambert vs. Jason MacDonald is part of Saturday’s U.F.C. Pay Per View card headlined by Chuck Liddell taking on Rashad Evans from Atlanta, Georgia.

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