It’s a hot August morning that’s quickly transforming into an unbearable August afternoon.
But inside the Glendale Fighting Club, Alberto Crane is anything but distracted by the heat — in fact, he’s creating his own.
Endlessly he’s pushing, punching, stretching and running. His camo workout shorts and red short-sleeve shirt get darker and darker with sweat. When his floor exercises are finally through, he peels his shirt away, absolutely exhausted and absolutely content.
“I love training hard and the way I feel, it makes me happy,” he says. “I have to do this — no regrets.”
On this particular morning, there are no more than four people at a time in the small, corner gym — including Crane and gym proprietor and trainer Edmond Tarverdyan. But on Saturday night, Crane will step onto the biggest stage in the sport of mixed-martial arts when he fights lightweight contender Roger Huerta in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
He will walk out in front of nearly 20,000 screaming fight fans at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, all of them gathered for UFC 74: Respect.
“I’ve been in some high-profile events before, so I think that helps me,” says Crane, a former King of the Cage title holder. “I feel good about it, God willing, I’ll stay calm. I’m just gonna go out there and do my best.”
The UFC is, without reservation, the biggest MMA organization in the world, though. And it’s taken the 31-year-old Crane a long time to get there.
Just out of high school, he began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitzu.
“I fell in love with it,” says the BJJ Black Belt and 2002 World Champion.
His jiu-jitsu prowess transferred well into the mixed-martial arts world. In June of 2002, Crane debuted in his native New Mexico, winning via choke — winning by submission.
It was the first of seven submission wins, as Crane built an 8-0 record — with only one bout going to decision.
Talks with the UFC came and went and Crane hasn’t fought an MMA fight in over two years now.
“I wasn’t really committed to MMA,” he says. “I kept fighting, trying to find my desire.”
Grappling and jiu-jitsu competitions and teaching his art kept him busy.
Then, “I married an Armenian girl,” and Crane, now a proud father of a three-month-old son, made his way to Glendale five months ago.
