Man at work to win over his home crowd
story by Dan Nancarrow from Brisbane Times .com.au
December 14, 2010
Brisbane-trained fighter Kyle Noke expects a huge response to his entrance song when he takes part in his first UFC appearance on Australian shores next year.
Noke, who makes his way to the stage with Men At Work’s Down Under thundering over the speakers, expects a massive reaction from the crowd when the Ultimate Fighting Championships return to Australia in February.
“I come out to all my fights to that now and I always get a good reaction, even in Germany I got a big response to that song,” he said.
“It gets me amped up for the fight as a very proud Australian. I can’t wait to hear the response when I come out to that in Sydney.”
The UFC will return to Sydney’s Acer Arena on February 27 after a record-breaking debut show earlier this year.
Headlining the card is a bout between former two division champion BJ Penn and welterweight wrestling star Jon Fitch.
Brash English fighter Michael Bisping will make his second trip to Australia to fight former Ultimate Fighter reality TV contestant Jorge Rivera.
While rising lightweight contender, Australia’s George Sotiropoulos, will pit his elite ground skills against Germany’s Dennis Siver.
Noke has made it on to his first UFC main card in a showdown with Ultimate Fighter cast-mate Chris Camozzi.
But the main card sport didn’t come easily for the Sunshine Coast-raised and New Mexico-based fighter.
“Before my fight in Germany they told me they’ll put me on the Australian card if I win and then they said if I finish it before the end of the fight they’ll put me on the main card,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to get a second round win.”
Noke was filming the Ultimate Fighter in the US when UFC 110 was held in front of a sell-out crowd at the 18,000-capacity Acer Arena in February this year.
Cut off from the rest of the world in a Las Vegas mansion, he and the other fighters were allowed to view the event direct from Sydney.
“I had goosebumps just watching it on TV,” Noke said.
“I remember I was thinking someday I would love to do that, fight in a UFC main card in Australia.
“A year later I am doing it and it’s a dream come true.”
With a record of 2-0 in the organisation Noke’s attention will now turn to adding Camozzi to his list of UFC victories.
Noke said Camozzi won his initial fight to enter the Ultimate Fighter house but had to leave because of a broken jaw.
“He was only on the show for a couple of weeks so I didn’t get to see too much of him but he’s been on a tear since then, he’s won his last two fights,” he said.
“He’s a big strong guy and it’s a fight that I’m looking forward to.”
Noke will fly back to the US at the end of the month to begin training with MMA svengali Greg Jackson’s camp in New Mexico.
He will return to Australia prior to the February fight to complete his training at Integrated Martial Arts in Brisbane.
