mixed-martial-arts-josh

JOSH ODOM

One of the Razorclaw’s Rising Stars

21 Sept. ’06, photos © IFL

Razorclaw lightweight fighter Josh Odom is resting up at home in Tallahassee, Florida, when the phone rings: “I was taking a nap. Jerry from IFL told me you were calling at 6pm, so I just woke up in time for the interview,” says Odom.

Last weekend Josh had an impressive victory when he scored a third-round TKO over Toronto Dragon’s Rob Di Censo at IFL: Gracie vs Miletich. Today Josh is celebrating the win by chilling out from his regular commitments. “I did a little swimming earlier, but I’m taking it pretty easy. I’m still fatigued from the fight, so I’ll probably take a week or two off and just do a little bit here and there.”

A sergeant with the 124^th Infantry Division of the Florida National Guard, Odom first took up a martial art when he was seven years old, and commenced training in Ed Parker’s Kenpo karate. “I did that growing up and I started doing the point-tournament competitions. I fought in the US Opens and some other tournaments – doing real well, before being deployed to Iraq (2003-2004) when I was twenty.

“At the time over there, I really didn’t have fighting on my mind too much, but I met a friend named Sean Connor and he started teaching me jiu jitsu. We were just doing it for fun – messing around. I was getting pretty good and started beating him. I realized I had a talent for it.”

It was while serving in Iraq that Josh and Sean became aware of the Ultimate Fighting Championships, which caused them to broaden their martial arts horizons with MMA. “When we were in Iraq, people sent us some UFCs, and we watched them in our free time. One of the first fighters I saw was Frank Shamrock and I was like, ‘Man, this guy’s amazing – the things he can do.’

“So while we were there I sent him an email and said, ‘Hey, if I make it through this thing here, and I get a chance, I’d like to come and train with you when I get back to the States.’ He sent me an email saying, ‘Sure, you’re more than welcome. As soon as you get back, give me a call and come train with us.’ I did that, and during my stay in California he asked me to try out for his team.”

Josh, what were your duties in Iraq?

“I was serving in the infantry. We were assigned a sector of Baghdad, and that was our neighborhood. We were the policemen of the area and did combat patrols.”

And now that you’re back in America, what’s it like having Frank Shamrock as your coach?

“Frank’s awesome. He’s an excellent coach who doesn’t beat you down: He’s always building you up. He’s a great friend and I couldn’t ask for a better coach.”

You were pretty happy when he asked you to join his team?

“Definitely. I had to go through a try-out process. That was tough. It was quite an honor to be invited on the team. It was funny – I was thinking I might have to get a job pretty soon because I’m going to be getting on with the police academy, starting in January. And I’m finishing my last semester right now at Florida State, doing criminology. Then I’m going to get married in April…So I was like, ‘I’ve gotta get a job and it looks like this is going to be the end of my short fighting career.’

“Fortunately Frank called me in July and gave me this opportunity for the IFL. I thought my future as a fighter was over, but it’s really just the beginning with the opportunity he’s given me.”

Do you tend to be more a striker or a grappler?

“I kinda go with the philosophy that I want to keep it on the feet as long as that’s working. I normally start every fight with strikes and if that’s working I’ll stay there, and if it’s not, then we’ll go to the ground. So I’d say I’m a striker first.”

With the Razorclaws being based in San Jose, California, do you get to train much with Frank and the team?

“Well we weren’t supposed to start until January; then we got rushed into this tournament championship pretty quick: I think it was Mark Coleman’s team who pulled out. And the IFL had an extra slot for us, so we had about a month to get together and try to make this thing happen. I went out to San Jose for the month and I trained for the fight.

“But I’m waiting to complete my last semester at Florida State and then I plan on moving out to San Jose in January. I still have a National Guard commitment in Florida, which means I have to balance that a little bit. Last summer I went to Frank’s gym for three months, and for a further month this year… I haven’t quite figured things out yet. I may go out there for two months and come back here for a month…”

Do you know when your next fight is likely to be?

“It’s looking like January.”

Josh, is there anything you’d like to add?

“Yes, that the IFL is a really good organization; they definitely take care of all our needs and treat us really well. I had a great time while I was there, and I just hope everything keeps going like this.”