It will either be redemption or repetition when the "The Brown Tiger" Mike Quintero (5-1 MMA) and Jack "The Outlaw" May (10-6 MMA) faceoff again for the LXF heavyweight title.
Controversy surrounded their first meeting last December, as it appeared that May went to sleep from a Quintero choke hold at the end of the first round, only to bounce back to his feet and protest referee Mike Bell’s stoppage.
Eager to set the record straight, May has been pining for a rematch with Quintero, who is equally motivated to prove his win was not a fluke.
"I’m not satisfied with the way I got the win the first time. The boos, jeers and confusion of the crowd pissed me off and stole my moment," said Quintero. "I’m going to show all my weapons this time and end it with a clean finish."
Quintero, who moonlights as a kinesiology professor for sports and movement science at Los Angeles City College, will be looking to teach May a lesson or two in their rematch.
"It’s difficult to balance my life as a professor, but totally worth it. Time management is key," said Quintero, a 43-year-old from Pico Rivera, California. "Most of my students think my life outside of teaching is cool, but many think I'm crazy."
The 6-foot-8-inch May has years of cage experience fighting in the UFC, Bellator, PFL and K-1 Grand Prix in the past against the likes Derrick Lewis. The 38-year-old former basketball player is an athletic and agile striker who will bring a five-inch height advantage into the cage against Quintero.
"I felt cheated in our first fight," said May. "I was in a tough spot but I never tapped or went out. I made it to the bell. I can accept my losses, learn from them and move on. I plan on taking the referee completely out of the equation this time and ending things with my own hands."
