Everything rolling in the right direction for Crane

Mixed martial arts: Glendale fighter wins second straight fight in New Mexico via first-round submission.

Friday, October 24, 2008 - By Grant Gordon - Glendale News Press

GLENDALE — While 2008 began inauspiciously for mixed martial arts fighter Alberto Crane, the year certainly seems to be ending on a high note for the Glendale resident.

With his wife expecting and his own business soon to open, the 32-year-old now finds himself on a two-fight winning streak, as well.

Crane improved to 10-3 in his MMA career with a first-round submission of Richard Villes on Saturday at Eminent Domain Productions’ “Breaking Point” at the Santa Ana Star Center in New Mexico.

“I’m definitely headed that way,” said Crane of getting his MMA career back on track. “I definitely feel I belong with the best.”

After exchanging strikes standing, Crane used a left hook to allow him to shoot in and secure a takedown with a double-leg early in the lightweight (155 pounds) fight. Villes (4-3) attempted a knee bar, but Crane was quick to sink in a rear-naked choke for the tapout less than two minutes into the fight.

“I knew if it went to the ground, I’d be able to tap him,” said Crane, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, who’s won nine of his fights by way of submission.”

Crane has now won his last two fights — both in the first round — after losing three in a row.

He began the year with a loss in January to Kurt Pellegrino at UFC Fight Night 12 and then lost a decision to Simon Marini on a small-circuit show in June. But things have turned in Crane’s favor as of late.

Crane and his wife, who already have a son, are expecting twins in November. He’s also scheduled to open his own training school in December at an Encino location.

On top of that, the busy Crane is training all over, whether it’s Muay Thai kickboxing in Pasadena, boxing in Hollywood, his overall MMA game with the renowned Team Quest or locally here in Glendale.

“I definitely focused on my striking and some wrestling,” Crane said. “Just MMA, putting it all together.”

It’s helped him to the aforementioned consecutive victories. The first came on Aug. 2 against Adrian Valdez. On the same card, Villes got a technical-knockout win over Drew Fickett, a seven-fight UFC veteran.

“The guy had some hype,” said Crane of Villes coming into Saturday’s fight. “I thought he got lucky with Drew.”

If there was anything to expose, Crane certainly did so.

While he said he’s here in Glendale to stay, Crane is still a big draw in New Mexico, where he made a name for himself, starting his MMA career with an 8-0 record and claiming the King of the Cage title along the way.

Both of his wins have come as a main-event attraction and he’s tentatively scheduled to return to New Mexico for a Dec. 6 King of the Cage show.

Crane had been scheduled to fight on Sept. 20 for Elite XC, then largely regarded as North America’s No. 2 MMA promotion behind the UFC. But the New Mexico card was canceled, leaving Crane in limbo. Hence, he found himself almost forced to take the Villes fight on less than three weeks’ notice.

“It was kind of last-minute,” Crane said.

Elite XC has since ceased operations, as announced earlier this week. Nonetheless, Crane is confident if he keeps stringing victories together he’ll be back on the bigger stage, whether that’s with the UFC or elsewhere.

“I’m definitely back,” he said, “I know I belong with those guys.”