MMA: STRUBE, WANNEMACHER BRING LOCAL FIRE-POWER TO LFA 56

Fan favorites Sean Strube (9-1) of Maple Grove, MN and Jesse Wannemacher (4-2) of Superior, Wisconsin are set to clash tomorrow night at the Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The local showdown sweetens Legacy Fighting Alliances stacked year-end show which has its main card being televised live on AXS TV.

The main event of LFA 56 will feature a lightweight title fight when Midwest powerhouse Austin Hubbard faces top undefeated Brazilian prospect Killys Mota for the vacant LFA strap. The Strube-Wannamacher match will be part of the non-televised undercard portion of the show so fight fans will want to make it to the Casino early.

Minnesota Fight News spoke with both fighters as they prepare to meet at LFA 56 this Friday night.

Talk about your mixed martial arts background and tell us why you think fans believe you are one of the more exciting fighters to watch in Minnesota.

WANNEMACHER: My mixed martial arts background started with amateur boxing. I started helping some wrestlers with there boxing for some MMA fights and then ended up just training with them all the time. Eventually, I decided to give it a try for myself! I think I’ve become a fan favorite because whenever I get in there you know it’s going to be an action-packed war.

STRUBE: My start in my martial arts career started with Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I started when I was 13 in my mother’s basement messing around with my friends choking each other out or until tap out, with our faces pressed against the couch or carpet (laughing). I’ve been at Mccune’s training BJJ and Muay Thai for just over 8 years now. A big reason why people love to watch me fight is strictly how unpredictable I am. You have no idea whether I’m going to box you, take you down, clinch up, jump guard, I am a straight finisher in every situation and position. People know if “Lucky” is on the card his fight is going to be a spectacle. Whether that is a 3 round war or a 55-second finish, that all depends on how game my opponent is.

What can you tell us about your opponent?

WANNEMACHER: I’ve known about Sean for a long time and we’ve always been at different points in our careers. We knew eventually we’d be getting in there against each other.

STRUBE: Jesse Wannemacher I respect a lot. He has a lot of fight experience and a good amateur record. As a pro, he doesn’t really have any bad looking losses, but I’m not impressed by any of his wins either. I know Jesse is a great boxer and crafty off his back, but this sport is far from boxing and I’ll let all of my other tools remind him of that quickly. As for his BJJ, I’d love for him to lay on his back after he feels the pace and power at which I throw my ground and pound.

Can you share with us how training camp went and how you feel heading into Friday night?

WANNEMACHER: This camp has gone great. Actually, it’s my best camp this whole year. Everything is lining right up to be one of my best performances to date.

STRUBE: I couldn’t have asked more out of a camp. I branched out a little bit this camp and took my training to part-time out of two camps. The tools and technique refinements, I picked up from Chris Cichon and his team out of The Cellar I know will show greatly in this bout. And my Mccune’s team has always been my home gym. The guys in that gym are the people responsible for the mentality, cardio, technique, and all the other tools that I bring in to that cage. They all play a part in making me the savage killer that gets unleashed in the cage.

How do you see this fight going and what will be the difference maker that will lead to your hand being raised?

WANNEMACHER: I see this being a long and technical fight. A lot of back and forth action and him probably looking to get the fight to the ground. I think I’ll be the physically bigger and stronger guy out there and I think he’s going to be in for a tougher night then he feels!

STRUBE: The fight is going to be a war I think. Jesse posses the tools to finish me, as I do with him. He can take a shot and is a crafty veteran. The most significant difference is who we are. He is a 32-year-old guy with a foot out of the sport. I am a young and very hungry Lion. They don’t think like I think and they sure as hell don’t work as hard as me. My pressure and pace are going to break him and you will see him tap out or the ref will be stepping in to save him.

Pretend you are a fan coming to watch the show. Other than your own, which fight would you be most looking forward to seeing on Friday night and why?

WANNEMACHER: Oh man, there are so many good fights. It’s hard to pick a favorite but probably Bobby Lee’s fight if I was going to choose one!

STRUBE: Dude, the Main event! Killys Mota is a savage. I don’t see him not getting picked up by the UFC after this fight. I love watching him fight because he will finish you wherever the fight is.

Any closing thoughts?

WANNEMACHER: I’m looking forward to putting on a great show and having some fast-paced fun out there Friday. See everyone out there!

STRUBE: I Want to thank Eric Riley, Kenyon Law Firm, and Hong Thai Restaurants, for the financial support this camp. It really helps me reach my full potential. Huge thank you to Tony Metsala for all of the pad work he held for at 8 am a couple days a week. Big shout out to all the young killers being developed, by Matt “The Yeti” Larson, Derek “The Pretzel” Getzel, Deangelo “Megatron” Curtis and Chris McCune. Thank you for all the rounds and thank you for all the help coaches. Huge shout out to all my family and friends for all the support and helping me to continue to grow inside and outside the cage. I’m in this sport to better myself and better the lives around me.
I need to give a massive shout out to Dr. Renae Taylor from accelerated Chiropractic. We’ve have worked together for 3.5 years now she is truly the woman who keeps me together and has helped build me not just physically, but spiritual into the man and fighter I am today.
Huge shout out to my girlfriend for all of the cooking and pick me ups she has done this camp her unrelenting support makes it easy to not miss a session, a run, a lift, a meal, she’s a rock for me.
Lastly, love you momma. Time to take that first jump step to buy you that house I promised you.
It’s showtime folks and you best believe I bring firepower wherever the fight takes place. Be ready to witness something you’ve never seen before because December 7th the next King of the Bantamweight division is going to be born!

To view the full card CLICK HERE.