UFC: Buddy keeps Cung Le prepared

MACAU—Besides his wife and kids, Cung Le has another member of the household that keeps him on his toes on every fight.

Scott Sheeley, a two-time US kickboxing champion and sanshou practitioner, has trained and monitored Le’s progress every step of the way going into the latter’s Ultimate Fighting Championship skirmish with Rich Franklin at The Venetian Hotel’s Cotai Arena Saturday night.

“I brought in my buddy Scott Sheeley. I had him manage my camp. He actually lived at my house, so I had a trainer there 24/7, and it’s like a one-stop shop,” said Le, 40, a Hollywood actor in fight films that starred Dennis Quaid and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

“He would make sure I get my wrestling in, my strength and conditioning, and my pad work. Everything was set and done for me. It wasn’t like, ‘Hey, do you have time to hold pads for me today?’” added the maestro of six different martial arts techniques.

Now based in San Jose, California, the Vietnam-born and former Strikeforce middleweight champ is the pride of Southeast Asia in the most prestigious mixed martial arts arena in the world together with Filipino-Americans Mark Munoz and Brandon Vera.

“To fight here in China and represent the Southeast Asian people is amazing for me as an athlete. I’m honored and thrilled, ready to give it all I’ve got and fight my heart out,” said Le.

Apart from wushu, Le is a former champion in kickboxing, draka, shidokan, taekwondo, wrestling and won his first seven MMA fights by knockouts.