by Shawn O’Donnell: It is said that the cut-man is the most integral part of a fighter’s entourage. Many a fight has been determined by a cut man’s ability to control abrasions and swelling. It is an art only attainable through the trials and tribulations of combat. One of the most prolific cut-men in the business of MMA, K1 and professional boxing is Jacob “Stitch” Duran. He is a calm, happy character that seems to be present at the biggest and most prestigious matches in these sports.. He is the perfect individual to walk the divide between each contrasting medium of combat; the fighting styles change, but his role remains consistent. Because Duran is in such a unique position, he is the ideal person to disclose the functions of the cut-man.
Stitch is a burly, affable man that bares a striking facial resemblance to the actor Edward James Olmos. More recently his notoriety as the in-house cut-man for the UFC has earned him consistent recognition by fans of the burgeoning combative organization. Stitch is very comfortable and genuinely appreciative of the prestige that his job has given him, but that fame and notoriety has come through a long indentured process.
Duran originally grew up in the Central Valley town of Planda,California, which is about two hours south of San Francisco. He joined the air force as a young man, and while stationed in Thailand, in 1974, participated in Tae Kwon Do. Over time he gravitated towards the indigenous sport Mau Thai; a martial art that employs punches, elbows, knees, kicks and throws. He eventually became a master instructor of the art and when he returned state-side,he opened a school for both professional and amateur boxers. During his many travels to fight locations, he found it necessary to act in many capacities; with one of those roles being a cut-man. Although Stitch was a willing and eager student of the trade he received a chilly reception from the masters of the art. He was often told by cut-men that their remedies and practices would be secrets taken to the grave. Initially dejected, he did eventually find solace amongst some of the best in the cut-man fraternity.
It wasn’t until he ran into Will Ledgton,Tony “The Tiger” Lopez’s cut-man , and the well respected Chuck Bodack, that he found some mentors that were willing to convey their accumulated wisdom of the trade. With additional theoretical study, Stitch came into his own as a knowledgeable and competent cut-man. As Stitch recalls during the filming of the1999 boxing movie Play It to the Bone, starring Woody Harrelson and Antonio Banderas , there have been some ironic and memorable moments along the way with people like Bodack: “I really wanted to work as Antonio Banderas’ corner-man in the movie because of the Latino connection, but Chuck Bodack jumped in and snapped him up first. I ended up working as Woody Harrelson’s corner man instead”. During the course of filming action between the two actors, a head butt occurred in which Harrelson received a nasty gash close to his eye. “It was perfect, I got an opportunity to demonstrate my work on Harrelson’s cut.”A significant indictment of Stitch’s abilities also occurred during a break in the filming. The producer of the movie gave Bodack a birthday present in front of the cast and crew, but the surprise was unveiled in the ensuing speech Bodack gave to those assembled. Bodack went on to reveal that when he retired the next great cut-man would be none other than “Stitch” Duran. It was a tip of the hat from the master to the servant, but it was also a moment that marked a changing of the guard.
It is a bitter sweet memory for Duran because Bodack suffered a massive stroke a few years back and has not been in the fight game since. “There are only a few of us left at the top. basically there is me, Joe Souza and a few others. I began to think about what I went through, and how many people were left as genuine cut-men. It was time to start giving something back to the game.” For this reason Duran has decided to put together an instructional DVD on being a corner man .The DVD will address essential hand wrapping techniques, and it will also reveal how to close cuts and reduce swelling.
As Duran would point out, it is not as simple as some people think: “So much of cuts and swelling are determined by bone structure, the temperament of the skin and the location of the injury. A lot of times it is really out of my hands.” To emphasize this point he brought up the first Mosley-Vargas fight, in which the referee was forced to stop the fight because of an enormous swelling surrounding Vargas’ eye-which arose from a head butt. “At first it started off as a cherry sized bump around the middle of his brow. I tried to coax the swelling away with enswell, but it progressively grew worse. As the fight wore on there was nothing I could do.” As boxing fans know this was a rare, but serious occurrence that required a stoppage.
Despite the outcome of the Vargas fight, there are proven methods that can be performed to reduce and control swelling. Duran will address these problems within his DVD that is currently in production. “The mistake that people make with enswell is that they try to push the blood ,with pressure,away from the injured region. When this happens, the fluid accumulates in unaffected areas as well and causes more swelling. When working with enswell, the trick is that you have to draw the fluid away from the injury so that the fluid doesn’t pool.”Duran will also devote considerable time within the video to discussing the details of closing and treating cuts.
He will start this off with a discussion on the foundations of cut medication: Thrombin, Avitene and Adrenaline Chloride (also known as Adrenaline one and one thousand). Adrenaline Chloride is the most commonly used medication. It decreases blood flow and causes blood vessels to constrict within an affected region. Avitene is a coagulant used to prevent bleeding. It is applied directly into the cut and then is usually followed with applied pressure from a gauze pad. Thrombin is also another coagulant, but it is usually used when the surface of the cut is dry. Duran likes to use a combination of medications to treat cuts . First he applies Adrenaline Chloride and then administers Avitene with applied pressure. Before he sends the fighter back to engage an opponent, he seals the cut with a combination of Vaseline and Adrenaline Chloride. It is almost like applying paint, with each layer having a specific purpose and role in the process.
The actual procedures for closing cuts for this DVD will be filmed on May 27th on Duran’s internet show called the Thirteenth Round . It can be seen on fighthype.com @7pm PST. Duran will be specifically discussing how to work on cuts with Dr. Davidson and Dr. Watson from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. When Duran discusses this show he beams with enthusiasm. “These guys are really knowledgeable emergency room physicians, you can learn so much from them”. Duran revealed that these physicians have also created a new piece of equipment that will invariably become a necessary instrument for cut-men. “It is a bean bag apparatus that dehydrates and sucks out the blood in swollen and injured tissue”. With new information like this, the show sounds like it would be well worth listening to. If you are a casual MMA, or boxing fan you may want to tune in. The show will reveal what exactly goes on in the corner between rounds.
Catching Duran at a more animated moment during the interview, I thought it would be only appropriate to ask him what his most satisfying and defining moments in the corner were. He paused, reflected briefly and asked: “Are we talking about MMA or boxing?” Within a second he generated a response to his own query:“I’ll tell you what, I will give you one from each sport. For MMA the most satisfying moment came during the Forrest Griffin-Mauricio Rua fight. I was working Forrest’s corner during this fight when he received a lightning bolt gash on the center of his forehead. It was a really bad cut and the fight was close to being stopped. I managed to get it under control for about four minutes, and Forrest went out and submitted Rua.” Forrest repaid his gratitude to Stitch with a thank-you card and a gift certificate to an upscale restaurant. “It was nice to get that recognition”, Duran stated in a content manner. But his contentment was further embellished with a recollection of his favorite moment as a boxing cut-man.
“I was working with Wladimir Klitschko against DaVarryl Williamson, when Wladimir suffered a zig-zag cut on his forehead from a head butt. When I examined the cut I knew that I could stop it, but I thought why assume the risk because Wladimir was ahead on the cards. I decided to call Dr. Margaret Goodman over and let her have a look at the cut. She stopped the action and the fight went to a technical decision victory for Wladimir. When I ran into Dr.Goodman a while later, she informed me that I made a wise move during that fight. Apparently under closer examination from a surgeon it was discovered that the cut was in the region of a nerve. If the fight continued he would’ve risked permanent damage to that nerve.” It was a moment of belief in his own abilities and judgment. “It was nice to have that degree of trust and openness between the doctor and myself. Most corner-men are trying to get the physician away from what they are doing.”
The openness that Duran transmits derives from a well of deep concern. He wishes to make both MMA and boxing safer sports. His vigilance is especially directed at younger and less experienced fighters: “They are the ones that need the most protection” On July the 5th, with the release of his video,he will be a pioneer that will remove the veil of the guarded treatments and remedies that went to the grave with others. In his wake, the ripples off his efforts will produce more disclosures and progressions in ring safety. “It all comes back to education. You have to give back to something that is good to you”. Duran is only too happy to be at the front, conducting the flow of knowledge as a cut-man, a radio and TV personality and instructor. The need has never been greater than now to convey the knowledge of this craft. And in conclusion it is only appropriate to say: “A ‘Stitch’ in time can save fights”.
To acquire Jacob” Stitch” Duran’s DVD,“One More Round”,contact www.fighterwarehouse.com