Miguel Torres: Version 2.0 Heading Into WEC 47: Bowles Vs. Cruz

Miguel Torres (37-2) makes his return to competition meeting Joseph Benavidez on March 6. in Columbus, Ohio, at WEC 47.

The former bantamweight champion made a decision that he should have, in switching up his training partners and camps. Once a fighter wins and proceeds to keep doing so with as much success as Miguel Torres had, it becomes difficult for everyone involved to stay driven and focused.

Torres has switched camps for the first time in years by moving camp to Robert Drysdale's gym in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Mark Dellagrotte's in Boston, Massachusetts. A move that was much needed after Torres was knocked out and dethroned as the bantamweight champion by Brian Bowles at WEC 42 last August.

In a interview done with the Las Vegas Sun Torres was quoted as saying "I've used the same training partners for 11 or 12 years, and I haven't brought any of them back for this fight."

Some may look at this and say well what is the problem with that? The problem lies in the fact that when a fighter, no matter what level he is at, continues to use the same training partners and coaches he eventually will peak. Torres had peaked with his former regime, and his loss to Brian Bowles proved so.

Some of the greatest champions all of time have lost unexpectedly and have proceeded to make major changes to their camps with future success to follow. UFC Welterweight champion Georges "Rush" St. Pierre may come to mind as being a recent one. 

Torres is in much of the same situation as St. Pierre was when Matt "The Terror" Serra Tko'd him at UFC 69. St. Pierre turned to Greg Jackon's MMA for full fight camp guidance leading up to fights. St. Pierre has re-gained his welterweight championship and rattled off six consecutive victories since.

Time can only tell us if this will mean that by Torres switching camps and heading west will he have the same success as St. Pierre. One can count on the fact that Torres will benefit from the new training regime that he has sought out as he is working with new partners and coaches for the first time in years.

The sparring is quite different, as he is getting looks from new training partners that he has not seen in his prior camps.

The time spent working with world class Jiu-Jitsu expert Robert Drysdale and Muay Thai master Mark Dellagrotte will help make Miguel Torres' game that much more well rounded.

Torres' submission game has never lacked ability—as he owns 22 submission wins—however, working with a expert like Drysdale will tighten up any holes that he previously had within his ground game.

If one had to pin point a weakness in the game of Miguel Torres overall it could be the striking aspect. Bring in Dellagrotte and that immediately brings to mind sharper Muay Thai technique with better defense standing. Torres is eliminating all his weaknesses, and making them his strengths.

If the bantamweight division and MMA community thought Torres was dangerous before, wait until we get to see him perform on March 6.