Mansher Khera 'Not Drilling' Leglock Escapes For Eddie Cummings Superfight

Mansher Khera will meet Eddie Cummings on March 12 in a superfight at the Grappling Industries event in Manhattan, New York. The Marcelo Garcia black belt faces off with one of the best leglock specialists in the game in a sub-only match. 

We caught up with Khera just days out from the contest to hear his thoughts on facing such a dangerous opponent as Cummings. 

How are you feeling for the superfight this weekend? 

I’m feeling more than ready for it. The preparation has been really good. I’ve been training twice a day and doing my strength and conditioning with Kevin Paretti, and just Im really focussed on this. 

Not only do I have this superfight, but I have Pans the week after, so my mind is really on track. 

Training for this no-gi match and then the Pans the week after, the mix of gi and no-gi, is that a problem? 

It’s not a problem for me, my game is very similar gi and no-gi. Not only that, I get to train gi and no-gi every week. And I train it equally, 50% gi and 50% no-gi. That’s the norm at Marcelo’s. We have guys wthat are winning no-gi that are winning in the gi as well. I don’t think about it too much, it’s that simple for me. 

Eddie Cummings is your opponent, how do you analyze his game and what are the major dangers for you? 

Everybody know about his heel hooks, right? I’ve competed against his teammate Garry Tonon, and I feel Eddie is more efficient with his leglocks. I feel like that’s his core move. 

His game is actually similar to mine when it comes seated guard, he likes to get into single-leg X, isolate the legs, get under the hips, and start attacking the heel hook. 

It’s going to be a good fight. I feel like outside of the guys in my gym he’s the only guy that has the closest style to me. I’m really excited to go against him and hope to show some new moves. I’m prepared. 

Game plan for this weekend? 

Not much of a gameplan – the gameplan is simple, to not get caught in his game and play my game. the mistakes I’ve made in the past against individuals is gameplanning against their game, whereas this time I’m focussing a lot more effort onto my game. Really emphasising on putting my pace for the match, than focussing on what he has to do. 

I’m not out here drilling how to get out of leglocks every day, I’m here drilling how to get into side control and how I can get the submission, how I can avoid getting into a position where my legs are in danger.