Anthony Cheesesteak Morrison- MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography

“Because 2014 is the year that the name Cheesesteak will be heard around the world, louder than all. Julian Lane, come May 2, you will feel the wrath. You'll be just another statistic on the record of the man "Cheesesteak". You will bow down to the power, because you have no choice." This was the introduction to a promotional video called How to Make Cheesesteak, for the website Phillymma.com, in advance of his fight with Julian Lane at Belletor 118: Warren Vs. Silva. Now, just a few months after a victory by submission against Ray Wood at NEF - Fight Night 16, it seems that, in 2015, we’re still hearing the name Cheesesteak around the world. Let’s take a moment and meet the Philadelphia former boxer, wrestler, and coach. Early Life and Career Anthony Morrison, aka “Mr. Cheesesteak”, aka “AntMo”, aka “Mr. Saturday Night” was born and raised in Northern Philadelphia. He had a decent upbringing, as he told filmmaker Jacob Klensin, “It was fun, at times; a little rough. It was Philly.”

He started his professional fighting career, at the age of 13, with boxing and wrestling. He wouldn’t get his start with MMA until 2003, however. He got into MMA via pro wrestling, being a big fan of Ken Shamrock. “It was like a domino effect. I researched Ken Shamrock, and then Dan Severing came up. After Severing came up, Bob Sutton came up. One person after another came up, like a domino effect, and I followed them to Mixed Martial Arts.” Anthony Morrison was inspired by his uncles. “They were tough. They were fighters.” He started with amateur wrestling, being a fanatic for Pro Wrestling, so he figured he had to start out as an amateur.

He claims he “sucked his first year, although he got better the second year.” He fell into boxing due to his Philly roots, “Because it’s Philadelphia. And Philadelphia is a boxing city.” This mixture of pro wrestling and boxing would have a major impact on his later fighting style, which favors a lot of punching and upper body workouts. He earned the name Cheesesteak, apart from the obvious Philly connotation, from his friend Geez. It’s a reference to the movie CB4, starring Chris Rock. They had a friend, also named “Cheesesteak”, who was in jail at the time. Geez recommended he take on the name, as a joke, but Morrison wasn’t interested. Geez was later tragically killed, and Morrison took the breaded mantle in remembrance of his departed friend. Like the sandwich he’s named after, Anthony Morrison can be a little bit sweet, a little bit tough, and liable to hit your stomach… hard.

Although he’s trained all over the world, Morrison remains rooted to Philadelphia, where his family remains. His favorite thing about training in the City Of Brotherly Love is getting to go home and see his kids. “And since the Philadelphia Eagles suck. And the Philadelphia 76ers suck… you’re looking at the greatest living athlete in Philadelphia!” he said, in one memorable sound bite. And with a 19 - 10 professional MMA career, with a majority of victories from either knockout or technical knockout, he might just be right. His goals as a fighter are humble, but fair: being able to speak, when he retires as a fighter, and being able to provide for his family. Rising up from the humble beginnings of being cast out of the WEC, after two victories, Morrison found his proper home - apart from Philadelphia - in the Bellator MMA, where he won his first fight against Kenny Foster by majority decision. Morrison shares some memorable words of advice for young athletes. “It’s a real thin line between adrenaline and fear for yourself. If you don’t embrace it, you’re always going to second guess yourself. If he lands a big right hook, while you’re second guessing yourself, he’s getting confident while you’re second guessing yourself.”

Sage words from the sweet, mean streets of Philadelphia.

Referral Link: http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Anthony-Morrison-16722