A five-month layoff is not a concern. "My preparation has been excellent," said Pyle, who's defeated the likes of welterweight star Jon Fitch and Shonie Carter. "The inactivity didn't bother me. It gave me some time off to work on my game. I don't suffer from ring rust because I train with top athletes.
"Five months off is nothing for me. I always come back just as strong if not better. Beating Jake will be a good step for me. This is going to be a good show.''
At first glance, Kleinbeck, of Stuttgart, Ark., seems like an average, easy-going young man. He has been married 16 years, has two children and is a licensed physician who practices emergency and family medicine in his home state and has family offices in Ozark and Waldron.
Kleinbeck, 34, is anything but typical, however. The most well educated man in MMA, he is "Dr. Kleinbeck'' to his patients but he's "Mass Destruction" to MMA fans. No, Kleinbeck is not known for his bedside manner inside the cage, which may be a shock to his patients.
The exciting, aggressive-minded Kleinbeck possesses solid striking power, comes to win and produces excellent scraps. Along with carrying plenty of strength and a devastating punch, Kleinbeck boasts a sharp kick attack that sends many of his opponents limping to the mat.
All his victories have ended inside the distance. In his SHOWTIME debut, Kleinbeck (sethkleinbeck.proelite.com) knocked out Jaime Jara (16-6) in the second round with a picture-perfect left-right combination at 4:59 in Vicksburg, Miss., on July 27, 2007.
"There was no doubt the fight was over," said Kleinbeck after dealing Jara -- a champion at one time or another in four Gladiator Challenge weight classes -- his first loss in three years. "I caught him perfectly. This is probably my best win and I'm obviously happy.
"I was surprised he tried to box for as long as he did. I figured he would be trying to take me down. I kicked him so hard I think I might have broken my left foot."
Kleinbeck graduated from the University of Arkansas College of Medicine with a MD in 2001. But don't let the higher education fool you. A fighter skilled in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling and wrestling, he is dedicated to becoming a MMA star.
The mauling medic has a 1,200 square foot gym by his house. "It's at the end of my driveway,'' he said. "I've got weight and cardio equipment and a 15x20 matted grappling area.''
Kleinbeck, who started his MMA training during his last year of medical school, has experience and a successful record but, aside from Jara, has faced mostly lesser competition.
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