Pro Wrestling Report UFC and MMA News

1. How did you get started in MMA?

~ I have always loved to fight and it’s not as much of a hobby to me as it is a passion.  I originally have been a boxer since I was around 13-14 years old slowly going to training and getting into random competitions.  I trained very hard in this until one day a friend of mine asked me if id like to train in different sorts of mixed martial arts and maybe get a fight in at a place in Columbus Ohio.  I went and watched him first to see what it was all about.  After that my heart bleed to fight.  I was so motivated and dedicated to train hard and fight harder.

1. What is the hardest part of being an MMA fighter?

~ Obviously training in general is the hardest part of being a fighter.  I believe the best fighters have better mental strength than physical strength.  Pushing myself mentally constantly is the hardest thing I endure.  Studying film of the fighter I will be going up against next while noting which parts of my body will need to be the most flexible and strongest can also be quite complicating.  Some important people in my MMA life usually throw in some advice and help me make these sorts of decisions.

1. What is your strongest discipline?

~ I believe my strongest discipline would be boxing if I absolutely had to pick something, just for that fact that I have studied and trained it for so many years.  But what I believe to be a discipline strongly enhanced throughout my Marine Corps career would be the mental strength I have accompanied during a competitive fight.

1. Is the inside leg kick worse than taking a punch?

~ I personally love to be hit, kicked, and struck in any way possible because it just intensifies my adrenaline and makes the fight a lot more entertaining and fun for me.  A good hit towards me hopefully causing blood to rush out quickly but not enough to stop the fight makes the fight that much better for not only the fans but also me as a fighter.  Truly having to answer this question I could only say a inside leg kick is worse because if you hit the right nerve you can make the leg immobile for the time being during the fight and that’s one less body part able to be moved.

1. With only a few fights a year, how badly does a loss hurt your career?

~ I have more than just a few fights a year.  A loss depending on how many fights you have can either tear your career down or not do anything at all.  When a loss happens you have a lot of people talk trash to you and try to tear you down mentally.  Just another reason why being mentally strong is a big part of not only MMA but life alone.  Depending on who you fought and how well they are, I truly take pride in getting beat by someone with much better experience than i.  Mainly because I feel I have that much better experience fighting them.

1. What is the pay scale for an amateur fighter and is the pay worth the pain?

~ Amateurs are not paid for their fights.  The only circumstances I have had money spent or given to me is for gas money, a hotel to sleep in, food, or if a sponsor wants their logo to be put on a shirt that I wear.  Other than those it is basically illegal for a fighter to be paid unless they have entered the level of pro.  The pain is so worth it because I get my buzz off of it.  I’d fight for free any day without pay “for the actual fight”.

1. What is your biggest career goal?

~ I always dream big and set my goals higher than I can almost imagine.  I just got out of the marines, got a certificate in phlebotomy, and am starting on my RN in the winter.  My major is Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.  Would I like to be a professional fight?  Heck yes! But I must also keep my head on straight because nothing in life is promised.

1. If you could fight anyone, who would it be?

~ My favorite person to fight is a guy by the name of Jared “pooh-bear” Adcock.  Just for the reason that he gives me great experience with lots of blood, big hits, and is a great fighter.  If I could fight anyone I would want to fight Fedor Emelianenko for the reason being he is the best fighter I have seen in a very long time.

1. If you were a promoter, what would your money fight be?

~ If I were a promoter my money fight would definitely have to go to Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brock Lesnar.  But a true “dream fight” would have to be between Jackie Chan vs. Chuck Norris, with the winner facing Bruce Lee a month or two later.

10.  What is your best road story?

~ I was at my fight in Lansing Michigan and brought along one of my close friends Stevo Herick (Future U.S. Navy Seal but not at the time) ß- he will kill me for that hah!.  When I got there my promoter said he needed a couple more fighters and I told him Stevo would fight.  Stevo was 185 pounds at the time and signed the waiver to go up against one of the better fighters weighing in at 215 pounds (not fat).  Well moral of the story Stevo won and my promoter to this day still asks me every time we speak when I will bringing my friend Stevo back.

11.  How long does it take to heal after a fight?

~ Honestly to be legit and pretty much ready to go it takes a week or a little less depending on the injuries and how you rehabilitate your body.  A few of my fights I get anxious after and want to go again right away the same night because I still have way too much energy.

12.  Have you suffered more serious injuries training or fighting?

~ I honestly don’t know the answer to this.  I train more than I fight and training usually always ends with at least bruises or black eyes, so I guess training would be the answer.

13.  What has been your highest profile fight?

My highest would be my favorite fighter I have fought by the name of Jared “pooh-bear” Adcock. Who is now 9-3 or 10-3.

14.  How important are sponsors to amateur fighters?

~ Sponsors are very important to fighters.  They are the people that find your fights and match up the fights evenly or to what you are willing to be pushed for.  They also let you know all the information you need to know way in advance and keep in touch with you very often.  My favorite sponsor, Jason Stoner, takes care of me tremendously and is the greatest sponsor I have had thus far into my career.

15.  Do you think fighters deserve more of a cut from the gate, PPV and TV revenues?

~ I believe fighters deserve the bigger amount from everything because we train extremely hard, put the time in, take the blows and whatever future damage it may cause. Also, without us these people would have nothing because we are the entertainment… not them.

16.  You are starting your own promotion, who are the first five fighters you sign?

~ Fedor Emelianenko, Urijah Faber, Forrest Griffin, Brock Lesnar, and George St. Pierre.

17.  Besides yourself, who is the best to step into the cage?

~ The best fighter to ever step into the cage would have to be Fedor Emelianenko like I have already said before.

18.  Do you think MMA has displaced boxing?

~ No MMA and Boxing are two totally different worlds.  In a way boxing competition will wear you out almost faster than an MMA fight, but also has less strategy than MMA.

19.  Do you feel pro wrestlers coming into MMA weakens the sport?

~ No, I believe it doesn’t do anything to the sport.  MMA is basically an organized street fight.  In a fight it doesn’t matter what discipline you know, whatever goes, goes.

20.   In the annals of MMA history, what will be said about you?

~ I cannot predict the future of what will be said or happen, that is blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ.  All I can say is I will pray and have faith in him to bless me with all he will.

• Kimbo Slice fell victim not only to Matt Mitrione but also to the UFC when he was cut from the promotion after his loss. Paul Daley was also cut with part of the decision being made after the sucker punch Daley threw during his fight with Josh Koscheck.
• The winner of the Rampage v. Evans fight will face Rua for the title.
• The rest of the main card for UFC 113 was Alan Belcher beat Patrick Cote with a rear naked choke. Belcher said he wanted Anderson Silva post-fight.
• Jeremy Stephens beat Sam Stout via split decision in a fight that could have went either way.
• Josh Koscheck beat Paul Daley via decision in a strange fight. Koscheck sold a phantom knee and Daley knocked the smile off Koscheck’s face after the bell. Koscheck will now be a coach on TUF with GSP and the two of them will battle for the title.
• Mauricio Rua beat Lyoto Machida for the Light Heavyweight Title via kicked ass in the first round. Rua won the last fight and he was going to make damn sure everyone knew he was the winner tonight. Machida had a lovely face after 3:35 of beating on it and he is overrated no matter what anyone else says.
• Kimbo may end up in Strikeforce as a possible opponent for Herschel Walker. Kimbo’s knees are shot and he has no ground game but then again, Walker cannot fight so this would make an interesting fight. Kimbo needs, and I hate to say this, but he just needs to fade off into the limelight and call it a career and invest what he has already made, even if it includes selling that ridiculous grill he has which makes it even more difficult to understand what he is saying, see what I’m saying?
• Patrick Cote did suffer a broken hand in his fight with Alan Belcher
• Roy Nelson, who has been rumored to fight James Toney and Frank Mir looks to fight Junior Dos Santos at UFC 117 instead of Cheick Kongo who pulled out due to a back injury (yellow streak-it is) Really, why does it matter, as long as someone beats his fat ass.
• Jason MacDonald, who suffered a nasty looking broken leg in his fight with John Salter, has multiple fractures which will require at least one surgery. It is not known if the injury will be career threatening but it is serious.
• UFC 113 drew almost 18,000 live and a $3.25 million gate, not bad for a relatively weak line-up.
• Cung Le v. Scott Smith is set for the June 26 Strikeforce show.
• As always I am Jerry Wiseman…and then the cage door closes.

• Forrest Griffin has suffered a shoulder injury that will force him out of his UFC 114 fight with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Jason Brilz will step in for the injured Forrest.
• Six persons have been issued formal complaints from the Tennessee Athletic Commission and have 14 days to respond or be subject to having their license suspended and fined up to $25,000. Although the TAC refused to reveal the fighters the sent letters to it is believed that Jake Shields, Gilbert Melendez and Nick Diaz were three of the six who were contacted.
• Fedor and Febricio Werdum is scheduled officially for June 26 and Fedor said he is excited to finally return to the cage. Believe it when I see it…
• UFC on Versus will feature Brian Stann v. Mike Massenzio on the show scheduled for August 1. Stann has not fared well since his jump from the WEC to the UFC.
• Rumor has Tito Ortiz will be part of The Apprentice next season.
• Speaking of Tito, Jenna Jameson passed a drug test, the whole mess turned into a war of words and the two are talking about reconciling. Here is a lesson, never mix porn star and MMA fighter.
• Did I mention already that James Toney and Randy Couture are set to square off in the cage soon? Did I also mention how stupid that is?
• Renato Sobral is set to square off with Robbie Lawler at the StrikeForce main event on June 16. That should be an interesting fight.
• Also on an upcoming StrikeForce show will be Roger Gracie v. Kevin Randleman on May 15 in St. Louis.
• Thiago Silva v. Tim Boetsch is a maybe for UFC 117
• Also in the rumor mill is Roy Nelson v. Frank Mir…that would be a fight I would watch just for the entertainment value alone. I would root that both would knock out the other and end it as a no contest because I cannot stand either one of them.
• Junior Dos Santos is talking about taking up professional boxing.
• Kimbo Slice is saying that people want to see him knock out Matt Mitrione…well, I would just like to see him with the fight and be somewhat impressive.
• More on Randy Couture, he is looking past his fight with James Toney, tentatively set for August, and is hoping to face the winner of Lyoto Machida v. Mauricio Rua.
• Pride and UFC fighter and MMA legend Don Frye has undergone two back surgeries and is recovering well, he is expected to make a full recovery.
• Brock Lesnar will face Shane Carwin on UFC 116 in July, the contracts have been signed and Carwin has allegedly updated his will
• Andrei “KTFO in Mid-Air” Arlovski has said he is commited to a game plan for his Antonio Silva fight. My guess is he is hoping to make it until the second round.
• Tyson Griffin had what he called a near death experience while towing a boat in choppy water recently.
• Karo Parisyan is in negotiations to sign with StrikeForce.
• Clay Guida said via Twitter that he will be fighting again in August.
• As always I am Jerry Wiseman…and then the cage door closes.

Tito Ortiz, in an impromptu press conference held at a resturarant after his release from jail on bond said he never touched Jenna Jameson and that she allegedly has an addiction to prescription pain killers especially Oxycontin. Needless to say that this a messy situation and many allegations and accusations will be forthcoming from both sides. UFC President Dana White has gone on record as saying that if the charges against Ortiz stick, Ortiz stands a good chance of being released from the UFC. Will have more on this continously developing story as it becomes available.