Catching up with Jason Lambert
How excited are you to be fighting at UFC 88 in Atlanta?
I’m stoked. Everywhere the UFC has been going they are breaking attendance records. I think it’s going to be great in Atlanta.
What are your thoughts on your opponent Jason Day?
Jason Day is a tough guy who I’m not underestimating. He’s got good kickboxing and jiu jitsu.
Since you are now fighting at middleweight are you concerned with the weight cut at all?
I’m not concerned with the weight cut. I’ve been walking around at 205 since my last fight in June.
How did you get you get started in MMA?
I started training jiu jitsu after I stopped wrestling. I met some guys who ran the gym that the KOTC owner was at. I was fighting two months later.
Was your family pretty supportive of your decision to pursue MMA?
They were not to crazy about me fighting. This back in 2001 when the sport wasn’t so popular. They give me a lot of support now though.
Who gave you the nickname “The Punisher”?
My friend Nick gave it to me when I first started jiu jitsu.
I noticed that you fought Tim Sylvia back in 2002. What do you remember about that fight with Tim?
When I fought Sylvia it was in a 16 man Heavyweight tournament. I was really tired from fighting two full fights before that fight. I remember having a hard time because we were in a ring and he could sprawl under the ropes.
After that fight did you think that he would go on to win titles and have the success he had?
Yeah, I knew that the winner of the tournament was gonna be in the UFC.
You took the fight against Rob McDonald at UFC 58 on short notice how excited were you to get the win in your first fight in the UFC?
I was super pumped to get the first win in my UFC debut.
Do you remember what you were thinking when you first stepped into the octagon?
I was thinking about focusing on the fight and only that.
You fought again the very next month at UFC 59 against Terry Martin. What were the circumstances surrounding that fight? It’s rare to see a fighter fighting on two straight shows.
I didn’t get any injuries from the McDonald fight. So they asked if I wanted to fight and I was already in great shape so I took the fight with Martin. It turned out good.
Looking back on the fight with Rashad Evans at UFC 63 what are your thoughts?
I’m frustrated with that fight. I don’t have any excuses I lost that fight.
You rebounded nicely from that fight and knocked out former #1 contender Renato Sobral. How special was that win?
The win over Sobral meant the world to me. I came back and showed what kind of fighter I am. I got back in the gym and worked hard and it showed.
Did you stick around after that fight and watch Randy Couture and Tim Sylvia?
Yeah I watched the title fight in the back in the locker room. It was a great fight.
Is there anybody out there that you would like to fight?
I fight whoever the UFC wants me to fight. I’m not to concerned with who. Just like everyone else I want to fight the best and test myself. So I can prove myself as one of the worlds best.
What do you like to do when you aren’t fighting or training?
I like to hangout with my friends and surf a little if I have time.
Thanks again, is there anything else you’d like to say to the fans?
I’m working very hard in the gym and I thank all of my fans for their support. I’m looking forward to entertaining the crowd in September. Thanks!
