Seth Petruzelli interview
What have you been up to since the Kimbo fight?
Man it’s been crazy. I’ve been talking with all sorts of people. I’ve been metting with sponsors. It’s really been fun and nonstop.
How did you get started in MMA?
It was 2000. One of my buddies told me I would do good at it. I had done karate since I was 6 and I wrestled throughout high school and I was pretty good at it. It suited me I knocked out a bigger opponent and a promoter saw me and told me I could make some money. What’s better than doing something you love and making money?
How big was your win over Dan Severn?
I think that was the fight that got me into the UFC and on the Ultimate Fighter. They knew I had beat Severn. And beating a legend like him it was a pretty big deal.
How imitimidating was that as a younger fighter seeing Dan Severn across the cage from you?
It was very intimidating and very surreal. I remember watching him when I was younger and I was still in karate. It was a pretty exciting expereince.
What was your mindset going into the Bob Sapp fight?
I knew he was big and strong. I felt pretty good in there. I have always been comfortable with my standup skills and I knew how good he was but I felt really good.
What did you think when you knocked him down so early in the first round?
It was the same kind of punch that knocked Kimbo down. I just hit him in the right spot. I credit that all to my training in karate knowing how and where to punch. I was suprised they both went down so easily.
What happened to your elbow in that fight?
It was a stinger it wasn’t my elbow. My whole arm went numb. I couldn’t move it. But after 15 seconds it went away and felt fine but by then the doctor came in and stopped the fight. I got upset and started yelling. He promised me a rematch but I knew it would never happen.
How did you get on the Ultimate Fighter?
The UFC had interest in me before I did the show. They told me about the reality show which I had already seen and I sent in the tape and went in to interview with Spike. I knew the UFC wanted me but I had to go in there and talk to them and got on the show.
Going into the show who did you think that was the favorite to win?
Mike Whitehead. He was definitely the favorite.
Are you suprised to see Rashad Evans doing so well?
No, I knew when we are all training I saw he was really good. He was hard to take down and hard to keep down. His hands were decent too. I knew he’d do well but I knew it would be at Light Heavyweight.
Did you have a preference as to who was your coach?
No, either way it would’ve been great. I respected both guys. I’m glad Rich Frnkalin ended up doing it. We ended up becoming good friends. I can’t say enough good things about the guy. He’s a great guy.
What are your thoughts on fighting Matt Hamill?
After the season I was a little burnt out with fighting. I had a year and eight months off before I fought Hamill. I had a little ring rust going into it. It was my first time at 205. It just wasn’t a good fight for me. I felt confident going in but my head wasn’t in it. I didn’t let my hands go and when I did I took it to him. I held back too much in that fight.
Would like to rematch him one day.
Yes, more than anybody. I’d love to rematch him one day.
What are your thoughts on the Wilson Gouveia fight on Fight Night 9?
I felt good going in. I felt I won the first round. All the judges had me winning the first round. He took me down in the last minute of the second round so I figured I had to even the score so I went to take him down and left my neck exposed and got caught in a guillotine. It was extremely unfortunate and it was my last opportunity to show the UFC what I had and I was very disappointed.
How did you get involved with Smoothie King?
I wanted an exit strategy for fighting because you can’t fight forever. I had been on our honeymoon with my wife and we wanted to open a business together and we looked into it and it was a good fit for us. I have always been an entrepeneur. I’ve renovated houses or ran my own gym. We decided to buy a Smoothie King franchise because it was all about health and supplements and it was a good lifestyle fit for me.
Aren’t you opening a new store soon?
Yes, we are opening one in downtown Orlando in two months.
How did you get involved with the EliteXC?
My buddy out in Phoenix knew I was looking for fights. I wasn’t signed with anyone. I had fought for some smaller shows but I wasn’t signed with anyone wanted to get picked up by a large organization and make some good money because I had a fire under my butt after getting the Smoothie King up and running. I had some time and I wanted to train really hard. I knew I had more than what I showed in my last fights in the UFC. They saw some of my fights on tape and they offered me a fight.
Yuo were supposed to fight Rosa on the fight when did you find out you were fighting Kimbo?
It was an hour before I was supposed to fight. I was warming up in the back. The gloves were on and my hands were wrapped and I was stretching. Then they came up to me and said Ken Shamrock is hurt and we would love for you to step up if you wanted to do it. It took about ten seconds to compose myself. We talked a little money and I said yeah, let’s do it.
How good did it feel to knock him out so early in the fight?
That’s why I ran aroud the ring twenty times screaming because it was such a good feeling to have something like that happen after 9 years of busting my butt, training, and working hard in MMA. I knew it was all working out and had paid off and had flipped my status as a fighter.
Do you think there will be a rematch?
No, I offered him the rematch in the ring and he wanted no part of it. I also offered it again in the press conference but I don’t think the EliteXC or Kimbo wants it to happen. There’s a little talk about opponents but no one is definite but anywhere from December to February they will have me fighting again.
Can you clarify your statement that led to all the controversary about you being asked to stand with Kimbo?
Yeah, words got misconstrued and jumbled a little bit. All I meant to say was there was a knockout bonus, other organizations do the same thing. If you get a knockout you get a bonus. In no way did they say I want you to stand up with him. All they said isthere is a knockout bonus that is there if you want to.
Your comments caused the State of Florida to launch an investigation.
I already got a call by the commissioner. It’s getting taken care of. It’s a nonissue.
Do you think the win over Kimbo put you in line for a title shot?
I don’t think right away. I think they want me to have another fight and then possibly. The 205 belt is open and I’d like to have it.
What was up with the pink hair?
It’s a schtick. Everyone tries to be so tough and I am a goofball. I like to have fun and joke around. I want to have a good time. And plus it’s breats cancer month or something awareness month.
Tom Lawlor your teammate dyed his hair pink for his fight against Ryan Bader on the Ultimate Fighter is that something your camp does?
I told everyone to dye it pink but we do our toenails that color too. It’s just a commradarie goofball thing we do.
Is there anyone in the EliteXC you’d like to fight?
I’ve said before but I don’t think it’ll happen next but if Tito gets signed I think that would be a good fight for the 205 belt.
Is there anything else you’d like to say to the fans?
Yes, check out SmoothieKing.com. They’ve always stood behind me. Social Menace.com and my gym TheJungleMMA.com
