What have you been up to? I heard you had a fight back in August?
Yeah, I got my butt kicked. That's what happens when you get old, fat, and lazy. I'm on my way to Japan for some wrestling matches.
Are you under contract with any MMA organizations?
Hell no, right now I'm radioactive. No one is calling me and I'm not calling them. i'm just taking some time off. That IFL bullshit and some personal things in my life led me to take some time off and clear my head.
So you are going to do some pro wrestling for awhile?
I wasn't going to but they called me up and gave me a good price. Now I'm on my way to Japan (laughs). Hell, all I've been doing is laying on the ranch, playing with my horses, and shooting coyotes.
How did you get started in MMA?
I was a fireman and had wrestled in college and internationally. I did some pro boxing for a year and a half then I got in the fire department and learned some judo. Did a few years of judo. I saw Dan Severn win one so I called him up and asked him how to get in on it. I owe Dan Severn for changing my life, God bless him.
What do you remember about UFC 8 when you ran the table and won the whole thing?
That was fun. I went down to Puerto Rico, drank some rum, hang out on the beach and got in a fight. Hell, we enjoyed that. You couldn't ask for a better situation. It went smooth as clockwork for us.
Didn't your participation in UFC cause problems with your job as a fireman?
Yeah, I won UFC 8 and came back. They were all happy for me. We were all laughing andd joking and a few weeks go by and the UFC asked me to come back for UFC 9. I asked them for time off and they told me I could fight or I could be a fireman so I said "See you boys later I can make some real money doing the fighting stuff."
At the time McCain was against it and I was hot and heavy against him. Every interview I was doing I was burying him. I got a phone call from the President of the IFF union. They said lay off McCain. I said kiss my ass buddy. You should be supporting me.
What are your thoughts on UFC 10 when you fought Coleman?
I screwed the pooch on that one. UFC 8, I walked through that. At UFC 9 I beat Amaury Bitetti who was a great fighter. I got to UFC 10 and I was overly impressed with myself. I had to fight Mark Hall in the first round. I felt sorry for him because he's a simple minded retard and I felt bad that he had to fight the great Don Frye. I took it easy on him when I should've killed him and I wore myself out. Then I had to fight big Brian Johnston in the second round. I took some lumps there and I was flat wore out by the time I had to fight Mark Coleman. I sat there backstage dehydrated and worn out. I was thinking about pulling out but I looked around and saw Gaeza and a few other alternates and I thought there is no way I can send these children out there to fight this man. I said let's go out there and give it a shot so I took a beating for eleven and a half minutes. Mark Coleman is a man. Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock I'd charge hell with a bucket of water with them boys.
What do you remember about the war with Tank Abbott at the Ultimate Ultimate?
That's a other boy I'd charge hell with a bucket of water with. He's tough as nails. He hit me so hard my children were born dizzy seven years later.
At Pride 19 you had a memorable win over Ken Shamrock. What started that rivalry?
My mouth (laughs). Ken is a professional. When I saw Ken beat Severn at UFC 6 I thought anybody that can beat Dan Severn is a man. Dan was my assistant wrestling coach at ASU. I said I want to fight that mother fucker because it takes a man to beat Dan Severn. I did everything I could to get a go with him in a fight. I said a bunch of unprofessional stuff about his family I shouldn't have said. Ken stepped up and said ok boy, if you want to play we'll play. I paid for it I'll tell you that.
What did you think about him having to back out of the fight with Kimbo?
He didn't back out. It was the athletic commissioner, that's how them chicken shit turds are. They get these doctors in here who have never seen a scratch in there life. They panic at the sight of blood. They are used to seeing a kid with a cough or a little old lady with a hip injury. They see a cut and they piss themselves. Ken Shamrock, God bless him. He's probably dumb enough to train hard the day before the fight and the day of the fight.
Didn't you do some pro wrestling with Ken Shamrock over in Japan?
We did one match. We were a tag team. The Japanese were smart enough to run out there as a tag team and then let us go after each other after the match. They know good things when they see it. If someone does the marketing for them they are going to sell the tickets.
What are your thoughts on the your rematch with Coleman at Pride 19?
Yeah, I wanted that fight. I screwed the pooch on that one too. Coleman was going through a divorce and had two little girls and was getting the shaft on that. At the time my wife and I had problems and I had two little girls. And I committed the biggest sin a fighter can commit, I humanized my opponent. I put myself in his boots. I went out there knowing that if he lost to me he'd never fight again, nobody would hire him. If I lost I coud still fight. I went in their half-assed and God bless him, he beat me again. I'd like to have another go at him on even ground when I could get my head out of my ass. I'd do it righ this time.
What was it like fighting at the last Pride after the UFC bought them?
It was sad. It was like fighting at a wake. It was the greatest organization in the world. You knew the UFC would fuck it up and they sure as hell did. It only took them two weeks to do it.
Were you happy to be on the last show?
Yeah, I was but I'm not happy with the result. Not one bit. But I was proud to be with them through the years and be on the last show.
I enjoyed the slugfest with you and Thompson.
I wish I would've come up with something better. He hit me so hard I was hearing bells. He hit me that last time and I turned around and walked back to my corner. Hell, there was still two minutes to go.
How did you get involved with the IFL?
I owe Maurice Smith for that one. I let him talk me into that. The nesxt time I see him I'm going to run him over with my truck.
How honored were you to wrestle Antonio Inoki in his last match over in Japan?
That was the greatest thing in the world. We sold out the Tokyo Dome. It was a 70,000 seat arena plus 5,000 standing tickets. The Tokyo fire department allowed them to do that. You've got 75,000 people there and it ended up being a six hour show. It was one of the greatest events of my life.
I've got a picture of my wife who was in the second row. She fell asleep during the show. She woke up and said when I opened my eyes there were a ton of cameras taking pictures of this tall black gentleman in front of me. She asked if he was famous. I said honey, that's Muhammed Ali. She replied "Is he famous?"
She fell asleep during the show?
Yeah (laughs), it's a rough ride man. It's a long way over there.
What was your gameplan going into the fight with Akebono?
Not to get eaten. Hell, I was afraid I would fall down and he'd start chewing on my leg and not stop until he got to my hair. The gameplan went just like we planned. We just wanted to keep moving because he had bad knees and we knew he'd take a bad step. We were going to throw low kicks to his knees or shin. Because his knees are shot. He's one of the greatest sumo wrestlers of all time and one of the best athletes. He's not 480 pounds of slob he's an athlete. He put the hurt on me a couple of times. I hurt for a month after that fight.
Didn't you got to school with Randy Couture?
Yes at Oklahoma State for one year. My senior year and his freshman year. He was a 21 year old freshman because he went into the army after high school and wrestled for them then came to college.
Did you hang out with him?
No, we were on the same team but that's it. I was in a bad marriage. He was married with a couple of kids. I didn't socialize with anybody because it wasn't a good time in my life.
What do you think about all the new MMA promotions? Is it good for the sport?
We need more than just the UFC. We need competitiong. The UFC doesn't have proper guidance. The fighters are doing the best they can with the talent they have. The booking is pitiful. You're lucky if you have two good fights. You should book the fights a little better. The show isn't about Dana White. It's about the damn fighters, he forgot about that.
What do you think about he EliteXC going belly up?
You have to give credit to the Fertitta brothers. They lost 200 million dollars to begin with. They made a committment now they are making money. I'm not trying to kiss their ass but they've turned it around and they have the hottest show out there.
In 20 years what's the one fight you would tell your grandkids about?
It would have to be the Takayama fight. It's my favorite fight. He should've died the first few minutes of that fight but he kept coming. I thought I was going to have to call a truck and have him run over.
Have you thought about one last run with the UFc or Affliction?
I would with Affliction but I have no interest in the UFC. I don't want to make a deal with the devil.
Is there anybody else you'd like to fight before you retire.
I'd like to beat Coleman. I owe Gary Goodrich. I'd like to fight one of the commies. Arlovski or Fedor. Give me a commie. i'd like to fight one of them.
Have you talked to anybody lately?
No, I'm radioactive. Just been hanging out at the ranch I have duaghters to raise.
Who are some of your favorite fighters to watch?
Urijah Faber, hell that kid is great. Antonio Silva is classy guy. I fought on some shows with him. He has as much class as anybody I've ever met. You can't say anything bad about the guy.
What do you think about the hype around Kimbo Slice?
God bless him, if people are dumb enough to pay him. He's a snake oil salesman. People like the snake oil until they find out there's nothing but water in there.
Did you ever make up with John McCain?
Well I'm voting for Sarah Palin he just happens to be on the ticket with her. I want to go moose hunting with her. I've got a big ol' sleeping bag.
I don't think Mcain is going to send you an invitation if he's elected.
Yeah, I'm not going to wait by the mailbox for that one.
Anything else you'd like to say to the fans?
Maybe one day I'll be back, maybe one day I won't (laughs). I would like to thank the military. They go above and beyond everyday. We are so blessed and we should thank them everyday. They protect our way of life and I want to thank them all.
Interview with Seth Petruzelli
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 anyuthing 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
Check back on Wednesday for part two where Seth discusses his figths with Dan Severn, Bob Sapp, Matt Hamill and much more
Interview with Mike Swick
How did you get started in MMA?
I have been in martial arts since I was 8 years old. It was one progression to another I went from tae kwando into kickboxing. Then I went from kickboxing into MMA.
I hear you have a big fight coming up with Johnathan Goulet what are your thoughts on that?
I am excited. He's an exciting fighter. I think we are going to go in there an bang it out. He had a big win over Hironaka. It's going to be a good fight for the crowd.
Weren't you supposed to fight him a while back?
I was supposed to fight him at Ultimate Fight Night 11 but I seperated a rib and I couldn't fight. Now he's available after a big win over Hironaka and it's going to finally happen.
It's on the card that benfits the soldiers isn't it?
It's Fight for the Troops on December 10th live on Spike TV. It's going to be at Fort Bragg on the base. It's really cool because me and Koscheck were there about a year ago training the troops. I'm looking forward to seeing the guys we hung out with and be able to fight for them.
With Goulet being from Canada there's probably going to be a "USA, USA!" chant.
(Laughs) Yeah, actually he'll be the third Candian fighter I've fought. All have been out of St. Pierre's camp. They all train together.
You're undefeated against Canadians aren't you?
So far, yes.
How did you get selected for the Ultimate Fighter a few years ago?
I actually didn't know much about it. I thought it was for UFC guys only. I didn't know if we would qualify. We didn't have any info on it. Dana called the gym and asked why no one from the gym applied and told us how great an opportunity it was. So Bobby, Fitch, Koscheck and myself all applied. They brougt us in and interviewed us. I wound up being one of the last ones to get picked for the show.
Did you ever imagine that the UFC would really take off after that show?
No, everytime anyone tried to legitimize the sport and take it mainstream they failed. We didn't think this was going to be any different but it was our shot to make it into the UFC. My thoughts were if I did well or won the show I'd be in the UFC which is where I wanted to be. With it taking off and the success of the show that's a bonus.
Are you suprised to see Forrest Griffin as the Light Heavyweight Champion?
No, he works hard. H'es trained hard all of his life. I expected him to do big things after the show.
It's ironic because I thought Bonnar won that fight at the Finale.
A lot of people did. Either way they both won. We all won. They won for everyone. It did a lot for our sport. A lot of people started following the UFC after that.
How big was the win over Louisseau?
It should have made me the #1 contender. I should have been the next to fight for the title. But, Travis Lutter won the TV show and he got to fight Anderson Silva. I took a fight in the meantime and it was Yushin Okami.
Looking back I would've taken the fight again. It was a tough time and to fight in front of my hometown and I underestimated him a little bit. It just didn't work out so well.
Was it hard fighting in front of your hometown?
Well I had fought in my hometown but never at that level. It was a huge arena and everyone I knew was there. I had a five fight win streak in the UFC and being undefeated there was a ton of pressure. It strts getting to you then there's more pressure. I'm not blaming it on that. I lost the fight because he did what he does. I should have fought the first round. It took a second to click that I had to start fighting. I won the second. But by the third he had a takedown and stayed on top of me and he captured the round and he won the fight. It was my mistake but the pressure sure didn't help anything.
Would you like to rematch him to avenge your loss?
Definitely, I'd love to fight him at 170. I'd like to climb the ladder at welterweight that's my goal but I would go back to middleweight and rematch him for sure.
How do you feel you match up against Anderson Silva?
You find out more about anderson Silva everytime he fights. I actually called him out in the press conference after he beat Franklin after their first fight. At the time you only know so much about him because he's only showed so much. I knew he was a talented fighter. Th reason I wanted to fight him because I knew it would be a strikefest. He wouldn't be trying to take me down and hold me like Burkman or Okami did. He would come out and try to knock me out just like I would to him. It would be a win-win for the fans and the UFC. Anytime you have a chance to make that match like that you're excited about it. He's very well rounded and he's one of my favorite fighters.
So now you're gunning for GSP instead of Anderson Silva?
Exactly.
What are your thoughts on the Burkman fight?
I landed most of the strikes. Two flying knees in the third round. I landed all the combinations. All he did was hold me. The only takedown he got was when I went for the guillotine. I gave up the takedown to get the guillotine and I gave up the guillotine and got right up. It was the worst fight of my career. It was boring. I hate it and take it worse than a loss. I wish I had done more. All he did was hold me and I'm a striker and I want to make it exciting. He saw I could stuff his takedowns so he held on to me. It was very aggrivating.
Burkman told me that neither of you really did enough to win that fight.
I agree I could've done more. It's hard to do something when someone is grabbing onto you and holding you with all their might. It's frustrating. He's a big talker. He can't back it up. He has no heart. I hate even talking about him. He came up to me after the fight in the club and was giving me props for being strong in my takedown defense and this and that. Then the next day he wrote a blog about how I was scared of him and I didn't want to stand with him and he took my heart and stuff like that. He can't say that when all you did was try to take someone to the ground. He may have hit me once or twice but nothing of signifigance. A few punches in 15 minutes is nothing. I think he got out of the fight without being knocked out and it was a moral victory for him. Now he wants to say he's better than me.
He got exposed against Hazelett.
And he's going to keep getting exposed. He's got too much attitude. He needs to humble down a little bit and not puff up like he's so tough. He comes in with an attitude every fight like he's so much better than everybody but he never proves it. It was a bad fight for me but look at his record then look at mine. You can add up ten of my fights that add up to a minute or two. I had a bad fight but I have a history of throwing down and fighting like a warrior. He doesn't have that. You get tired of hearing it.
Did that fight motivate you going into the Marcus Davis fight?
Definitely, I want to be exciting and let loose with my hands and fight like I normally fight. But the problem with the Davis fight was I couldn't let my hands go. First of all my trainers wanted me to use the gameplan they had to win the fight. They wanted me to kicks and knees, clinchwork, and takedowns.They wanted me strike with him on the outside but not get in a slugfest because he's a very good boxer. My arm was a factor too. If my arm was healthy it would've been a different story. I didn't want to go in there an be sloppy and not be able to depend on the right hand as often and go crazy. I stuck to the gameplan.
I pushed the pace I never stopped pushing the pace or moving. I actually didn't go for a takedown until the third round. I was going to keep it on the feet and he started taking me down. I actually didn't anticipate that with all the talk of going ten for ten. It really caught me off guard. Maybe that was his gameplan. He tried to take me down and I reversed it a couple of times. I ended up on top of him. When I was on top I was landing punches and trying to progress my position. He got me down once when I went for a traingle. As soon as I missed that I kicked him off. It was an exciting fight from a technical standpoint after all the different transitions we did. But it wasn't the standup war most people anticipated. He defintely suprised me with all the different takedown attempts.
Davis is a dangerous fighter. He had won ten straight fights coming to that fight with you.
He's a tough guy and I landed a pretty good head kick, a couple of knees and a couple of big right hands and he didn't seem to be fazed by it. He didn't seem to be bothred. He's got a really good chin and it could've been a real slugfest.
What's the deal with you and Chris Leben? Is he ducking you?
We aren't even in the same division anymore. We were supposed to fight. After he had lost to Kalib or McDonald he had talked about dropping down to 170. And I was going to drop to 170.They offered us a main event on Fight Night. We took it instantly. We didn't hear back for a while so we called Joe Silva and we assumed it was because he couldn't make 170. It's understandable because he's a big middleweight. We called Joe Silva and my manager Bob Cook told him we'd take the fight Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, it didn't matter. We didn't want to lose the fight. Joe Silva said that his camp fight turned the fight down at any weight class. That's the last I heard anyways.
At the reunion he said he didn't know anything about it. It's kind of funny becaus if my manager didn't tell me that I was offered a main event and I wasn't even told about it I would fire him. Especially if it was against a guy I'd already beaten. Obviously he wasn't looking out for his best interests or maybe they have that kind of relationship. You would expect him to at least tell him. He may have told him but he's deying it. I don't know. There's nothing I can do about it now.
Was there any drama at the reunion between Leben-Koscheck or Sanchez-Koscheck?
Nah, I figured there would be some drama between Koscheck and Diego but Diego was kind of chill. It's like he's been reborn. He was nice to everyone. He seems a lot different. There wasn't any drama. Actually Koscheck was the one who stirred it up and asked Leben about the contract and why he wouldn't fight me.
Koscheck does have bad blood with Sanchez and Leben.
He just wanted to stir something up. He knew Leben wouldn't have much to say. We did sent him a contract. Leben said he'd rematch me anytime and he said no. He went against his word and didn't have much to say.
How do you think Koscheck will do stepping in on short notice against Thiago Alves?
I think he'll do really well. He's looked really good in the gym. We were hoping something like this would happen. He has been training so hard and we were hoping someone would back out because it would suck to have to wait until December to fight. He kept training and sure enough, Diego backed out and the opening came and he's more than ready. Good for him. He's probably going to fight again in December.
If he were to win he'd put himself on the doorstep of a rematch with GSP.
He'll do real well against GSP. When he fought him the first time he went in giving him too much respect and he wasn't confident when he went in there. GSP couldn't hurt him. Kos left the fight unscathed. His confidence is very high.
Would you fight Koscheck if he was the champion?
The only way Fitch, Kos, or myself would fight is if one of us was the champion and the other was the #1 contender. There's no other option. We fight each other in the gym all the time. I think if it came down to where we were all the top three in the world I'd go back to middleweight and Kos could go to lightweight. Or he'd be the champ and it would be back to Fitch and Kos. I can always go back up. I'd rather go that route then fight my teammates. That would be a question for those two.
Is there anybody specifically you'd like to test your skills against?
Everybody in the welterweight division. GSP, Thiago, Diego, I'd like to fight all the top guys in the division. I fought Davis and Burkman and they are pretty good fighters. I want to keep moving up.
What about older guys like Matt Hughes and Matt Serra?
I don't know how much Hughes has left. I think he wants to fight Serra and retire. I'd like to fight him too if he continues to fight. He's done so much. He could retire at anytime and be content with his career.
What do you like to do when you aren't fighting?
I love to travel. After every fight I go overseas or go somewhere new and see the world. I also love playing Poker.
Are you going to be in the World Series of Poker?
I played this year. I did it the past two years. I play a lot of tournaments. I also play online with Full Tilt Poker. You can find me there at nighttime playing.
Didn't Forrest Griffin play in the World Series recently?
Forrest and Chuck both played in the World Series Main Event but it was the day after his fight so I don't think he had the motivation to win. Forrest wasn't even looking at his cards trying to lose and he still kept winning.
Is there anything else you'd like to say to the fans?
I want to thank all the fans for their support. I hope they'll watch December 10th on Spike TV. It's going to be an exciting fight. I'm excited and I'm going to hopefully put on a great show. I also have a daily blog at http://michaelswick.blogspot.com. I'm blogging everyday. It's stuff at the gym with the guys and stuff like that. I also got the Youtube page going with about 19 videos. It's got footage of behind the scenes stuff at fights and appearances. It's got me and Koscheck traininig. We're constantly updating new stuff. It's at www.youtube.com/officialswick. Or you can find the link on my webpage www.mikeswick.com
Interview with Chris Lytle
What have you been up to?
I've been training. Just getting into my two-a-days. Trying to cut out all of my alcohol and starting to eat healthy.
Is it hard eating right before a fight?
Not really. The only time it gets tough is when I'm at the fire house. They don't really care if I'm fighting or not. They eat good. But it's not good for you. They like to eat.
How excited are you for the fight with Paul Taylor at UFC 89?
I'm really excited. I got to watch some of his fights and I thought this guy is good. He's fast and accurate with his striking. I don't anticipate him taking me down. I think it's going to be a brawl. It's the type of fight I look forward to.
You might get booed fighting the hometown boy over there.
I know. I've been other places where I've been booed. Usually with the way I fight they end up cheering me in the end. If they boo in the beginning I don't mind.
You were a warrior in the Koscheck fight. Did you think they were going to stop it?
I was hoping they wouldn't I knew it was bleeding pretty bad but I never felt like I was hurt at all. He was only landing short little punches. He wasn't landing anything big. I never flet in trouble. I just couldn't get him off of me. He's good at keeping tight and throwing little elbows. The referees are getting more educated and they did a good job of not stopping it.
Was it aggrivating in the 3rd round when he wouldn't engage you and backed away content with the decision?
I expected him to. It would be foolish for him not to. I was hoping he would stand up and bang but the bottom line is I want it be an exciting fight. I want to stand and bang for the fans. He just wanted to get the win.
My mindset was take him out. He did a good job of stopping me. I feel like I did a good job of giving it the old college try and kept coming forward no matter what.
Did you get a contract extension after that fight?
Yeah, I think they know when I'm fighting I'm trying to finish the fight. It might not always happen but it's what I'm going for. I'm never going to try to win a decision and I think they like that.
Do you think the fight with Thiago Alves was stopped too soon?
It bothers me a lot because I wasn't even bleeding by the time they stopped it. I don't understand. The first punch he threw 30 seconds into round one cut me. It bled a little bit but after the first roud it quit bleeding. Then I know they stopped it after the second round. I don't think he even landed a punch in the second round. He landed some kicks and was doing a good job. The cut wasn't getting any worse. But I don't think they should've stopped it.
Where you suprised with how quick the fight went with Kyle Bradley?
I had seen him fight before and I was suprised. It was his first fight in the UFC and his adrenaline was probably running and there was a lot going on and it combined with the fact that I landed some good punches and hurt him.
The fight before that it seemed like Matt Hughes couldn't really do anything but take you down and lay on you.
The fight before that I fought Matt Serra and my gameplan was stop the takedowns and I did that and lost the decision. People thought it was a boring fight. I figured I could go out and throw bombs and is I give up the opportunity to get taken down then so be it. I figured I'd go for it and try to negate what he was doing on the ground and they'd stand us up. Well, they never stood us back up. I thought I'd get 5 or 6 chances to knock him out but I only got three, one in each round since they never stood us back up.
Matt Hughes rubbed some of the guys wrong on the Ultimate Fighter. Was there any animosty between you two?
I've known him for a long time. I've been around for a few years and so has he. He didn't bother me like he did other guys. We've been in the same circles so there wasn't any animosity.
Looking back at the fight with Serra what are your thoughts?
That fight bothered me for a long time. It's very subjective. It depends on what you are looking for. I wasn't doing much but I thought I was doing more than him. Obviously other people thought he was more aggresive. It's weird. The fight was scored 30-27 by all three judges. Two for him and one for me. It was real painful for me for a while. It was right then I said I might lose a decision but I'm never going to try to lose a decision ever again. I'm gonna go out try to knock the guy out and if he gets the decision then so be it. I'm not going to go for a decsion.
What did you think when he beat St. Pierre for the title?
I was very happy for him. I like Matt a lot. We're friends. I want good things to happen tohim. It showed that anything can happen. He had a chance. People counted him out but I thought he had a better shot than most people did. He shocked the world and I was proud of him.
It seemed like the show was edidted around him wanting to fight Shonie but you probably wanted to fight him sicne he beat you a few years ago.
I think a lot of peolpe wanted to fight Shonie. I wouldn't mind it. I'ts funny. Din Thomas and Serra were my two big trainig partners then I had to fight them.
What was the casting process like for that season?
They contacted me. Joe Silva called me and I thought he'd ask me to fight someone, I had fought for him several times but he told me that they were casting for a season of Ultimate Fighter with veterans. He asked me if I was interested and I said heck yeah. They flew some of us out there and we interviewed in front of Spike people and they called back later and then I was on the show.
Did it bother you not having TV, newspapers, or stuff like that?
It didn't bother me at all. There were a couple of us it didn't bother. Me and Matt Serra would sit around and talk. I have four kids and it's hard for me to dedicate myself like I really want to. With four kids and a job at the fire department it's hard. My life is always busy. When I'm training it's hard on my familly. They have to pick up the slack for me being gone a lot. Being on the show I didn't have any distractions. I only had training and fighting. I loved every minute of it. TV? I can watch it anytime. An opportunity like that, I loved it.
Do your kids watch your fights?
They watch the fights. My little two don't watch them live. They don't watch them until later. I think it's good for them, it teaches them to never give up. I watch the Contender and they bring their families and kids in ringiside when they fight. Guys are getting knocked out and their kids are crying. That ain't right. I'd hate to see me bleeding like that and my kids upset. Little kids might worry. That's why I don't let my little two watch it live. I don't worry about the older ones but the youngest two...
What are you most proud of from your career?
I'm proud of the fact that I'm still here. i've been through tough times. I don't think most people don't know how hard it is. Being on that show and losing a split decision and losing my title shot. Going through that and going back to the drawing board and changing things around. I'll never try to go to a decision again. I wasn't like that before. I've been around for over ten years. I made little money and put up with so much. I'm proud of the fact that I've persevered. I feel not many fighters can say that now.
As I was looking at your career you beat Matt Brown a guy who the UFC is grooming to be a star.
Yeah I fought him in my hometown at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. I didn't know much about him but I heard he was a good fighter. That's what I wanted. I didn't want to fight someone who was going to lay down for me in my hometown. I wanted a good fight. And he gave me a heck of a fight. I ended up submitting him in the second round but he's tough. I wish him well. He's got a good attitude. I hope he does well.
Isn't it cool though knowing tha you beat one of the guys that is up and coming now?
Yeah, I was glad when he got on the show. Before that people went to watch us fight and nobody knew him. People recognize fighters in the UFC as the best fighters and now they say it was a good fight.
What do you like to do when you aren't fighting?
I'm always training. I hate getting out of shape. After a fight I might take a week off if I'm battered up and have stitiches. I need to be in there. I'm always in the gym but 6 or 7 weeks before the fight I only go once a day. The rest of the time I try to spend with my family. I have four kids and I'm like a big kid. I play games with them. Whatever they want to do I'll do.
Oh, I like to spend time with my wife, Kristin. I love her so muich.
Is she standing beside you?
Yes, she said write that down (laughs).
You've fought a lot of guys is there anybody you'd like to fight again?
I thought after I fought Thiago I'd fight him again. He even said that after the fight they shouldn't have stopped it. I'd like to do that one. I'm in a mode to stand up and bang with peopleand if anyone wants to do it I'll be glad to do it.. He's one of the best in the world at that right now. I think we were having a good fight until it got stopped so I think we should do it again.
What's this about you wanting to fight Marcus Davis?
That's another one. He's got a boxing background as do I. Whenever I see him we talk about how it'll be fight of the night material. People come up to me and tell me how they remember the fight with Robbie Lawler. They just loved that fight. And it's cool as a fighter when a fan talks to you about fight that happened three years ago. I've had fighters tell me that fight inspired them to be a fighter. You can get wins here and there but stuff like that motivates you as a fighter and it makes you feel good. I want as many fights like that as I can get on my resume.
A fight like that with Davis is that something where you would have a little input with Joe Silva or does he just call you with an opponent?
Usually he just calls us with an opponent but if me and Marcus keep talking about it eventually it'll happen I hope.
What are your thoughts on Couture and Lesnar?
It's an interesting matchup. Randy is a legend. How will Randy matchup with the sheer size of Lesnar? He's so massive ad strong. He's a good wrestler but Randy is all of those things. Randy is such a technichian and I'd never count him out. Brock has so much potential and could be unstoppable but how does a guy train for two years and be as good as Couture? I'd like to get on that card just so I can get a front row seat.
Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture and Marcus Davis vs. Chris Lytle on the undercard, what do you think?
Sure, Joe Silva you hear that (laughs)?
Is there anything else you'd like to say to the fans?
I'm looking to finish everyone of my fights. I want to be an exciting fighter and be exciting for the fans. I want the fans to say Chris Lytle is one of my favorite fighters.
Interview with Tim Sylvia
What have you been up to since the fight with Fedor?
I have been relaxing. I went to Canada for 7 days and went bear hunting. I've been doing a lot of boating I went with a buch of my friends to the Ozarks. I did a lot of boating and jetskiing.
Have you heard anything about your next opponent?
I'm looking to get back in the ring or cage later this fall probably with Adrenaline. I'm going to be there for their next show. I think it might happen in Novemeber but it's not for sure yet. If that doesn't happen I'll probably fight on the New Years' show for DREAM in Japan or whoever picks me up.
How did you get started in MMA?
I just fell into in honestly. I was a big fan of the UFC. I had done karate and started doing boxing and grappling and fell into it.
Was your family supportive of your decision to pursue MMA professionally?
Oh yeah, whatever I wanted to do they supported me.
Did you have any jitters the first time you stepped into the octagon?
Well, it was my 16th fight so I had a few jitters but I was excited to be in the UFC. It was a dream for me.
When you were fighting Mir when did you know your arm was broken?
As soon as he broke it. (laughs) When he broke it it pissed me off. I thought, Man I gotta kill this guy. I picked him up and dropped him on his head he kind of went limp so I picked him up again and Herb stepped in.I was going to drop left hooks on him. He doesn't have a great chin and I truly believe I could've knocked him out. I had him in a good spot but if it would've stood us up I would've been in trouble (laughs). My arm was broken.
How big was the win over Arvlovski at UFC 59?
I was excited to redeem myself. He had beaten me previous to that. I knew I could beat him and that's what I did. I knocked him out.
Do you think there is any money in a fourth fight with Arvloski?
I don't know. The third fight was a great fight. I think maybe the fans would want to see it. I don't know. I beat him twice in a row. He looked really good in his last fight and I didn't. I'll fight whoever they want me to fight.
What are your thoughts on the Jeff Monson fight? You did well on the ground the night.
It was a good win. I wished I had finished him. I didn't go out there and finish him. I was happy with the fact that he said that when we got on the ground the fight was over. Obviously it wasnt because I had him in trouble several times that night.
What was your gameplan going into the Randy Couture fight?
Just go out there and hit him (laughs). Defend the takedowns and all costs. The first punch took me out of the fight. He had a great gameplan and he executed it perfectly. He kicked my ass that night. I was injured and if we fought again it would be a different fight. But Randy's got a big fight with Brock Lesnar.
What are your thoughts on Brock?
He's a beast. It's one of those things every four years or so we get a really good monster wrestler like Mark Coleman or Dan Severn. When Dan Severn first came along he was unstoppable. That's what Brock Lesnar is. He is an amazing athlete, amazing wrestler and he's huge. Now's the time to fight him while he's still learning.
Did you work out with him?
He came up for a couple of weeks. I had my elbow taken care of so I didn't get to work out with him but some of the guys did.
What do you remember about the fight with Vera in Cincinnati?
I showed him what a big man could do to a little man who should be at 205. I like him. He's a cocky kid but he's good. I just knew I was bigger and stronger than him. I had the ability to shut him down like I did. Suprisingly he initiated the clinch and thought if this is how you want to play this is how we'll play.
I saw him after the fight run down and show Dana White that he broke his hand.
My hand was broken too. No big deal. I broke my hand two weeks before the fight. That's why we used the elbows a lot. It's also another reason I was happy with the clinch,. I broke the outside of my right hand two weeks earlier. We both had broken hands. Big deal.
Tell us how you wound up with Affliction.
We had one fight left on the contract and we didnt know where to go or what to do. There where a lot of fights out there I wanted to take and the UFC didn't know if the guys wanted to take the fight so we parted ways.They released me from my contract. I left on good terms.
Is Tito Ortiz with Affliction?
I don't know.
Tito said he would step up in weight if the money was right.
I'd take that fight in a heartbeat. In a heartbeat.
Are you allowed to fight for any organization.
Yes, I'm a free agent. I own the rights to my own contract.
I'd like to see you go to EliteXC and expose Kimbo.
It's like you said, expose him. You can't blame the guy for making a living. He's another guy like Brock trying to get better but he's not at that level yet.
What are your thoughts on the fight with Fedor?
I wanted to keep him off with my reach and try to knock him out but he had a different gameplan than he's ever had in th epast. He just jumped on me as quick as he could. He hit me with a punch and I don't know if I slipped but I fell down and he jumped on me and capitalized.
So he's not all hype.
Oh no he's a stud. I don't know who's going to beat him.
Would you like a rematch with him?
I'd like to have a rematch down the road. I have to get on a win streak and get two or three wins under my belt then I'd like to face him again.
What are your thoughts on what Dana said about you stinking up the joint for years?
Dana says things sometimes without thinking. I left the UFC on good terms but I don't agree with those comments.
Do you think think the UFc would ever induct you into their Hall of Fame?
I don't know. If they did it would have to be after I retired. Maybe one day.
Your still with Miletich aren't you?
Yes
Is there anybody there you see being a star in a few years?
Ben Rothwell is a great figher. Rory Markham is looking sharp in the UFC. Mike Ciesnolevicz should get a shot in the WEC. Ryan McGivern, A lot of those IFL guys are going to be fine. They just need to get on some shos. Drew is a great athlete. He's a real good fighter. Spencer Fisher is a great one. Josh Neer is getting back in the UFC.
Is there anybody you'd like to fight? Or anybody you like to fight again?
I'll fight anybody. I'd like to avenge my losses. Everybody does. Or at least I do anyway. But I'll fight anyone.
Who is your pick for the Randy Couture Brock Lesnar fight?
Randy always rises to the occasion. I would never bet against Randy. I want Randy to win.
You guys are friends aren't you?
Oh yeah, I actually texted him earlier and told him I'd come out there and help him if he needed me to.
Anything else you'd like to say to the fans?
I always want to think my sponsors. The Affliction guys and Warrior Wear guys. We are actually going to Iraq September 10. Rich Franklin and I are going over there for a USO tour for 10 days. When I get back I look forward to going to the shows and watching some great fights and then getting back in there myself.
Interview with Kevin Burns
Kevin have you heard when you might be fighting again?
I haven't heard. I want to fight around November or December. My hand will be 100% by then. I'll have all my weapons and that's pretty important to me. I want to have a little more time to prepare. I had a big win of Roan Carniero and I wanted to get another fight as quick as I could so I could take a few moths then get a couple of more in before the end of the year.
How did you get started in MMA?
I started doing Tae kwan doe about nine or ten years ago in 99. Did it for six months and there was some local amatur fights and I wanted to see if what I learned worked. Once I decided I would do it there was a fight that no one would take. It was against Josh Neer. I did well, I knocked him out. I didn't fight for a year after that fight. I fought Josh again. He beat me up pretty bad. I realized that standup striking wouldn't do me any good if I didn't understand the rest of the sport so I started into jiu jitsu and wrestling.
Was your family supportive in your decision to pursue MMA?
Not at first. They didn't understand the sport and didn't know a lot about it. But after a little education and seeing some of my fights they are now my biggest supporters.
What did you do before a living before you broke into the UFC?
I worked for Wells Fargo as a Commercial Leasing Representative. I managed a sales territory from the East Coast to the Upper North Atlantic Territory. Since I broke into the UFC I have taken a part time position in the same company in the same business segment. I am actually training people to do what I used to do.
What was the week like before the Roan Carniero like? It had to be hectic.
It was pretty crazy. I try to take aeverything in stride. I didn't have a lot fo time to think about it. I got as much film as I could off of UFC on Demand. I spent all time time before my flight left getting ready. I had to get all the MRI's and other stuff done.
Was your employer pretty cool about it?
Yeah, everyone was cool about it. They were supportive of my MMA career. I sat down with my manager and told him it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I couldn't pass it up. I told them I hoped they would understand and I'd do anything to make it up. My boss said , "Absolutely, do what you have to do."
Where you nervous walking into the octagon the first time?
Not anything more than a normal fight. You get certain nervous jitters before every fight. I think it's good to have that anxious feeling. I didn't have any more or less than I had ever had. I try to keep everything in perspective. A fight is a fight. I was just fighting in front fo more people.
What do you remember thiking going into that second round with Carniero. I thought he won the first round.
I thought he won the first round too with the take downs. I didn't take a lot of damage. I though overall I did well. He's really good on the ground and I knew that going into the fight. Going into the 2nd round I knew he was a little tired. He used a lot of energy keeping me down. I was willing to let my hands go a little more but I had to be somewhat conservative because he kept trying to take me down. I landed a few good shots. He continually alowed me to get those downward elbows when he had me in guard. He got me down in the 2nd round I continued with those elbows and I could see the frustration on his face. I started to see the cuts on top of his head from the elbows. That gave me some confidence to continue into the 2nd round. I had an opprtunity with the upkick and I caught him in the traingle.
How did you wind fighting Anthony Johnson on the Anderson Silva card in July?
I was scheduled to fight him on the August 9th. When the put that card together they called my manager and said we can put you on the main card if you move the fight up. I took the fight and shortened my training camp to 5 weeks.
Did you ever imagine that fight would end so controversially?
No, I didn't. I thought it was a good fight. It went back and forth. I tried to keep coming at him. I don't think he expected that. The last palm strike I threw he ducked down and it poked him in the eye. It sucks to win like that. I would've rather it gone to decision than to win like that. I thought I had more gas in the tank with two minutes to go. No telling what might have happen with two minutes left. I hope done the road we can do it again. I'd like to clear it up for the fans, for him and for myself Neither one of us wanted to end like that. I talked to him after the fight. He's a classy guy. I'm a compeitor. I just want to compete. It doesn't set well with either of us.
Do you thik the critisism you've received has been unfair?
Honestly, I stay off the blogs. I don't read much of it. I know a lot of people have critisized me. Oh that guys a danger or what not. If I was doing something illegal that the commision would've saw as malicious I would've felt bad and at that point taken the criticism differently. It's a legal strike. Some folks have said that it's an advantage with palm striking. If thats the case everyone would be doing it. I do it because I have an injury I have to let heal. I've adapted my game and taken a weapon away and stilldone well against good competition. It's a disadvantage. I give up three inches in reach. I hope to fight with all my weapons later this year in the UFC and the fasn will see a different fighter. With all my weapons I'm a different fighter.
You have been villified on some of the message boards but you are fighting with an injury.
Sure, it's unfortunate. Everyone has a an opinion. I repsect that. I would feel bad if I did something wrong outside the rules. Randy Couture lost the exact same way when he broke his orbital bone. With small gloves things like that will happen. At the end of the day I know I didn't do it intentionally and I was competeing within the rules and I sleep just fine.
How did you injure your hand?
Fighting, I broke it in a fight. I broke it twice again in practice. In a span of 16 months same spot. It never healed correctly. I finally got it fixed an I have to give it time to heal. The rest of my body felt great so I thought Bas Rutten did it why can't I?
The rest of my camp thought I was crazy fighting with a serious detriment to myself and I thought I could still do it and compete at a high level and later this year I'll have my hand back. In March I started training, took a few fights, then the UFC called and I was able to compete and there was no holding back at that point.
Do you think other fighters may be reluctant to fight you?
I hope not. I hope they understand I'll be fighting with a closed fist. It was purely accidental. Chuck Liddell was known as the eye poke guy for awhile but it hadn't stopped people to from wanting to fight him. I hope it won't be abig deal for people but it's hard to tell.
Have you spoken to Dana White since the fight?
No, I spoke to Joe Silva briefly. I told him I wanted to say I was sorry. It was an accident. I basically reiterated the explanation but I hadn't talked to anyone else with the UFC.
I heard that Dana said that if you couldn't make a fist it would've been caught by a doctor before the fight.
I don't know how it got misconstrued I can make a fist. I just can't hit with that fist. There's a good possibility that my hand would break. They expect by the first of October I can take the force of a punch. I cn grab and lift weights If I was a regular person I wouldn't notice a differenece but being in the sport I'm in I can't take it. Again, if I was doing something illegal I would feel bad.
Is there anybody you'd like to fight?
Not really. I want to continue to move up the rankings and challenge for a title. Whoever that entails fighting I'm game for it. The UFC will tell me who I need to fight to get into a title situation. As long as I keep winning then I will progress toward for that goal.
Where do you train? You are in Iowa but you don't train with the Militech camp?
No I don't, I'm with the Des Moines Jiu Jitsu Academy. I venture out and do mini camps in Chicago and a few other places.
Is there anything else you'd like to say to the fans?
I just hope the fans understand I'm a guy of high integrity and character and didn't intentionally poke Anthony in the eye. I hope they'll support me in the future.
