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MMA Exclusive Interview: Stann Believes He Could Be the First Man to KO Sonnen

JS: Hi Brian, many thanks for affording me the opportunity to conduct this interview. You seem to have a new lease of life at middleweight. Do you now feel in retrospect that MW has always been your natural fighting weight? BS: Yes. I had been told se…

JS: Hi Brian, many thanks for affording me the opportunity to conduct this interview. You seem to have a new lease of life at middleweight. Do you now feel in retrospect that MW has always been your natural fighting weight?

BS: Yes. I had been told several times by my cornermen that I would end up being a middleweight. When I was in the WEC, I hardly had to cut a single pound. I would arrive in Las Vegas weighing 206, or 207 lbs. When I initially made it over to the UFC, I would actually try to lift more weights to put weight on, because I had zero experience in cutting weight, and I preferred not to deal with it. I had never experienced any issues strength-wise up til then, with any Light Heavyweight I had ever fought, so it wasn’t really an issue. But as I continued to fight better wrestlers, it became more difficult, especially against the top level guys who are cutting significant amounts of weight. When fighting at 205lbs, on the morning of weigh-ins, I would consume a sizeable breakfast, which is virtually unheard of.

JS: And do you dislike the much-maligned weight-cut as much as other fighters?

BS: Actually, I find it ok. It is what it is. It’s four days of just sucking it up. I don’t have an easy cut by any means but I have a great nutritionist George Lockhart who handles my diet, and forms an integral part of my entourage for fight week. We make it work, and it’s a worthwhile sacrifice to compete in the greatest sport on the planet.

JS: Ok. With notable wins recently over Leben and Santiago, you are hovering around the top of the middleweight rankings. Does this add any pressure going into fights?

BS: No, I don’t feel any pressure. There are so many critics out there that remain sceptical of my abilities. And even though this next fight with Chael is a number one contender bout, nobody is giving me a prayer in this fight, I’m more than a 2-1 underdog. So really all the pressure to perform is on the other guy. I can go out there, fight 100 miles per hour and fight to the best of my abilities because nobody is expecting anything from me in this fight.

JS: Ok, and not wanting to look past Sonnen, but who else in particular excites you in terms of future UFC middleweight competition? Silva? Bisping? Belfort? Munoz?

BS: Yes, there’s a lot. Obviously, the champion excites me. Everyone wants to be the first middleweight to beat him. I know I certainly do. Chael obviously excites me because he arguably can be the best middleweight in the world. We all saw what he did to Anderson. You watch Chael’s fights and he really takes it to some top level guys. Michael Bisping excites me, he puts on exciting fights. Same with Mark Munoz. So all those guys in the top 6 or 7 of the weight class are so close in their skill-sets and abilities that any of the fights would be razor-thin, and little things would determine the winner. Who executes better, who’s in better shape, who enjoys a little bit of fortune on the night. All these things are factors, and any one of us could beat the other guy on any given night, and that’s what makes this sport so special.

JS: Great, and what are your thoughts on my compatriot Michael Bisping, obviously quite a polarising figure within the MMA community?

BS: I’ve made the mistake in the past of judging guys based on what I see in articles or TV. I promised I would never do that anymore. Honestly, I have never met Michael, I can’t tell you anything about him, aside from the fact he’s a very well-rounded fighter who’s constantly improving in all facets of the game. I’m sure our paths will cross in the future. But for me to judge him outside the cage based on interviews or articles would be a mistake. Often when fighters talk to the media it’s right before a fight so your mindset is different, or it’s right after a fight. This isn’t necessarily always an accurate portrayal of the person.

JS: Obviously you’re hugely popular within the organisation. What did you make of it when Wanderlei Silva declined an offer to fight you on the basis that he didn’t want to fight someone so popular in the US?

BS: I really didn’t make a big deal out of it. I knew asking to fight him was a long shot anyway. He is a true legend of the sport, and he is at the point in his career where he can pick and choose his battles. For guys that have that many fights and have worn that many belts, there’s nothing left for Wanderlei to prove in this sport. It’s very similar to where Randy Couture was at the twilight of his career, where it was more about the matchups that excited him rather than the titles. The matchup with me didn’t excite Wanderlei that much, and he didn’t want to deal with some of those things that he discussed. He was very respectful in doing so, and I hope that I’ve been equally as respectful in understanding. I’ll always be a Wanderlei Silva fan irrespective of whatever happens.

JS: Ok, moving onto Chael…you are recognised as one of the sport’s gents, and Chael is renowned for being outspoken and brash. However, it would appear from a recent interview I saw that you are both friends, or on good terms at least? In fact Chael went on record as stating that after Dana White, you are the person he most respects within the organisation. How do you react to that?

BS: Well, I wouldn’t say we’re really close friends. We don’t talk very often, but there is a mutual respect there. I trained with Chael years ago, before he became very outspoken, before he fought certain guys that ignited that style of marketing, so I feel I know Chael aside from the media and he’s a good guy. He has always been very respectful, kind and helpful towards me, especially when I trained in Portland for a week with Chael and Matt Lindland a while back. After that, we really didn’t communicate much at all together except for the fact that we shared a common mentor in a gentleman by the name of John Bardis, who has been a mentor of mine for several years now, and who is also the chairman of the board for Hire Heroes USA (http://www.hireheroesusa.org/). John has effectively been my boss at work, and he is also very close with Chael. Other than that, we don’t talk on a regular basis. We don’t call or text each other every day.

I think Chael really kept tabs on me through John, and was very proud of my development, knowing that when he had trained with me I was very raw, and most people didn’t believe I could pursue a career in MMA. He was always excited and happy to see me succeed, which is very kind of him, but when I was told by the UFC that we are scheduled to fight, my initial reaction wasn’t to question that on the basis of our relationship outside of the cage. It’s not out of lack of respect towards Chael, but I train with a lot of middleweights in my gym with whom I may have to use that “friend card” in the future.

Anyway, the UFC didn’t give me much leeway. They rang me up and told me who I was fighting, that it was the fight Dana White wanted. If that’s what the boss wants, then that’s fine. That’s who I am. If my team, or person in charge of me wants me to do something, then I’ll ordinarily oblige. It’s just one of those things. Ironically, just before the fight was proposed, Chael and I had started conversing about some of Chael’s friends in the Portland area who are veterans, and who needed help from Hire Heroes USA. He also mentioned that he didn’t have many training partners over there, and suggested that we get together. It made sense, with my striking and his wrestling it could be mutually beneficial, improving each other’s weaknesses.

JS: Ok, well you alluded to playing “the friend card”, and knowing your close bond with my native Englishman Tom “Kong” Watson, if the situation ever presented itself to fight Tom, how would you approach this sensitive topic?

BS: Well, here’s the deal. There’s only one belt, only one champion, so sometimes these scenarios crop up. If this situation arose where Tom was in the UFC, and they asked us to fight, it would be something where I’d call Tom directly to discuss it. We’d look at it both ways. Tom and I always tease each other by claiming that we’d like to fight each other, because we know how exciting the fight would be. And that statement is based on our kickboxing sparring sessions, which are absolutely exciting to watch. We beat on each other every day in the gym, without pulling punches. We know we’d get the fans on their feet. If it’s an opportunity where one of us needs that win for our career, the match is for a shot at the title, or in fact is for the title, maybe we’d have to put the friendship aside and go out there to compete with each other like we do every day at the gym. I’d rather lose to a great friend of mine than someone I’ve never met before. But in all honesty, I’d love to avoid that situation. I’d never want to fight Tom, because he’s one of my closest friends in the sport.

The thing with the UFC is that it tends to reward exciting fighters. Two exciting fighters that go at it generally both prosper, so it’s a win-win situation. Careers invariably don’t take a massive hit if a fighter delivers excitement.

JS: Ok, and you also alluded above to Chael’s current outward persona towards the media. Do you believe that his outspoken nature is primarily cultivated in order to enhance interest in his fights, therefore attributable to his marketing savvy?

BS: I know nothing for fact, but yes, I believe it is Chael’s marketing savvy. I believe a lot of it is marketing, but I also believe that Chael has a genuine dislike for some of his opponents which has led him to make certain statements. Whether that dislike is merited or not, I have no idea. I haven’t met the people he has criticised, I know nothing about it. It’s certainly not my style, and wouldn’t be the way that I approach harnessing the media prior to a fight.

JS: Conversely, what are you making of Chael’s Mr.Nice guy approach in the lead-up to your encounter? Does it surprise you at all?

BS: Not at all. In typical fashion, most people only remember the fights for which Chael was outspoken. They don’t remember the fights like against Dan Miller, Nate Marquardt and Yushin Okami, for which he was very respectful. Everyone tends to remember your last fight, and obviously prior to his title fight against Anderson Silva, Chael was outspoken, so perhaps people expected him to continue in this vein against me. I never expected him to talk smack on me, unless I had done something to upset him of which I wasn’t aware. With Chael, I think he is being genuine when he claims that he doesn’t manufacture conflict, but rather he will voice his opinion against a fighter who he dislikes.

JS: Right. Chael, like yourself, is also evidently a proud American, given he boasts the US flag on his walkout t-shirt. Being patriotic as he is about his own country, do you not think he has been a little insensitive to ridicule Brazil so flagrantly during recent interviews? Has he overstepped the mark by bringing nationality into his quips?

BS: I do not share any of the sentiments expressed by Chael. My BJJ coach is Roberto Traven, 1999 Abu Dhabi open class champion, from Rio de Janeiro. I have a great deal of respect for that country, its people, and what it has done for mixed martial arts. When I’m in Atlanta, most of my training partners are Brazilian so I have close Brazilian friends. In terms of what Chael has said, I have no idea why he has made the remarks about Brazil, you would have to ask him that. I don’t know what it is. If I had to guess I’d say he doesn’t really mean it, and that it’s just a marketing strategy.

JS: Obviously you will have seen some of Chael’s pre-fight antics for his previous encounters. Do you ordinarily find his pre-fight banter amusing?

BS: Yes, in most cases. I don’t agree with his criticisms of fighters or countries, but there are certainly a lot of things he does that generate interest in a fight. People are really going to root for or against him. The build-up made the Anderson Silva fight even more exciting. The fight was exciting itself regardless. Organisations often attempt to manufacture some trash-talk to generate interest around a fight. It’s no secret that when two guys talk trash about each other, and there’s an apparent dislike between them, then extra interest is generated. I don’t think the sport needs it, but characters like Chael Sonnen add value and entertainment to the sport.

JS: In terms of your approach to the fight, most people believe you hold the advantage on the feet, but will you also feel comfortable on the ground in the knowledge that Chael has previously been susceptible to submissions?

BS: Well, you know, Chael has been caught on several occasions, but it hasn’t been that often during his career, so I can’t go in there and depend on catching him with something off my back. There have been a lot more guys who he has fought that have ended up on their back and been pounded for three rounds. I feel there are areas where I have an advantage, and others where he has an advantage, and really it’s both of our jobs to neutralise the other person’s advantages. The difference is that Chael doesn’t have any one way of finishing this fight at any one moment, whereas I do, and in my eyes that’s the biggest difference in this fight. I can end this fight at any moment with a number of different strikes, either with my hands, feet, knees or elbows. He doesn’t have that ability, so he has to go in there, take me down and control me for three straight rounds to win this fight. I have to ensure he can’t do that.

JS: That’s fair enough. You mention his lack of raw KO power, but you must have been impressed with how proficient he looked on the feet against Anderson Silva, even tagging him and knocking him down a couple of times?

BS: There’s nothing easy at all about fighting Chael Sonnen, no matter where the fight takes place. Just because I believe I have an advantage in one particular area, doesn’t mean that I have a mile advantage. Chael has been competing in MMA since I was in highschool. He made his pro-debut in 1997, when I was a sophomore. Not to mention all the years he has spent wrestling. Wherever we fight this won’t be a cakewalk, I’m in for a fight. However, if he finds himself trading shots with me, that’s an advantage for me. Those are the situations I’m looking to create in this fight, whereas I don’t think he wants to find himself in those situations. If he’s in those situations, he’s going to be trading punches to get out of it, set up a takedown, clench up, or fight you at a distance. He’s too smart to just trade blows.

JS: Ok, so do you think you could be the first person to KO Chael Sonnen?

BS: Absolutely, I can knock anybody out. I have enough power to knock anybody out. With the right punch or kick, anybody can be knocked out. There is nobody who can’t be knocked out. One of the reasons Chael hasn’t been knocked out in his career is because, one he’s tough, and secondly he’s very good at sticking to his gameplan. You watch all his fights and you’ll see that there are very few guys that can defend against his style of fighting, which is to come out, attack you on the feet, create openings for a very good double-leg, single-leg, or body lock takedown, into a very controlling and relentless top game. Chael doesn’t just lay on you, he also attacks you when he’s on top. It’s very difficult to knock a guy out when he’s on top of you punching you in the face.

JS: Right, ultimately, is this fight the epitome of a battle of wills? Neither of you tends to take a backward step. I recently saw an interview in which you claimed to have more heart than Chael, but he also prides himself on his will. How do you break Chael’s will?

BS: You just have to keep going. Sometimes you find a guy that is willing to go to the same level as you are. I’ve got to hope he’s not willing to go to the same level that I’m willing to go to that night. And if he is, then I have to find another level. In my mind, of course I’m going to think that I have more heart and more mental toughness than anybody else in this sport, and I have to approach it that way. I’d expect nothing less than for Chael to come at me for 15 whole minutes, and it’ll make it a special fight for the fans.

JS: Sounds immense, I can’t wait for it. Cheers for your time today Brian, I really appreciate it.

BS: No problem Jonny, best of luck, and I look forward to seeing the piece.

Follow Brian on Twitter @BrianStann

Follow me on Twitter @jonathanshrager

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

MMA: Exclusive Interview with Cult MMA Documentarist Genghis Con

Foreword:Since our friends over at CagePotato procured a rare exclusive interview with Genghis Con (real name Isaac Kesington) back in late 2008, this maverick has evolved from a purely highlight-reel magician to a fully-fledged MMA-documentary maker.Y…

Foreword:

Since our friends over at CagePotato procured a rare exclusive interview with Genghis Con (real name Isaac Kesington) back in late 2008, this maverick has evolved from a purely highlight-reel magician to a fully-fledged MMA-documentary maker.

Yet even though he has received a wealth of plaudits for his creative output, and has progressively built up a genuine cult following on the underground circuit through his artistic endeavor, he remains very much an enigmatic figure who is yet to fully enter mainstream MMA consciousness.

I recently managed to catch up with Genghis, and quiz him a little further about his development within the realm of filmmaking over the past few years, and to see if I could tease out any inside information about the fighters that feature in his compelling documentaries. What ensued was a monster 70-minute conversation, which has yielded a trilogy of interviews for your viewing pleasure.

Introduction:

A list of keywords spring to mind when enjoying a Genghis Con documentary; authentic, artistic, emotive, insightful, real, edgy, cultural, familial, raw, humorous, humane, empathetic, happiness and hopeful.

Every generation produces exceptionally talented artists in every field, visionaries that invariably are distinctive amongst the crowd for what they represent and how successfully they represent it. Fantasists that transcend the topic matter to encompass their entire art form. What is so striking about Genghis Con is how real his depictions prove. You can’t help but feel that you are watching something eminently authentic, created by someone congruently genuine.

Nothing is forced, nothing is fabricated. In fact, it’s an artistic fly-on-the-wall documentary for MMA. The fighters are evidently super-comfortable in Isaac’s presence that enables him to capture the combatants in their true light. His videos have each been routinely receiving over 20,000 Youtube views, still underground in some respects, but on the cusp of a mainstream breakthrough.

What is evident is that we are potentially witnessing the incipient creations of a future luminary of the big screen. And let’s hope that Isaac doesn’t compromise his rawness and purity when he inevitably receives more attention and eventually permeates the mainstream.

Genghis may be deemed as an inspirational figure within the MMA community. The epitome of a go-getter, he neatly highlights the old adage that “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” We are discussing a self-made man who essentially carved out his own career by relentlessly pursuing his passion for MMA. The overriding message, of paramount importance, is there exist opportunities for ambitious and talented people within MMA, and indeed all walks of life.

Interview Part 1:

JS: So I believe you’ve just returned home from business. What were you up to?

GC: I was just in Miami, doing some business for the show, setting everything up in preparation for shooting the 2nd season.

JS: Okay, great. I personally stumbled across you from perusing MiddleEasy and CagePotato, and it seems like this exposure has helped build your cult following amongst the MMA community?

GC: Yeah, MiddleEasy and CagePotato have been helping out a lot. I interviewed with CagePotato a long time ago and they’ve been fans ever since, always putting up my latest videos. Same with MiddleEasy, they’ve been following my progress and uploading my big releases. It’s great promotion for me and I appreciate it.

JS: Okay, so CagePotato interviewed you around three to four years ago, but I thought it would prove fascinating to get an updated interview with you in order to detail your notable evolution over the past few years. First of all, I’ve noticed a strong Latin-American cultural feel that pervades your recent work such as “Miami Hustle”, given that you primarily film Cuban and Brazilian fighters. What’s your actual cultural background?

GC: My actual background, well, my dad’s Nigerian and my mum’s American. I was born and raised here in America. I was born in Atlanta, but moved to California after a couple of months and was raised there, where I stayed up until after college. Then it was back to Atlanta.

JS: Okay, and how old are you exactly? (N.B. I wasn’t trying to chat Isaac up here, just eliciting some background information for y’all) And when did you finish up your studies?

GC: I’m 26. I never actually got to finish school. I got a scholarship to come out and play football in Atlanta at Fort Valley State. I ended leaving after a year, and started working.

JS: So just how good were you at football? Could you have made it into the NFL?

GC: I never really went that far. As I mentioned, I stopped playing after a year at University. I played because I was good at football but I didn’t really enjoy it. I never attempted to go after the NFL.

JS: So whilst at university, did you also undertake any courses tailored towards your new chosen career path in film?

GC: Not really no, it was purely a football scholarship. I never even chose a major either.

JS: Okay, so how come the change of direction towards film?

GC: Well as soon as I became an MMA fan, I started looking around for videos and all that, and I was always looking at highlights trying to identify the best fighters out there, since at the time I lacked knowledge in the game. I wanted to introduce my brother to the sport in order that we could share that passion, so I would change the music on the highlight videos and then show him. From there, I went onto editing video and filmmaking.

JS: Ah right, so this was the first time you had ever embraced any form of filmmaking?

GC: Yeah, that was the first time I had ever got into it. As soon as I started doing highlights, that’s when I started to become more serious with it. I was always making music at college, producing music, but I didn’t know anything about video.

JS: Okay, so how many years ago did you begin to appreciate the wonder of MMA, and when did you properly begin to produce your films?

GC: It was late 2003 when I really began to follow MMA, and I got into editing just over a year later, after watching the first series of TUF in January 2005. That’s when I started to really pay attention, renting the DVDs. And then I discovered Pride when the organisation was really in its prime. I remember watching Gomi lose to Aurelio back in ’06.

JS: And were you drawn more to the excitement of Japanese MMA?

GC: Yeah, I’m a huge Pride fan. They had all the best fighters and fights around the middle of the naughties.

JS: Okay, so what’s your role precisely within the entire filmmaking process? You’re evidently self-taught in terms of the machinery?

GC: Yeah, I ended up buying a camera, and learnt how to film. It was relatively easy. I already knew how to edit from my highlight-reel days.

JS: And is anyone else involved in the process?

GC: Well that depends. For example, on “Miami Hustle”, we have another camera guy that comes in on call every once in a while when we need him. Juan Carlos Faraldo, the Strength & Conditioning coach that features in “Miami Hustle” also helps me out a lot with the filming, providing me with location ideas and all that.

JS: Right, and with your earlier highlight reels, I think it was the one that featured the British fighters, I noticed a guy named Brendan Corbley?

GC: Yeah, he just provided me with a lot of the footage for some of the older Dan Hardy and Paul Daley fights back in Cage Warriors.

JS: Ok, as you alluded to before, you produce your own music. Who are you biggest musical influences?

GC: Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Moby. In film, it’s Robert Rodriguez, Michael Mann and Quentin Tarantino

JS: All very talented artists in their own right. Obviously you have much less funding, and constitute a much less mainstream production, but are your documentaries at all influenced and inspired by HBO 24/7 productions, because these are also very artistic and emotive, especially with the incorporation of suitably soulful music?

GC: Yeah, I was heavily influenced by 24/7. When I first started out, I always wanted to produce documentaries that captured training scenes in the build-up to big fights. I love the style of 24/7. And music is a significant part of the process for me. Often, I select the music before even editing.

JS: And are you still producing your own music and filtering it into your videos?

GC: Yeah, I still produce music, though I haven’t used a lot of it lately. I’m waiting till I improve in that area before I start using it more.

JS: Okay, and having listened to a couple of your tunes, your music is pretty evocative, quite moody, almost reminiscent of Moby’s style. Is that an accurate description?

GC: Yeah, that’s the sound I go for. I mix electronic, dance, rock, various genres. I also would like to attempt reggae. Still no lyrics, purely instrumentals, possibly drawing upon some samples.

JS: From the research that I’ve conducted on you, it appears that you have produced dozens of highlight videos and documentaries in total. Obviously, we know about your long list of previous highlight reels, but when exactly did you move on to creating actual documentaries?

GC: Summer 2010 is when I started making real documentaries. My first one was the Raphael Assuncao training camp. Til that point, it was purely docu-highlights from the footage I located online.

JS: Okay, so until last year the whole filmmaking gig was essentially a hobby? How were you earning a living?

GC: Yeah originally it was just a hobby, because I was making no money off the highlights. It was only last year that I turned it into a job. I always had other jobs before, but now I work purely behind the camera on video, making documentaries for people, and commercials. There’s a lot of work that I produce which I can’t display as my own work because it is made for clients.

JS: Okay, so you mention clients. Are you therefore producing work extrinsic to the realm of MMA?

GC: I do a lot of work both inside and outside of MMA. Within MMA, I produce on the request of sponsors and managers, who are looking to showcase their fighters. Outside of MMA, it tends to be local TV commercials in Atlanta, for doctors’ practices and other enterprises.

JS: Okay, cool. Do you think the docu-highlight vids helped to hone your craft, showcase your skills and ultimately gain you access to elite fighters?

GC: Yeah, the highlight videos made it easier for me to contact the fighters and prove that I could come in and compile something credible. At that time, I didn’t have a lot of work behind me.

JS: That’s immense Isaac. I appreciate it when somebody can proactively carve out something through their own endeavour and “balls”. It’s sort of reminiscent of Ariel Helwani and his rise to prominence with MMA reporting, by contacting fighters independently via MySpace, and gradually building his own reputation. Your stories resonate a little.

GC: Yeah thanks Jonny. I like Ariel, he’s quality.

Look out next week for Part Two of the interview, in which Genghis discusses, amongst many other topics, his initial contact with the fighters that feature in his documentaries and being approached by a film company to produce a feature-length presentation.

Follow Isaac on Twitter @GenghisConFIlms

Follow me on Twitter @jonathanshrager

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

10 Reasons Why BAMMA Could, and Should, Be On Spike TV

BAMMA and SPIKE…A match made in Heaven?Since the UFC’s game-changing announcement that they have joined forces with Fox, speculation is rife within MMA circles as to who’s the prime candidate to fill the void on Spike. Names such as Bella…

BAMMA and SPIKE…A match made in Heaven?

Since the UFC’s game-changing announcement that they have joined forces with Fox, speculation is rife within MMA circles as to who’s the prime candidate to fill the void on Spike. Names such as Bellator, ProElite and even Shark Fights have been bandied around but one promotion that hasn’t been discussed, conspicuous in its lack of mention, could be the wild card that Spike TV desperately requires…BAMMA.

Here is a compelling list of reasons which serve to underscore why BAMMA should be Spike TV’s number one target.

Begin Slideshow

Exclusive B/R Interview with Nate Marquardt: "Cry Baby J Is an Idiot"

JS: Hi Nate. I wanted to kick off by asking you about your recent decision to sign with BAMMA…what are your thoughts on potential opponents? What free agents out there at the moment interest you?NM: Well I’ve already stated that the guys I wanna figh…

JS: Hi Nate. I wanted to kick off by asking you about your recent decision to sign with BAMMA…what are your thoughts on potential opponents? What free agents out there at the moment interest you?

NM: Well I’ve already stated that the guys I wanna fight most are the guys that talk crap. I’d say the biggest possibility would be Paul Daley, Hector Lombard or Ben Askren. Honestly though I would be very pleased to fight any other world class fighters out there at 170.

JS: Do you believe welterweight is your optimal fighting weight?

NM: Yes I do. Right now I’m back up to my old weight and I can tell you I don’t feel as good. I felt great at 170.

JS: And what made you believe BAMMA is the right promotion for you? What had Tom “Kong” Watson told you about BAMMA? How have you found your dealings with the organisation thus far?

There were several things. They offered a very good contract which was fair. They also promote and treat their fighters well. They have some big news for American fans coming up that I’m not sure if I’m allowed to talk about.

I could see myself fighting with BAMMA for a long time. Tom Watson told me that they treat him well and they can get top level opponents. Tom just beat Murillo Ninja Rua. Thus far everything is going well, I’m excited about my future with BAMMA.

JS: Will you be in attendance at BAMMA 7 in Birmingham, England on September 10th?

NM: Yes! Scouting potential opponents and meeting the fans.

JS: Joey Villasenor, your teammate has also signed for BAMMA. It is not inconceivable that you two become the number one and two within their welterweight division. Would you fight a Jackson’s teammate for a belt?

NM: Definitely Joey and I could become the top two in the division. That’s a problem that I am looking forward to having. He’s been my teammate since 2004. Joey, Keith, Rashad, Diego, Greg and I all made the Jackson’s team what it is today and I’ll never forget our brotherhood.

JS: Ok, and what can you tell us about your Jacksons stablemate Eric Perez, who also features on the BAMMA 7 card?

NM: Well I haven’t trained with him much. I believe he trains with the lighter weight guys mostly and I’ve only seen him spar a few times. He seems like a really nice kid though.

JS: Are you excited to actually fight in the UK again when you make your BAMMA debut later this year? Have you ever spent any sustained period of time in the UK following your two previous fights in London?

NM: Yes very excited! We spent about a week after one of my fights there. We hung out with some friends including my ol’ buddy James Zikic.

JS: Sounds great. Ok, following the recent Versus 4 incident, did you appreciate Ariel Helwani affording you the opportunity to broadcast your version of events on his MMAHour?

NM: For sure. He let me tell my side of the story and he was very fair.

JS: OK. I don’t want to dwell on the issue because it’s firmly in the past, but I just wanted to briefly touch upon the reaction from the MMA community to your departure from the UFC back in June.

You are renowned for being a true gentleman, amiable and respectful, so it must be hurtful when less considerate fighters scramble to pass comment and judgement on their fellow fighters?

NM: Definitely yes. There are a lot of people who are quick to pass judgement even when they don’t know both sides of the story. They should not judge unless they’ve been in that situation or if they are an expert on the issue.

It’s even more sad when fellow fighters openly pass judgement when there is a clear discrepancy on what happened.

JS: I believe you have been in Hawaii? Was it a holiday or a business trip? I presume you didn’t pay BJ Penn a visit? What do you make of BJ’s overstated comments since the incident?

NM: Yes I went there on vacation and to watch the fights at Kalapaki Joes. I was planning on stopping by his gym but we went to Kauai (a different island). “Cry Baby J” is an idiot to speak the way he does. I don’t know how a pothead is going to go and be so judgemental over medication prescribed by a doctor.

I’ll assume CryBJ has glaucoma and gets his weed from a “doctor” and I won’t pass judgement on him for that.

JS: Other fighters were quick to jump on the bandwagon with their input: What did you make of Dan Hardy’s quip about you always having a job as a male stripper if you were banned from fighting? Is it a case of a fighter on a losing streak looking to gain publicity off the back of your name?

Or is this verbal retaliation for some of the comments you have directed towards him in the past? Is it the same deal with the relatively unknown/inexperienced Ben Askren?

NM: Hahaha! I actually hadn’t heard about Dan Hardy. Well I guess I would take that as a compliment. At least he didn’t say “a job as a punching bag” or “a mattress” as I’m sure one may say of him if he were to lose his contract after his recent losses.

Ben Askren? Oh, you mean that little goldilocks I saw on twitter? Yeah I didn’t even know who he was until he messaged me. Listen. All these guys are trying to build themselves up by talking badly about me and that will probably never change.

Some guys make a name for themselves by talking and others do it by fighting. I’ve always felt fighting is the best way.

JS: Absolutely, and what about Paul Daley, another man who has been vocal about his desire to fight you under the BAMMA banner? Does it interest you fighting him given his recent two defeats? If you did fight him, would you outwrestle him or would you feel comfortable standing and trading with him?

NM: Honestly his last loss does take away from the interest in fighting him, but he’s still one of the best and I’d still like to punch him in the face! I am confident I would beat him wherever the fight may go. Obviously I would have a wrestling advantage but I am also one of the best on the feet.

JS: What do you make generally of this recent phenomenon of fighters taking to Twitter to air controversial opinions? Is it fast becoming the people’s online octagon in which words seem to count more than action?

NM: Yeah a lot of these guys are really outspoken. Let’s just remember that fighters aren’t fighters because they are intelligent, smart or wise. There are intelligent fighters with good morals, but the guys on twitter, fb and elsewhere that are very ignorant, opinionated and closed-minded are the most outspoken.

JS: I recently spoke to Tom Watson and he vehemently defended you and your integrity as a person/fighter…what does it mean and how does it feel to have your training partners, the men who know you best, support you?

NM: Well that’s just it. You find out who your true friends are. You find out who your brothers are and who is looking out for themselves. It does Tom no good to defend me but he does because he knows my character and he’s a loyal guy. It makes our team even stronger!

JS: Ok, moving onto life outside the cage, can you briefly explain your relationship with MC Hammer? Has he significantly enhanced your social media presence? Do you have Hammer’s back if there is ever a showdown between him and Jay Z?

NM: Hahaha! Yeah of course I have his back against anyone. He is a very important part of my management. He is one of the main reasons we chose BAMMA actually.

Without getting into details, Hammer guided Alchemist and ultimately me toward a specific type of deal and BAMMA quickly stepped up and here I am! He’s the man. He is very wise and I really look up to him. It’s not just a publicity thing, he’s the real deal.

JS: I’d like to see you enter the cage to the tune of “Can’t Touch This” whilst doing the Hammer dance. That would be a fitting tribute to your business partner. And finally, you have recently appeared in a mainstream MMA movie, “Warrior”…was it an enjoyable experience? Any funny off-camera anecdotes which you can divulge?

NM: It was amazing. I made friends with some really cool people like Bryan Callen, Yves Edwards, Joel Edgerton, Gavin and Greg O’Conner, Tom Hardy, Anthony Timbakis, Frank Grillo and all the stunt guys. Yeah there were a bunch of funny things that happened as there always is if Callem is around!

Actually the biggest thing was a situation I’m not very proud of. There was a guy at a sandwich shop that was very rude to my wife and I spiked a 6″ sub on his chest. Everyone on the movie teases me to this day about it!

JS: Haha, that must have been one brave sandwich-artist…okay, well thanks for taking the time to talk and I look forward to meeting you in the UK.

NM: No worries at all, looking forward to it.

Follow me on Twitter @jonathanshrager

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MMA Exclusive: A Champion on Fighting Psychology Ahead of Haye vs. Klitschko

This week I exclusively interviewed Tom “Kong” Watson, BAMMA middleweight champion who recently retired Murilo “Ninja” Rua, about fight psychology, mind-games and the mental aspect of combat sports heading into this weekend’s monumental heavyweight showdown. I subsequently compiled his musings on the topic into this MSN blog entry, a fascinating insight into the psyche of a fighter. Enjoy;

Buenos dias amigos from New Mexico,

Having watched, and thoroughly enjoyed, the pre-fight build-up to the most anticipated heavyweight showdown of the last decade, I felt compelled to discuss fight psychology and its significance and potential effectiveness within combat sports.

When I initially entered into the world of fighting, people used to tell me that it was 80% mental. With the benefit of hindsight, I don’t necessarily agree with that statement. I believe that when you first get into combat sports, given the lower quality of opponents that you encounter, the physical attributes can outweigh the mental aspect of the game. The higher one rises within MMA, or boxing, the importance of the psychology begins to increase because the upper-echelon combatants tend to be more evenly-matched in terms of their skill-sets, and so the ability to deal with the mental factors of the sport can prove vital.

When I discuss the psychology of combat sports, I am quick to distinguish between pre-fight mental preparation (discipline, composure, relaxation etc) and the hype. Mind-games, trash-talk, kidology (or whatever you choose to label this particular phenomenon) can all impact upon a fight to a certain degree. The ability to gain any sort of psychological edge heading into a fight should be taken, but I do feel at the elite level of competition, that mind-games only play a small role for the most part.

For example, this weekend, Haye has attempted some extravagant mind-games, and seemingly unnerved the giant Ukrainian to a certain extent, but ultimately Wladimir is a seasoned professional/champion and hence the pre-fight antics will only have a small bearing on his performance and the outcome of the fight. Similarly, Wlad’s patronising approach towards Haye will not factor into the fight as it doesn’t appear to have irritated David in the slightest. Wlad may believe that he is a more experienced veteran in the professional ranks but David also has an extensive amateur background, so the disparity isn’t that vast.

Of course there are other tactics apart from trash-talk that can give you the edge heading into a fight. A fighter’s pre-fight demeanour (at press conferences), the stare-down, a lack of talk etc can all serve to discourage an opponent, but more importantly, can help a fighter himself feel more confident and comfortable as fight-night approaches. Irrespective of whether it actually makes a difference, whatever helps a fighter to believe in himself more prior to game-time is of paramount importance.

If a fighter isn’t naturally an aggressive person, an antagonistic adversary may benefit him by fuelling the fire. This pertains to my team-mate, Gentlemanly Georges St.Pierre, a martial artist who vehemently believes in the respect that underpins our sport, and so refuses to engage in slagging matches, but (as the old cliché goes) would rather “do his talking” in the cage. That’s his approach, his prerogative, and I respect him for it.

For my last fight with Ninja Rua, I was aware of the Chute box traditional intense pre-fight stare-down, so I decided to play right into this by pretending to be slightly intimidated in order to lull Ninja into a false sense of security. This was almost a case of reverse-psychology (see, us fighters are more intelligent than you think). This is also reminiscent of David’s tactics heading into this weekend, by outright rejecting Klitschko’s numerous offers to shake hands, and in fact completely refusing to accede to the imposing will of his opponent, who is evidently accustomed to getting his own way. It’s astute from the Hayemaker, and psychologically David genuinely feels he has got inside Wlad’s head. Furthermore, some quarters have misconstrued David’s lack of verbal assault since the bout was officially signed as nervousness, but again I believe that David is just subverting expectations by being restrained and focussing fully on the task at hand. In an interesting role reversal, David has effectively coerced the customarily stolid Wladimir into being more vocal. If he pulls off the win, it will be perceived retrospectively as a psychological masterstroke.

With me personally, my pre-fight antics (gorilla mask etc) reveal that I’m a fairly jovial guy who likes to entertain the fans whilst doing the sport I love. In terms of trash-talk, it really depends on the fight, and the specific opponent. If I feel it can help, I’ll incorporate some banter into the build-up. Ordinarily, I’m a reactive person, so if an opponent displays respect then I will act in kind. Conversely, if an opponent opts to direct criticism or insults in my direction, I tend to fight fire with fire, and I think most fighters (with the exception of the likes of GSP) behave in a similar fashion.

When I fought Alex Reid, part of the promotion was the back-and-forth mutual “banter exchange”. Sometimes, the element of hyping the fight with trash-talk can surpass the genuine dislike between two fighters. That’s the fight game. It’s a sport, but simultaneously it’s entertainment. I’m a fan as well as a fighter, and I remember from my youth, the excitement and anticipation of watching Eubank vs Benn, due to the genuine animosity exhibited by both men. An atmosphere was created.

My most inspired pre-fight mind-games were implemented against Mark Epstein; the tension had progressively built up during a number of previous Cage Rage shows and after-parties, and I managed to get inside his head to such an extent that the night prior to the actual fight he refused to stay in the same hotel as me, and couldn’t face some of the press commitments due to his lack of desire to even be in my presence. I had successfully managed to antagonise the man to a level that he literally couldn’t stand the sight of me. Mission accomplished. Conversely, I’ve never been overly-perturbed by the comments of a fellow fighter, I choose not to buy into the trash-talk and generally retain my composure.

People often enquire as to my post-fight relationship with Alex Reid, given the level of pre-fight hostility. I always respected Alex as a fighter, and he often receives unfair criticism due to his TV persona. I wouldn’t say there is any existing tension between the two of us, but neither do we go out and socialise. In all honesty, I’ve never really spoken to the bloke outside of the customary cage pleasantries.

I’ll always shake my opponent’s hand following a fight. After all, we are two consenting adults fighting within the rules of a sport. It would have to be an extreme circumstance for me to continue a grudge after the final bell. Whilst I do believe that trading fists increases your respect for an opponent, I don’t necessarily feel that your opinions on a certain person will dramatically alter after a bout. Klitschko may very well respect David as a fighter come Monday morning, but I doubt he will ever respect him as a person given some of his antics over the past few years, not least the image depicting David knocking off Vitali’s head, to which he understandably took great offense.

There were rumours circulating about a prospective fight between myself and Frank Trigg at BAMMA7, but alas it doesn’t seem like this will actually materialise. He has commentated on one of my MFC fights before, and claimed not to be impressed by my performance (said in my best GSP voice). Frank Trigg is entitled to his opinion, and I have been equally unimpressed with some of his performances. If the fight were to come to fruition, I do believe some reciprocal banter would ensue, given that he is a pretty intelligent guy and seems to market himself well. In fact, thinking about it, he and I would be a recipe for banter, and it would certainly rouse interest amongst the fans.

In terms of epic MMA trash-talkers, I would pinpoint Tito as someone who has successfully crafted a public persona and marketed himself. He may polarise the fans, but just take a look at the success of his “Punishment” brand. He is the original benchmark for brand-building within MMA. Within boxing, the vintage hype-men are generally showmen also, who thrive on the limelight and exploit its gaze, such as Money Mayweather, or looking back further, the great Muhammad Ali. There have been other boxers who have acted even more outrageously than these two characters. A successful sportsman, particularly one that exudes personality, can often transcend their respective sport and draw the attention of non-aficionados worldwide. This is the power of charisma and words when accentuated by sport’s intense spotlight. Just look at the attention focussed on this weekend’s heavyweight clash. David Haye, “the Bermondsey braggart”, has created widespread interest through his witty verbal warfare. I’m even being approached by non-boxing fans asking for my opinion on the outcome.

People have asked me whether David deserves the fight with Wlad at this stage of his career and I firmly believe he does. David may have thrust himself onto the Klitchsko radar through his antics of the past few years, but I don’t subscribe to the theory that David has merely talked his way into this fight, because he is also evidently blessed with great ability. Yes, David’s exploits ultimately lead to the finalisation of the agreement, but David has also proven himself a worthy contender. I could possibly talk my way into a boxing match with David Haye but there would be little point in doing so. The reality is that I would get found out.

Regarding my prediction for the big fight, Klitschko obviously enters the bout as the bookies’ favourite, but the Haye camp is very smart, and David seems both mentally and physically prepared. Similar to Lennox Lewis, Haye is aware of his own strengths and will stick to them. Whilst Klitschko junior’s defence may have improved under the guidance of Emanuel Steward, I still believe that Haye could land a trademark hayemaker to the suspect chin of Wlad at some point during this one. If so, Haye could possibly retire on a spectacular note. Let’s just hope that it’ll be nearly as explosive as one of my fights.

Follow me on Twitter @TomKongWatson if you want an input on crucial matters such as the length of my hair and whether I should opt for a burrito or a chimichanga at lunchtime.

Cheers for reading and I will post again soon,

Kong

also follow me on Twitter @jonathanshrager

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Just a Chubby, Bald Guy Living His Dream: 28 Reasons We’d Love to Do Dana’s Job

Charlie may be funny all right, but Dana always seems to have the last laugh Dana White is perfectly encapsulated by the following alliteration; Bald Bonce, Beer-Belly, Brawler-Boss, Brash Businessman, Big Balls, Big Bucks (any more double-Bs rela…

Charlie may be funny all right, but Dana always seems to have the last laugh

Dana White is perfectly encapsulated by the following alliteration; Bald Bonce, Beer-Belly, Brawler-Boss, Brash Businessman, Big Balls, Big Bucks (any more double-Bs related to the Baldfather, please let us know in the comments section).

The marketing savvy and ingenuousness evidenced by the UFC head honcho in his Vlogs is discussed in my recent piece on “Why MMA Is Becoming More Appealing Than Boxing.”

Indeed, you will be hard pushed to identify another global sport in which followers are permitted such an insight into its competing personalities as MMA.

This is best epitomised by Dana, the frontman of the entire operation and the unequivocal face of the Mixed Martial Arts, who proactively and consciously represents the sport at all available opportunities.

Dana constantly uploads video blogs (vlogs) which chronicle his quotidian activities, particularly leading up to and during major events. When was the last time Don King, or Oscar de la Hoya granted the fans such backstage access into their dealings?

Señor White even has a doll (though he would be quick to assert that it’s actually an “action figurine”) dedicated to him. Drawing upon the same comparison, do Don King and ODLH boast statuettes? And even if they did, would anyone purchase them?

Whilst polarising opinion amongst certain fans, fighters and media men, the preponderance would confess an admiration for the likable CEO. Whilst cynics might detect ulterior motives, he seems to be a genuinely decent bloke and generally appears to look out for the best interests of the fighters and the sport as a whole.

I shall conclude this point with the “humble” opinion of Sean McCorkle, “To all of you that ask me what Dana is like, he’s pretty much exactly like you see him on his video logs. Definitely the coolest and most down to earth dude worth a couple hundred million bucks you’ll ever meet.”

However, this article purports to demonstrate the grand nature of Dana’s existence, rather than a character assessment per se.

follow me on Twitter @jonathanshrager

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