Issue 131
August 2015
The ‘Maverick’ admits he’s a Belieber, but he doesn’t care.
CARS
What was your first car?
“A 1991 two-door Ford Escort. I think my dad paid, like, 600 bucks for it. I loved that car. We drove it to a lot of wrestling tournaments. It was a stinky little sweatbox, but I loved it anyway.”
What are you driving now?
“In the winter I drive a 2000 GMC; it was my dad’s truck. In the summer I drive my baby, my 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI. I’ve put a ridiculous amount of money into it to keep it alive, but I love that car.”
What’s your dream car?
“A brand new Volkswagen R32. They’re a faster version of the GTI. Something fast, something European. That or an Audi R8.”
MUSIC
What music do you listen to most?
“It depends on the day. Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac – I have a pretty well-rounded taste in music. I’d say 80% of the music I listen to I’ve listened to since I was a kid. The one thing that’s changed is that I listen to house music when I train. It never used to be like that, but now I really enjoy it.”
What walkout song would you choose for the rest of your career?
“Stranglehold by Ted Nugent. I’ve walked out to it for every fight of my entire UFC career. My backup would be Young Men Dead by Black Angels because Joe Benavidez walks out to Stranglehold as well. That’s a pretty sweet song.”
Do you have any guilty pleasures?
“I have no shame. I love Slow Down by Selena Gomez, Till the World Ends by Britney Spears and All Around the World by Justin Bieber. You’ll find them on my iPod. I don’t care.”
STYLE
How would you describe your style?
“It’s pretty basic. I’m just more of a T-shirt, sneakers and jeans guy. I’m not into going and spending money on expensive clothes and stuff like that. I will get a little dressed up in the right moment, but day-to-day I’m about jeans, T-shirts and sneakers.”
What’s your favorite T-shirt?
“I would say my Korean Top Team T-shirt I got from their head coach when I was in Japan. They have the coolest shirts. It’s nice and athletic. It has a bunch of cool logos all over it. I like loud and complex shirts. I was talking to him telling him how cool the shirt was and he said, ‘Do you want one?’ I said, ‘I would love to have one.’ We were in the elevator and he literally took the shirt off his back and gave it to me. I’d say that would be my favorite shirt.”
MOVIES
What movies do you like?
“I’m all about gangster movies. I love Italian Mafia movies. I like Scarface, Heat, City by the Sea – any movie that has Al Pacino or Robert DeNiro in it. Just two great actors doing their thing. I enjoy Brad Pitt movies, too. I guess I don’t really have a genre, I gravitate toward certain actors.”
Who would play you in a movie made about your life?
“I’ve had a few people mention this , but Julianna Pena was the first person to tell me I look a little like Bradley Cooper when I shave and clean up. So I’d say Bradley Cooper.”
If you could drag any actor into the Octagon for a minute who would it be and why?
“There was this movie I watched recently called Eye for an Eye, where Kiefer Sutherland plays this total dirt-bag rapist. He gave me the heebie jeebies. To see him play that character made me want to beat the crap out of him.”
TV
What TV show or series are you watching now?
“I did the whole Sons of Anarchy series. I love it. I love Dragon Ball Z. I like to watch The Office, Modern Family – a lot of funny TV shows. After a long day of training, I want something that’s going to make me laugh and relax.”
If you could appear on any TV show which one would it be?
“Definitely Sons of Anarchy. I think looks-wise, I could fit the part. I can ride a motorcycle really well, I’m tall and ugly, I have a beard. I could be some backup guy that gets shot or stabbed. I would take it.”
Do you watch any sports on TV?
“I’m a typical American. I love to watch football. People say I’m such a bandwagon jumper but I really became a fan when the Seattle Seahawks got really good over the past few years. In the state of Washington we don’t have a ton of good pro sports teams, but it’s great watching the Seahawks get to the Super Bowl the past few years.”
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