Issue 144

November -0001

Four fighters pick a 170lb champ, pay respect to their hardest foes and offer sweet tooth tips

The Fighters


Mike Bronzoulis Heavy-handed Houston 155lb’er

Brian Foster Hard-hitting WSOF lightweight

Chris Wade Long Island UFC lightweight

Jimy Hettes  Pennsylvania-born UFC featherweight

Q: Would you describe yourself as a badass?

Bronzoulis

A: I’ll leave that for my fans to decide but I’m definitely in the bad boy group for life and I have always been the realest person I know. Anyone that knows me can vouch for that.

Foster

A: If knowing how to fight makes you a badass then I think I may be on the list, but a badass is the guy who knows how to fight but doesn’t have to – outside of competition anyway. 

Wade

A: I am one of roughly 1,000 men and women that make up the planet’s elite fighters. I would certainly say that warrants badass status.

Hettes

A: I’m certainly no badass. The media portrays MMA fighters as cocky and badass but we are just regular guys that happen to be good at fighting.


Q: Who’s the toughest opponent you’ve ever faced?

Bronzoulis

A: My toughest opponent has always been myself and probably always will be.

Foster

A: There’s a few different kinds of tough – durable, powerful, athletic etc. I fought a lot of tough guys like Rick Story, Chris Lytle, Matt Brown. But it’s hard to distinguish who was toughest of them all.

Wade

A: Rustam Khabilov, whom I just fought and lost a decision to. I know I hurt him a few times and he just kept coming like The Terminator. The Russians are special with respect to toughness.

Hettes

A: They’re all tough, but my first amateur fight was the toughest test because I was so nervous for the fight that I just tried not to throw up in the cage.


Q: Who wins when Robbie Lawler fights Tyron Woodley for the UFC 170lb title?

Bronzoulis

A: I believe Robbie Lawler will be victorious due to his experience and his will. Tyron Woodley is a beast but he has shown so much fatigue in the later rounds because of his muscle mass.

Foster

A: Robbie Lawler is a monster at 170lbs. I told him that for a long time. Tyron Woodley is no pushover but I will say Lawler TKO within three rounds.

Wade

A: I am going to continue to give Robbie Lawler the nod until someone proves me wrong. I think he always finds a way to prevail. Amazing fight though!

Hettes

A: Lawler will pull away in that fight simply because of how hard he hits. But Woodley can put him away with one punch also.


Q: In the spirit of this issue’s flash back to Pride Shockwave Dynamite!, what’s your favorite Pride moment?

Bronzoulis

A: Pride was the s**t and there are so many great, great moments. For me, my all-time favorite was when Nick Diaz beat Takanori Gomi.

Foster

A: Anything and everything Fedor Emelianenko did. He was my blueprint to learning the sport. He will always be one of my favorite fighters for all he did.

Wade

A: When (Kevin) Randleman fought Fedor. The amazing suplex will never leave my mind. I was rooting for Kevin and was upset when Fedor casually rolled through and got a submission.

Hettes

A: I used to absolutely love Pride so it’s hard to pick my favorite moment. I’d have to say any and every fight of Kazushi Sakuraba and Fedor Emelianenko.


Q: What do you do to satisfy your sweet tooth during fight camp?

Bronzoulis

A: Right now I’m really digging a pint of Ben & Jerry’s every other night (laughs). But seriously – so good.

Foster

A: Suffer (laughs)! Sugar before a weight cut makes it very difficult to drop the pounds and it can be kind of a mental burden if consumed while trying to do so. Outside of cutting weight I like gummy bears. 

Wade

A: I don’t really have a crazy sweet tooth when I’m settled into camp but I do love brownies. Once in a while we will pick up a decent mix at whole foods and bake those. 

Hettes

A: I try to avoid all the sweets in my house during a training camp. But my evil wife likes to stack the cabinets with all sorts of gummy bears that are eaten within a day of their arrival.

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