Issue 130
July 2015
Will Brooks may walk like a duck, but he’s always ready to fight rather than take flight.
Q. What’s the best thing nobody knows about you?
A. “I do a good job of putting myself out there, so that’s tough. My nickname is ‘Duck’. I walk duck-footed. I have ever since I was a kid. I still do to this day. I tried to fix it but it’s never gonna change.”
Q. What’s the best advice you could give to a younger you?
A. “I would say to be more patient from the start. I wasn’t very patient at the start of my career. I wanted everything right away. I wanted to do it my way. I didn’t want to listen to anybody. If I’d taken advice earlier in my career, I would have been able to build it quicker. Be more patient and more open minded. Don’t be so committed to the idea of doing it yourself.”
Q. What’s your best memory from your first fight?
A. “The best memory was just the feeling – the nerves, the fear. I’ve never felt that kind of fear in competition in my life. That first fight, it took a lot out of me. The guy I fought was undefeated. He was one of those guys pegged for big things. I didn’t know if that was the right direction for me. We fought in a field house on turf grass. The cage was on turf. No joke, there was a volleyball game going on at the other side of the gym. That was my first fight experience. It was crazy.”
Q. What was the best moment in your career so far?
A. “The best moment has to be the first Michael Chandler fight for sure. That was a great fight for me. I got to go out there and express who I am as a person and who I am as a fighter for the fans. I put on a great show against a high-level competitor. We went out there, we went to war, had a dog fight and put on a show for the fans. I had a coming-out party as far as my personality goes and what I bring to the cage. It also allowed me to progress my skill set. I was really excited about that.”
Q. What’s the best thing about MMA compared to other sports?
A. “The individuality of it all. All the praise and the blame is on you. In a team sport like football or basketball the focus can always be redirected back at something else. When it comes down to it in MMA it’s just you and the other guy in the cage. That’s what I enjoy about life and the sport of MMA. It’s just you. It’s on your shoulders.”
Q. Who was your best opponent?
A. “Again I have to go back… My best opponent has been Michael Chandler. He’s as tough as nails. I hit him with everything but the kitchen sink. He kept going and I wasn’t surprised by that. He’s a champion – belt or no belt. All showmanship and Twitter beef aside, that guy is a champion. He’s an incredible talent. Everything he has, he deserves; he’s earned it.”
Q. What’s the best way to get pumped before a fight?
A. “I’m a big joker. I like staying loose, staying relaxed and not get too serious. Once they close that cage door the fire is lit. But prior to that I like to hang out and joke around. I move around and keep my sweat going, but I like to keep it light. Our job is hard enough as it is. Why go into the fight and be so serious? As I get closer to the cage I flip the switch, but in the locker room I just keep it light.”
Q. Who would be your best dinner guests? Three people, past or present.
A. “I would have Jack Nicholson, Muhammad Ali and my boy Dustin Poirier. I think he would enjoy the presence of those two as much as I would. We’re pretty close as far as personalities go. I would have a good time with those guys.”
Q. What’s your best guilty pleasure?
A. “Peanut butter M&M’s. I go through a bag of those things in one sitting. And just pastries in general. If it’s a pastry of any kind and it’s in front of me there’s a good chance you’ll never see it again. I’ll skip eating a real meal just so I can eat pastries. I don’t want to eat a real meal, fill my stomach up and be too full to enjoy some dessert.”
Q. What’s the best lesson life has handed you?
A. “Not to take myself so seriously. There are so many things going on in this world right now that the last thing the world needs is someone taking themselves so seriously that they can’t even laugh or make someone laugh and enjoy their day. Just be open to having faith in other people. Having faith in the people around me. Not being so closed off. Be inviting and enjoy the people around me; turn negatives into positives. Life has handed me so many lessons I can rattle of a bunch of them.”
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