Issue 126
November -0001
We asked four fighters from the MMA universe their opinions on five of the most relative matters of the moment
The Fighters
Q1. Fighters Only celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month and to celebrate we’ve recalled some of the best things to happen in the sport in the last decade. What’s been your standout MMA moment?
Norman Parke
A. “Georges St Pierre getting TKO’d by Matt Serra, which was a shock. That was a standout moment for me. I loved it when Tito Ortiz had those grudge matches with Chuck Liddell too. I really enjoyed that.”
Paddy Holohan
A. “Probably that Dublin show (UFC Fight Night 46). I sat down and watched it back and had a huge smile. I was glad to be part of it but I would have like to have watched it as well.”
Daniel Straus
A. “I got a cut and knew they wouldn’t clear me to fight, so my teammates told me to shave off my pubes, get some glue and put it on my eyebrow. So I went home, had a wash, shaved it off and glued it on my face (laughs).”
Randa Markos
A. “I’d say the introduction of women in MMA was a pretty big deal.”
Q2. Vitor Belfort finally gets his shot at the 185lb belt at UFC 184, but has he got the tools to defeat Chris Weidman?
Norman Parke
A. “I like Belfort because he’s a southpaw. I’m a southpaw and I like to watch people with that style. For that reason, I want to pick him. Weidman’s never flashy, but everything he does has good timing. I still want Vitor to win.”
Paddy Holohan
A. “That Weidman guy’s a mean man. So is Belfort and Belfort’s been in the game a long time, so I’ll be interested in watching that. It’s a good one.”
Daniel Straus
A. “What I like about Weidman is he’s been an underdog for so long and I love seeing the underdogs succeed. Vitor has the ability to beat him, but I don’t think Weidman’s underdog mind-set will allow that to happen.”
Randa Markos
A. “I’ve met Chris Weidman. He’s a super nice guy and he works hard. I met Vitor Belfort too and I was really impressed by his last fight. It’s going to be great. Belfort has a chance, but I think Weidman might take it.”
Q3. Also, in this issue we reveal our Class of 2015 line-up of the world’s hottest prospects. Can you pick a young fighter from your camp readers should keep an eye out for?
Norman Parke
A. “We’ve got one guy, a kickboxer named Conor Cooke. All of his (kickboxing) fights have been first-round finishes – knockouts. He’s come to train with us to work on his ground game.”
Paddy Holohan
A. “Yeah, definitely. Chris Fields, Artem Lobov and Peter Queally.”
Daniel Straus
A. “I’d say Sirwan Kakai is pretty talented. He’s a fighter out of Sweden and I don’t think he’s got the respect he deserves yet, but he’ll definitely break through eventually.”
Randa Markos
A. “Cody Stamann. He’s only lost one fight by decision but he’s trying to get that one back. He works with Daron Cruickshank and he will shock people in the future.”
Q4. Sports psychology is becoming ever more prominent in MMA, do you work with anybody or would you consider specific mind coaching?
Norman Parke
A. “I’ve never saw a sports psychologist before in my life. To be honest, I don’t even know what it’s all about.”
Paddy Holohan
A. “Definitely, 100%. I’m a big fan of coaching and enjoy doing it myself. I’m actually recording all the feelings I get, all that kind of stuff I can pass onto people and make their experience a little bit more comfortable and a little bit easier for them.”
Daniel Straus
A. “I have considered it. We have a guy at ATT who works on that. Although I don’t do it all the time, just talking to him has really made me change my thought process about this game. ”
Randa Markos
A. “MMA is a mental game. I’m a fighter who doesn’t like to watch my opponents and that hurts me sometimes. I need to speak to somebody about it because sometimes I can’t sleep because I’m thinking about my opponent.”
Q5. ‘Rampage’ Jackson returns to the UFC this year. Which star, perhaps in his prime, would you most like to see return to the Octagon?
Norman Parke
A. “Brock Lesnar. I love watching him in the WWE. It’s a big draw for the UFC also. He could hype it up really good. Or Tito Ortiz could come back and fight ‘Rampage’ (laughs).”
Paddy Holohan
A. “I’d love to see Chuck Liddell in there again. Put Chuck Liddell vs. Rampage on again and I’m tuning in for that fight, big time.”
Daniel Straus
A. “He never fought in the Octagon, but I’d love to see Fedor Emelianenko fighting in MMA today. When he was at his peak he was absolutely untouchable at heavyweight.”
Randa Markos
A. “I’d like to see Georges St Pierre return to the Octagon at some point. That would be fantastic.”
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