Issue 121
November 2014
The hyped Bellator submission star laughs his way through his soap opera obsession.
FLICKS
What type of movies are you into?
“I like superhero movies. I like all the Marvel and X-Men stuff. The Hulk, Superman, all that. Action movies, like Transformers and stuff. I like that type most of all.”
So are you also a comic book geek then?
“No. I don’t read the superhero comics or anything, I just enjoy the movies.”
If there was a movie made about your life, who would you like to play you and why?
“I’d like to play myself – I fancy that. And I think I’d be pretty good at playing me too. If not me then maybe Terry Crews; he’s a funny guy. That would be cool.”
What was the last movie you watched and what did you think of it?
“Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s the type of movie that I enjoy and while it’s not my favorite comic book movie or anything I did enjoy it. It wasn’t too bad.”
If you could punch any actor in the face, who would it be and why?
“Surprisingly that’s not something I’ve thought about much before (laughs). There’s nobody really who I hate. People hate Steven Seagal but I used to love him, in Mark for Death and all that, he was one of my favorites.”
What was the last film you cried at?
“I don’t cry man (laughs). I never cry, and I certainly ain’t ever cried at no film (laughs).”
TV
What TV shows have you been watching lately?
“Breaking Bad. It was wicked, I couldn’t get enough of it. My friends were relentless in telling me to watch it and I put it off as long as I could. But as soon as I started with it I was watching an episode every night.”
Is that how you consume your TV, through Netflix and stuff rather than traditional programming?
“Yes for sure. I’m big into The Walking Dead and the new seasons aren’t on terrestrial UK TV. Plus I like stopping and starting the show when it suits.”
If you could be in any TV show, past or present, what would it be?
“Heroes. That’s an easy question. I loved that show. Definitely Heroes.”
Besides MMA what is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
“Athletics, track and field, like the 100m. Even though I’m British, I actually hate football (soccer).”
Any TV guilty pleasures?
“The worst thing I watch is (UK soap operas) Eastenders and Hollyoaks. I watch them both, which is pretty embarrassing I know (laughs).”
STYLE
Would you describe yourself as a sneaker freak?
“I do like my sneakers but I’m not loyal to one brand like some people are, I like to mix it up. Nikes, Reeboks, you name it really. I like to wear Timberlands too.”
Do you like to wear suits and ties to press events, or more tracksuits and trainers?
“It depends really. I don’t dress up like some of the boys do, I just keep it casual really. Smart jeans and if the weather is nice some shorts. It depends on how I feel.”
What about jewelry?
“I have an Armani watch that I like to wear but that’s about it. If I had anything else I’d only end up breaking it or losing it anyway. I’m too clumsy and heavy handed to have anything nice. I break glasses regularly. So for now I’ll stick with just the watch.”
You have a little ink too, on your back, does it stand for anything?
“Yes, it’s in tribute to my father actually. He passed away 17 years ago so it’s in loving memory of him, Douglas. He was a boxer so I’m following in his footsteps a little. He’s watching over me.”
MUSIC
What type of music are you into?
“I like a little bit of bassline and reggae. And then it moves into a little old school garage and hip-hop.”
Has your music taste changed over the years?
“I generally just used to love my hip-hop when I was younger, when I was a teenager really, but as you grow older and you’re listening to the radio and stuff my taste has definitely changed. I like a variety of music now – a bit of everything.”
What song is your guilty pleasure?
“I have quite a few to be honest but I wouldn’t reveal them to the world (laughs). No, I actually don’t know the names of them right now, they’ve slipped my mind (laughs). But there are a couple of songs I sing along to when nobody is around.”
Do you ever go to any concerts?
“Not for a long time actually. I’ve seen Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, but they were a long time ago. The last band I went to see were Kings of Leon, and they were great. In fact, now we are talking about it, I should go to more concerts because I enjoy it.”
What’s your walkout song, and has it always been the same?
“For my first six or seven fights I had a song called This Is Why I’m Hot by Mims. Then I changed it a couple of times. But for the last four fights I’ve come out to Jah Jah City by Sizzla and Capleton. And that’s the song people know me for in Bellator as I’ve won three times with it, so I’m sticking with that and hopefully when people hear it they’ll know that’s my song.”
CARS
What was the first car you owned, and how much did it cost?
“It wasn’t even a car, it was a Ford Escort van and I bought it off my friend for £100 ($165). I used to be a bricklayer so I used it for work and to get to the gym. It was tiny, but it done me well. I thought I was a bad man in that. I had my windows down blasting music.”
What car do you own now and what made you buy it?
“I have a Toyota sponsorship car from one of my friends. It’s a nice car, a nice drive. And it’s pimped out a little bit.”
If you could have any car in the world, what would you drive and why?
“I would say a BMW or a Range Rover. The second because it’s nice and big and I could do with a bit more space. And the first because I’ve always wanted a ‘Beemer.’ And it’s always nice to have your desires.”
If you lived in the US what would you drive?
“If I was over the in States I would definitely drive a big monster truck thing, a huge V12. They complain about fuel prices but it’s a quarter of what we pay in the UK so I’d definitely get something huge. A real gas guzzler.”
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