Issue 109

December 2013

He refuses to take life too seriously, and it’s easy to see why when you check out the Bellator lightweight king’s best bits.

What is the best thing nobody knows about you?

“It used to be that I have punching power in my hands, because I hadn’t officially knocked anybody out cold until July. Outside of fighting I’m a pretty big homebody. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing the red carpet events and stuff that Bellator has me doing, but in general I love being at home.”

What's the best advice you could give to a younger you?

“Make sure you enjoy the time you have with your family as much as possible. Before you know it you will be going off to college, moving to Las Vegas and then San Diego and then you won’t see them as much as you want to. Go hunting and fishing more with dad because you won’t get to do that as much. You are going to wish you spent more time with your brothers, because before you know it you will all be off doing your own thing.” 

Best inspiration to fight?

“Just knowing that I’ve been given a great opportunity. To not train my hardest, to not do an extra rep, to not go and do an extra workout when I don’t feel like it, to not be strict on my diet, that would be sacrificing a great gift. That is my motivation. When I step into the cage I don’t just want to win, I want to dominate. To not give it my all is not an option.”

Best memory from your first fight?

“The best memory was being in the back; there were two girls fighting before me and one girl finished the other pretty quickly.

“The whole process did not make me nervous in any way shape or form. In fact, I was actually kind of weirded out because I wasn’t nervous in the slightest. I was about to get into a fight for the first time ever but for me it was like, ‘Oh, OK, whatever.’”

Best career moment so far?

“Bellator’s first card on Spike TV: I was the main event. There were months of hoopla, media build-up and hype, but I dealt with it really well. I wasn’t nervous at all, but when that fight was finished there was an immediate excitement. I didn’t sleep all night. All of my family and friends were there and I just enjoyed being with them. The fact it went well and that it was finally over was a weight off my chest.”

Best thing about MMA?

“It’s two people locked in a cage fighting. To some people it’s barbaric, to other people it’s just a fight; some people are desensitized to it. At the end of the day it’s two guys or girls in there, with not much more than small gloves on, going at it. The person who prepared more, who wants it more, who refuses to lose will come out on top.” 

What feels best, a knockout or a submission?

“A submission feels better but I think the fans prefer a knockout. I’d choose a KO,

because I know that’s what the fans want, and I want to make the fans happy.” 

Best opponent?

“Definitely Eddie Alvarez. He was top five at the time and he’s still top 10 now.”

Best way to get pumped before a fight?

“I like to just stay loose, so we keep the mood light. The cornermen generally feed off the fighter. If the fighter is intense then the corner will be intense, but I like to keep it loose. I’m back there listening to music, but not to get pumped. I listen to light stuff, not battle drums or hardcore rap. I’m all smiles and I’m just waiting, ready to do my job.” 

Best job before you became a fighter?

“Being a wrestling coach. I love going back to Mizzou (University of Missouri) and talking to those kids. I love inspiring them, I love being the guy they look up to. I love encouraging those kids. So, college wrestling coach.” 

Best cartoon character resemblance?

“Our gym manager Jamie Del Fierro (head coach Eric Del Fierro’s wife) swears I look like a cartoon character but she can’t figure out who it is. We need to figure that out!”

Best dinner guests? Three people, past or present.

“Jesus Christ, Muhammad Ali and Babe Ruth.”

Best guilty pleasure?

“I’m a huge ice cream guy. I mean like ‘a half gallon at one sitting’ type of thing. I get that from my dad, he does the same thing. I think that’s where it comes from.” 

Best life lesson?

“Not to take it too seriously. So many people put so much pressure on themselves with everything they do. I don’t mean you should just mess around and do whatever you want and you just get by, I mean in the sense of don’t sweat the small stuff. I can’t talk about life without using clichés (laughs). Get goals, get a passion and pursue it with

my all.”