Issue 097

January 2013

American Dad to Okami, the returning UFC welterweight’s highlights are ‘Quick’ and eclectic

BEST career moment?

“The win on Fox, my last fight against DaMarques Johnson (UFC on Fox 4, second round knockout). Just because of what I went through for the whole two years before that (combating an esophageal spasm condition), coming back after 910 days and then fighting on such a big card. That was the best feeling – that feeling of winning, that feeling that I’d only dreamed about for that whole time.”

BEST OPPONENT?

“My toughest opponent at the time was Yushin Okami. I was in shape and ready and I almost had him in the second. Well, I won the second and I was hoping to come out and try to get that third, but he was just so strong and so controlling. He was definitely a frustrating opponent. He was so big and strong; he imposed his will. When he took me down there was hardly anything I could do to get myself back to my feet and get back in the fight.”

BEST personal trait?

“Honestly, just mental fortitude. That mentality to push myself to the limit. I’ve obviously pushed myself past the limit and got injured many times, but I definitely have that drive to push myself hard. I’m not the kind of guy that goes in the gym and cheats on his runs, cheats on his times, cuts an easy day here and there. I push myself to the max every time.”

BEST advice to your YOUNGER self?

“To train smarter. Being stubborn and that super-competitive spirit has won me a lot of fights and put me where I am, but it’s also caused a lot of injuries and really broken down my body over the years. Not tapping in the gym, and not letting people beat me in the gym, and trying to win every battle just training for fighting. It’s taken a big toll when I should have been a bit smarter, and, in the beginning especially, had less of an ego. Growing up in Texas, and the old-school MMA guys, we all had to have a lot of ego to make it. It was a tough sport back then – a lot different to how it is today.”

BEST hobby or pastime?

“I really love traveling. It’s broken into two parts. One part’s vacation, I love to travel and just relax. Another part is visiting the troops. I’ve done 15 overseas tours to 10 countries. I really enjoy going to all the bases around the world. Just being able to go to all those bases and train, hang out with them, eat with them and share their stories, it really inspires me and motivates me.”

BEST inspiration?

“I love watching documentaries and true-life stories. I love stories where people have overcome adversity and they’ve made something of their lives. A lot of the people I’m inspired by have professions unrelated to my own. I really like it when guys have pushed through the hard parts and went against the critics who said they couldn’t do it to become successful.”

BEST cartoon resemblance?

“That’s a tough one... I’d say Stan from American Dad. Even though every time I see the show I see Brian Stann (laughs).”

What feels BEST a knockout or a submission?

“I guess it’s kind of morbid to be engulfed with excitement when you hit a guy so hard he goes unconscious, but it’s the sport and when you know a guy’s trying to do that to you, for you to do it first is just an incredible feeling.”