Issue 084

January 2012

Hip-hop, Mariah Carey, Journey and The Posies fuel this ‘Super Samoan’ heavyweight contender

What music do you like to listen to in general? 

“Oh, anything. I like various types of music from many different artists and groups. I listen to everything from heavy metal through to rap music.”

Do you have a signature walkout song?

“One of my favorite artists is Dr Dre, I love the 2001 Chronic album so I come out a lot of the time to tracks from that album. Even when I was fighting in Pride I was coming out to tracks like Forgot About Dre and stuff. I really like him and Eminem. Just good rap songs with feeling.”

When picking a walkout song do you go for something that stirs you or do you just want to get the crowd stirred up?

“For me, as a fighter, that’s one of the really best times about being in this game. The walkout is an amazing feeling. When you step out you feel like you belong, you know there is no other place you would rather be right at that moment and so when I actually get into the cage or the ring I feel right at home. The music I listen to just has to get me in the mood. It’s usually the same stuff I’ve been listening to in training at different times.”

What music do you like to train too?

“It depends on what training I’m doing. When I’m running I just throw on my iPod and let it play. Leave it on shuffle. All kinds of music comes up. In a one hour run I can be pounding the street listening to blues or anything.”

What music do you listen to away from the gym?

“I usually only really listen to music at work in the gym or in the car heading home. When I get home the family man hat comes on, the father hat, so I don’t listen to my stuff at home so much. But when I am by myself, the athlete, it’s always different.

“On the way home I like to listen to Mariah Carey. Something a bit slower and varied to slow my heart rate down and mellow me out before I get back to the family.”

SHUFFLE

HIT SHUFFLE AND NAME THE FIRST FIVE SONGS THAT COME UP. NO CHEATING

The Posies

I Guess You’re Right

“This is definitely one of my relaxing tracks. It’s from the Every Kind of Light album. This is one I would listen to in the car on the way home for sure.”

Usher feat Pitbull

DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love

“This is a ‘driving to training’ kind of track. Gets me jumping and the blood pumping.”

Nelly Just A Dream

“This is another song that I would listen to on my way to the gym, really. It’s not hard enough to train to but it gets

me going in the car and switches me on

to the work ahead.”

Journey

Don’t Stop Believing

“This is a great tune to go for a run listening to. I like to plug into stuff like this when I am running alone with my thoughts.”

Eminem feat. Lil Wayne

No Love

“This is a definite training song. I love this song when I’m hitting pads and stuff. This is a great song to train to.”