Issue 087
April 2012
NEED TO KNOW
NAME BRETT COOPER
AGE 24
STARTED 2005
TEAM REIGN / KINGS MMA
DIVISION MIDDLEWEIGHT
STYLE MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
RECORD 16-7
What age did you start training MMA?
“I started my training when I was about 17, but I’ve pretty much done athletics my whole life. When I was around 12 or 13, in high school, that’s when I started taking a big interest in MMA. At the time I was playing hockey pretty seriously, but I would come home from practice and watch mixed martial arts. Eventually I started to lose interest in hockey, then during lunch in high school we had a jiu-jitsu club so I started attending that. Then, finally, when I got my car, I was 17 and I found a gym pretty close so I was able to commute. Ever since then that’s all I’ve been doing.”
What was your first martial art?
“I actually started training MMA originally. My first coach was Tracy Hess, who trained under Chris Brennan. They were one of the first real teams, called Next Generation. I started learning jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, wrestling, all together from the beginning. I never really started with one thing. I never wrestled in high school or anything like that.”
Do you remember your first fight in 2005, forcing a TKO stoppage against Cody Culkin in 98 seconds?
“Oh yeah, I remember everything about my first fight. In fact, it’s actually pretty hilarious watching the video of the fight. My celebration after I won, if somebody did that now I’d probably laugh at them. But at the time it was normal I guess.”
California is pretty well known for its established amateur program, did you have any amateur contests first?
“No. When I started out there were no amateurs. I’ve gotten paid for every fight I’ve ever had. But if I was starting out now I would definitely have like five or 10 amateur fights before I started as a pro. It’s great it gives you that opportunity to get your feet wet and check whether this really is for you. You see so many guys who are like, ‘I wanna fight, I wanna fight,’ then they have one fight and you never see them again.”
Your style is so well rounded undoubtedly due to your background having never focused on just one martial art, do you believe that is the best way to prepare for a career in the cage?
“To be honest I think it’s simply a case of making do with what you’ve got. There are obviously disadvantages to the beginning of every fighters career, regardless of what you have or have not been training. Essentially, I would envisage that learning MMA from day one would be the best way. For instance if a guy has got years of training wrestling, or jiu-jitsu, or kickboxing or whatever, then it’s difficult not to pick up bad habits in MMA. Ultimately you need to understand all three elements of the sport, so if you are open-minded then I don’t see coming from one area as being a disadvantage. But if I was starting out again I certainly wouldn’t change anything.”
What’s life like training at Reign MMA, and how did this become home to you?
“I met Mark [Munoz] a while ago, at my old gym the Bodyshop where I trained with Antonio McKee in Lakewood. At the time he wasn’t a big MMA star but we knew him because of his credentials from wrestling, we knew he had so much potential. Then when I left that gym and went to train with Rafael Cordeiro at Kings I met Mark once more. Then I finally switched over to Reign as my home. Mark is a great guy, a great coach, and he doesn’t keep any information from you. Plus there are a ton of other great guys here too like Jake Ellenberger and Krzysztof Soszynski. Everybody is a real tight-knit team.”
Five of your last seven fights have been in Bellator, how are you enjoying fighting in that organization?
“People think Bellator was my big break into mainstream MMA, but I actually fought in the IFL and on a couple of the Affliction cards too. But I enjoy fighting in Bellator. It’s a great organization and nothing beats being on a TV card. My plan is to win my next fight in Bellator as well and then move up into the UFC.”
Which has been your toughest fight?
“My toughest fight that I didn’t win was in Bellator against Alexander Shlemenko last March. I came into the fight sick and it was a torrid experience but I learned for real that I would never give up in a fight. I also learned that if you go looking for the finish it works against you.”
What does the future hold?
“Inside the ring I wanna be in the UFC and become the world champion, for sure. Outside of it I wanna have a family and be a good dad. I’d like to have my own gym one day, and be a good role model for kids.”
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