Issue 082
December 2011
You went to the Ultimate Fighter 14 tryouts and submitted your opponent four times in the grappling round to get $400 of bonuses from Dana White, but you gave the money to your opponent. How come?
“We all went over there, to New Jersey. We’d come from all over the world and it was kind of like I’d smashed his dreams in two minutes, do you know what I mean? I didn’t want it to seem like a waste for him going all the way there so I just gave him some money.”
We hear you also offered some of your co-competitors lifts around New York City in a limo?
“My friend plays for New York Red Bulls, the soccer team. He’s wealthy, lives in New York and I was staying with him and had his car. His limo would just pick me up and take me around. So, if people needed lifts I just offered them.”
You did well at the TUF tryouts but obviously didn’t make the show. Did the UFC say you were too good for it and they wanted to keep you back for an event, or that they didn’t want you for the show but would keep an eye on you?
“They didn’t say anything like that. At the time my record wasn’t as good. They said, ‘Go back and get some more wins.’ I don’t think they like taking people on with bad records. A loss, a win and a draw were my last three fights so I came back and had three wins on the bounce and then I got the call.”
Were you expecting to get a fight on UFC 138 in Birmingham, England?
“No, not at all. I was hoping for it because it was in my hometown and I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, I really, really hope I get this. I hope someone pulls out or something and they give me a call.’ I’m excited. This is every mixed martial artist’s dream, to fight in the UFC. I’m not really nervous, it’s where I’ve always wanted to be. All my family and friends are coming and my whole gym’s coming. I get a lot of support from my gym, UTC, and from my sponsors, Bad Boy and USN supplements.”
Lee isn’t your official last name, it’s actually Harvey, right?
“I officially changed it. Bruce Lee’s my idol, my mentor. I’ve got all his books, I studied his style – and still do actually. I think everyone underrates him. He’s the originator of mixed martial arts. I just thought, ‘That’s the name.’ It’s kind of a personal issue but Harvey is my dad’s name and he was never there for me or anything and I don’t want him to take any credit.”
What is it about Bruce Lee that made you connect with him so well?
“He got me into martial arts really. His philosophy on life and martial arts is what I believe in. I was into Jean-Claude Van Damme. I thought Van Damme was the man (laughs), with Bloodsport and Kickboxer. But then after watching Big Boss at 13 I got hooked on Bruce Lee. I started traditional martial arts and kung fu. Then I studied jeet kune do, Bruce Lee’s style, when I was 16 or 17. I got to a high level but I wanted to test my skills but I didn’t want to go out on the streets and f**king start fights. So I got into mixed martial arts, which is kind of like jeet kune do but with a lot of illegal strikes taken out.”
Do you think jeet kune do is a better founding for MMA than other disciplines?
“Definitely. It’s a really good base because it’s got the Muay Thai, the ground fighting and Western boxing in it.”
Being so keen on martial arts, have you traveled outside of the UK to pursue them?
“I’ve recently come back from Thailand. I was out there with Phuket Top Team for two weeks for some intense training. Two years ago I went to train at Randy Couture’s in Las Vegas. I went to American Top Team to help Brad Pickett train for Scott Jorgensen at WEC 50 last year. But, the thing is, I’ve been to all these places and it kind of seems like everyone does the same thing. There’s not a secret technique, everyone’s doing the same thing but might just tweak it a little bit.”
In that case, do you think UK fighters benefit from moving to the US to train?
“It depends what they’re trying to get. Americans are world renowned for their wrestling but in England, now, wrestling’s becoming really good because wrestlers from different cultures like Bulgaria and Russia are coming over. I think you’ve got to go to America to get some things that they’re good at, but we’re known for our striking. I wouldn’t personally go and live there. I would happily stay here and train.”
For people who might not have seen you fight, what should they expect from you in the UFC?
“They’re going to see an all-round fighter. It’s going to be stand-up, wrestling, jits and a non-stop pace.”
Any Anthony Pettis-style Matrix kicks in the works?
“(Laughs) No, I’m scared of getting my toe caught in the cage!”
