Issue 081
November 2011
Fighting your teammates has become a taboo subject in MMA, so FO stages it’s own 3x5 question shoot-out
Xtreme Couture lightweights Mike Chandler and Ryan Couture collide in our Q&A Octagon
Round 1: Around the Octagon
What age did you start training?
Michael Chandler: “I was aged 14 when I started high school wrestling.”
Ryan Couture: “I never started MMA training until I was 24, but I was wrestling from age 11.”
How quick was your fastest knockout?
Michael Chandler: “I think it was 57 seconds.” (Chris Page, guillotine, Bellator 32, Oct. 2010)
Ryan Couture: “It was like one minute 15 seconds, my pro debut.” (Lucas Stark, triangle, Strikeforce, August 2010)
Favorite move to end a fight?
Michael Chandler: “Ground ‘n’ pound, for sure.”
Ryan Couture: “Triangle choke.”
Toughest opponent faced?
Michael Chandler: “Patricky Freire in Atlantic City in May. He was tough.”
Ryan Couture: “Matt Ricehouse. He beat me up pretty good.”
Favorite part of training camp?
Michael Chandler: “The constant grind to be honest. I love it.”
Ryan Couture: “When it is over.”
10-9, Mike edges the opening round
Round 2: Personal Life
Favorite luxury item?
Michael Chandler: “I don’t have anything too fancy, but I have my iPhone. I’m never off that.”
Ryan Couture: “I have a swimming pool at home.”
Do you have any pets?
Michael Chandler: “No pets.”
Ryan Couture: “I dog sit for my dad’s girlfriend. She has a chocolate lab named Louie.”
Skim milk or ice-cold beer?
Michael Chandler: “I don’t like either.”
Ryan Couture: “Beer.”
How many Twitter/Facebook friends have you got?
Michael Chandler: “Over 1,000 on Twitter (@MikeChandlerMMA) and around 3,000 on Facebook.”
Ryan Couture: “I have around 5,300 Twitter followers (@RyanDCouture) and 5,600 on Facebook.”
Who is your hero?
Michael Chandler: “My mom.”
Ryan Couture: “Batman.”
9-10, huge round for Ryan
Round 3: Have you ever...
… stolen anything from a hotel?
Michael Chandler: “No.”
Ryan Couture: “Sure I have.”
… had a crush on a friend’s mother?
Michael Chandler: “Yes, but I’m not saying who…”
Ryan Couture: “Yes, I’m sure I have.”
… been caught with porn?
Michael Chandler: “No.”
Ryan Couture: “Yeah!”
… made your own booze?
Michael Chandler: “Yes.”
Ryan Couture: “No, I never have.”
… contemplated taking a bullet for someone?
Michael Chandler: “Yes.”
Ryan Couture: “No. I don’t think that I would.”
10-10, shared final round
DRAW - Narrowly avoiding a round two 10-8, Mike earns half the spoils
Finally, if you could choose your teammate’s next opponent who would it be?
Michael Chandler: “John Cena, the wrestler. I’d love to see Ryan beat him up.”
Ryan Couture: “If he could fight all three Jonas brothers I would be stoked. That would be awesome.”
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