Issue 063
June 2010
Heavyweight MMA fighter and legendary K-1 kickboxer Ray Sefo is a mean guy in the ring, but his sense of humor extends all the way to his iPod. Not one to be shy about his musical preferences, Sefo has a wide variety of musical genres on his mp3 player, some of which even he has no idea about.
What kind of iPod do you have? Being such a big guy that’s a cute little thing you have there!
Oh stop it! [Laughs] It’s a mini iPod, black 4GB Nano.
Did you choose the color because you preferred it over the white?
Actually I prefer the white one! This is the only one they had in the store at the time.
Do you have a particular walkout song? Does it change, or do you always have the same song?
I used to have one for the longest time, it was something by Adam F – oh I can’t remember what it was now. What I like in walkout music is something that starts off slow and builds up. Prior to that I used a house song called ‘Opera’. In the last five years I’ve used whatever I’ve felt like the day before the fight. My last fight I came out to Michael Jackson.
Do you use walkout music to get the crowd going or is it more for you?
Myself. There are some songs, I’ll listen to it and I’ll feel all these goose bumps. Right there and then I’ll choose that song to come out to. It varies from time to time.
When you chill out what kind of stuff do you like to listen to?
I like Celine Dion, Julio Iglesias, a lot of R‘n’B. Just slow jams.
What about when you’re training, do you like to have music on when you’re training?
Oh definitely, not the slow jams when I’m training. That’d be funny!
Matt Hughes says he likes to listen to country music.
Hey... listen man, I like country music, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea, I’ll try it one day! [Laughs].
Do you prefer something a little more aggressive when you’re training?
Yeah, like hip hop, or house music. I don’t really like hardcore hip hop, but something that has a good beat to it.
Do you have a favorite song or artist?
Lionel Richie is one of my favorite artists, he was also the first concert I ever went to live. I’m too young for The Commodores! [Laughs].
THE SHUFFLE CHALLENGE
Hit shuffle on your iPod and name the first five songs that come up. No cheating!
1. ‘One Love’ by Bob Marley
I love all sorts of music. Being the king of reggae, that’s the guy to listen to.
2. ‘Convicted’ by Akon
I have no idea what this is... I had some people put music on there for me. I don’t know how that got on there!
3. ‘Give it up to me’ by Sean Paul and Keyshia Cole
I have no idea who she is. I don’t even know this song!
4. ‘I’ll never break your heart’ by The Backstreet Boys
Stop it! Stop it! [Laughs] C’mon, they were a good ‘toy’ band or whatever you will! [Laughs]
5. ‘Excuse me miss’ by Chris Brown
A different type of fighter, but he’s a fighter! [Laughs] This is relaxing music, maybe driving music. You could train to this too. You just got to think about Chris Brown being a fighter! [Laughs]
Ray Sefo spoke to Gary Alexander
