Issue 055

October 2009

Where are you right now?

I’ve actually just got home, I’ve been traveling everywhere, to be honest man. I’m sat here wading through some fan mail, responding to people who have written to me. 

What do you remember about your first ever MMA fight?

I remember it was outside a strip club. I had no real training, I fought by accident and I lost by rear naked choke. 

The first time you got punched in the face did you think you had picked the wrong job?

Actually, in that first fight I got kicked square in the face and I kind of chuckled to myself a little bit and thought, ‘What the hell have I got myself into here?’  

Did you consider quitting?

Quitting’s not in my vocabulary, man.

Your fight with Diego was awesome. How do you reflect on that now? 

That fight went in the blink of an eye. That was a crazy opening flurry, nobody expected it. I think he won the first three minutes of the fight and then I felt I controlled the remainder of the contest. But it was a great way to finish off TUF 9, and it’s nice to hear people calling it a potential Fight of the Year.  

What do you think about a potential rematch?  

I think Diego now goes on to fight for the belt, I’m definitely not opposed to a rematch but I think we’re going our separate ways for the time being. I’m up for anything the UFC throws at me though.  

How did Sanchez’s head kick compare to the one you received in your first MMA fight?

Ha ha, the one in my first fight kind of made me chuckle, but the Sanchez kick had me dazed and it was just a case of getting myself back into the fight – get another takedown.  

What fight are you proudest of?

I’m really only proud of fights where I get the ‘W’. My fights are always going to be fast-paced, I’m always going to bring it, that’s my style. But I’m all about getting victories to get that title shot. Don’t get me wrong, I am proud of the Tyson Griffin and Diego Sanchez bouts. I’d say the Griffin fight was the best because it just went all over the cage, but give me a win any day.  

Would you rather win by knock-out, submission or decision?

One of these days I will get a knockout in the UFC, I know it’s just a matter of time, but a win is a win. I’m just looking to improve my fighting style and my record along the way.

When you’re in the cage, staring across at your opponent before the fight begins, what are you thinking?  

Dominance – dominating my opponent. That’s it.

What is your most memorable moment in MMA?

I would say watching Randy Couture get knocked out by Chuck Liddell. That was hugely memorable. But if you’re asking for a moment that I was actually present for, UFC 100 was an amazing experience to be part of. You looked around and remembered where the UFC had come from and it blew you away. Then you had a dominant performance by Georges St Pierre, a crazy knockout by Dan Henderson, it was amazing until the not-so-sweet actions of Brock Lesnar at the end. 

What did you make of Lesnar’s actions?

I didn’t think very highly of him as an athlete, a professional or a human being. He acted very amateur-like, very unprofessional, but I’m sure he regrets it and I think we’ll see a better Brock next time.  

And finally, who would win a fight between you and your brother?

Ha ha, my big bro man, he taught me a lot and if it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t be having this conversation now.  

Clay Guida spoke with Ben Blackmore.