Issue 151

February 2017

Why did you jump in at the deep end and make your debut with Bellator?

When I signed with Dewayne Zinkin, they said they wanted to take me straight to Bellator. Once they gave me the opportunity I was ready to go for it. I didn’t want to go to a smaller show. I feel like certain fighters work for years to get to a certain point and I’m like, ‘Man, if you can just start at that level, why not?’

What have been the biggest challenges in your transition to MMA?

Just learning the finer points. I’m getting used to doing different things rather than focusing on wrestling. I am getting out of the old habits that wrestlers have when they first start fighting. You don’t understand the pacing, distance and working out all of those fine points.

Who inspired you to make the jump to MMA?

Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier, Chris Weidman, Anderson Silva, Conor McGregor and José Aldo. Everyone has something that they do that’s beautiful. When I was watching them fight I realized how beautiful it was.

It looks so comfortable for these guys. It inspires me. I want to be able to do what they do in the cage. When it comes to other combat sports, Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr inspire me. All of those guys inspire me to move differently – to do better. You want to have those things in your own arsenal.

Did you dream about an MMA career when you wrestled?

I was watching a lot of Anderson Silva videos in college. He was the big thing. Nobody could touch him.

He was the elusive, unbeatable fighter. It kind of fanned out from there and I started watching everybody. I also watched some boxing. I realized it might be too late to get into boxing.

I thought if I could find a way into a sport that combines wrestling and boxing and other combat sports, the answer is MMA, obviously, and that’s what I wanted to do.

I used to watch a lot of Mike Tyson knockouts before my wrestling matches. That would get me so pumped up.

What was it like to train at AKA and Jackson-Wink?

It’s great. You are meeting guys at different weight classes and you see how they think and how they work. I feel like that has helped me grow so much. You question a lot of things when you are coming up in a new sport.

When you have a chance to talk to champions and see how they conduct themselves it gives you a better sense of how to become a better athlete. I’ve been training with ‘DC’ the most. I see the habits he has or the habits I want to develop. It gives me a framework to work with.

How did you feel when you stepped into the Bellator cage for the first time?

I saw it going in my favor. I was never a guy to make predictions. I just love the thrill of the battle. Once they close the gate I want people to see me as a fighter and not just a wrestler. I want them to see things they never thought I could do.

I want to show them I can grit it out. You have to get dirty before you can get clean. I have a big heart. I know how to fight. I want people to see that guy.