Issue 149
November -0001
THE PRO'S
Can Stipe Miocic be the first UFC heavyweight champ to defend the belt three times?
MARC DIAKIESE:
Yeah, I think he will. Stipe is a really tough guy. He has great boxing skills and I believe he will continue to give a lot of guys trouble in the heavyweight division.
LIAM MCGEARY:
I believe Stipe Miocic definitely has a few more title defenses in him, yeah.
JOSH APPELT:
Oh yeah. He has been using his hands a lot but he also has slick wrestling. Everybody forgets because he stands and bangs but he can wrestle. I believe so.
STEVE GARCIA:
Yes I do. I believe that he is part of the new breed of fighters. He will be at the top of the division for three or four more fights.
How many times have you been drug tested in the last 12 months?
MARC DIAKIESE:
I just had my first fight in the UFC and I have already been tested twice. I’m thinking what have I done? I’m clean!
LIAM MCGEARY:
I get drug tested before every fight. I’m tested regularly.
JOSH APPELT:
When I fought in Reno for Bellator. I get drug tested in every sanctioned event I fight when I’m in California. I get drug tested a lot.
STEVE GARCIA:
I have not been tested recently. They randomly tested me after fights in the past.
Which of your former opponents would you most like to rematch?
MARC DIAKIESE:
I have never fought badly at any point in my career, so I would say no. There isn’t a fight I would want to do again.
LIAM MCGEARY:
I wouldn’t mind having another fight with Emanuel Newton. I just want to finish him. I reckon I would have finished him in our first fight if the fight went another round.
JOSH APPELT:
Freddie Aquitania. We had a great war. I won the standup and he won the ground part. He won by decision. It was a close fight.
STEVE GARCIA:
It’s the only loss I have ever sustained in my whole career, amateur and pro (against Ricky Turcios). To get that one back would be pretty sweet but I’m not dwelling on it.
What would be your ideal gift?
MARC DIAKIESE:
Taking my family on holiday as a treat. This is the first time I am actually going away. We are headed to Spain for the first time. It saves me from buying presents.
LIAM MCGEARY:
I want a holiday on the beach.
JOSH APPELT:
I just want to maintain my health and my family’s health. I wish everybody I know the best of luck. Life is too short, man. Live life to the fullest.
STEVE GARCIA:
I’d love to go on a vacation with my lady. We’ve been working really hard this year. She’s been promoted and I’ve been training hard.
If you could make any future fight, what fight would you make?
MARC DIAKIESE:
I would say me versus Eddie Alvarez. That would be the fight I would make. You never know.
LIAM MCGEARY:
I really don’t care who I fight. It really doesn’t bother me either way. I will fight anyone they put in front of me.
JOSH APPELT:
I want to see somebody stake claim to that Bellator heavyweight belt. Mitrione, Kongo, Lashley, I want to throw my name in the hat, too.
STEVE GARCIA:
Dominick Cruz vs. Conor McGregor. I’d want to see how McGregor will react to Cruz’s movements and how Cruz handles the punching power.
