Interviews

Exclusive: Din Thomas Talks Neer, Potential Move to 145 lbs

The fourth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” was created with the intention to give veterans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship another shot to climb back into the limelight and secure a second stint with the promotion.

Many of the contestants took advantage. Din Thomas was one of them.

After losing a decision to eventual runner-up Chris Lytle on the show, Thomas went on rack up three straight wins, including impressive performances against current lightweight contenders Clay Guida and Rich Clementi.

Seemingly on his way into title contention, Thomas was paired up against Kenny Florian, who was attempting to get back into the championship picture himself. Unfortunately for Thomas, a knee injury suffered during the bout gave him his first loss in over a year and a half. The American Top Team member fell again earlier this month, losing a close decision to Josh Neer.

While the fight may have looked a lot closer than the story the judge’s scorecards told, Thomas will be the first one to admit that he lost the fight.

“For me, I try to be realistic about a fight,” Thomas said during a recent interview session with MMA on Tap. “While I felt that it was close, I actually felt I was losing the fight. I was pretty comfortable on the bottom. My game has always been to look for the submission from the bottom and if they give me enough space, get up. But if they don’t give me enough space, I can stay on my back all day and hope to catch something.”

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Irvin Hopes to Change Luck Against Alexander

To say that James Irvin has had a run of bad luck recently is putting it lightly.

After an impressive stoppage of Hector Ramirez allowed Irvin to continue his career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Irvin was unable to ride a wave of momentum through his next fight, courtesy of a brutal knee injury suffered against Thiago Silva last May.

Months of rehab followed and Irvin recovered well-enough to score a showdown with Luis Cane in December to close out the year. The first minute and a half of the fight went exactly as expected with both fighters exchanging bombs on the feet. However Cane ended the fight when he knocked Irvin out cold with an illegal knee, handing Irvin the victory but once again leaving him unable to put the outcome of a fight in his own hands.

With last year now in the past, Irvin enters his clash with Houston Alexander on Wednesday in dire need of a win if he wants to stay with the UFC. However more important to Irvin at this point, is starting off the new year with a clean slate.

“Last year was a terrible year for me,” Irvin said during a recent interview session. “The win over Hector Ramirez was huge because it kept me in the UFC. Then I hurt my knee and that stung really bad. Being a striker, my knees are so important to have, and I thought that my career might have been cut short. Luckily I was able to recover and the UFC stuck by me and gave me another chance. Now I’m ready to turn the page and start this year fresh.”

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Larson Ready for Alessio, Second Chance

Six months after his shot at the World Extreme Cagefighting welterweight title was spoiled by champion Carlos Condit, Minnesota Martial Arts Academy product Brock Larson will now attempt to take advantage of an opportunity to get himself right back in the title picture with a showdown against fellow veteran John Alessio Wednesday night.

While the winner may not necessarily receive a shot at Condit’s belt just yet, it’s certain to say that the victor will at least be considered in the running to be Condit’s next opponent, or victim the way things have been going recently.

Regardless, the importance of this fight has reached Larson, who will be going into things with a different mindset than in the past.

“The biggest thing that I learned after losing to Carlos Condit in my last fight is that I have to be a little more patient,” Larson said during a recent interview session. “I don’t have to finish the fight right away like I’ve been trying to do in the past. If I stay patient, wait for an opening, and execute my gameplan, I should come out the winner anyway.”

When Larson says that he starts his fights like a bat out of hell, he couldn’t be more correct. His three fights inside of the WEC have lasted a combined total of just over six minutes. However Larson’s impatience proved to be fatal in his last bout against Condit, who was able to submit an over-aggressive Larson.

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Phil Baroni: Back From Hell

The title of ICON Sport’s latest event tomorrow night couldn’t be more fitting. “To Hell and Back”. It takes on a great amount of meaning for Phil Baroni, who is attempting to piece his career back together after testing positive for steroids under the watch of the California State Athletic Commission last year.

To this day, Baroni maintains that he did not take steroids.

“It still bothers me to this day,” Baroni said during a recent interview session. “It doesn’t matter though anymore because the damage is done. Who knows what’s going to happen in the future when I go to fight in other places. Will New Jersey even take me or are they just going to toss me aside because I’m a guy who failed a test for steroids?”

“I’m frustrated. I can’t wait to get in there and fight,” Baroni continued. “My career literally stopped in it’s tracks. Now I want to get it going again.”

With the past behind him, Baroni now has his attention focused on his latest opponent, hard-hitting middleweight convert Kala Kolohe Hose, who has experienced his own fair share of frustration after previous chances at the now vacant ICON Sport middleweight title were spoiled by former champion Robbie Lawler’s continual injury problems.

With Hose, Baroni receives an opponent that will likely play right into what he usually loves to do in fights - stand and slug it out. That’s exactly what “The New York Bad Ass” intends to do.

“I’m going in and I’m knocking the kid out, it’s that simple,” Baroni said. “There’s really not that much to say. He’s not the brightest crayon in the box. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. He acts like a wise ass, probably because he’s been hanging out with Frank Shamrock these days. I hope he’s content with the new tricks that he’s learned. I’m still going to put him to sleep.”

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Evan Tanner: The Road Back

It’s fitting that on a night where the middleweight titles of the UFC and PRIDE will be at the forefront of discussion, a former holder of one of those belts makes his long-awaited and anticipated return.

After taking a hiatus from active competition in order to get away from fighting and deal with some personal needs, it will be nearly two full years since the last time Evan Tanner stepped into the cage when he takes on Yushin Okami tomorrow night at UFC 82: Pride of a Champion.

“I was fighting for such a long time that I was worn out,” Tanner said during a recent interview session. “I just needed to get away from fighting for a little while, do my own thing. Life is so short and there are so many things that you can experience out there. I’ve always been an adventurer; I’ve always been one to be spontaneous. I wanted to experience life on the road again for a little bit.”

One has to assume that Okami is certainly going to provide a tough test in Tanner’s first fight back, especially since he’s been inactive for so long. With ring-rust out of the equation for Tanner, he’s prepared to return to his self-proclaimed home and do what he loves to do: have fun.

“I don’t see ring-rust being a factor in this fight,” Tanner said. “I’m coming back strong. Just because I may have sat on the sidelines for a little while doesn’t mean that I forgot how to fight. Everything for me is fresh. My training is fresh. My technique is fresh. I’m excited to get back in there and have fun again.”

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Gassaway Ready for Veteran Test in Landi-Jons

Similar to his long-time training partner Shonie Carter, Brian Gassaway has fought and won in various mixed martial arts promotions all around the world.

The experience he has gained can’t be measured in terms of it’s importance, it’s obvious that it adds an entirely different dimension to his game compared to those who only have a dozen fights or so in the sport. However his experience will likely be put to the test later tonight, as he will take on fellow veteran Jose Landi-Jons in the main event of TKO 32: Ultimatum.

Despite riding a constant wave of disappointment - Landi-Jons has lost nine out of his thirteen bouts since knocking out Matt Hughes in 2004 - Gassaway still acknowledges the former co-founder of Chute Boxe as one of the greatest fighters out there.

“I have to say that it’s an honor to fight someone as good as “Pele"," Gassaway said during a recent interview session. “I have to be honest, I’m going into the twilight of my career. Who knows how much longer I’m going to be fighting. At this stage, I just want to be able to fight the best guys that I can and Landi-Jons is definitely one of them.”

Gassaway is coming off of two unsuccessful stints inside the confines of the Zuffa-owned Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Extreme Cagefighting promotions. Despite not looking very good in his either of his fights, the Chicago native hopes that he can win enough fights in order to receive one more shot.

“The biggest thing I regret in my fights against Sanchez and Alessio is that I wasn’t aggressive enough,” Gassaway said. “I don’t know what it was, maybe the bright lights and everything, but I definitely should have opened up and thrown my hands more. I’m not going to make that mistake in this fight though, that’s for sure.”

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Masvidal Set to Continue Rise Against Healy

It’s no secret anymore. Jorge Masvidal is one of the best young prospects in mixed martial arts.

After settling in with American Top Team close to five years ago, Masvidal quietly rose through the lightweight ranks, even picking up an impressive victory over current Ultimate Fighting Championship standout Joe Lauzon along the way.

Masvidal spent few years of his career fighting exclusively in the southeastern half of the United State before signing with a fledgling Bodog Fight promotion in 2006. After racking up two straight wins inside the Calvin Ayre-owned organization, Masvidal had his coming out party last summer, knocking veteran Yves Edwards unconscious with a devastating head kick.

“Looking back on it, that fight was huge for me,” Masvidal said during a recent interview session. “Yves was a such a big name and being able to get a win over someone as notable as him really jump-started my career. All of the hard work I’ve put in over the years paid off in that fight. Everything is falling into place now. This is actually one of the first fights where I’ve been the favorite going into it, one of the main attractions on the card. It feels good.”

Masvidal will now look to continue his winning ways later tonight at the Bodog Fight-sponsored “Strikeforce at the Dome” show, where he will take on hard-hitting Team Quest product Ryan Healy, who has won three of his last four.

“I’m really excited to get in there against Ryan,” Masvidal said. “I think this is going to be an entertaining fight because of the styles we bring to the table. We both like to stand and bang. Those kind of fights play right into my game. I’m comfortable anywhere the fight can go but I’m extremely comfortable standing. 

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Spratt Wants to Make Statement Against Ford

When Pete Spratt returns to Canada tomorrow night to take on undefeated welterweight prospect Ryan Ford in the main event of Maximum Fighting Championship’s “Rags to Riches” event, it will be the first time the former “Ultimate Fighter” cast member has done so since being submitted by current UFC champion Georges St. Pierre nearly five years ago.

While his first experience up north wasn’t so pleasant, Spratt is determined to make this time around different.

“It really doesn’t matter that my last trip to Canada didn’t go so well, Ryan Ford isn’t Georges St. Pierre,” Spratt said during a recent interview session. “Georges is an amazing fighter and one of the best in the world while Ryan isn’t. I stand by my original comments that made him angry. I’m going to tear through him big time.”

The comments Spratt speaks of stem from Ford’s recent interview with Sherdog’s Andy Cotterill where the 25-year-old stated that he took exception to Spratt’s words and will now use them for motivation.

According to Spratt, Ford is going to need a lot more than that if he wants to come away with a win.

“All the confidence in the world isn’t going to help you if you are going up against a better fighter,” said Spratt. “That’s what this is. I’m a better fighter than Ford and I intend to show that this weekend. As my career goes on, every fight becomes more important. I don’t care if Ryan Ford only has four fights to his credit. I’m not going to look past him. I’m coming into this fight to win and to make a statement.”

Spratt has indeed made a statement in his last couple of fights. Since being released from a second stint with the UFC and suffering a string of defeats that included three straight losses by way of submission, Spratt has made it a priority to improve his ground game in hopes of extending his once promising career.

Recently earning his blue belt from Rodrigo Pinheiro this past November, it’s now visibly apparent that Spratt is serious about adding new elements to his game.

“I want to do things that will lengthen my career,” said Spratt. “For the longest time I was always getting submitted buy I’ve started working my jiu-jitsu and wrestling and it’s really paid off. I still want to keep my striking sharp but the ground game is my main priority now. If he wants to take me down he should be prepared that I’m not the same fighter anymore.”

Will Spratt continue the road back with another victory or will Ford continue to improve his stock as one of Canada’s best young mixed martial arts prospects? We’ll find out tomorrow night.

Mir Continues The Road Back

Winning the UFC heavyweight title is one thing. Working your way back from a near career-ending motorcycle accident is certainly another. After an over three-year nightmare where he almost lost everything he had worked for in his career, the feeling has returned to Mir. The physical and mental feeling of being back to his old self that is.

The former champion now approaches what just might be his biggest and most crucial fight yet when he takes on one-time WWE superstar and former standout collegiate wrestler Brock Lesnar at UFC 81: Breaking Point, which will take place tomorrow night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

“I remember sitting at the intersection and thinking that this car wasn’t going to go during a yellow light,” Mir said when asked to recall the accident during a recent interview session with MMA on Tap. “It had stopped all of the sudden. So I went ahead and unfortunately the car did too. I remember hitting my head on the pavement and then rolling onto a patch of grass. All I knew was that my head hurt and that I couldn’t feel my leg. I told the EMT’s that I thought I could get up and walk but then they told me the extent of the damage.”

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Swick Ready for Explosive New Beginning

Imagine you naturally weigh around 180 lbs. In a fight game where all of the athletes basically fight below their natural weight in order to use their size as an advantage, imagine fighting a weight class above yours and even a higher weight class than that just to participate in a reality show.

This was the situation that Mike Swick found himself in for nearly three years. After originally participating at 205 lbs during the first season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’, Swick dropped down to middleweight where he went on a five-fight winning streak, defeating former title contenders Joe Riggs and David Loiseau along the way before finally running into Yushin Okami.

To say that Okami brought it to Swick is an understatement. Plain and simple, Okami pushed Swick around. Realizing that he still had the opportunity to finally fight a tad below his natural weight, Swick opted to make the drop to welterweight, the UFC’s most crowded and talented division.

Swick’s debut at 170 lbs will come later tonight, when he takes on fellow former Ultimate Fighter alumnus Josh Burkman in the main event of the twelfth edition of UFC Fight Night live on Spike TV.

According to the man they call “Quick”, we should all be prepared to watch an all-around better Mike Swick.

“I feel great going into this fight,” Swick told MMA on Tap during a recent interview session. “I had an awesome training camp, so many great guys to work with at AKA. I actually feel stronger than I did going into the Okami fight, which sounds a little weird considering that I’m dropping down a weight class for this one but it’s the truth. I feel stronger, faster, more explosive. This has the makings of being my best fight to date.”

When Swick fought at middleweight in the past, he’s stated many times that he didn’t have to cut any weight at all in most cases. If you haven’t done it before, cutting weight and then fighting the day after can be a lot to handle. However Swick says there’s nothing to worry about thanks to some good old practice.

“I’ve cut down to 170 lbs a few times while training for this fight and it went very smooth each time,” said Swick. “I felt fine afterwards and then went right back into sparring and training for other things right after so I don’t see any problems popping up.”

While Swick brings many tools to the table, one thing that has been lacking in his game has been solid wrestling. Unforunately for him, Burkman’s biggest strength is wrestling, being a former wrestler that has trained in the past with other talented grapplers at Team Quest.

“We’ve worked to develop a game plan that will bring out my strengths and allow me to impose my will on Josh,” Swick said. “I’m always working to improve my wrestling. Two of the best wrestlers in the UFC, Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch both train with me at AKA so I’m confident that my wrestling is always improving.”

At the end of the day, a fighter has to be confident that he’s going to be able to win in any fight that he’s going into. When there’s no added pressure going into the bout, it always makes things a lot easier.

“There’s no pressure going into this fight,” said Swick. “No pressure. I’m coming in with a clear mind and I’m very focused. I’m really excited to get back into the swing of things. I feel great. I’m going to try and finish the fight as fast as I can and as impressive as I can but I’m not going to make any mistakes in an attempt to do that. I don’t think this one will go the distance though. I feel I can finish him.”