Darrick Patrick

10 Questions With James Krause (by Darrick Patrick)

James Krause is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as World Extreme Cagefighting, Close Quarters Combat, Titan Fighting Championships, FM Productions, World Cage Fighting Championships, True Fight Fans, and the International Fighting Championship.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Ricardo Lamas in World Extreme Cagefighting at WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo on November 18th, 2009.

Darrick: How did you end up competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

James: A twenty-fight amateur career and a lot of hard work and dedication is what led me to professional competition.

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

James: My mom mostly.  My parents were divorced and I only saw my dad about twice a year, so I was raised by a bunch of females.  (Laughs)  I've always had great supportive friends that were always there watching my earlier fights.  I think it's very important to have a great supporting cast in your life when you are a fighter.  It helps through all the ups, downs, lefts, and rights.

Darrick: Any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

James: I think it's one of those things you either have to devote all of your time to or not do it at all.  It's a very demanding sport - mentally, physically, and emotionally.  So, if you're not looking to be in it one hundred percent then you're not going to make it to the next level in this sport.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Ricardo Lamas on November 18th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

James: Ricardo is a tough, tough guy.  He's a great boxer and even better wrestler, but I think with a six-inch reach advantage and a good game plan I'm going to give him a new look and cause some problems for him.  I feel better than I ever have before and I'm mentally one hundred percent focused on this fight.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

James: Besides a decent paycheck, it brings me great accomplishments.  Especially with cutting weight and the actual fight.  There is no better feeling to be in such a mentally taxing situation like cutting thirty-plus pounds, fighting, and overcoming it all within forty-eight hours.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

James: I respect all students of the game just for getting in the cage and fighting someone else, but my three favorite fighters are probably Thiago Alves, Mike Swick, and Mayhem Miller.  Some other honorable mentions include Randy Couture for still fighting at his age, Eddie Bravo for the revolution of Jiu-Jitsu, and the Diaz brothers for just not giving a damn.  (Laughs)

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

James: Hanging with my family and friends mostly.  I like watching TUF, Family Guy, and a few other television shows.  I'm a big eater and my favorite food is probably sushi.  I could eat sushi every day if I had to.  As for sports, football and a little bit of boxing are the only other ones that I follow.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

James: My fourth birthday.  I just remember getting a big yellow Tonka truck.  (Laughs)

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

James: I have a huge fear of needles.  I almost passed out the last time I got my bloodwork done.

Darrick: If you had 24 hours left to live, how would you spend that time?

James: Twenty-four hours isn't that long, so I would probably just spend time with my friends and family.  We'd have a gigantic dinner of seafood, steaks, and of course sushi.  (Laughs)

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out James Krause in the following places:

Official James Krause Website:

http://www.thejameskrause.com

Official James Krause MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/thejameskrause

Official James Krause Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/thejameskrause

Official James Krause Twitter Area:

http://twitter.com/TheJamesKrause

Official James Krause YouTube Page:

http://www.youtube.com/TheJamesKrause

James Krause on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/James-Krause-31766

10 Questions With Eric Schafer (by Darrick Patrick)

Eric "Ravishing Red" Schafer is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Gladiators Cage Fighting, Duneland Classic, HOOKnSHOOT, Cage Combat, Xtreme Fighting Organization, and Midwest Shootfighting.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Ryan Bader in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun on October 24th, 2009.  The fight is slated to air live on Spike TV in the United States and on ESPN in the United Kingdom prior to the pay-per-view broadcast.

Darrick: What was the road that led you to professional mixed martial arts competition?

Eric: I was a freshman in college back in 1996 and was looking for a sport to start training in.  I had become a fan of the UFC, so when I found out that a gym in my town was teaching Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu I started taking lessons.  I had my first amateur fight a few months later and continued to compete in BJJ and MMA throughout college.  I went "pro" in '98, but it was mostly just for weekend party money.  I decided in 2005 to dedicate myself and really try to see how good I could be.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Eric: My favorite fighter was Genki Sudo.  He is a great example of a well-rounded fighter and person.  He's highly entertaining and also a very interesting individual.  I usually like fighters that are intelligent and professional.  People like Georges St-Pierre and Randy Couture are winners, but they don't act like tough guys.

Darrick: Do you have any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Eric: I recommend finding the best gym that you can and taking it slowly.  Too many people fight above their weight class, against fighters that are much more experienced, or on too short of notice.  These people get a bunch of stupid losses on their record that will affect their career later on.  Taking a fight that you are okay with losing will usually result in a defeat.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Ryan Bader on October 24th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Eric: Bader is a great athlete and wrestler, so it will be a tough fight.  I won't be able to take him down, so I have been working a lot on my striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu off my back.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Eric: Competing is the most fulfilling thing for me.  It doesn't matter whether I win or lose, just that I go out there and test myself.  Being a champ in the practice room proves nothing.

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Eric: My grandmothers.  They taught me to be a good person, but also to live life to the fullest and never settle for mediocrity.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Eric: I watch a lot of movies and television series on DVD.  I am also a fan of Wisconsin sports such as the Packers, Badgers, Brewers, etc.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Eric: I live in a one-room apartment and drive a Dodge Neon.  I live like a college kid because I would rather spend my money on adventures instead of material things.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Eric: Too many to choose from on this question.  I have a bunch of memories from when I was two and three years old.

Darrick: If you were stuck in a bomb shelter for the rest of your life, what three items would you take in with you besides food and water?

Eric: My television, a computer, and my DVD collection.  I need to stay entertained.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Eric Schafer in the following places:

Official Eric Schafer Website:

http://redschafer.net

Official Eric Schafer MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/redschafer

Official Eric Schafer Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/redschafer

Official Eric Schafer YouTube Page:

http://www.youtube.com/user/redschafer

Eric Schafer on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Eric-Schafer-13275

Eric Schafer Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/13275

10 Questions With Jason Dent (by Darrick Patrick)

Jason "Dynamite" Dent is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, King Of The Cage, North American Allied Fight Series, Superior Fight Night, Icon Sport, International Fighting & Boxing League, Gladiators Cage Fighting, Extreme Fighting Challenge, Northern Kentucky Fighting Championships, SuperBrawl, Extreme Combat Challenge, APEX Championship Fighting, Xtreme Fighting Organization, and Next Level Fighting.  He also appeared on the ninth season of the television show The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against George Sotiropoulos in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 106: Lesnar vs. Carwin on November 21st, 2009.

Darrick: What was the path that led you to competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Jason: I have always loved martial arts since I was around four years old.  I've even got an old picture of me when I was four wearing a ninja costume I got for Christmas.  I watched every action movie I could get my hands on growing up.  Unfortunately, I was unable to start training until I turned fourteen years old due to just not having the extra money to do it.  My sister Lamatha is the one I have to thank for getting me in there as she paid for me and got me started.  I studied and trained in Karate until I got my Black Belt, then after watching the early UFC events I began training and competing in both Muay Thai and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.  That's kind of the journey that led me to doing mixed martial arts.

Darrick: Any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Jason: Take your time in your amateur career and get lots of experience so you are ready when you turn pro.  Experience is everything in this sport and your amateur career is for learning about your strengths and weaknesses.  You can't erase losses off of your professional record.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Jason: I'd have to say the Gracie's for bringing this great sport to everyone's attention.  I mean they are pretty much responsible for starting MMA here in North America.  Also, my favorite fighter still competing today is Randy Couture.  The guy just loves to compete and is still able to compete with the best of the best even at his age.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against George Sotiropoulos on November 21st.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Jason: It's going to be a tough one.  George is a stud and is 3-0 in the UFC right now.  His boxing is decent and his Jiu-Jitsu is phenomenal.  I believe in everyone's eyes that I'm the underdog in this fight and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to prove everyone wrong.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Jason: Training in my academy to me is like a second home.  I love the workouts and the competition.  I may sometimes show up to the gym in a bad mood, but I always seem to leave with a smile after having been there.

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Jason: My sister helped keep me straight and out of too much trouble, my parents kept me fed with a roof over my head, and my uncle and cousin toughened me up.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Jason: To be honest, martial arts is my life right now.  I own and operate the GriffonRawl MMA Academy (www.ohio-mma.com) in which I coach and train over twenty active amateur fighters and also have four other pro fighters as well.  The gym alone would be enough to keep me busy between teaching private lessons, teaching group lessons, traveling to shows to corner my guys, and everything else involved.  I also obviously fight professional as well and we all know that takes up a lot of time too.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Jason: That's a really weird question.  I'm guessing this doesn't have to be MMA-related.  When I close my eyes and try to remember back as far into my childhood as possible all I can think of is playing in my old backyard with my sister Lamatha and my old dog Yo Yo.  My sister and I used to build some huge igloos.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Jason: I'm a very much a family guy.  My favorite downtime is just hanging out with my family, any of them.  I'm not real big on going out and partying or anything like that.

Darrick: When you're no longer amongst the living, how would you most like to be remembered?

Jason: In order of importance I would have to say as a good husband, son, brother, uncle, coach, and then fighter.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Jason Dent in the following places:

Official Jason Dent MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/dynamitedent

Official GriffonRawl MMA Academy Site:

http://www.ohio-mma.com

Official GriffonRawl MMA Academy MySpace Page:

http://www.myspace.com/griffinrawl

Jason Dent on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jason-Dent-8321

Jason Dent Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/8321

10 Questions With Noah Thomas (by Darrick Patrick)

Noah "The Red" Thomas is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as World Extreme Cagefighting, Ring Of Fire, TKO Major League MMA, Kickdown Classic, Worldwide Fighting Championship, Pride And Fury, SportFight, and American Championship Fighting.  He was also featured on the fifth season of the television show The Ultimate Fighter.  At the time of this very short interview, his next scheduled match is against Scott Jorgensen in World Extreme Cagefighting at WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson on October 10th, 2009.

Darrick: What was the journey that led you to professional mixed martial arts competition?

Noah: I was fresh out of the Marine Corps and I was just plain bored.  So, I decided to go ahead and give mixed martial arts a shot.  I've been at it ever since.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Noah: Ryan Schultz, Randy Couture, and Jason Miller.

Darrick: Do you have any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Noah: High school wrestling is free, so make sure to take advantage of that.  Start boxing early and treat training like it's your job because it is.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Scott Jorgensen on October 10th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Noah: For this fight with Jorgensen I am calling a three-round war.  Neither of us knows how to quit.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Noah: Winning is the most fulfilling aspect for me.  Oh, and the girls too.  (Laughs)

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Noah: My seventh grade teacher, my father, and my drill instructors in the Marine Corps.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Noah: In my free time I mainly like just messing around with my dogs.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Noah: Going fishing with my dad is the earliest memory that I have.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Noah: I love the smell of dog feet.  I know it's weird, but I don't care.

Darrick: If you were stuck in a bomb shelter for the rest of your life, what three items would you take in with you besides food and water?

Noah: Mystique from the X-Men, a cable television, and a gun.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Noah Thomas in the following places:

Official Noah Thomas MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/noahtheredthomas

Official Noah Thomas Twitter Site:

http://twitter.com/NoahThomas27

Noah Thomas on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Noah-Thomas-11880

Noah Thomas Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/11880

10 Questions With Martin Sandoval (by Darrick Patrick)

Martin "Tarzan" Sandoval is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as Palace Fighting Championship, Extreme Combat, PureCombat, and Gladiator Challenge.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Ulysses Gomez in Tachi Palace Fights at TPF 1 on October 8th, 2009.

Darrick: How did you end up competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Martin: Well, I mainly got to where I'm at due to the training aspect of MMA because I'm just addicted to all of the workouts.  On top of that, I'm in love with the discipline that is involved within martial arts.

Darrick: Do you have any words of advice other individuals looking to train in MMA?

Martin: Don't do anything half-ass, always be humble, train as hard as you can every moment that you're in the gym, and most of all it is important to always honor your instructor.  He is your general and will lead you to the correct path.  Mixed martial arts isn't simply a sport or a hobby, MMA is a lifestyle and you have to live it to the fullest.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Martin: I respect everyone in the sport that gets in the ring or a cage.  It takes a lot of courage to do what most MMA fighters do.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Ulysses Gomez on October 8th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Martin: He is an excellent opponent, I've been looking forward to this fight for about a year now and I'm ready.  I'm just here to put on a great show for the people.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Martin: The outcome of having not so much a team, but a family.  Just being together with the Last Stand family bleeding, sweating, hurting, all of it.  They're the best thing that has ever happened to me.  That's where I get my fulfillment.

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Martin: The number one person who influenced me is my dad.  He's been a huge part of why I've never given up.  Also all of my family, brothers, my girlfriend, and now Professor Tom Theofanopoulos.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Martin: I have been playing soccer for twenty years, I love riding my road bike, rock climbing, and scuba diving.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Martin: I'm a really sensitive guy and very emotional.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Martin: My first birthday is as far back as I can remember.

Darrick: If you were stranded in a jungle with only three items, what would they be?

Martin: I wouldn't need anything - I'm Tarzan, remember?  I live in the jungle, I'd make everything for the beauty of the wild.  (Laughs)

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Martin Sandoval in the following places:

Official Martin Sandoval MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/mataleon125

Martin Sandoval on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Martin-Sandoval-31967

Martin Sandoval Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/31967

10 Questions With Tito Jones (by Darrick Patrick)

Tito Jones is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as Strikeforce, Palace Fighting Championship, Cage Fighting Federation, and Rage In The Cage.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Michael McDonald in Tachi Palace Fights at TPF 1 on October 8th, 2009.

Darrick: What was the road that led you to professional mixed martial arts competition?

Tito: Martial arts have always been something that I was into ever since I was in third grade and saw my first Bruce Lee flick.  I got into my first martial art which was Taekwondo and then many more arts followed that one.  Next up was seeing the initial UFC events and the early Royce-era domination.  After seeing that I was taken.  "Wow, a modern day blood sport just like the Jean-Claude movies!"  That was followed by the somewhat dark ages of the sport and led me to go to the next best thing which was boxing.  I pursued boxing but right as I was about to take the plunge into the world of professional boxing, the new and improved UFC made it's comeback.  I knew that this was my true love and I dove right in, head-first and following my heart.  I could tell you about the adventures I've had in pursuing the sport that led me across the country from Florida to here in California, but that would be a novel.  I'll save that for my book after I'm a champion and retired from the sport.  (Laughs)

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Tito: As I mentioned earlier, towards the sport it would mainly be Bruce Lee.  Along with Roy Jones Sr., they taught me many valuable things about fighting that also apply to life - which is crazy because I was too young to realize many of those things at the time.  I'm just figuring out now many years later that Bruce was somewhat of a father figure because I lost my father at an early age.  A lot of things I had to figure out for myself though.  My family of course is a driving factor too.  They did their best to raise me correctly and I'm not in prison or dead, so they obviously did a great job!

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Michael McDonald on October 8th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Tito: I really don't have too many thoughts about this fight except for knowing that I will win.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Tito: I have finally came to a realization as to the true meaning of martial arts, as well as to how it applies to life in general.  It is a true way to express yourself externally from within.  Now I finally realize what Bruce was talking about in his lost interviews.  The man was truly ahead of his time and one of enlightenment.

Darrick: Any words of advice for other individuals looking to train in MMA?

Tito: See it, believe it, know it!

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Tito: Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, and Georges St-Pierre.  They are all true artists and have figured out the successful formula in expressing their art form.  When you watch them, it's not like many other fights.  Especially not like fights you are exposed to particularly in smaller organizations, where it seems like two cavemen in a cage fighting over a bone - which does appeal to most of the general public due to the strange attraction humans possess towards violence.  Watching Anderson, Machida, and GSP is like watching an artist paint a masterpiece on a canvas, it's true art in motion.  They demonstrate their art well, hence the term martial artist.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Tito: As of late I've had an awakening and found enlightenment, God, divine intervention, or whatever you want to label it as.  Whatever it is though, it's the best thing that's ever happened to me!  I have a whole new outlook on life and see the real truth to existence, and that is a truth of good will and love.  Outside of the sport I'm very passionate on educating myself and acquiring knowledge, which is the weapon against ignorance and ignorance is what hides the truth from so many.  I'm extremely passionate about life and the main thing in my life now is putting myself behind others in all that I do.  Every action and thought I have is with the intent in some way or another to make a positive difference in someone else's life, whether it be direct or indirect.  This truth to life I've found has given me a whole new fire and motivation towards anything I do.

Darrick: What moments in your life have you been proudest of so far?

Tito: I am very proud when finding enlightenment.  Those moments stick out the most.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Tito: I'm all about love and spreading the message of love, joy, and peace!  It's so ironic that I'm a professional fighter.  (Laughs)  I do believe that sport fighting is the only place that violence should be permitted and that is for sport only.  I'm on a mission to make any and as much of a difference as possible in a positive sense for others.  I'm more driven than ever and that applies to my fighting as well because it is also a love of mine - and I finally really know what I am fighting for!

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Tito: I was either two or three years old.  I know it was at a time when I was too young to talk, but able to walk around.  I was standing at the gate to our home when my father was stationed in Arizona.  I remember walking back to the carport, getting into one of those old school little green plastic toy cars with pedals, sitting down, and getting the shit pinched out of my butt because the plastic seat had a crack in it!  (Laughs)

Thanks for the time and God bless everyone!  Love!

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Tito Jones in the following places:

Official Tito Jones MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/titojayjones

Official Tito Jones Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Tito-Jones/666554712

Official Tito Jones Twitter Page:

http://twitter.com/TitoAlpha

Tito Jones on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Tito-Jones-19925

Tito Jones Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/19925

10 Questions With Lacey Schuckman (by Darrick Patrick)

Lacey "The Ladie" Schuckman is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as Fearless Fighting Championship, HOOKnSHOOT, and C3 Fights.  She is also slated to appear on the Ultimate Women Challenge television show which premieres in December.  At the time of this interview, her next scheduled match is against Jeri Sitzes in Strikeforce at ShoMMA: Strikeforce Challengers 3 on September 25th, 2009.

Darrick: What was the path that led you to competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Lacey: My husband started in traditional martial arts, so he was always beating me up.  I was always a scrappy kid and eventually I decided that I really wanted to start training as well.  Then through training we met several influential people such as John Cronk, Hale Hilsabeck, and Rex Payne that guided us into serious MMA training.  We started in Muay Thai, then worked our way into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  That's also when we started implementing collegiate wrestling and boxing into our style.  I had twelve amateur Muay Thai and MMA fights and was decently successful.  Then in January of this year I made the decision to vacate my amateur title and go pro.

Darrick: Do you feel as if there are any extra hurdles being a female in mixed martial arts or do you believe it to be basically the same struggle for both genders?

Lacey: Well, I definitely deal with the obvious obstacles such as people thinking that women can't fight and that we can't compare to male athletes.  I take that as a challenge and do everything in training to the best of my ability.  I have a bit of an edge because I train strictly we male competitors, so I can't ever slack or I'll pay for it.  Now I see that things are growing in FeMMA and it is certainly getting easier.  Educated fans and fighters are now beginning to give women a lot more respect.  I feel that it is up to every female fighter out there to put on great fights that are technically sound and the sport will grow.  I do hate the whole "female MMA" thing, it's all MMA whether it's female or male.  The more we try to put emphasis on there being a difference, the further back we step.  I am not comparing women to the men's caliber, but it is all mixed martial arts.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Jeri Sitzes on September 25th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Lacey: I am very excited!  I have been training extremely hard for the last four months with several fights falling through.  I am just so pumped to get back in the cage - that is my home.  I am looking forward to fighting a fighter of Jeri's caliber.  She has a very reputable name and that is always my goal to work my way up the chain with respectable opponents.  I just can't wait!

Darrick: What are the details with the upcoming Ultimate Women Challenge television show?

Lacey: The show premieres on NBC affiliate stations on December 28th, 2009.  We have done some hometown filming and are preparing to leave in October to complete the production.  The show is similar to programs such as The Ultimate Fighter and The Contender.  There are sixteen girls in the house, eight 135-pounders and eight 125ers.  We will be doing elimination fights to win a contract at the end of the show.  We will also be competing in charitable contests to raise awareness for certain causes.  The idea is to show that there is more to a female fighter than just fighting.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Lacey: I guess I will start with my husband Randall.  He shows so much dedication to training and progressing his fighters.  I really look up to his tenacity and drive.  Next I would say Vitor Belfort, I really love how he fights for the Lord and makes it known.  I'd also have to say Thiago Alves, he is such as driven individual who came to this country with about three dollars in his pocket and he is just a machine.  I know he will be a champion one day!  I also really respect Hillary Williams, Lana Stefanac, and Tara LaRosa because they are great for the sport and are so very good.  They deserve way more credit than they get.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Lacey: Training kids.  We have a small group of kids ranging from five to fourteen that train MMA with us.  They do everything such as Muay Thai, BJJ, weightlifting, cardio, etc.  To see what they get out of training is amazing.  They improve in the gym as well as in their lives.  They learn discipline and respect and it is awesome to see the people that they are morphing into being.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Lacey: I love to work on Japanese drift cars, I like to decorate my house, and I love to read anything!  I have four dogs - a Miniature Dachshund hound named Fenway, a Lhasa Apso named Shaggy, and two American Pitbull Terriers named Keeva and Kaos.  They are my world, I love my dogs.  In Colorado, Pitbulls are illegal in some cities.  So, my husband and I like to help out shelters by walking Pitbulls that otherwise wouldn't see the light of day and also lobbying against breed specific legislation.  Don't punish the breed, punish bad owners!

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Lacey: That's a tough one, I'm a pretty open book.  I guess it would be that I love to eat.  I don't care what it is, I am a foodie!  I love ice cream and Chipotle and everything in between.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Lacey: I don't know about my oldest memory, but my coolest memory is of the first time I went to Disneyland with my dad.  The Dumbo ride was like the most amazing thing in the world.  Those teacups, man!

Darrick: If you lost one of your senses, which could you stand to be without?

Lacey: I suppose I would choose hearing.  I have taken some sign language classes and the deaf really interest me.  The non-hearing community is just so intriguing.  Unfortunately it is dying out due to cochlear implants, but I understand both positions.  I also see how Matt Hamill is still able to compete in the higher levels of the sport, so I know I could still be successful in mixed martial arts.  If not hearing, I would say smell but that might curb my food addiction!

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Lacey Schuckman in the following places:

Official Lacey Schuckman MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/theladielacey

Official Lacey Schuckman Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/theladielacey?_fb_noscript=1

Lacey Schuckman on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Lacey-Schuckman-43350

10 Questions With Mike Bernhard (by Darrick Patrick)

Mike "El Gringo Diablo" Bernhard is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as EliteXC, Raging Wolf, Fite Nite, Evening In The Cage, Premier X-treme Fighting, Ohio Challenge, and Harmful Intent Productions.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match was supposed to be against Tom Gallicchio in Action Fight League at AFL: Rumble At The Rock on September 25th, 2009 but will now be with a currently unnamed opponent.

Darrick: How did you end up competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Mike: I began wrestling when I was twelve years old.  I loved the one-on-one aspect of wrestling.  I started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under UFC legend Royce Gracie in January 2004.  I moved to south Florida in 2005 and met up with Marcos and David Avellan and the entire FFA family.  I loved the school and the world-class technique from world-class instructors, so I began training hard and excelled my martial arts knowledge to the point that Master Marcos approached me about doing a professional bout.  I have always loved to compete, so I jumped at the chance and haven't looked back.

Darrick: In your experience so far, what brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Mike: I love passing on my knowledge to my students.  It is not every person in the world that has the opportunity to pass on information and make such a lasting impression on the people that they meet.  Being a head MMA instructor at the Freestyle Fighting Academy is the most fulfilling thing that I have done in my life to this point.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Mike: I respect every person that steps into the ring or cage.  It is something that takes courage and a lot of spirit.  Not everyone has what it takes to compete in such a challenging sport.  As far as individuals go, I respect Marcos and David Avellan for giving so much to me and helping me excel in the sport the way that I have in such a short period of time.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight was supposed to be against Tom Gallicchio on September 25th.  What happened with this match?

Mike: I was lined up to fight Tom on the 25th, but the word is that he has an injury and had to pull out.  They are in the process of finding a suitable replacement for me.  I think the fight with Tom and I would have been great.

Darrick: Any words of advice for other individuals looking to train in MMA?

Mike: Set your goals early and often.  By that I mean to make sure that you constantly evaluate and sort out your short and long-term goals.  Keep track of everything you do and learn.  Make a training journal that you can record new moves into.  This will help you to put the techniques into your long-term memory bank.  You also want to know if your goals are changing so that you can adjust your training to what your mind and body are telling you.

Darrick: Where could you possibly see the future of the sport ten years from now?

Mike: Ten years into the future I see mixed martial arts filled with world-class athletes and claiming the number one spot in the world pound-for-pound for sports.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Mike: Other than training and fighting, I love to spend time with my wife and daughter.  I enjoy going to watch movies, especially anything that is funny or action-oriented.  I also love hunting.  I hunt Whitetail deer, turkey, and pheasant along with other small game animals.  I really like to go fishing and diving as well.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Mike: I am addicted to junk food.  I will eat anything that has sugar, chocolate, or fat.  I think this is why I always have to cut from 205.  Dieting for six weeks before the fight is what motivates me to finish my fights so fast.  I really just want to go and eat.

Darrick: If you were the last person alive on Earth, what do you think you'd do to entertain yourself?

Mike: I would build things vital to my survival.  I would travel to destinations like Disneyland and ride all the rides because there would be no lines.  I'd stay at the best resorts and have the best suites since it would all be free.  I would learn to cook so that I didn't starve and I'd learn to fly planes so that I could travel faster.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Mike: My earliest memory is waking up on Christmas morning and hoping that Santa brought me "ninja turtle" action figures.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Mike Bernhard in the following places:

Official Mike Bernhard MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/19415029

Official Mike Bernhard Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1432899910&ref=ts

Official Mike Bernhard Twitter Page:

http://twitter.com/ffamike

Mike Bernhard on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Mike-Bernhard-16450

Mike Bernhard Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/16450

10 Questions With Zach Light (by Darrick Patrick)

Zach "The Lisbon Outlaw" Light is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, World Extreme Cagefighting, Bodog Fight, Total Combat, Extreme Fighting Challenge, Sparstar Promotions, Ultimate Warrior Challenge, Platinum Fighting Productions, Invincible, Pit Fighting Championship, Ultimate Athlete, Icon Sport, Bring It On Promotions, and Iowa Challenge.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Tyron Woodley in Strikeforce at ShoMMA: Strikeforce Challengers 3 on September 25th, 2009.

Darrick: What was the road that led you to professional mixed martial arts competition?

Zach: I am a wrestling product from Iowa.  I have been wrestling since I was born.  My brothers Ike and Shane are the reason I'm so damn tough.  We wrestled and fought each other all of the time.  I won a couple of state wrestling titles and I was a two-time high school All-American in freestyle.  My collegiate career was short, but I was an All-American in college as well.  School never really was for me since I seem to only excel in sports.  After college, I worked every construction job under the sun and got in bar fights every weekend.  I ended my string of bar fighting when the judge told me that if I get into one more fight I'd be going to prison for two years.  So, I packed up my shit and moved to California.

I spent some time living with my mom whom I hadn't lived with since I was eleven years old.  I also got to know one of my best friends to this day, my stepfather Harvey Schwartz.  At some point, I saw Tito Ortiz fight on TV and I fuckin' loved it.  I had seen UFC 2 back in '94 but this was different.  The next time Tito fought, we got the PPV.  I sat my beer down during the fights, looked at my ex-wife and brother, and said, "I'm going to fight in the UFC."  Long story short, I started the next day and eight months later I was fighting in the UFC.

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Zach: My father was my main influence.  Man, when I was little I thought he was the fucking king!  Nobody could touch him.  That's what I wanted to be - invincible.  I'm very competitive, just like him.  My brother Shane was two years older than me and we were about the same size, but no matter what I did he'd kick my ass.  I hated it then, but I look back now and I just loved wrestling him.  He was so damn skilled.  I miss those days of us three being together and wrestling in tournaments.  Also, Brad Smith was my coach since I was five years old and if he told me I was going to do something, then nothing could stop me.  He is the best and most honest coach I've ever had.  I learned so much from him that I still use his workouts to this day with Rampage, Bisping, and Kongo.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Tyron Woodley on September 25th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Zach: He's probably the best athlete I've ever fought.  He has a lot of hype surrounding him.  I like that because I fight the best and that's a fact.  I've been training for seven weeks for this particular fight.  I've done my best in camp and I've also done more Jiu-Jitsu than I've ever done before.  I feel blessed for this opportunity and I'm going to make the most of it.  They didn't figure in the Scouse factor when they booked me for this fight!

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Zach: The relationships with my training partners.  I love training and helping people, I can see shit that most people can't.  I love this sport so much that I can barely watch anything else now.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Zach: Rampage Jackson to begin with, I started when he started at Team Punishment.  He has become so good and he is one of my best friends.  He leaves no man behind and is one of the best people I've ever known.  Cheick Kongo is not the typical fighter, he is a warrior.  That man fucking trains hard and will fight anybody, anywhere.  The best thing about him though is that he's such a good person who is always helping out with the day-to-day advice.  And as for style, he's on it!  (Laughs)  Also, Michael Bisping trains harder than anyone I've ever been around.  He does everything to the max and I fuckin' love that about him.  He's just fun to be around.  I have a lot of respect as well for my two Huntington Beach training partners, Tiki Ghosn and Rob McCullough.  They have really helped me the most.  I should also take this time to thank them since I've gotten more pussy because of those guys.  Thanks, fellas!  (Laughs)

Darrick: Do you have any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Zach: My advice to people starting out is to find a good MMA gym and get your ass to work.  It's not easy, but the rewards can be huge at all levels.

Darrick: Outside of martial arts, what are your other interests?

Zach: My two children are really all that I think about.  I have a girlfriend in Liverpool which solidified my title as the American Scouser.  I like to party as well.  I travel around the world with the sport too, so that's nice.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Zach: I don't know why, but I remember wailing outside of our first house when I was three years old.  I also recall that I was carrying a glass of water.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Zach: Man, everybody who knows me knows everything about me.  I don't give a shit about what people think, so I don't keep much to myself unless it's about someone else.

Darrick: What moments in your life have you been proudest of so far?

Zach: My two children being born, being the best man in my little brother Ike's wedding, being a part of helping Rampage win his world title, and being a really big part of helping him beat Wanderlei Silva.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Zach Light in the following places:

Official Zach Light MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/zoutlaw

Official Zach Light Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1160355749&ref=ts

Zach Light on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Zach-Light-3919

Zach Light Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/3919

10 Questions With Danny Abbadi (by Darrick Patrick)

Danny "The Assassin" Abbadi is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, World Extreme Fighting, Fight Force International, Mid South Brawl, Extreme Fighting International, and World X-Impact Federation.  He also appeared on the third season of the television show The Ultimate Fighter.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Shonie Carter in the main event of Respect In The Cage on September 20th, 2009.

Darrick: What was the path that led you to competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Danny: Well, first of all, it has been a long journey and it is still going.  I started off as a normal martial arts practitioner doing Taekwondo and regular Muay Thai.  Then all of the sudden I moved from Brooklyn, New York to Memphis, Tennessee and met a friend named John David, and he was very much into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  I really didn't understand BJJ at the time and thought my stand-up was all that I needed to win a fight.  He told me that stand-up is only part of it all and boy was he right.  He took me down and choked me out within about twenty seconds.  (Laughs)  After that, he introduced me to Jeff Mullen who owned Mid South Karate which is now called Mullen Karate Kickboxing.  This is where a lot of big namers started such as Rampage Jackson, Alan Belcher, Mike Pyle, and myself.  After training with those guys and learning the basics of MMA, I fell in love with it.  I have now been traveling all over the place since then to keep on learning, fighting, and bettering myself.  I'm still young, so I believe I'm still on that same path to becoming the champ.

Darrick: Any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Danny: If you want to compete, you have to know that there are ups and downs when involved in this sport.  You can't become a champ right away, but at the same time you can't train like there will always be another chance after this one.  Train hard and take every fight as serious as you would if you were fighting for the championship belt.  No matter what happens, keep your head up.  You can't tell the true colors of a champion when they're winning and in the spotlight, but it shines through when they're down and fighting to get back to the top.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Shonie Carter on September 20th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Danny: Shonie is a great fighter with good stand-up and great Judo.  I know he's going to want to take me down and I know I'm going to want to stand with him.  It's a chess game and whoever can play their game is going to win.  I'm going to go in there, put my game into affect right away, and look for a knockout.  If it happens to go all three rounds, I'm definitely going to be working on the decision win.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Danny: Vitor Belfort is my idol and I train with him at Xtreme Couture now.  I've been a fan of his since I was young, which was during his earlier days in the UFC.  That's a long time ago now for those that remember, right?  (Laughs)  I respect him in and out of the cage.  He's a super nice guy and very helpful.  Shawn Tompkins is a great person as well.  I knew of him and after I lost a close fight early this year, he pulled me to the side and said, "Danny, if you ever need a place to train, come to Vegas and I'll help you train."  He didn't have to do that, but he did.  This is a guy that has dozens and dozens of top name guys, and he takes time out of his days to help coach me.  I respect that a lot.  Thanks, Shawn.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Danny: Competing is what makes me happy.  I love it.  You see everything from competing.  From how hard and disciplined the fighter your facing is to how much integrity, sportsmanship, and courage they have.

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Danny: I know everyone says their mom, dad, and family - just saying it to be saying it, but honestly my family has had the greatest impact on me.  From my mother and father who pushed me to compete to my brothers that made me feel like a champ yelling their lungs out cheering for me as I walk down those runways.  I love them all for that.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Danny: Mixed martial arts is my life and sometimes even when I'm getting away from MMA for a bit, I still find myself watching it and enjoying it by accident.  (Laughs)  I'm like, "Oh wow, I'm watching MMA right now."  I love to play blackjack as well, soccer is awesome, and I like going to open gyms with friends to do acrobatics/flips.  I also enjoy just hanging out at the beach, going to clubs, and relaxing.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Danny: Wow, I can recall a lot actually.  I remember when I first started Taekwondo when I was a kid around four years old and got my yellow belt.  I also remember when my parents moved us from Jordan to the United States.  It's weird because I was three years old at the time, but I can remember it like yesterday.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Danny: I'm one of the most laid back, cool, and chill guys out there.  I love to laugh and just have a good time.  I don't do the whole arguing thing and I'm game for whatever.  If you want to go out, let's go out.  If you want to stay in, then whatever.  I get along with everyone and can start a conversation with anyone.  Oh, and I love CSI.  (Laughs)

Darrick: When you're no longer amongst the living, how would you most like to be remembered?

Danny: Well, I do a lot of charity events.  I don't do them so people can say, "Oh wow, he does charity events" or anything like that, but I know that if a lot of people don't remember me for fighting then they will definitely remember as that guy.  I'd like to be remembered as the guy who always gave a helping hand, who didn't judge you, and would listen to you no matter what.  As the person who understood you and made an effort to help you in any situation.  I want to be the guy for people who feel as if they don't have anyone.  Even though I come from a huge family, we all feel really down at least once in our lifetime.  It's not a great feeling and we all need to have someone there.  Well, I want to be that someone.

In closing, I'd like to say thanks for the interview and I appreciate those reading this for taking the time to get to know me a little better and for my friends/fans that are following my career.  I'd also like to give thanks to all of my sponsors and thank you very much to Inner Strength Clothing.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Danny Abbadi in the following places:

Official Danny Abbadi MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/egyptiandanny

Official Danny Abbadi Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/dannyabbadi

Danny Abbadi on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Danny-Abbadi-16696

Danny Abbadi Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/16696

10 Questions With Brendan Barrett (by Darrick Patrick)

"Brutal" Brendan Barrett is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as the International Fight League, Ring Of Combat, Extreme Challenge, Reality Fighting, and World's Best Fighter.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Randy Durant in the main event of Asylum Fight League on October 17th, 2009.

Darrick: What was the journey that led you to professional mixed martial arts competition?

Brendan: I was initially in college double majoring in accounting and business/finance, took the LSAT, and was looking into law schools to become a CPA attorney.  I was interested in either mergers and acquisitions, or corporate and entertainment law.  During the first semester of my senior year in college, I took a study break to go pick a few things up and on the way back I ended up in a car accident.  My back got injured and I was on some heavy medications.  I tried to hold on and finish my senior year, but halfway through the second semester I was too far behind from not being able to sit through all of my classes.  This was mainly due to the effects that the medication had on my concentration and ability to do my work.  I pulled out of college and tried to get my life back together.

After I started to get my life on track, I had an uphill battle of trying to make enough money to get back to school and I was miserable.  I did much meditating and soul searching to find out what truly makes me happy in life.  Looking back, I realized the only time in my life when I was truly happy was when I was competing.  After much more thought, consideration, and soul searching, I decided to fight.  I was always against fighting despite all of the encouragement I would get from basically everyone around me trying to get me to do it.  The more I researched and the more I learned about MMA, the more I realized how much it has evolved into a sport.  When I saw that the fighters were competing out of respect and skill, then I was drawn to it.  I got off of the couch, got myself back into shape, and started training some Muay Thai and Judo/Jiu-Jitsu.  About three months later, I walked into a pro fight and walked out a few moments later with my hand raised and my opponent face down on the canvas.  I was hooked.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Randy Durant on October 17th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Brendan: For my upcoming bout with Randy Durant, I am mainly focusing on getting back to how I used to fight when I first started.  Recently I have fallen into a slump.  I let a lot of things get to me on the business side of the sport and had some issues with management and trainers, added with a few bad calls.  I have mentally been taking myself out of the game and it has certainly shown in my last few fights.  I have gone out complacent and distant, waiting to get hit so I could wake up and get fired up.  I am focusing on going out and fighting my fight, attacking first, and not worrying so much about what my opponent is going to do.  Just do me, stop thinking, and let things happen.

Darrick: Do you have any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Brendan: For anyone looking to compete in mixed martial arts, the main advice I can give is to be focused and have dedication.  You have to be fully committed to the sport and push yourself when no one else is pushing you, eat right when nobody is watching you, and be extremely self-motivated and self-driven.  Many people will get into fighting just to say they are a fighter or because they think they are going to be rich and famous.  The reality is that very few people who start will be picked up right away and have an easy road.  It will take time, sacrifice, and an extreme amount of hard work.  If you truly want to take it somewhere, you need to be in it for the long haul through the ups and downs.  Always remember that nothing truly worth doing ever comes easy in any aspect of life.

Darrick: Who is someone in the sport that you highly respect?

Brendan: I have a tremendous amount of respect for Georges St-Pierre.  He is always respectful in victory or defeat.  It is clearly evident that he strives to be a good example and role model for the sport and for all those who watch and support him.  I had the pleasure of training with him in Manhattan at Phil Nurse's gym The Wat.  Even in person and in training he treats everyone as equals with an enormous amount of respect.  He is a class act outside of the cage as well as in.

Darrick: What personally brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Brendan: I get the majority of my fulfillment from martial arts out of the discipline it forces me to have in all aspects of my life.  To train and compete at the level I want to reach and be successful at, I need to take care of my mind and my body with as much dedication as I put into my training.  I need to eat right, get enough sleep, stay away from many things, and always keep myself focused.  In doing this, as well as through my training, I have learned much more about myself.  I have found what drives me and I have found out what I am made of when I go through adversity.  I have gained a much better understanding of myself as a person through all of this, which not only helps me in the cage but also in many other areas of my life.

Darrick: Who is someone that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Brendan: I would have to say the most influential person in my life did not have an impact on me until I was older and that person is my grandfather.  He was the hardest working man I have ever known and made sure that his family was always provided for.  He was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease that changed his life drastically.  He never once complained about his situation or asked "why me?" - even as he lost the ability to walk and later on the ability to speak.  He always kept smiling and kept his head high.  Even in his last few days, he showed me what it truly means to be a fighter.

Despite the fact he was barely fed for over a month and then was not fed at all for over seven days (due to the fact that he was no longer able to digest), he still never gave up or let go even though he was not able to even open his eyes anymore.  He layed in his bed and would not give up for over fourteen hours as he labored just to breathe.  Even in his last breath, eyes closed and all, he smiled.  I can only hope that I have a fraction of the fight that he had in him.  Although he is gone now, I know he will be watching me fight from above with the same smile and look of pride he always had on his face while watching me compete.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Brendan: I have a number of different interests outside of mixed martial arts.  I enjoy working with my hands and had a custom woodworking business for a bit.  I also like fishing and doing activities that are relaxing so I can unwind when I'm not training and fighting.  I have recently started getting into modeling and am also working on several different projects with my new publicist, but more on that will be out soon, so stay tuned.  (Laughs)

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Brendan: Well, despite how many people tell me they perceive me from my appearence and how violent and brutal most of my fights are, I am actually a big softy.  I guess it can be best described as: gentle by nature, brutal by trade.  (Laughs)  Outside of fighting and training, I am very mild mannered and laid back...well, most of the time.  The training and competition seems to get out all of the anger, frustration, and occasional rage I used to carry around with me most of my life.  It allows me to channel all the negative feelings and emotions into a productive, positive outlet.

Darrick: If you had superpowers, what would they be?

Brendan: I am sure most fighters who were ever into comic books would love to be Wolverine.  At least I know that was always who I wanted to be growing up if I had anyone's powers.  Anymore though I think I would rather have the ability to read people's minds.  This way I would always know what everyone else is thinking so I can utilize it better in fight purse negotiations, sponsorship opportunities, and I'd always be a few steps ahead of my opponents.  Good luck trying to take advantage or screw over a guy who can read your mind.  It could've prevented many issues I've had in my career.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Brendan: I never understood my oldest memory until I found out when I was older what was going on during that time.  I had a rare undiagnosed illness/disease when I was a baby.  They never fully figured out what it was and I remember being sick in the hospital.  I was very sick and hospitalized for awhile with all sorts of crazy symptoms such as extreme fever, swelling all over the body, redness, and my skin was peeling off all over my body.  Looking back they now believe it was Kawasaki disease.  Not the happiest early memory, but life isn't always a walk in the park.  We make of it what we choose.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Brendan Barrett in the following places:

Official Brendan Barrett MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/mmafighter205

Official Brendan Barrett Facebook Site:

http://www.hs.facebook.com/brutalbarrett

Brendan Barrett on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/brendan-barrett-19979
 

10 Questions With Dave Jansen (by Darrick Patrick)

Dave "The Fugitive" Jansen is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as M-1 Challenge, World Cagefighting Alliance, District Combat Promotions, SportFight, Elite Warriors Championship, and Banner Promotions.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Richard Crunkilton in World Extreme Cagefighting at WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson on October 10th, 2009.

Darrick: How did you end up competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Dave: My mom enrolled me into a tumbling class when I was five years old.  The class was taught by Mr. Harris, a science teacher and wrestling coach at Damascus Middle School.  The wrestling mats were laid out in his science classroom once a week and he geared the lessons to mold future wrestlers out of these gangly, uncoordinated toddlers.  I went on to wrestle competitively every year until my sophomore year in college in 2000.  At that point, I was burnt out on wrestling and dropped out of college.  I began working a series of construction and service industry jobs for the next five years.  At one of my cooking jobs, I met Chris Wilson back in his amateur fighting days.  He convinced me to not let my wrestling background go to waste and to give mixed martial arts a shot.  I joined a local MMA gym called Team Quest in Gresham, Oregon where Chris was training and instructing.  That was around May of 2006.  I fought my first amateur MMA fight in November 2006 and have steadily been taking fights ever since.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Dave: I really respect both Ryan Schultz and Ian Loveland.  They saw potential in me early on after I joined Team Quest and I started regularly attending their classes.  They've both been instrumental in helping me develop my fighting style and they continue to push me to my limits in the practice room.  I also have a lot of respect for Robert Follis, my primary trainer and corner man at Team Quest.  Robert has provided me with so much insight into what makes successful people tick, and ultimately, he's helped me become a better person.

Darrick: Any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Dave: Join a reputable MMA gym where there are at least a couple professional fighters at hand, surround yourself with people who are more skilled than you, be coachable, and remember that cardio is the best gift that you can give to yourself.  Develop a cardio plan, constantly add to it, and keep at it.  Also, don't rush into taking fights right out of the gate.  I recommend that most people train with full contact sparring several times a week for about a year before entering a MMA event.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Richard Crunkilton on October 10th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Dave: I think our styles match up well.  We both have excellent takedowns and submissions.  I think the deciding factors in the fight will be who's in better shape and who is able to work their stand-up game more efficiently.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Dave: I'd say it's the sense of accomplishment I get out of every run, every practice, every lifting session, and every competition.  It's the high that comes with feeling alive to the fullest.  Total elation.  I also feel this sense of community in MMA.  I'm part of something big.  We used to call it the Brotherhood of Wrestling back when I wrestled in high school.  Now I feel like I'm also a member of the Brotherhood of MMA.

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Dave: Besides my mom and siblings, I was basically raised by my wrestling coaches.  I was the youngest of five kids growing up in a single parent home, so I had quite a few wrestling coaches who were essentially father figures to me.  Some of my coaches were my friend's dads.  Here is a list of the most influential ranging from the earliest to most recent: Mr. Harris, Lamar Hyatt, the Schmitt brothers, Marc Sprague, Roger Sayles, Bruce Robnett, and Dave Abraham.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Dave: I spend a lot of time reading, mostly fantasy and science fiction.  I'm a bit of a gamer as well, currently hard at work completing the Fallout 3 downloadable expansions.  I watch a fair amount of television through www.surfthechannel.com.  These days I'm catching up on season two of Battlestar Galactica.  I do a lot of thrift store shopping.  Good food is always on my mind.  I also have a girlfriend that I find quite interesting.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Dave: I must have been three or four years old.  The Jansen clan was on the back porch with our new mutt puppy, trying to decide on what to name her.  I had a handful of potato chip crumbs that I threw in front of the puppy's feet and sure enough she started eating them.  I said, "She loves chips, maybe we should call her Chips."  My family went along with it, but my brother claims that he named her after the TV show with Ponch and John.  I'm not buying it.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Dave: I recently discovered that I have this one mutant eyelash that grows three times the length of the other ones, and it's albino.  I've trimmed it back twice in the last couple of months and it just keeps coming back.  Maybe this happens to everyone when they turn thirty.

Darrick: What comic book character do you relate to most?

Dave: Wow, this is a toughie.  I guess Fone Bone from Jeff Smith's epic Bone series.  He doesn't have any superpowers and neither do I.  He's on an epic quest and so am I.  Every now and then, I have a run-in with a Rat Thing that I need to put in it's place.  Part of me wants to say Wolverine for this question, but my cuts take weeks to heal.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Dave Jansen in the following places:

Official Dave Jansen MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/davegravedanger

Official Dave Jansen Twitter Site:

http://twitter.com/thefugitivepdx

Dave Jansen on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/dave-jansen-25414

Dave Jansen Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/25414

10 Questions With John Fields (by Darrick Patrick)

John "Tha Bullet" Fields is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as King Of The Cage, North American Allied Fight Series, Fightfest, and Primetime Fighting Championships.  He was also on the first season of the television show Iron Ring.  At the time of this very short interview, his next scheduled match is against Chris Lozano in the North American Allied Fight Series at The 3rd Annual NAAFS Rock N Rumble on August 29th, 2009.

Darrick: What was the road that led you to professional mixed martial arts competition?

John: It was mainly just knowing that I can get paid beating the crap out of someone.  That's what basically got me into the sport.

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

John: Nobody really - I'm a leader, not a follower.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Chris Lozano on August 29th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

John: My main thought is that he has no idea what he's in for.  It's going to be a rough night for him.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

John: I like how it's payday the same day of the fight and of course, like I said, beating people up is pretty fulfilling.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

John: Anderson Silva due to the fact of how well-rounded he is and Randy Couture for showing that age isn't always a factor in mixed martial arts.

Darrick: Do you have any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

John: Take this sport very seriously and do your best to represent it in the right way.

Darrick: Outside of mixed martial arts, what are your other interests?

John: The main interest I have outside of MMA is becoming a businessman.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

John: I'm actually a very humble person.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

John: That would be when I first came out of my mother's womb.

Darrick: If you had 24 hours left to live, how would you spend that time?

John: I'd be on my face, praising God, and asking for mercy.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out John Fields in the following places:

Official John Fields MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/403732339

John Fields on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/John-Fields-18739
 

10 Questions With Woody Weatherby (by Darrick Patrick)

Woody "The Dynasty" Weatherby is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as World Championship Fighting, Reality Fighting, World Fighting League, and Combat Zone events such as Cage Masters, Take Control, and In The Cage 2.

Darrick: What was the path that led you to competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Woody: I have been fighting for pretty much my entire life, whether it was in the streets or at school.  I got into boxing when I was younger to channel that aggression into something positive.  I never went to a professional level, but when I went to the Navy I went 13-3 as an amateur on base and around some gyms in Seattle.  I've never been one to start fights, I was just never the one to be pushed over.

Darrick: Generally speaking, what does a typical training session for you consist of?

Woody: I work eight hours at the Hillsborough County Jail in Manchester, New Hampshire each day, so I'm out at 3:00 p.m. and in the gym by four o'clock hitting weights and doing cardio.  I head home for dinner by six in the evening and depending on the day I then go to Jiu-Jitsu or MMA training.  Each of those sessions are about two hours long and consist of more cardio, plyos, pad work, and sparring.  If it's a fight camp, there are days when it's full sparring for five 5-minute rounds with me in the middle and a new body every round.  That's a bitch.  (Laughs)  Then, I'm home to eat again and get to bed by around 10:30 at night.

Darrick: Any words of advice for other individuals looking to train in MMA?

Woody: I'm pretty straight forward when it comes to the advice, so I apologize if it comes out harsh.  Seriously though, there is training MMA and there is fighting MMA.  I believe anyone can train in mixed martial arts up to a certain level, but after that it goes to fighting.  It can be the best workout of your life, but to train to fight you need to do so much more than just show up to a class and train.  That includes conditioning, diet, cross training, and pretty much getting your ass kicked day in and day out by people who are better than you.  For example, anytime I feel like I'm on my game, I go to Sityodtong in Somerville, Massachusetts and get worked by some of the greatest fighters in the sport.  I would say if you're going to start training, be dedicated and don't rush it.  It's a long process to become a fighter.  I'm still learning, but I do laugh at people who have never even been in a fight and all of a sudden want to be a "fighter"...it's not an easy sport.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Woody: I respect anyone who gets in the cage or ring, but locally I have a lot of respect for Kenny Florian, Keith Florian (Kenny's brother who is a nasty BJJ Black Belt), Jorge Rivera, Joe Lauzon, Marcus Davis, Greg Rebello, and Mark DellaGrotte - he trains all of the great fighters in New England and is just ridiculous at Muay Thai and crosstraining it for MMA.  Also, my crew at Renzo Gracie NH, Kevin Landry, Tim Barchard, and the Team: John Benoit, Chris Grandmaison, Matt Smith, Justin Homsey, and Dan Bonnell.  The list could go on and on because I have a lot of respect for fighters.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Woody: The challenge.  It's the drive to be the best and see just how far you can push yourself.

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Woody: I can truly say that I don't think I had any major influences growing up.  I cared about my family and friends, but just tried to be me all of the time and didn't change for anybody.  When I joined the Navy, I met a lot of people from around the country and I would say that's when I had some real influences.  I admire a lot of people around me because I surround myself with real dudes and we all try to be the best at what we do.  Whether it's bodybuilding, mixed martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or just having the most swagger.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Woody: I love to hit the weights, but mainly I enjoy swimming.  I got nuts for water, man.  It goes back to the Navy and my whole life really - I've been swimming since I was around five years old.  I'm also thinking of one day trying to become a pro gamer.  Naw, that's a joke, but nothing satisfies me more than gaming on a day off.  And movies, bro.  I can quote just about any movie.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Woody: Dude, I can remember kindergarten.  I guess the main memory is of dancing as a firefighter at my kindergarten graduation to that song We Built This City.  I may be in the wrong game now.  (Hint, Hint)

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Woody: I am a super metrosexual.  (Laughs)  Seriously though, I am about to be a dad next month in September to a baby girl.

Darrick: If you were stranded in the middle of an ocean with only three items, what would they be?

Woody: You're asking a Search and Rescue swimmer what he would have in the ocean?  I would swim to land or die trying.  The first thing I would take is fins and a goggle snorkel which is one item together.  The second item is a strobe so that planes and boats could find me.  Lastly, I would have a knife so that I could kill Jaws.  If I was stuck on an island in the ocean, the first item would be a box of one hundred Big 100 bars by Metrix which is food for a hundred days.  The other two things would be a knife and Kim Kardashian.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Woody Weatherby in the following places:

Official Woody Weatherby MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/bgwdy

Official Woody Weatherby Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/woody.weatherby

Woody Weatherby on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Woody-Weatherby-16198

Woody Weatherby Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/16198

10 Questions With Coty Wheeler (by Darrick Patrick)

Coty "Ox" Wheeler is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as World Extreme Cagefighting, King Of The Cage, Fightworld, Brawl At The Beach, Ultimate Warrior Challenge, and Ring Of Fire.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Charlie Valencia in World Extreme Cagefighting at WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson on October 10th, 2009.

Darrick: What was the journey that led you to professional mixed martial arts competition?

Coty: Well, I used to get into a lot of trouble.  I had just gotten off of some strict probation that I was on for 23 and 1/2 months and was looking for a place to fill that emptiness that the probation had left with me.  I found a mixed martial arts gym called FIT NHB and got into it to lose weight for my lady and to stay out of trouble.  If you would have asked me seven years ago if I would ever try to do this for a living, I would have said "NO!"

Darrick: Do you have any words of advice for other individuals looking to train in MMA?

Coty: If you have the drive, then do it.  You will be happy with the results.  It reconstructs your mind, body, and soul.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Charlie Valencia on October 10th.  What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Coty: I'm excited to be back in the WEC.  It has been a year and a half since I have been back and I am stoked.  Charlie is a game opponent and I know that he is no slouch.  I met him when he was in Albuquerque and he is a very humble guy.  I consider myself humble as well, but this is our job to fight.  So, for fifteen minutes we will be trying to tear each other's heads off.  Other than that, I like Charlie as a person.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Coty: I respect all of the coaches and teammates that I have trained with throughout the seven years that I have been in the fight game.  Without them I would not be the fighter that I am today.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Coty: Just the fact that it keeps me in check and out of trouble.  Anybody that knows me personally knows that I was a fuck-up in my earlier years of life.  And for the people that doubted me - I am sorry that I let you down.  Plus, my chick digs it.  (Laughs)

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Coty: My parents and my girlfriend have never given up on me and I love them for that.  You find out who your true friends are when you get put in a hospital, jail, or any other bad situations like that.  Usually when I got in those situations, it seemed like I farted so bad and loud that none of my friends or family wanted to be associated with me other than my parents and my girl.  They were the only ones that put up with my shit!

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Coty: Dressing up as a security guard and harassing teenagers at the mall.  (Laughs)  Naw, I'm just joking.  I love to be around my girl, family, close friends, and the people I train with because they actually know me for who I am.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Coty: I write a lot of hot checks, and I dress up as a bum and beg for change.  (Laughs)  Something that people don't know about me?  I guess I can be a little sensitive at times.  I tend to read in between the lines when it is not needed.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Coty: There are a lot of older memories that I have.  The majority of them are of growing up on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation.  Some of the memories are good and some are bad.

Darrick: If you were the last person alive on Earth, what do you think you'd do to entertain yourself?

Coty: I think I would go back to all of my Native American ways and run around in my little loincloth, riding horses and hunting buffalo.  (Laughs)  I'd live in a teepee with a pool table and a big screen television, along with my iPod and Wii.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Coty Wheeler in the following places:

Official Coty Wheeler MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/oxwheeler

Official Coty Wheeler Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Coty-Wheeler/1295635366

Coty Wheeler on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/coty-wheeler-17513

10 Questions With Thricia Poovey (by Darrick Patrick)

Thricia "Lil' Evil" Poovey is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as King Of The Cage, Smackgirl, Universal Fight Promotions, and Desert Extreme.  At the time of this interview, her next scheduled match was supposed to be against Amber Powell in King Of The Cage at KOTC: Gunslinger on August 8th, 2009 but will now be with a currently unnamed opponent.  She is also slated to appear at King Of The Cage: Turmoil on September 5th, 2009.

Darrick: How did you end up competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Thricia: I started taking anti-attack/anti-rape classes and Aikido classes when I was thirteen years old.  Then I began doing a little grappling class after our Aikido lessons were done for the evening.  Eventually, I just kept adding more and more techniques to what I was learning.  When I turned seventeen, I got my parent's permission to compete and I have been competing ever since.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight was supposed to be against Amber Powell on August 8th.  What happened with this match?

Thricia: My fight on the 8th is still set, although my original opponent Amber Powell will not be fighting for awhile.  She got a staph infection during her training for this upcoming match.  I have an alternate opponent lined up, but I haven't heard a name yet.

Darrick: You will also be competing at King Of The Cage: Turmoil on September 5th.  What are the details with this event?

Thricia: I'm excited about September 5th because they almost always have female fights at this venue.  Once again, I do have an opponent for this match but I don't have her name quite yet.  From what I have heard so far, it's some girl who is from Pittsburgh.

Darrick: Any words of advice for other individuals looking to train in MMA?

Thricia: I would tell anyone who is looking for a place to train in anything to find somewhere that's comfortable for them.  And if you're going to do it, go do it.  If it's an interest that a person has, they should go after it.  Regardless if they're planning on competing or not.

Darrick: Are there any extra struggles being a female in mixed martial arts or do you believe it to be basically the same difficulty for both genders?

Thricia: As far as the actual fights go, both genders have to deal with training, making weight, and hoping their opponents show up.  As for being a female fighter - well, we get promoted differently.  I hate to admit it, but it's more like we're a side attraction.  There is a growing number of females in the sport, but I'm not sure if the want to see them is quite there yet.  I hope it comes around though, as I'm sure any female fighter does.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Thricia: Just going for it and doing different things all of the time.  You can drill and try out new skills every time you're on the mat.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Thricia: I like being outdoors.  (Laughs)  I enjoy mining, fishing, hiking, swimming, and a whole lot more.  I also like learning about supplements and herbs.  Ummm, there are a lot of things I'm into.  So, I'll just leave it at that.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Thricia: My dad was in the Air Force, so the oldest things that I can remember are from when my family and I lived on Holloman Air Force Base.  I remember trying to climb a red wooden fence and falling off.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Thricia: Most people don't know that I have enlisted into the Army.

Darrick: What moments in your life have you been the proudest of so far?

Thricia: I'm proud of my folks and I'm proud to be their kid.  They've worked so hard in life and I'm thankful for the traits they have passed on to me.  I'm very proud of my brothers too because they've done so well for themselves.  And for 10:05 when I decided to fugetaboudit, move forward, and do my own thing...regardless of what anyone thought.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Thricia Poovey in the following places:

Official Thricia Poovey MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/tisay1124

Thricia Poovey on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/thricia-poovey-12588