Interview with Blake Bowman

Blake, what have you been up to since the Ultimate Fighter?

I had the surgery of course. The rehab for that was tough and very time consuming. Coming right after The Fighter House, it was just more adversity. I got in a depression. I had just been stuck in a house for 6 weeks, now I'm stuck in a house and in bed for 3 more. It really sucked. But I did what I had to do to get better. Since then I've been teaching at a new gym called Defkon One/Gracie Barra VR in Villa Rica Georgia. The people there have been very good to me and it's a great facility. My training time is fairly limited since I teach 4-5 hours a day, but it has been a good experience.


Last year you had surgery to repair your ACL. How much longer will you be out of action?

I have some fights in the works for May and June. Nothing is confirmed yet, but I expect to be back on a smaller show in June at the latest. I have to put together a couple lower profile fights to help get my confidence back up. Not only did I lose badly on the show, but I also wasn't able to walk for a while after the surgery. Everyone kept saying I was healing very quickly, but it was frustrating and slow. That takes a huge toll on you mentally as a fighter and just as a person.


Have you had any talks with the UFC (or anyone else) about a potential fight down the road?

My last talk with Joe Silva, he encouraged me to fight smaller shows. He said he never saw what I can or can't do. I'd looked like I had heart, but just couldn't evaluate anything. "Put together four or five decent wins," he said. "I'm pretty sure you could fit in well at the WEC after some confidence boosters and skill polishers." That's always nice to hear. Joe has a reputation as a ball buster.


Where are you training?

As I stated earlier, I am teaching and training at a new gym in Villa Rica Georgia. I will also train locally with some friends like the Assuncao brothers, Rory Singer, Jeff Bedard and Roan Jucao. Those guys are all really good, local and have a lot to offer me. And they've all been very good to me since I first got around the game.



How did you get started doing MMA?

Haha..THAT I can answer.."why" is a little harder. I was just a fan. I saw UFC 34 and I wanted to be Matt Hughes. I put out a message on mixedmartialarts.com and Cam McHargue responded. I became friends with him before I was ever training with AFA/Team Praxis. I became known around the GA scene before I ever competed or really trained for that matter. Cam and Matthew Waller owned a ring that got rented out to basically anyone doing a show. I'd go and help set up/break down the ring and really kinda learned the in and outs of the sport. At first I just wanted to grapple, but eventually turned into wanting to do MMA. Cam got me a fight on short notice, I got the shit kicked out of me and realized I needed to train more consistently. I didn't start training more than twice a month until Summer of '05.


Is your family supportive of your MMA career?

Yeah. My dad doesn't like it, but he doesn't criticize me for it. I think he's just less a fan in general of the sport. He's an old school boxing fan from a long time ago and boxed a little in the Army. We all know boxing vs. MMA, heh. Everyone else though is gung ho. My mom also knows Cole, Micah, Bubby and some other guys that I use to train with. She started watching TUF because of Cole, not me, lol. She's actually a big Nate Diaz fan. Go figure.


Who were some of the people in MMA that you look up to?

Before the show, I really looked up to Matt Hughes. The way that he treated me and the rest of the team showed that he's just a regular guy. I guess we all are. He makes mistakes, he makes jokes, he makes REALLY good baby back ribs. But he's very supportive of his guys. I've always been a big fan of Jens Pulver too. Aside from that, Genki Sudo is a big inspiration for me in general. I like a lot of his philosophies and his overall outlook on life in all 4 dimensions. And after living with Mac, I really admire him and a lot of things about his life. We share similar politics and social beliefs. He works his ass off too. Always. Even when he doesn't feel like it. I know everyone in the sport does, but he made me work my ass off too, even after I was hurt.



I read somewhere that you and Cole Miller are pretty tight. How happy are you to see him competing and having some success in the UFC?

It's fucking awesome. Cole is the one that really urged me to fight in the first place. I cornered almost all of his amateur fights and quite a few of his pro fights. I cornered him against Garcia at UFN back in September. This is his dream. Everyone wants to see their friends succeed. Cole and I came from the same place, the same school, and we have the same dream...so it's that much better to know that he made it to the end of the same road I'm walking. He's a big inspiration in my life and my training actually. Him and his brother Micah both actually. We're often referred to collectively as "Team Miller."


Your fight with Richie had to be disappointing. It seemed like you had the advantage on the ground if the fight went there. Not to take anything away from Richie but the reason you lost the fight was because you blew out your knee not his punches right?

Of course it was disappointing. I knew I could have done better and while I'm laying there getting an MRI all I can think is "would have, should have, could have." Had I tried to get the fight to the ground, I am confident that I would have gotten a submission. But the fight goes the way it's going to. Unfortunately, I still get people sending me messages in my myspace and email telling me what a disgrace I am to the sport because of that fight. It's always hugs and handshakes to my face of course, but that's how people are. They don't care about editing.

That episode was basically "Joey's gone, Dorian is crazy, Blake is a comedian and has no fighting experience." All three things are false, but whatever. And the reason I lost was because Richie hit me until Big John stopped it. It was a TKO from punches, not injury. I may have fallen because my knee blew out, but I lost because Richie pounced and finished me off. Whether it's a blown knee, a 4 punch combination, whatever....if your opponent drops, your job is to finish. Richie did his job. He's tougher than he got credit for. Not "better" so to say, but he's tough and he puts on good fights. He's still pretty new to the game too. He'll develop and win some fights in the future I'm sure.


Coming into the start of that season who did you think was the favorite to win it?

After how the UFC was treating him, I was expecting to see Jon Fitch in there dominating everyone, haha. But after evaluation day, everyone kind of felt Mac was the guy to beat for sure. There were some other good guys though...but Mac was favorited..for sure.


Did you see Tommy Speer doing as well as he did and advancing to the Finals?

Tommy and I became pretty close. He's a robot that punches a time clock at the cage door. The only thing he cares about is making the ref stop the fight for some reason. He wants to slam and grind until you break. He's got a lot of heart and is very young. His skills are still developing but heart and determination can take you through times that just skill wont. Unfortunately for him Mac had heart and skill.


Have you spoken to Mac since he won the contract? I know you and him are very different and had a unique realtionship on the show.

As I said earlier, Mac and I see eye to eye on a lot of things and hung out together a lot in the house before and after the "skinny hick from Alabama" skit. I talk to him weekly since the show. We usually bullshit about stuff. He sent me a pic on my phone of him knelt in front of the house from the show while he was out training with Gray. Looking all gangster. He's one of my good friends actually, but people ignore that and believe the edited "reality" of television.


Do you keep in touch with any of the guys from the show?

Yeah. I still talk to Fiore and Pena (coaches) I myspace with George,Kolosci and J-Roc. I talk to Mac, Tommy, Rude Boy, Paul and Ben Saunders on the phone often.


Out of everyone in the house, excluding Mac, who do you see having the best career in 10 years?
Like I said, a lot of those guys are young in years and experience..so I see a few of them using the show to better themselves and making waves this year or 2009. But I'd say probably Ben Saunders and Matty Arroyo.



Were you disappointed that Matt Serra got hurt and had to cancel the fight with Matt Hughes?

Of course. That was so built up. Those guys really don't like each other. Not like "build it up to sell tickets" but "Hughes would stop talking if Serra entered the room" don't like each other. That's all we had to preoccupy ourselves in the house outside of training and swimming and eating. So we were all pumped about it.


If that fight had taken place who do you think would've won?

I just think that Hughes is a bad match up for Serra. I mean, maybe that's bias because I consider Matt Hughes a friend now, but he's strong, good positioning. He'd outpower Serra and in later rounds, No one can turn it to 11 like Hughes. Like I said though, I'm a long time fan. So maybe I'm being a little biased.


Who's your pick in the Serra-St. Pierre rematch?

I don't want to sound like a Serra-hater. I like watching him fight. May sound bad picking against him twice in a row; but St. Pierre is just the future of the sport. Everyone gets caught, everyone stumbles. But Georges is evolution of MMA in action.


Thanks again Blake. Is there anything else you'd like to say to your fans?

I'd really like to thank everyone for their support. I felt bad after the show, the loss, the hate mail, and surgery...but I got a huge flow of people with kind words calling themselves fans...saying they liked seeing me and hope that I heal and come back stronger and they can watch me again. That meant the difference in my opinion. I had support of my family and friends, but it was those outside my life that still showed faith and support that really pulled me through the tough times. Anyone that is on the myspace, feel free to add me...I'm at
myspace.com/bowmanb
I save all my messages I get from people. When I don't want to train or go do the extra rehab, I'd read them and realize that I better get my ass off my shoulder. This is bigger than me. I have people that want to watch me do what I want to do. It doesn't get any better than that. So THANK YOU to everyone and thanks for this interview.

Interview with Kyle Bradley

Tell us Kyle, what have you been up to?

Well, I hurt my knee before the Lytle fight. I didnt think it was too bad, so I fought anyway. MRI results revealed a torn medial miniscus, torn ACL, MCL, and patella tendon.

So right now I am waiting to get surgery then rehab. Trying to get back to teaching classes and coaching football until I can fight again.

You're an LSU alum. How proud were you for the beating that put on Ohio State for the BCS Title?

Well I never graduated from LSU. So I'm more likely a drop out at this point then an alumn. But always very proud of our football in the south. Some of the best high school ball is played right around my home, and that really carries over to LSU. It was great, but no surprise. I honestly didnt think OSU was the best we could have played.


To this point in your career what are you most proud of?

Well it was always a dream of mine to fight in the UFC, so I'm glad I did that. But from here, that isnt good enough. Now I gotta prove I belong.


How did you get into MMA? You started out as a boxer didn't you?

Yes. Started a boxer, still very true to my boxing roots. But I basically saw the opportunity to learn from some good training partners this thing I saw on TV, so I took it. After while, I was pretty good at it, so I decided to make MMA my focus.


You almost didn't fight at UFC 81. Didn't you have a fight scheduled with Yves Edwards for another organization?

Someone jumped the gun on reporting the Yves Edwards fight. Basically, the contract was offered to my manager, Monte Cox, and myself. Monte, and my closest advisor on such things, Rich Clementi, decided the contract wasn't what we wanted. So we passed.

I truly respect Yves, and thought that would have been a great fight...a fun fight. But the problem came when the organization wanted to lock me into a 2 year exclusive contract. I wanted 3 fights and done, they wanted 2 years. At 25, we felt like being locked down wasn't the bext thing for me.


I've always wondered what's it like backstage at a UFC show. Did you go straight to your locker room and wait until it was time to fight? Do the fighters walk around and mingle with one another?

Well this wasnt my first rodeo. I've cornered Rich Clementi at 5 or 6 of his fights in the UFC. A guy like him, every body talks to and gives respect. He is an old school guy, paid his dues, and is reaping the rewards now. Everyone from Jeremy Horn, to Urijah Faber, to Matt Hughes, to everyone. Chuck gives him respect and his props.

I was the new kid on the block, so not alot of people wanted to chat with me. Not that they didnt want to be sociable, just they dont know me. Me and David Heath got along well, and Nate Marquardt is a great guy with a lot of positive things for me. But those guys were in my locker room, everyone else, for the most part, is strictly business the day of the event.


Coming into the fight with Chris Lytle you were on a 7 fight win streak. How disappointed were you to lose in your UFC debut?



I really really felt I had nothing to lose. Big show, nearly impossible fight moving UP a weight class to fight a guy like Chris Lytle. I was playing Jr Varsity football when that guy was fighting in the UFC.

So all I wanted to do was have fun, enjoy the experience, and bang it out and have an exciting fight. It didnt go the way I wanted, but all in all it was fun.


Has there been any talks between you and the UFC about another fight?

Yes. The UFC, namely Joe Silva knew I was hurt. He called me on the Monday following the event to tell me he appreciated me not pulling out of that fight. That pulling out would have put him in a bind, and he appreciated me getting in there and trying to bang it out.

I text him the results of my MRI, and his final words to me were, "Get your knee fixed and I'll bring you back at 155."

Very encouraging. Joe Silva doesnt strike me as the kind of guy who would bullshit me.


How influential has Rich Clementi been on your career?

Rich Clementi is MMA in Louisiana. Everybody around here, whether directly or indirectly has been influenced by him. Even a guy like Melvin Guillard. When Melvin was making his bones on the local circuit, who was putting on the fight cards? Rich Clementi. For a long while Clementi was the only guy in the state willing to put together pro cards, and pay fighters for their work. Everyone else wanted to turn a quick buck putting on all amateur MMA shows. Not Rich. I'm still not sure if he has ever actually made money on a show.

Not only that, but his door is always open for fighters to come and train free. Any fighter, any gym, always welcome.

But on a personal level, the guy has helped me out a ton financially, and just as a friend. And besides exposing me to a higher level of training and sparring, he has really instilled in me a toughness and a mean streak that Im convinced can only have come from hanging with a guy like No Love for extended periods of time. And its not just me, but all the guys down here are just salty. Dont really care about winning and losing, just want you to feel pain and be damaged. To beat a guy like that, you have to pack a lunch.


How happy were you to see him beat Melvin Guillard?

Happy because Rich is a friend and training partner. A teammate. But I have no ill will for Melvin. To be honest, I couldnt possibly have seen that fight going any other way.


Where did all that bad blood start?

The story has been told, but I'll run it down in a short.

Basically, it has always been bit of a little brother rivalry between the two. Rich was the man down here...Melvin was the up and comer. And anytime anyone talked of them fighting, people would laugh and wouldnt give Melvin respect he felt he deserved.

Then they fought in the Kings Muay Thai tournament. They met in the finals, and Rich knocked Melvin unconcious with a flying knee in the second round.

Fast forward through all the TUF stuff. Melvin made a name for himself, and I guess got sick of being "Second tier". He heard a rumor, that Rich talked a bit of shit about him, and decided to email Rich and tell him how he felt.

Rich denied talking the shit, and really had no clue where Melvins attacks were coming from. But not to be outdone, fired right back.

Back and forth back and forth this went on, until the sucker punch incident on one of those bayou shows down in Louisiana.


Didn't you also fight Melvin in one of your first professional fights?

Yeah, twice actually. Wasnt ready for that kind of opponents that early in my career.


Who are some of the fighters you look up to?

Clementi, obviously. but Im also a huge Jens Pulver fan. I love watching Spencer Fisher fight. And there is a kid named Luke Gwaltney from the midwest who I would pay to watch fight anytime. He's a guy with a huge heart, good skills, and seems like a guy who would fit in well with our bunch down here.

Kenny Stevens might be my favorite to watch fight. The guy is just so mean. Everyone from around here, from myself, to Clementi, to Crazy Tim Credeur, to Alan Belcher and Chad Jay, come to spar with that guy...and we fuckin hate every second of it.

When you are training and getting ready for a fight what is the hardest thing for you to give up? What's your guilty pleasure?

Food bro. I am an eating mofo. I would save alot of money if I limited going out to eat to like once a week. Hell I eat sushi 3 or 4 times a week. And that isnt even my favorite.

And for a guy who is considered a big 155 pounder, staying low in weight is VERY VERY important.


Thanks again Kyle. Is there anything else you'd like to say to the fans?

I will be back. Cliche, I know. But I strived and strived to make it to that level...and now I realized, it aint good enough. I want to stay there and do something significant in the sport. And at 25 with nearly 20 professional bouts under my belt, Im just getting started.

Catching up with Marcus Davis

To this point what are you most proud of of your MMA career?

Just happy that I’m fighting and proud that I’ve been able to change from being only a striker to a MMA fighter.

Have you heard who your next opponent it going to be? I heard there's a possibility you might be fighting Mike Swick.

Yes it will be Mike Swick June 7th.

What made you decide to go into MMA as opposed to boxing? You had a lot of success boxing.

Boxing was dirty. I got screwed over alot in the management and promoter side of it. I also was bored. I felt as though it wasn’t – really fighting.

How did you get selected for the 2nd season of the Ultimate Fighter?

I just sent in a tape and went through the steps like everyone else.

How instrumental has Jorge Gurgel been in your progression as a Mixed Martial Artist?

Very. Jorge is the one who was able to stop me from freaking out on my back. He helped me become comfortable on the ground. He is one of my best friends.

How special was it to beat Shonie Carter on Ultimate Fight Night 7? That show that was put on for the Marines and raised money for their families.

It was awesome. Shonnie is a fighter with a ton of experience and beating him fresh off his stint on TUF help boost my rep in the UFC.

What did mean to you to win by KO on the UFC 72 card in Ireland ?

It meant I succeeded in fulfilling a dream I had as a boy. I always wanted to fight in Ireland and didn’t think it was going to happen after I stopped boxing.

The Paul Taylor fight was amazing. I just knew when he kicked you it was going to be a TKO but you fought through it and wound up getting him in an armbar. When he caught you with that kick what were you thinking? Did your instincts just kick in?



Honestly the first thing I thought was he better hope I didn’t get back up. I was angry. Not with Paul but at myself for getting caught in the neck by the kick. Instinct did kick in and I was happy that at that time I knew I was in a good fight.


How many more wins do you think you need to get before you are considered for a title shot?

Probably 2 more against top 10 guys.

How do you feel you would match up with Anderson Silva? He's tearing through his weight class. He's almost out of challengers.

LOL. He would most likely crush me like a worm. He’s got size, reach, Thai technique and better ground then me. I would fight him though just to say I got kneed in the face by one of the best.

Who do you think will win the Serra-St. Pierre fight?

I hope Matt Serra. Its anyone’s fight at this level.

Who is your favorite fighter to watch?

It used to be Cro Cop. Now its just my friends who fight. Jorge, Kenny, Rich, Dustin, Patrick, all my teammates.

When you are cutting weight and training for a big fight what is the hardest thing to give up in your diet? What's your guilty pleasure?

Well I’m real good at being good. But after I fight I love to eat cookies. I am a cookie freak. All kinds it doesn’t matter.

Thanks again Marcus, is there anything else you'd like to say to your fans out there?

To anyone supporting me I thank you with all my heart. I started out a bit rocky but I am doing my best to become a better fight for your entertainment and I will always come to lay it on the line.