10 Questions With Ernie Perea (by Darrick Patrick)
Ernie Perea is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared numerous times in the King Of The Cage fighting events. He has also been a law enforcement officer for over eleven years and has a role in the upcoming film release called Full Contact.
Darrick: How did you end up fighting professionally in mixed martial arts?
Ernie: Peer pressure from my law enforcement buddies, my cousin Joseph Wyatt, and all of my crazy cousins - nice friends and family who want to watch me get my butt kicked! I've been around the sport for a very long time. Sanctioned, unsanctioned, open palm, closed fist, warehouse smokers - in the mid to late 1990s, I competed a lot.
In my case, it's hard to be a "full-time" professional fighter due to my work hours. I'll have to have a talk with my mom and ask her why she couldn't have had me in the 1980s so I could have been a full-time professional MMA fighter. Just kidding, mom!
Darrick: We've already established that you're also a law enforcement officer. Tell us about that side of your life.
Ernie: I've been in law enforcement at the state, county, and now city levels since 1996. There are a handful of law enforcement officers in California alone that compete in MMA. I have been teaching/helping out my coworkers with officer safety techniques over the last ten years - like stuff I learned from Royce Gracie, Betiss Mansouri, and Phillip Miller.
These guys would make me wear some of my patrol gear (bulletproof vest, baton, my gun/holster, etc.), so that when I would get into a physical altercation with a bad guy, my gear getting in the way would never be an issue - like I never had it on.
Darrick: You've been involved with a few movies lately as well, what's the scoop on that?
Ernie: Last year, I had a small part in an independent film called Full Contact. I played a fighter hired by a local thug/drug dealer to lay "the beat down" on the main character at the end of the movie. It is set for release and public viewing on February 29th, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rialto Theatre in Pasadena, California. The movie theatre sits something like 700 people, so the producers are expecting a good turnout. Readers interested can email me at myspace.com/perea07, contact FocusFightwear.com, or BushidoProductionsOnline.com for advance ticket info.
I also just finished a documentary with the same company. I was told that there will be a ten minute preview of that documentary after Full Contact is over. The camera crew filmed a lot of "real life" stuff that we all can relate to. From the clips that I saw, you don't have to know a thing about MMA fighting to see this film. I provided my share of "unwanted" drama for sure.
Darrick: Any particular plans for you in 2008 concerning MMA?
Ernie: I started training again last week after taking about three months off. I was just asked to consider fighting possibly in Laughlin, Nevada at the end of March 2008. With the merging of Elite XC and KOTC, the competition is getting better - so I will need my body to be as close to 100 percent as possible.
There are a few guys that I help train or train with, like future MMA stars Jeremy Bennett, Chris Culley, Frankie Guerrero, Aaron Benham, Victor Rodarte, Miles/VanDerlinden brothers, and Angelo McCelroy. They all have fights coming up soon and I'll help them all get ready. As for myself in 2008, I'll talk to KOTC's Terry Trebilcock when I feel I am ready and see who he would like me to fight. And if you read some of the internet forums, there's no shortage of challengers for me.
Darrick: What would you say to younger fighters looking to make a career in mixed martial arts?
Ernie: Pray about what doors God wants you to walk through and talk to your family about your goals in MMA! Get the blessings and support of the people who are with you day in and day out.
Darrick: Who is someone that greatly influenced you while growing up?
Ernie: Without a question, my dad (Ernie Perea Sr.). I don't think we have enough time in this interview for me to explain all of the ways my dad influenced me in my life. But the best gift my dad ever gave me before he died was the understanding that I am a father first, and EVERYTHING else is second to my girls. I love my Perea rug rats.
Darrick: Outside of what we've already covered, what are some of your other interests?
Ernie: I teach basic grappling and kickboxing to kids at my house every Saturday morning. I've been doing this for about five years now. Also, it's camping and riding season, so I've been doing a lot of that right now with my family and friends. I listen to a lot of music - I'm an '80s music freak!
Darrick: If you had 24 hours left to live, what would you do with that time?
Ernie: Only 24 hours? After I prayed to the Lord, thanking him for a great 35 years of life, I would spend the rest of my time hugging, kissing, and letting my daughters know how much they mean to me...
And if I could squeeze out an extra five more minutes, I would spend it in the backyard with my 160 lb Great Dane Rufus, my min-pin Chili, and my Basset Hound Chubbs.
Darrick: What is your oldest memory?
Ernie: When I see or smell chicken, I seem to have these flashbacks of when I was 6 or 7 years old in Fontana, California. My dad used to have several chickens, turkeys, etc. A few times during my childhood, my dad and uncles would make me sit on top of these birds while they either chopped their heads off or cut their throats so the birds don't get up and run around the backyard with no head!
I don't eat chicken and I do not eat turkey or any other kind of bird. So, now my secret is out to your readers as well as Teacher Kelly who often asks me why I don't like chicken, and my answer of, "I just don't", wasn't cutting it - now they all know the truth! I'm scarred for life...
Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.
Ernie: For the first time in my life, I am very content and just have a whole different outlook on life than I did two years ago, five years ago, etc. I've had my share of tragedies and life's challenges more so than the average person, I'm sure. I have a lot of things to be thankful for.
I have this great life, my girls are healthy, the family is healthy - my back hurts once in awhile but for the most part, I'm healthy. So, if I do return to the cage in 2008, you will see an even more dedicated and relaxed fighter, which means trouble for the 145-155 pound divisions!
FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835
You can also check out Ernie Perea in the following places:
Official Ernie Perea MySpace Site:
http://www.myspace.com/perea07
Ernie Perea on Fight Finder:
http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=10650
Ernie Perea Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:
http://www.sherdog.com/news/Picture_gallery.asp?f_id=10650@@Ernie%20Perea
Tags: Ernie Perea Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Mixed Martial Arts
