10 Questions With Ed Herman (by Darrick Patrick)

Ed "Short Fuse" Herman is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in events such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Extreme Challenge, Hand 2 Hand Combat, International Fighting Championship, SportFight, Pancrase, DesertBrawl, the Pacific Pankration Kickboxing Association, Quest Promotions, and the Professional Fighting Association.  He also appeared on the UFC and Spike TV's third season of the television show The Ultimate Fighter.

Darrick: What road led you to competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Ed: Long road, man - one with lots of hills.  (Laughs)  Lots of hard work and desire to some day be a world champ.

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

Ed: My dad, my late friend Jake Hawley, Mrs. Scott (teacher from middle school), my stepdad, Steve, etc. - lots of people helped me out along the way.

Darrick: What does a typical training session for you consist of?

Ed: It depends on the training session...

Darrick: Any advice for younger individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Ed: Find a good gym, with good people around, that you can trust.

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

Ed: I'll start with Anderson Silva.  You gotta' respect that guy - he's a bad man.  Some others are Hendo, Lindland, Shults, and Wilson.  All of my teammates.  Also, Forrest Griffin's the man.  There's a lot of great guys out there that I respect...I could go on forever.

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

Ed: I have the best job in the world.  I can take good care of my family doing something that I love, and the fact that I can help motivate and inspire so many people - even people I've never even met.  Plus being famous and making good money kickin' ass is pretty cool too.  (Laughs)

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

Ed: My family, of course.  I just had twins and they take up a lot of my time.  (Laughs)  I also enjoy riding quads, fishing, hangin' with my bros, and camping.  I'm a country boy at heart.

Darrick: If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?

Ed: The first would be that my children grow up strong and healthy.  The second is to be able to work my way to the top and be the middleweight world champ.  For the third, I'll go with world peace.  (Laughs)

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

Ed: My nickname "Short Fuse" was given to me by my two good friends Chris Leben and Chael Sonnen at the beginning of my career.  And it is not related to the size of my johnson.  (Laughs)

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Ed: Riding quads in the country with my cousins.

Yo, thanks for the support!  A shout-out to Chris Wilson on his UFC debut versus Jon Fitch on March 1st and newly crowned champion teammates Ryan Shultz and Matt "Suave" Horwich.

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 Ed Herman in the following places:

Official Ed Herman Website:

http://www.edherman.tv

Official Ed Herman MySpace Page:

http://www.myspace.com/shortfuseherman

Ed Herman on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=6561

Ed Herman Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/news/Picture_gallery.asp?f_id=6561@@Ed%20Herman

Tags: Ed Herman Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Mixed Martial Arts

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10 Questions With John Kolosci (by Darrick Patrick)

John Kolosci is a professional mixed martial artist who appeared on the sixth season of the television show The Ultimate Fighter and has competed in organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, International Fighting Championship, Duneland Classic, SuperBrawl, International MMA Competition, MARS, Mix Fighting Championships, Euphoria, Xtreme Kage Kombat, Freestyle Combat Challenge, Silverback Classic, Absolute Fighting Championships, and Maximum Combat.

Darrick: What road led you to fighting in professional mixed martial arts?

John: Well, I was really just looking for a way to release my excess energy and focus it in a positive direction - there were too many street fights, which I'm not proud of.  I found a local Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym and it did the trick by keeping me busy, motivated, and quite exhausted.  Once I started to get to know this group of people, I met numerous people that were fighting in MMA.

I ended up meeting the Wisniewski brothers (Duneland Vale-Tudo) and started training with them.  I never really expected to fight outside of the smaller shows in my hometown, but one thing led to another and here I am.  I'm very competitive, athletic, and I love to fight - so, I guess it was just a matter of time (along with tons of hard work) before I found myself succeeding at this sport.

Darrick: From your experience so far, what brings you the most fulfillment out of MMA?

John: Winning.  I know it sounds simplistic, but it's hard to explain how good it feels to win a bout in MMA.  I've never felt like that with any other sport and I played all kinds of sports while growing up.  It's just an amazing feeling.

The other end of that is the fact that nothing else feels as bad as losing.  With the good, comes the bad, but it depends on how you bounce back.  I also love the competitiveness and how much there is to learn, as I'm learning something new everyday that I'm in the gym.  The competition is addicting.

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

John: Really, just my parents.  My dad was a coach on my teams as I grew up playing sports and my mom was my biggest fan.  My mom was very competitive and traveled the world dancing professionally, and still teaches to this day.  It's inspiring because she is doing what she loves.  It's just not part of my persona to look up to others, as I try to make my own way and be my own person.  I admire people that do well, but I do not base my life or accomplishments on those of others.

Darrick: What does a typical training session for you consist of?

John: This is what I did for the two months leading up to my last fight - I train at Gilbert Grappling for wrestling/MMA, POW with Dino Costeas for Jiu-Jitsu, and McGarry's Boxing Club with Montell Griffin for, you guessed it, boxing.  I do my strength and cardio conditioning at Classic Body Works gym.  Of course, I would take a session off here and there if my body was exhausted or I felt I needed a day of rest.

Monday: Running in the afternoon, boxing and Jiu-Jitsu in the evening

Tuesday: Bike in the afternoon, strength/cardio conditioning in the evening

Wednesday: Running in the afternoon, boxing and wrestling/MMA in the evening

Thursday: Bike in the afternoon, wrestling/MMA in the evening

Friday: Running in the afternoon, boxing in the evening

Saturday: Jiu-Jitsu in the morning, strength/cardio conditioning in the evening

Sunday: Rest or possibly run if I feel up to it

I still cannot believe I lost.  (Frowns)

Darrick: Who are some of the individuals in the sport that you highly respect?

John: I respect anyone that is ranked within the top ten of their respective division.  I know first hand how tough it is to compete at the highest levels of the sport, so to consistently perform well and win at this level is simply amazing and a testament to the hard work put in by these individuals.

Darrick: What would you say to younger people looking to compete in martial arts?

John: The sport is growing by leaps and bounds, and the competition is getting tougher each year.  I'd say be sure to put in the time and effort training every aspect of the game and to give it your all.  You can't really get by with just strength and athletic ability anymore, so you need to be well-rounded.

Find a good manager that isn't going to get you bad fights, and work your way up in amateur or low-level professional shows.  Use that to work on things and get a feel for the competition before moving up.  While you're at it, enjoy yourself and just have fun.  It may sound cliche, but you really can accomplish anything that you put your mind to.

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

John: My daughter and my fiance are really my only other "interests".  Between fighting and working a full-time job, I really do not have time for much else.  We love camping and other outdoor activities.  We also really enjoy traveling and do so whenever we can get away.  I love to read as well, much more than watching TV which is typically all mind-numbing garbage.

Darrick: Name a few of the moments in your life that you feel the proudest of.

John: Becoming a father would definitely be one of those moments.  My fiance saying "yes" and now being engaged to the most wonderful woman in the world - and I'm not just kissing ass here, she's amazing. (Smiles)  Being a part of The Ultimate Fighter Season 6 and fighting in the UFC.  Even though the outcome wasn't optimal, it was still an amazing experience.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

John: Getting a swat and constantly getting sent to the corner with the "dunce" cap on - yes, I'm that old, I went to school when they still did that.  Or it may be getting my first official Red Ryder carbine action, 200 shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock for Christmas.  I don't know which memory is older.

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

John: Well, there's not much outside of hanging with the family, fighting, and working, but I guess I can mention that I love to read.  My favorite subjects include philosophy, science, and religion (I'm an atheist/rationalist/humanist, by the way).  I also love to read Star Wars novels!

You can also reach me via MySpace.com/johnkolosci

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 John Kolosci in the following places:

Official John Kolosci MySpace Site:

http://www.myspace.com/johnkolosci

Wikipedia Information on John Kolosci:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kolosci

John Kolosci on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=9062

John Kolosci Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/news/Picture_gallery.asp?f_id=9062@@John%20Kolosci

Tags: John Kolosci Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Mixed Martial Arts

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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

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10 Questions With Daniel McWilliams (by Darrick Patrick)

Daniel "The Animal" McWilliams is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in events such as the World Cage Fighting Organization, Strikeforce, Chaos In The Cage, and Total Combat.

Darrick: What path led you to fighting professionally in mixed martial arts?

Daniel: I've always loved all the martial arts, every since I was a kid.  I started taking karate at a pretty young age, and I was always getting in trouble at school for play fighting with my friends and what not.  I also had a really short temper as a kid, which led to me getting into a lot of fights that weren't for play.  My anger problem was a serious issue for me growing up.  I've been expelled from more schools than I care to remember.

Training in martial arts helped me deal with a lot of those issues.  It helped me learn about discipline and control.  It showed me that when you lose your temper, you've actually given that person power over you.  As a result of that, today I'm a very powerful man.  I never lose control and I never let anyone take my power from me.  You couldn't make me lose my temper if you wanted to.  It's just not gonna' happen.

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

Daniel: I didn't really have a lot of role models growing up.  My dad left when I was three years old and I've seen him once since then.  I had a couple of good teachers that made a positive impact, but they didn't really have any influence on the direction my life has taken.

My mom has probably had the most influence on my life.  She had it rough being a single mother of three children, and she made some mistakes along the way, but she's always been there for me when I really needed her.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of MMA?

Daniel: The most appealing thing about competing in MMA to me is the fact that it never gets old.  It's the only thing that really makes me feel alive anymore.  Everything else I've ever been interested in just gets boring after awhile.  It's hard to explain.

I've just been through so much crazy shit in my life that the "normal everyday existence" doesn't do it for me anymore.  It's just like - been there, done that, don't care for it.  Stepping into the cage is the only thing that gets me amped up, no matter how many times I do it.  The rush I get from competing in MMA is something I can't get anywhere else.  It's a one of a kind feeling.

Darrick: How does a typical training session for you usually go?

Daniel: I usually start out with a nice, long cardio session to get me good and tired.  Then, I move on to a hour or so of Jiu-Jitsu and ground and pound, or stand-up, depending on what I'm doing that day.  I like to mix it up.  I go to different gyms and work out with different people a lot, so I pretty much just do whatever they usually do.  I don't have any set routine that I do consistently.  As long as I get some training in at least five day a week, I'm happy.

Darrick: What would you say to younger individuals looking to compete in martial arts?

Daniel: Do it.  It's one of the most rewarding things that you can do for yourself.  Especially for kids these days - kids that really need some direction in their lives.  Not to mention the health benefits.  With the way that child obesity is on the rise in this country, I think getting them into martial arts is one of the best things that parents could do for their children.  Bottom line - martial arts will help you live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilled life.

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

Daniel: I respect everyone in this sport, but the people who really stand out to me are those that paved the way for all the new breed fighters coming up today.  People like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, to name just a couple.

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

Daniel: I do have other interests in life, but right now, between taking care of my family and training, I don't even have time to think about other interests.  I like anything competitive though.  I play a lot of chess, pool, darts, and things like that.  I also enjoy learning anything new.  I want to go back to school sometime soon to study psychology, and maybe learn Latin - I've always wanted to speak Latin.

Darrick: If you had your own radio station, what would be some of the features?

Daniel: I have no idea, man.  I'd probably just end up paying somebody to come up with features for me.  (Laughs)

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

Daniel: I spent 14 months in a California State Prison.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Daniel: I remember sitting on the floor in the living room of my parent's house on Edwards Air Force Base, where I lived until I was three years old.  I couldn't have been much more than a year old, but I remember sitting on the floor watching my dad in the backyard with the weed whacker doing some landscaping.  Out of nowhere, the weed whacker hits a rock and flings it through the sliding glass door I was watching my dad through, shattering it completely.  I guess it was just such a shocking experience for an infant to witness that I never forgot it.

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 Daniel McWilliams in the following places:

Official Daniel McWilliams MySpace Site:

http://www.myspace.com/theMasochistApprentice

Daniel McWilliams on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=22792

Daniel McWilliams Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/news/Picture_gallery.asp?f_id=22792@@Daniel%20McWilliams

Tags: Daniel Mcwilliams Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Mixed Martial Ar

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10 Questions With Jason Drake (by Darrick Patrick)

Jason Drake is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in King Of The Cage and Gladiator Challenge events such as Knuckle Up, Rampage, Full Force, and Lock-N-Load.  At the time of this interview, his next scheduled fight is on March 16th, 2008 against Jose Torres in California.

Darrick: What road led you to competing in professional mixed martial arts?

Jason: I think a lot of things.  I grew up in a pretty small prodomantly Hispanic town (Saint Paula, California) with a lot of gang problems, so I got into a lot of fights and a lot of trouble because of it.  I'd usually get into fights with guys 2 to 3 times my size and always did pretty well, if not won.

Then about three years ago, I moved to another small town and seemed to find trouble about everywhere I went, even in my late twenties.  So, I went into Warrior Spirits Martial Arts and started to train so I could see what would happen when I actually wanted to fight and with someone my size, let alone get paid for it instead of in trouble.

Darrick: Who are some of the individuals who greatly influenced you while growing up?

Jason: Mostly my two older brothers, William and Trevor.  Trevor wasn't blood related, but we would have killed and died for each other.  My mom even referred to him as her son and his mom did the same with me.  When Trevor was killed in 1996, I almost lost it, but his memory kept me going and on the right track.

Darrick: What does a normal training session for you consist of?

Jason: I have two sessions.  One in the morning that's nothing but cardio and core strength training - that's about two hours.  Then, at night I go into the gym with my team and we start off with about thirty minutes of cardio to warm up.  We train boxing and kickboxing for awhile (I never really pay attention to the time) and then we move into grappling and BJJ drilling techniques.  For the last half hour of class, we freestyle spar.

Darrick: You have a match with Jose Torres coming up in March, are there any special preparations that you are making for this particular fight?

Jason: Just getting my hands and counter punches/kicks as good as they can be.  Jose's not too much of a grappler, he's more of a brawler.  So, I have to be aware of those loopers and haymakers, and the kid is super tough.  He recently took a fight with a 185 pound guy and took him the distance, so I know I'm going to have to throw everything I got at him (I don't like decesions).  I'm confident that if I can stay healthy, I'll come away with the win.

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

Jason: Quinton Jackson, because he basically came from nothing and is making it big - he's an inspiration to people all over.  Georges St. Pierre is the most well-rounded guy in MMA and is always classy, in both his wins and defeats.

Darrick: What would you say to younger individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Jason: Train hard and fights will be easy.  Don't smoke, drink, or do drugs - leave it all in the cage...and don't go choking out your classmates! (Laughs)

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

Jason: Spending as much time with my kids as possible.  Snowboarding, riding BMX, and of course the ladies... (Laughs)

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

Jason: Probably the Punisher because he's a normal guy that's been through some serious shit and came out on top, and is doing something to better mankind.

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

Jason: Awww, man...I like chick flicks like The Notebook. (Laughs)

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Jason: Probably my brother smashing my face into the garage floor and chipping my tooth for eating his Blow Pop...for real.

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 Jason Drake in the following places:

Official Jason Drake MySpace Site:

http://www.myspace.com/topnotch_daddy

Official Jason Drake YouTube Page:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=pantas05

Jason Drake on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=18580

Jason Drake Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/news/Picture_gallery.asp?f_id=18580@@Jason%20Drake

Tags: Jason Drake Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Mixed Martial Arts

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10 Questions With Gerry Noche (by Darrick Patrick)

Gerry Noche is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in various King Of The Cage events such as Booyaa, Rapid Fire, and Caged Chaos.

Darrick: What was the path that led you to fighting in professional mixed martial arts?

Gerry: I watched UFC and was hooked right away.  I signed up and started training BJJ in Orange, California.  Then, I found De La O Jiu-Jitsu - a more well-rounded school with a higher level of training.  From there I started competing in grappling tournaments, and went from amateur fighting to professional MMA matches.

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

Gerry: My family, of course - especially my dad.  He was my hero and I miss him.  I loved Muhammad Ali because he was the best and he fought the best.  Yes, he talked a lot of smack, but he backed it up.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment with martial arts?

Gerry: The discipline - and it's very humbling.  I love to teach and also see my teammates and others become successful not only in competition, but in everyday life.

Darrick: Who are a couple of the individuals in the sport that you highly respect?

Gerry: My instructor John De La O, because he's a fearless warrior and a pioneer in MMA.  He made me believe in myself and brought out the best in me.  A great friend and good person all around.

Tom Kenney - who is a warrior and has the heart of a lion.  He's a very respectful person and always willing to help out others.  Expect big things from Tom Kenney this year.

Darrick: What does a typical training session for you consist of?

Gerry: In the morning, I train no-gi grappling, boxing or kickboxing, and a quick nap before night class.  Night class is more of techniques and traditional BJJ with gi.  We hit the the bags and Thai pads for 30 minutes before class.

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

Gerry: I love to travel and I'm hoping to do more of it this year.  Also, I want to start training for a marathon.

Darrick: What would you say to younger people looking to train in martial arts?

Gerry: Choose which style interests you most and find a good school with a great instructor or instructors.  Do some research and ask around.

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

Gerry: I love brownies and pecan pies.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Gerry: How much I hated going to school! (Laughs)

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

Gerry: I'd throw one giant party and invite all of my friends and family.

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 Gerry Noche in the following places:

Official Gerry Noche MySpace Site:

http://www.myspace.com/gerry_n

De La O Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Website:

http://delao.i2mmarts.com

Gerry Noche on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=17392

Gerry Noche Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/news/Picture_gallery.asp?f_id=17392@@Gerry%20Noche

Tags: Gerry Noche Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Mixed Martial Arts

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10 Questions With Calem Willis (by Darrick Patrick)

Calem Willis is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in the Duneland Classic and Ironheart Crown events.

Darrick: What road led you to fighting in professional mixed martial arts?

Calem: I always watched UFC on TV and like everyone else, I thought I could do that.  So, one day I decided to get off my ass and start working towards making that happen.

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

Calem: Frank Shamrock.  The way he fought and treated other people with the utmost respect made me want to be like him.  If I could be half the fighter and person that he is, I think I'll be just fine.

Darrick: What does a typical training session for you consist of?

Calem: I train with the Dragon MMA fight team in Lapeer, Michigan under Dan Cousineau and a typical training session consists of him pushing us until we break.  I think it puts a smile on his face to see us in pain.

We start with a cardio warm-up that would make most people not want to come back again.  Then we usually do an hour of kickboxing with a minute break in between rounds and the closer we get to a fight, that break usually gets down to thirty seconds.  Then we do jiu-jitsu for about two hours.

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

Calem: In ten years, I see MMA taking over everything.  Boxing and fake wrestling will be nonexistent.  Hopefully we'll finally get on Sportscenter and real pro wrestling will take off as well.

Darrick: What would you say to younger people looking to train in mixed martial arts?

Calem: Don't rush it.  MMA isn't going anywhere.  There is no reason to go get your ass kicked because you weren't well-prepared.  At least have your blue belt in jiu-jitsu, go to your local high school and ask if you can train with their wrestling team, and keep your stand up as good as you can.  That way no matter where the fight goes, you feel comfortable.

Darrick: Who are some of the individuals in the sport that you highly respect?

Calem: Frank Shamrock, B.J. Penn, and Randy Couture.

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

Calem: When I'm not training, which doesn't happen quite often, I like to go out with my friends and just relax.  It's fun to have a day here and there when you don't get punched in the face.

Darrick: If you were stuck in a bomb shelter for the rest of your life, what 3 items would you take in with you besides food and water?

Calem: A bed, someone to share it with, and toilet paper.  All for obvious reasons.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Calem: Going to the beach with my mom.

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

Calem: I am the local Madden champ.  I can beat all of my friends and haven't found anyone that can beat me.

I would also like to give thanks to Darrick Patrick for making this site (MySpace MMA), my team for being the best group of friends anyone could ask for, and a special thanks goes to Dan Cousineau, Don Richard, and Andre Garcia for putting up with me the last five years.

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 Calem Willis in the following places:

Official Calem Willis MySpace Site:

http://www.myspace.com/caleemthedream

The Dragon MMA Website:

http://www.dragonkarate.net/dragonmma.htm

Calem Willis on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=15495

Tags: Calem Willis Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Mixed Martial Arts

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10 Questions With Carmine Zocchi (by Darrick Patrick)

Carmine Zocchi is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt and professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in the Ring Of Combat organization.

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

Carmine: I saw an early UFC and I was hooked.  So, I met this guy who took me to BQE Gym in Astoria, New York and I met my first instructor.  He choked me out and that was it for me - I couldn't stop until I learned this.

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

Carmine: My instructor Marcelo Mello.  He was tough, but also cool when I would ever have a loss or a setback.  He was like, "It's okay.  Relax.  It's part of the sport."  He always made me calm.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment with martial arts?

Carmine: Teaching and seeing my students succeed.

Darrick: What does a normal training session for you consist of?

Carmine: In the morning, I do cardio and light weights.  At night, I train jiu-jitsu.

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

Carmine: Renzo Gracie because he has no fear.  He will fight anyone.  He is what every fighter wants to be or become - win or lose, he is a winner.

Darrick: What would you say to younger individuals looking to make a career in mixed martial arts?

Carmine: Train, train, train.  Never stop and maybe you will be good.

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

Carmine: Hanging with my children.

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

Carmine: Damn!  Hanging with my children.

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

Carmine: I care too much for my students.  They become my friends, which is great, because I have a lot of friends.  But it's bad for business sometimes.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Carmine: Meeting Marcelo for the first time, thinking I can't wait to train.

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 Carmine Zocchi in the following places:

Official Carmine Zocchi MySpace Site:

http://www.myspace.com/badboy8692

Official Carmine Zocchi YouTube Page:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=badboy4568

Carmine Zocchi on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=21570

Tags: Carmine Zocchi Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Mixed Martial Arts

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10 Questions With Benji Radach (by Darrick Patrick)

Benji Radach is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in events such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, King Of The Cage, World Extreme Cagefighting, SportFight, Ultimate Ring Challenge, IFC WC, Maximum Fighting Championships, Rumble In The Rockies, United Full Contact Federation, and the Pacific Pankration Kickboxing Association.  He is currently competing in the International Fight League with the Los Angeles Anacondas.

Darrick: Give us some insight into how you got into MMA.

Benji: I wrestled my whole life and it was the next step for me to give myself an adrenaline rush.

Darrick: What are your other interests outside of mixed martial arts?

Benji: Snowboarding, wakeboarding, sleeping, partying, riding dirt bikes, hiking, camping, etc.

Darrick: Who are some of the people in the sport that you greatly respect?

Benji: No one person in particular, but anyone who takes their losses and comes back hungry to do better.

Darrick: What kind of injuries have you sustained while fighting?

Benji: Broken jaw, two broken hands, and MANY cuts.  That's just fighting, but in training and other ways I've sustained a fractured collar bone, ACL replacement, meniscus repair, broken ribs, and neck surgery.

Darrick: Who is a fighter you would like to face in a match that you haven't yet had a chance to compete against?

Benji: Anderson Silva.

Darrick: What would you say to younger fighters looking to make a career in mixed martial arts?

Benji: Get as many amatuer fights as possible before turning pro.

Darrick: What does a typical workout session for you consist of?

Benji: Plyometrics, weights, throw bag, back workouts, Bas Rutten workouts, sparring, grappling, and Greco freestyle.

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

Benji: Powers of womanizing and to be able to see through women's clothing.  Reasons are self-explanatory.  (Laughs)

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

Benji: I used to log in the woods and was also a commercial fisherman.  Also, I learned how to ride a motorcycle before I learned how to ride a bike.

Darrick: What would you like to be most remembered for in life?

Benji: Being a great person who has influenced many people's lives in a great way.

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 Benji Radach in the following places:

Official Benji Radach MySpace Site:

http://www.myspace.com/benj4u2nv

Benji Radach on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=2294

Benji Radach Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/news/Picture_gallery.asp?f_id=2294@@Benji%20Radach

Tags: Benji Radach Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Martial Arts Mixed

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