Showing posts with label MMA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MMA. Show all posts

Thursday, November 15, 2012

@arnoldbfa (Arnold Billy Allen)

Arnold Billy Allen is a 18 year old MMA fighter from Felixstowe, UK. Arnold recently made his pro debut at UCMMA back in April. Arnold fought Nathan Greyson and won by way of a vicious left hook in the 2nd round. Here us a video of that fight

I found Arnold on Twitter after looking around for upcoming MMA fighters. After seeing the video above you will understand why I was interested in doing an interview with him. All of the questions were emailed to Arnold, and he responded very quickly. Here is what Arnold had to say


Q: What influenced your decision to start doing MMA?
A: "I grew up watching the old martial arts movies and cartoons like Dragon ball Z, me and my brother did a bit of kickboxing together before moving on to boxing. My dad was competing in MMA at this time and I joined a few of his MMA sessions and I fell in love with it from there."

Q: You started MMA at just 14 years old, was it hard to persuade your parents to let you participate in that type of sport?
A: "Not at all, as my Dad fights himself he was more than happy for me to do it too. And my mum is happy as long as I'm out of the house."

Q: What does your daily training regimen consist of?
A: "During fight camp I will train up to four times a day. In the morning me and Sean Carter will focus on a specific discipline, and drill/spar. Then mid day is strength and conditioning with my coach Ben Chow who had helped me improve massively. At night I usually fit in a back to back session down at BKK Fighters on on Mondays its Sub wrestling followed by Muay Thai."

Q: You recently won your firs professional fight, take us through the emotion felt from the beginning of that night to after you won the fight.
A: "It was the best feeling. I was so happy to get my first pro win, but after I was exhausted and was sick, had a major adrenaline dump."

Q:  After that fight your team had told you it was a tradition to drink beer out of your groin guard. Did you ever find out if really is a tradition, or just a bad prank you fell for?
A: "unfortunately it isn't a tradition! haha"

Q: Do you train hard all year round, or is it more of a laid back approach until you have a fight scheduled?
A: "I train hard all year round. The only thing that slacks off is the diet, if I stopped training I'd definitely be fat!"

Q: What is  the weirdest thing a fan has asked you to sign?
A: "I've only signed a couple of things nothing weird  yet haha."

Q: How do you spend your downtime in between fights?
A: "Watching fights, and eating cake!"

Q: You train with some of the best fighters in the UK (Sean Carter, Ben Chow), do any of them train you in a specific specialty or are they more all around types of fighters?
A: "Most of them are all rounders, but I do have quality coaches for each discipline."

Q: Before MMA you were a boxer, do you prefer to be standing or to be grappling going for submissions?
A: "Either. I enjoy standing or grappling."

Q: What goals are you currently working towards in your MMA career?
A: "Just working on getting better in all areas, and working towards another win."

Q: You have said you don't spend much time out drinking or partying like most people your age, do you ever get any negative feedback from your friends because of that?
A: "Yeh I get a lot of abuse of my friends haha, but I made up for it a bit since my last fight."

Q: After you beat Nathan Greyson in your first pro fight there was a lot of buzz about your natural ability in the cage, is there still a lot of local hype around you?
A: " Fortunately alot of the hype has died."

Q: If you could see any two fighters go toe to toe who would they be, and who do you think would win and why?
A: "I'd like to see the Korean Zombie fight Jose Aldo! I think Aldo would win but not sure he'd be able to finish the Korean Zombie."

If there is anything else you would like to add please do so here.
" I'd just like to thank my sponsor for helping me out! i-Supp Ben Chow, Ross Knevett, Britishfighter, Almighty Fightwear, Funky Gums, Elite Fightwear."

Monday, October 8, 2012

@Nathanieljw93 (Nathaniel Wood)

Nathaniel is a featherweight MMA fighter for Team Nova Forca. Nathaniel began his career in early 2011 and turned pro in 2012. His first fight was against Andras Dacza, Nathaniel won in the second round by submission. Here is a video of that fight.



Q: What influenced your decision to do Mixed martial arts?
A: "I've always loved fighting, I love mma as you can combine every martial art together."

Q: What lead you to your fighting style?
A: "My dad already trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, so I got straight into that with him."

Q: Do you think the mental aspect is more difficult than the physical aspect of your sport?
A: "I would say neither one is more difficult than the other, I have a great team and support around me."

Q: Two of your amateur fights were won by submission and one by decision, do you prefer grappling and holds versus trying to win by KO?
A: "I always prefer to be standing. I train a lot in BJJ so if needs be I have that as a second option."

Q: Do you train all year round or is it a more relaxed approach until you have a fight scheduled?
A: "Yes I am always training, I just up my game during fight camps."

Q: What does your daily training regimen consist of?
A: "A bit of everything, I like my stand up and BJJ, I mainly get my s&c and cardio during fight camps."

Q: What was the feeling when you stepped into the ring for your first fight?
A: "Nerves, but once I weighed in it was just excitement."

Q: What is the process of beginning a MMA career? How do you go about finding a team etc..?
A: "I think your best bet is finding out where top MMA fighters train, you can't go wrong if you are training with the best."

Q: What is the weirdest thing a fan has asked you to sign?
A: "Haha unfortunately I'm not that well known yet!"

Q: What is your greatest MMA memory?
A: "So far winning my first fight, was the best feeling. Hard work pays off."

Q: What MMA goals are you currently working towards?
A: "It would be my dream to be able to fight for a living."

Q: If you could fight against anyone past or present who would it be?
A: "It would be great to fight some top UFC fighters, not quite there yet though haha."

If there is anything else you would like to add please do so here.

"Shout out to my team Nova Forca and my s&c team 'The Athletic Edge'. Also my dad/ head coach."

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

@Cruickshank155 (Daron Cruickshank)



Daron "The International Superstar" Cruickshank is a lightweight fighter for Mash Fight Team. He made his amateur debut in August 2008, when he fought Tom Grisham and won via KO. He then beat his next two opponents by KO in the first rounds of each fight to finish his amateur career. Darons current record stands at 11-2-0. All questions were asked via email and here is what Daron had to say.

Q: What influenced your decision to do Mixed Martial Arts?
A: "There was no other way for me, this is what I was brought up doing. Its the family business, both of my parents did martial arts and it carried on to me."



Q: Most fighters specialize in a style or technique of fighting, what lead you to yours (wrestling, kickboxing)?
A: "I started wrestling in middle school and went all the way to college. Kickboxing was a big part of my upbringing. My mom fought pro when I was real young so it got passed on to me."

Q: Do you think the mental aspect is more difficult than the physical aspect of fighting?
A: "The mental part is huge. I have seen many times when two fighters are matched up, its the one ready to lay his life down to win that fight who always comes out on top. You have to make a choice to fight or to flight."

Q:  Your first three amateur fights ended with you knocking out you opponents, and in your first professional fight you defeated Ricky Stettner by way of knockout, how did that feel?
A: "I know that I could have taken him out on the ground a few times but that's not how I wanted to start my career. Also knocking someone out is the best feeling in the world."


Q: Do you train all year round, or is it a more relaxed approach until you have a fight scheduled?
A: "This is what I do, everyday. I love martial arts, and if I didn't do it I would more than likely just sit at home and waste away. It's in my blood, and this is the only way for me. If you want to be hard core you have to live hard core, same goes for fighting you want to be the best you have to live it."

Q: What does your daily training regimen consist of?
A: "Everyday is different for me, but I do a lot of work with my dad. Not really hard training, but training my mind and reaction, and technique. I grapple about four times a week, mma spar about twice a week, and box once a week."

Q: How did it feel to be selected to participate on Ultimate Fighter Live?
A: "It was life changing for me, it meant a future to me and my family. The UFC is the best place to fight for and being on TUF meant I have a chance to be in the UFC. It opens the door for up and comers, the key is to not settle for just getting on the show or in the UFC. I want to be the best and most loved fighter in the world and that's what I am working for."

Q: What is the weirdest thing a fan has asked you to sign?
A: "I had a person ask me for a pair of my workout socks."

Q: What is your greatest MMA memory?
A: "Winning that fight to get into the (UFC) house, it felt like life or death to me."

Q: What MMA goals are you currently working towards?
A: "My next fight is December 8, 2012 UFC 5 on Fox. That's my next step, that's all that matters to me right now."




Here is a video of Daron's second round with Henry Martinez. This is Daron's most recent fight taking place on December 8th, 2012.