Hey everyone, still getting caught up after the UFC, here’s something MMAWeekly’s Patrick Patlanÿ (fullcontact2025) sent me, an interview with Austin’s own Nick Gonzalezÿof the VasquezÿAcademy , who defeated the Lion’s Den’s Hiro Kamikozono at Renegades: The Showdown in Austin, and who will be fighting Rocky Long tomorrow night in Austin at The Showdown II.ÿ This interview went unused by MMAWeekly, so thanks to Patrick for letting us put it up.ÿ Nick always brings an exciting fight, so be sure to check him out at the fights tomorrow night! Click on READ MORE to see the interview.
Nick Gonzalez Interview
Submitted By Pat Patlan/MMAWeekly
ÿ
Austin Texas will play host to The Showdown IIÿat the Palmer EventsÿCenter on Saturday Mayÿ3rd.ÿ This, the second of about six shows planned for the capitol city is the joint effort of Phil Cardella and Saul Soliz.ÿ Cardella who holds many awards for Jiu-jitsu tournaments and MMA matches has been working overtime to bring you the bestÿ mixed martial arts action and athletes Texas has to offer.ÿ
ÿ
One of the athletes that will be competing is Austin resident and current Showdown lightweight tournament champion Nick Gonzalez.ÿ No matter what city he’s fighting in he always manages to get the crowd in a frenzy over his all or nothing approach to competition.ÿ To witness Nick in a fight is to be truly entertained.ÿ I called him after his training session at the Vasquez Academy and asked him a few questions, here’s how things went.
ÿ
MMA Weekly: How are things going man?ÿ How’s training coming along?
ÿ
Nick:ÿ Everythings going great, training is coming along good. It’s tough, it’s never easy you know, you just push yourself everyday.ÿ I’m really excited about fighting in my hometown againÿthat’s what’s really motivating me in training right now.
ÿ
MMA Weekly: Yeah, I bet it really gets you pumped up.
ÿ
Nick:ÿ You know I’ve been fighting in Houston and Corpus Christi a lot and it’s good to be fighting at home.ÿ Austin is kind of known for good boxing, we have boxers like Jesus Chavez and good organizations that put on good shows and draw nice crowds.ÿ We now have MMA here and I want bring the attention to us because MMA fighters are tremendous athletes.
ÿ
MMA Weekly: What does Rudy put you through during a training session?
ÿ
Nick: Rudys real crazy man, he never really tells you what you are going to be doing.ÿ I mean we do have our things we work on everyday , but he does throw these drills at you every once in a while.ÿ He’s been working with me alot on conditioning, doing things to get me really winded and tired.ÿ The other day he had me jumping over this rope.ÿ I didn’t like that very much (laughs).ÿ He had it tied across the ring, one end on the bottom rope, the other on the top.ÿ I’m only 5’5 and I’m no basketball player so my vertical isn’t there you know?ÿ I managed to make it though (laughs).
ÿ
MMA Weekly: What got you started in MMA competition?
ÿ
Nick:ÿ It started the same way it started with a lot of people, I saw one of the UFC tapes some years back and I was hooked.ÿ I wrestled in High School at ESJ in San Juan Texas and was fascinated by what I saw in those videos.ÿ I had been in several fights in and around school and it looked sort of easy so I thought it would be kind of fun to try.ÿ I was getting really lazy and doing nothing so one day I went into Rudy’s gym and told him I was interested in MMA.ÿ Rudy looked at me kind of funny at first because I was really out of shape, but he decided to give me a try, that was two years ago.ÿ So I trained and trained and put my all into it and really started catching on, so that’s how it started.
ÿ
MMA Weekly: So you’ve only been in martial arts two years?
ÿ
Nick: Basically, I mean besides wrestling in High School all of my boxing and standup skills have come from Rudy.
ÿ
MMA Weekly: That’s impressive.
ÿ
Nick: I actually learned how to take a punch in the seventh grade (laughing).ÿ I got dropped a few times fighting when I was younger, but everything else you can attribute to Rudy.
ÿ
MMA Weekly: Do you know who you’ll be facing Saturday night?
ÿ
Nick: I’m not sure of his name, I can’t remember.ÿ I know he’s supposed to be a good wrestler with some standup skills, trains with John Lewis.ÿ I heard he’s a good fighter, you never under estimate your opponent no matter what.ÿ So many things can happen in MMA, when you reach a certain level, anybody can beat anyone on any given night.
ÿ
MMA Weekly: You always seem to be a fan favorite no matter what city you are in.ÿ What do you think it is about yourself and your style of fighting that gets the crowds going?
ÿ
Nick:ÿ I thinks it’s because I come to put on a fight, not a submission exhibition or a boxing match, but because I come to throw down. Whatever happens happens you know, I’m not going into a fight to wait for things to happen I’m going to make them happen.ÿ I don’t take things personalÿ but if I get cracked it pisses me off and I want to crack them back harder.ÿ I think people really like seeing the strikers, submissions are good if you are into the sport and know what’s going on, but for the person that’s seeing an MMA show for the first time it’s the punches,knees, kicks and knockouts that really get the people in a frenzy.
ÿ
MMA Weekly: The Vasquez Academy just became a member of Team Renzo Gracie.ÿ I’m sure everyone’s pretty excited about that.
ÿ
Nick:ÿ Oh yeah without a doubt.ÿ We’ve always had a good group of Jiu-Jitsu guys, the opportuniy came along to become part of something great and we took it.ÿ Rudy and I, along with Ray went to New York to train with Renzo and his guys.ÿ We developed a good relationship with everyone and we’re all excited about the future.ÿ It will open doors for the Vasquez Academy, me hopefully and the future success of everyone involved.
ÿ
MMA Weekly:ÿWhat else do you do outside of MMA?
ÿ
Nick: Chase girls around a lot (laughing) just kidding .ÿ I’m a full time electrician. I have two kids so I spend alot time with them, they are a big responsibility and you have do the right thing, raise them right you know.ÿÿWhen I’m not training I like to go out and have fun, hit the clubs and whatnot.ÿ Austin is such a great city, there’s so much to do here.ÿ Women , concerts, clubs, there’s always something going on.
ÿ
MMA Weekly:ÿ Any words for the MMA fans out there?
ÿ
Nick:ÿ Just keep supporting us by coming to the shows.ÿ We working hard, it’s only going to get better.ÿ Things here are going to be on a different level here very soon.ÿ It takes alot of balls and hard work to do what we do, so support us win or lose.
ÿ
MMA Weekly: Thanks for your time Nick, it was good talking to you.
ÿ
Nick: No problem man, take it easy.
ÿ
For more info on The Showdown II go to austinfights.com