Thanks to Patrick Patlan (fullcontact2025) of MMA Weekly, we have an interview with Third Column’s Randy Hauer, who is fighting in this Saturday’s Renegades: The Art of War show in McAllen, TX.ÿ Click on READ MORE to find out more about Randy and this weekend’s show.
MMA has come a long way in the last few years here in Texas and one of the biggest reasons for this is Saul Soliz and his labor of love, Renegades Extreme Fighting.ÿ No one else in Texas knows how to put on a show like Saulÿwho always sets the standard.ÿ In addition to Saul at this particular event Luis Benavides of Benavides MMA is helping with the chores of promoting an MMA show.ÿÿRenegades: Art of War will be held on Saturday June 21st. atÿLa Villa Real Special Events Center in McAllen.ÿ
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The show, which starts atÿ8:00pm, will feature the best talent Texas has to offer; these guys come to fight and put on a great show.ÿ One of the Competitors will be Randy Hauer, a Minnesota native from a wrestling familyÿwho currently trains with Yves and his 3rd ColumnÿThug-Jitsu crew.ÿ Randy is a relative newcomer to the Texas scene, but he has already made a name for himself with his awesome abilities both standing and on the ground.ÿ Saturday he will be facing Nick Gonzalez in a fight that will most likely be the highlight of the evening.ÿ I spoke with Randy about his upcoming fight, training, andÿfuture goals.ÿ Here’s what he had to say.
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Patrick:ÿHey man how’s everything coming along bro?
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Randy:ÿFine, just trainingÿfull time and focusing for Saturday.
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Patrick:ÿHow’s the training going?
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Randy: Awesome bro, I’m training with Tim Credeurÿand Carlo Prater right now.ÿ Yves is taking some time off of course with the new baby and all so right now, it’s us.ÿ We’ve been doing some crazy drills and stuff, Luta Livre training too.ÿ Tonight I’ll be doing Jiu-Jitsu with Tim.
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Patrick: What led you to Houston?
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Randy:I was training in Minnesota with Dave Menne at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy which is where I first got into combative martial arts.ÿ Minnesota is basically about wrestlers, we all wrestle out here.ÿ Like I said, I was training with Dave and Sean Sherk, while there I also got into Thai Boxing.ÿ I went over to Fairtex a few times and figured out that MMA was what I wanted to do.ÿ I also did some NAGA tournamentsÿ and the first one I went to I won. I also did some of Brad Kohlers shows,so I decide if I was going to fight I was going have to travel and train with other people because the West Coast has a different style of fighting that we do here and I needed to learn that aspect.ÿ So I loaded up my 85′ Mercedes S500, and with my little dog andÿ$500ÿleft a good job and hit the road to Vegas.
When I got out there I went to the Grapplers Quest and that’s where I met John Lewis.ÿ I trained with John for a year, while there I also met and became good friends with Ricco Rodriguez.ÿ Ricco showed me the business and sort of became a mentor to me.ÿ Ricco trained with Saul Soliz so he’d fly Saul up there and I’d also train with him on the side while he trained Ricco.ÿ One day Saul told me that I needed to come down to Houston to train and get away from all the distractions and pitfalls in Vegas.ÿ A lot ofÿChampions have a hard time living out here because of the lifestyle and distractions that can take you off course.ÿ I decided to go down and train with the Houston team.
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Patrick: How do you like it so far?
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Randy: The humidity out here kind of reminds me of home in Minnesota.ÿ The biggest difference is the crazy winters.ÿ I got alot of my leg strength running through the snow during training.ÿ You had to bring your legs up high to run through it.ÿ I love it here.
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Patrick: How’s Ricco doing by the way?
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Randy: He’s doing fine.ÿ He’s about to go under the knife for his knee injury.ÿ He should be ready to fight not too long after that, we’ll see.
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Patrick:I’ve seen you train with the guys and they really put you through the ringer with some serious drills.ÿ How have you improved since hooking up with the team?
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Randy:ÿ I have improved enormously.ÿ My strength is better, my conditioning, timing, balance all much better.ÿ Working with Yves who just came off an impressive win, Carlo who’s been kicking everyones ass, and Tim who is a Jiu-Jitsu master has made me a more balanced fighter.ÿ Those three guys are on me, motivating me, pushing me when I need to be pushed.ÿ They are also my friends as well which is important, we are like family.ÿ I think that’s one of the reasons the Militich camp does so well, they are all close like family.
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Patrick:ÿYou have a war coming up with Nick Gonzalez who’s another exciting fighter who just brings it at every outing.ÿ How will you approach this fight?
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Randy:ÿ I think he’s tailor made for me.ÿ I’m not talking shit about him, I know he’s down to fight and he brings the fight to you, but I don’t think he knows that much about me.ÿ My wrestling (pauses to order a Chicken sandwich no mayo in some drive thru), my wrestling speaks for itself.ÿ I’ve accomplished alot in my career.ÿ I went to the Junior Olympics at a very young age, won Greco tournaments out the ying yang and did alot of traveling to participate in wrestling events.ÿ
I also won an Arizona state submisison championship and many other tournaments in submisisons.ÿ I don’t think his defense is going to be able to stop my shot.ÿ Is he coming to fight? Yes.ÿ Does he want to fight? Yes. Is he training hard? He better be because bottom line, I’m coming 100 percent cause that’s all I know, I’m well rounded and ready to go.
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Patrick:ÿ How long have you been doing this?
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Randy:ÿ I’ve got videos of me wrestling in my underoos in little league bro.ÿ I come from a wrestling state, my twin brother is a wrestler, my dad, cousins and unclesÿas well.ÿ It’s all wrestling here.ÿ I hope Nick doesn’t think he’s going to have an easy fight because he’ll be in for a rude awakening.
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Patrick: What fighters do you admire? Who’s had the most influence on your style?
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Randy: I’d have to say Ricco.ÿ The way he moves for a big man and all the things he does.ÿ I set up for armbars and kneebars like him.ÿ He’s not only a close friend, but he’s also been aÿmentor.ÿ I was with Ricco before he was a champion, while he was a champ, and I’ll continue to be a friend. I started in ground and pound so Sherk has had some influence also.
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Patrick:ÿ Do you have any plans on going to different events?
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Randy:ÿ I have some offers to go to some other events, but I’m not going to lay those on the table right now, but they are bigger promotions.ÿ I’m not here to be the big man in Texas. I’m here to learn and grow as a fighter to take my skills where ever they lead.
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Patrick: Do you have any future goals besides an MMA career?
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Randy:ÿ I’d like to start a non-profit organization to introduce kids to wrestling here in Texas because it’s not really out here that much.ÿ Any Texas wrestler who becomes good eventually moves to the midwest because that’s where the action is. I want to bring it here.
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Patrick: Alright man, I appreciate you taking time to talk to me and all the MMA fans here in Texas and around the world.
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Randy: No problem.ÿ Don’t miss my fight on Saturday against Nick, it’s will be the highlight of the night!
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We will be bringing you the results of the nights action very soon so keep an eye out.ÿ If you would like more info about Yves Edwards 3rd column visit thewoodlandsmma.comÿ For the fight card and other info go to benavidesmma.com.