As part of the HDNet undercard for Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum to be held at the American Airlines Center, this fight pits two cross-town rivals who’ve known each other for a long time against one another in a Texas-sized matchup that could define both their careers.
With so much at stake, there’s been a lot of talk from both sides leading up to this fight but the bottom line is that the stakes are high and this fight will end with one man continuing onward in pursuit of the UFC dream while the other will go back home to Houston with a loss, stuck in purgatory while ZUFFA ponders their next move.
Harsh words but true ones.
Two dreams.
Two careers.
One winner.
So much on the line in a fight that all of Texas will be watching.
TXMMA.com spoke to the Greek one this morning to get his fight week thoughts on all aspects of this fight with Todd Moore, what exactly he thinks of his opponent , and how he’s prepared for this opportunity of a lifetime.
Mike B, thanks for taking the interview with TXMMA just a few days away from your Strikeforce debut. How are you feeling this week?
I feel like Superman right now. I feel fantastic and this is the best shape I’ve ever been in my entire life. Everything’s come together. My mental game, my physical game, my emotional game, and my spiritual game… Everything is peaking right now. I’m ready. More ready than I’ve ever been.
I understand you recently can back from training in Albuquerque. Can you tell us a little bit about your experience at Jackson’s MMA heading into this fight?
I’ve been going through a lot of high-altitude training. As you know, Albuquerque, New Mexico is almost 7000 feet above sea level so that’s been a factor. I’ve been doing a lot of sparring and a lot of conditioning work. I’ve been working a lot of Leonard Garcia, Donald Cerrone, of course Melvin Guillard, and of course Greg Jackson and Mike Winklejohn. Basically, being here has bumped my game up in every way. Cardio, mental, physical… It’s definitely been a phenomenal experience and I look forward to going back.
Leading up to Saturday, there’s been some back-and-forth between you and your opponent. What did you think of the comments he made during his own TXMMA interview?
I think that his comments were basically a weak way of talking crap towards me. I didn’t take it lightly. I think Todd Moore is a bum and I’m going to kick him around like a can on Saturday.
One of the points Todd made was that he is younger than you, alluding that he has more miles left on his tires for MMA, so-to-speak. Who do you think has the physical advantage heading into this fight?
I think I have that advantage and I know I have every advantage in EVERY area. Age has nothing to do with it. Randy Couture showed that. Dan Henderson showed that. If anything, I’ve got MAN strength on him. You know, I’m thirty-two years old. What does that mean, I’m done? Definitely not! He just doesn’t know how to talk crap. Basically, everything he said, his way of talking crap… it doesn’t even make sense. He sounds like a clown.
Mike, what do you plan on doing to Todd Moore this Saturday?
Destroying him.
Provided you win this fight, is there anyone you want next in Strikeforce?
I’ve always wanted to get the rematch with Kamal Shalorus. I understand he’s in the UFC so maybe one day that will come to be. I feel like I beat him before and I wasn’t given a fair decision and ended up with a draw instead. But you know, whatever Strikeforce decides to do with me or put me up against is fine by me. I don’t care. While I’m here, I’m going to beat up everybody they put in front of me.
Where do you see yourself in three years?
<laughs> Man, that’s a tough question bro. With 2012 and everything coming up, that’s kind of hard to predict. Hopefully if the world’s still here, I’ll be working my way up to a title shot. In my mind, I’m becoming champion one day.
Any last words for your fans here in Texas that will have their eyes and ears tuned to Strikeforce on HDNet this Saturday?
I just want everybody to know I’m very grateful for everyone’s support. Thanks for the love. I’ve appreciated it all these years and I’m not going to disappoint anybody. I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing and that’s put on exciting fights and continue trying to knock people the %&$# out.
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