TEMPLE, TX, October 4, 2011 – Today we continue our UFC 136 fight week coverage by speaking to UFC veteran TJ Waldburger. The last time we saw the Temple, TX native in action he was busy submitting Mike Stumpf with a first-round triangle choke at the UFC Fight Night in New Orleans. Now he’s looking to win another competition this weekend, only this time it’s outside the octagon at this weekend’s Grappler Quest event at the UFC Expo in Houston when he takes on former TUF 12 contest Marc Stevens in a grappling superfight.
With this event upcoming along with his first-born some due in a month’s time and his ever-emerging UFC career, it’s an exciting time for the life of TJ. We figured we’d reach out to him and talk about everything that’s going on and let our Texas fans in on who he is as a person along with what mindset is like after having fought in Texas all these years on the way to the big show.
TJ, thanks for sharing some of your time this week for your Texas fans. Have you always lived here in the Lone Star State?
Yeah, I was actually born in Temple and graduated in Belton which is right next door to Temple. I’ve been here forever. I’m proud to be born and raised a Texan.
As far as fighting goes, I remember you fighting at those Renegades and UTS shows way back in the early days and believe you’re only 23. How old were you when you got into this game?
Actually I turned pro right when I was seventeen years old. I had three amateur fights at the time but that’s when Texas made some changes (in rules/regulations) and I ended up turning pro. I had to get a release signed so I could fight at that age but I ended up doing it. As far as how I got started, the only place I’ve ever been as far as training in martial arts is with John (Moore). I’ve been here at the Lair since I first started training when I was fifteen or so.
Man it sounds like you’ve grown up with MMA. Do you have any other hobbies outside of fighting and training?
Oh yeah. I’ve always been into hunting and fishing, I love it. I’ve also been big into sports my entire life. I played baseball and soccer growing up and once I got to eighth grade and high school, I started playing football and kept playing soccer – which was my first love as far as sports go. I actually ended up quitting football and soccer right around the time I started fighting because I just fell in love with the sport and wanted to devote my time to getting better at it.
I’ve heard you talk in the past about how close you are with John (Moore), who’s both your coach and your father-in-law. What’s your relationship like with him?
You know, I think he’s the reason for everything. He’s my father-in-law, my coach, my mentor, my brother, and one of best friends. I consider him a spiritual role model for me. He really kept me out of trouble and taught me a lot about self-sacrifice at a young age when I needed it. You know, it’s lonely at the top – that type of thing. I’m sure I sacrificed a lot of friendships going out, partying, and that kind of stuff but that’s what I needed to do to make a life out of this. John really showed me how valuable that type of discipline was if I wanted to become a great fighter.
What’s life like outside the cage for you now? You recently got married and have a baby on the way right?
Yeah, our baby is due November 27th so we’re coming pretty close. I guess my wife and I… we’re both in training so to speak. It’s sunk in though. We’re ready now. At first it was kind of surreal and nerve-racking but now I’m super excited and just ready for that moment to hurry up and be here.
You’ll certainly be a lot busier, that’s for sure. How do you plan on balancing life as a husband, father, and UFC fighter?
I’ll just take things step-by-step. It’ll be a process and a new deal for us but we have a lot of great family, and great friends that are family to me. Having them will help. My wife Shayla is great. I know she’ll be totally supportive and help me out when I have a fight coming up.
What does Shayla think of your fight career? More importantly, what was her opinion of you fighting before you made it to the UFC?
Yeah you know, even before I started fighting we knew each other, started dating, and eventually fell in love. She grew up with it with John as her dad and all. Fighting is kind of no big deal to her and she’s completely supportive of my career.
If we asked her how she would describe you as a person outside the cage, what would she say about you?
Oh I don’t know. She’d probably have to tell you herself.
What was it like stepping into the octagon for the first time? Take us back to that moment.
Man I was so excited. I was really pumped for that one and was probably a little too pumped but I was just so excited. I really felt like that’s where I needed to be but to actually get there was definitely an accomplishment. Then I realized that once you get there, it’s not over and you have a long way to go. It starts all over and you’re working from the bottom to the top again.
Speaking of making it to the top, what are your goals in the UFC as far as the next year or so?
I just want to keep going. Whoever they give me next, I just want to continue to win and put on a good show for the fans. I don’t know who’s next in the cage but I’ll be competing this weekend in Houston at the UFC Expo against Marc Stevens.
Is that (grappling) something you’re excited about as opposed to fighting in the octagon?
Yeah man, I haven’t been in a grappling competition for awhile even before I got into the UFC. I’m excited about this one. He’s a good wrestler, he’s got a BJJ brown belt, and he’s won some advanced no-GI and GI divisions in Grappler’s Quest and other places. I think it will be an interesting matchup, and it’s a good way to promote myself and put the UFC out there. Aside from the match, I plan on being out there signing some autographs and hopefully gaining some more new fans.
Well TJ, you’ve got a lot of supporters here in Texas pulling for you. Any message for them before you go?
Without the fan support, we don’t have much motivation to continue to get out there to train and compete. I appreciate all the messages on my Facebook and that kind of stuff. All the support is extremely motivating. Thank you.
Also, for the other fighters looking to get to the UFC, I just want to tell them to just keep on going. Don’t give up the fight. Just do the best you can and give it to God.
Any last words? Any sponsors or anyone else you want to thank?
Yeah, I’d like to thank Grappler’s Lair of course. Also Farmer’s Grill and Legion Firearms.
Please LIKE TXMMA on Facebook for more in-depth news and coverage of the MMA & grappling scene along with fan contests to win great prizes courtesy of TXMMA.com. Also, please let us know if you have any feedback on how we can serve you better!
