HOUSTON, TX, November 30, 2011 – Featherweight fighter Tim Snyder has been around and seen some things since his early days fighting in the earlier days of Texas MMA. It was a different era back then (some would even say a different world) back when he was fighting on those Renegades Extreme Fighting shows for promoter and then-coach Saul Soliz. Fans that have been around for awhile might remember Tim for his epic series with Steve Garcia on those shows. Newer fans to the sport may know him more for his more recent performances, like his fight with Alex Black earlier this year at Legacy FC 6.

Through it all, there’s always been one constant for Tim as a fighter – his desire to fight the best. In the course of his six-plus years as a professional in the sport, Snyder has taken on some of the best Texas has to offer as a testament to why he’s in the game to begin with – to test himself and see where he stands. It’s that drive which drove him to accept his next fight, this Friday at Universal Fight Game League against Douglas Frey likewise a veteran fighter out of the Dallas area with his own penchant for taking on the best guys around in order to test himself.

This may be cliché but come Friday night at the Doctor Pepper Arena, two grizzled tough veteran fighters will enter than cage when it’s time for the Frey/Snyder fight. And only one of them can out the winner. This has the makings of a Fight of the Night performance if you ask us.

Here’s Tim with his pre-fight thoughts as he gets set to take on Doug Frey in Frisco.

Interview – Tim Snyder 

Tim, you’ve been part of the Texas MMA scene for a long time. Why did you start fighting in the first place way back when?

Really, I’ve always been an athlete and loved competition. The more and more I watched (MMA) on TV with the UFC and Royce Gracie and all that, the more I got curious about it. From there, I got introduced to a guy by the name of Mark Stewart who was training with Saul Soliz at the time. He brought me over to him and it started from there.

How do you want be known as a fighter now? I know you have a big Muay Thai background. Does that define you?

Not really. Everybody knows that I’m a striker and yes, that is what I love to do, but I also feel that aspect of it is more geared towards the fans. I like to try and please the crowd and give them what they want to see but I’d also like to be known as an all-around fighter. I will say that my standup is my strong point so I mean, if that’s what people me as, then that’s fan.

Since you started in 2005, you’ve taken on some of the best Texas has to offer at 145/155. Are there any fights that stick out more than others to you?

Not really. Well, some of my losses I would like to have the opportunity to get back as far as a rematch. I’ve given a couple of guys the same opportunity when I’ve beat them so that’s something I’d like to have as well. Some of the fights I’ve lost, I really felt like I was winning the fight or got robbed or been a part of an early referee stoppage. It happens but I know I could beat them… Sometimes, it just wasn’t my night. Other than thinking about those types of fights, nothing really sticks out.

What are your goals in the near future as far as fighting? Is this (fighting) something you want to continue doing as a career in the long-run?

I mean yeah, I’ve always wanted to. I think everybody has the same goal and that’s the same for me in terms of eventually making it and succeeding in the UFC. That’s where everybody wants to be and that’s where all the top level fighters are and I just like to compete, especially against the best. If nothing else, that’s really a goal I have for myself just because I want to see where I stand.

So this fight with Douglas Frey on Friday – I know this whole card got put together pretty quickly. How has this training camp been into it?

Actually I had a really short training camp for this one. I kind of took the fight on short notice. I was offered a fight before but my job wouldn’t let me take it at the time and I really wasn’t training and stuff or at least not as much as I should have been. Then not too long ago these guys called me looking for a 145’er to fight Doug. It’s a fight that’s been offered before as far as me and Doug. I think our styles match really, really well. They always say “styles make fights” and him and I should be a really exciting one. From what I’ve seen of him, he looks like a solid standup guy as well and comes from a Muay Thai background. I know he works with a lot of wrestlers and some guys that have beaten me so I’m kind of thinking he might try to take me down but I’ve been working on that also. I switched training camps recently actually. I was working over at Paradigm but I actually made the switch over to 4OZ. I just feel it’s a really good fit for me because they have more guys my size that I can work with. I’m a small guy and I’ve been fighting these guys that are tall and lanky or just real fast so I needed people that can imitate that. 4OZ has those types of guys with all different styles and skill levels. They have some of, if not, the best lighter guys in Houston so I feel it’s a good fit for me and will help me improve.

How can fans expect this fight to go with Douglas Frey at the Universal Fight Game League?

Really, I just think it’s going to be an exciting fight overall. I think the fans should be ready to see a good one. Doug’s a tough guy and he’s fought some tough guys as well. I know I’ve fought some tough ones too and consider myself to be that type of fighter myself so I think this one between us is going to be a crowd pleaser. I really blink because anything can happen.

Well, we’re certainly looking forward to it here at TXMMA. Do you have any last words before Friday night?

Yeah, thanks for the support. First of all I’d like to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ because if it wasn’t for him, none of this would be possible as far as me being the athlete that I am today or will be in the future. I’d also like to thank my sponsors who helped me: The Lot on Washington Ave, NutritionDemon.com – these guys have been with me for awhile even when I fight out of town they still back me up and I appreciate that a ton. I want to thank 4OZ Fight Club for training me, especially these past few weeks with this fight. They’ve really focused in on me and have been helping me get ready. Then there’s my girlfriend. She’s something else man. Let me tell you, when you’re a fighter or athlete in any type of sport, it’s hard to fight somebody who can put up with it all. We do a lot of training with these two-a-days and three-a-days and that can really take a toll on a relationship. Some people don’t realize that but my girl Mandy, she’s always been supportive of me and has backed me up all the way. I feel truly blessed to have someone like that in my life. That’s about it. Other than that, I’m excited to get in the cage and do what I do.

Current Fight Card for Dec. 2 at the Dr. Pepper Arena

• 170 lbs. – Sean Spencer (6-1) versus Derrick Krantz(10-4)
• 135 lbs. – Jason Sampson (8-0) versus Joshua Montoya (6-7)
• 205 lbs. – Jason Guida (18-27) versus Matthew Thompson (16-9)
• 185 lbs. – Eric Schambari (13-4) versus Bubba McDaniel (18-6)
• 145 lbs. – Douglas Frey (9-7) versus Tim Snyder (12-7-1)
• 185 lbs. – Kalvin Hackney (11-2) versus Eric Scallan (8-3)
• 185 lbs. – Charles Byrd (3-2) versus Robert Agee (2-1)
• 135 lbs. – Ryan Benoit (3-1) versus Aaron Phillips (2-0)
• 205 lbs. – Alfredo Leija (4-1) versus Jabari Shakur (0-1)
• 185 lbs. – Sean Holden (0-0) versus Wes Linsley (0-1)

* as always, fight card subject to change without prior notice.

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