It’s hadn’t been an easy end to 2011 for the 28 year old West Virginia native. He started last year with so much promise after winning four times in 2010 including a submission win at Strikeforce: Houston. He followed that campaign up with a career highlight moment when he signed with Bellator not soon thereafter and being tapped to participate in their featherweight tournament alongside elite level 145’ers like Pat Curran, Marlon Sandro, and his first-round opponent Ronnie Mann. One of the newer fighters in the 8-man bracket, Adam would go on to suffer the first KO of his entire career towards the end of his opening round fight against Mann at Bellator 46 before coming back four months later against Jeremy Spoon this past October.
Taking that fight on a mere 9 days notice with an unhealed cut and a 24 lbs. weight cut to make, Adam would nonetheless put on an impressive performance in a three round war that would end with him bloodied and on the short-end of a judges’ decision that gave him the first two-fight losing streak of his entire career.
Dealing with those losses wasn’t easy for him. It never is for a naturally-talented athlete that’s so used to winning. But those experiences are behind him now, and he believes they will do not nothing else but make him a better fighter in the long run. If nothing else, he’s definitely going to be more motivated than ever when he takes the cage against Yoshihiro Takanashi next Saturday at the Coushatta Resort and Casino in Kinder, LA.
“I’m coming back with a huge chip on my shoulder,” Schindler says.” I feel a lot of people have written me off and I’m looking for blood. I’ve worked extremely hard in this camp, this FULL camp and I’m coming out as a killer.”
Interview – Adam Schindler
What’s up Adam. First of all, how have you been the last few months? What are some of the best things going on for you right now?
I’m good man. I’ve just been living life. Training hard and trying to figure out a path for myself. I’m staying in the gym 6-7 days a week sometimes and working my tail off to improve. I know I am (improving). I’m actually back in school too! I am on my way to my first class after I finish this interview I’m actually super excited about being a student again.
That’s pretty awesome man. I know you recently moved down to Austin a few months ago and it sounds like you’re more centered than you’ve been in a long while. What’s it like living down there?
Austin for me has been a breath of fresh air for me. It’s beautiful here and there is such a positive vibe everywhere you go. I have always loved Austin and wanted to be here. I feel like this city really fits who I am as a person. I’m fortunate to have good people around me that believe in me and have helped me tremendously since I’ve been here.
Tell us a little bit about your training there. What’s it like training with Bobby Peek, Elton Wells, Tim Kennedy, and crew at Austin Muay Thai? Who else is out there working with you?
Working with those guys is amazing. They have this leadership quality about them that drives you to be better than you are. Not only that but they are very intelligent people. They run our fight team very structured, which being ex-military, is something that really helps me out. It’s very familiar. There are no cutting corners with those guys. There is a good group of guys here too. We have sparring sessions with up to 18-20 guys sometimes. Lots of talent and different looks, guys like Drew Pendleton, Jon Hester, Justin Brooks, Rodrigo Rodriguez, Josh Scales, Jamie Harrel… just to name a few.. the list goes on. Getting it in with one of the best in the world in Tim Kennedy is a privilege in and of itself.
How do you think the change in scenery (moving to Austin) has helped you improve as a fighter? Is it more of a mental thing or a physical thing, or both?
Man, you know what… I just feel so much less stressed in life. I was having a rough time making things work in Houston financially, especially getting injured and missing a fight (which ultimately led to the move) but I think it was a blessing in disguise. I’m not sure how I can describe it, because I love Houston and the people there. Especially 4oz, Team Tooke, and B3… but there is just something about being here that soothes my soul. I love Austin. Right now as a fighter I am feeling better than ever. I’m working my stand up so much more consistently, especially one on one with Elton. People have been telling me the same things in my stand up for years, but something about how he relayed that same message to me actually clicked, I don’t know how or why but it did, and I am 100% positive that it’s going to show in my next fight.
Let’s talk about your last two fights in Bellator against Ronnie Mann and Jeremy Spoon. Those fights were both exciting. Specifically with that last one, we felt it was razor close. How bad did it feel to drop that fight?
It really sucked to lose that fight. I am better than Jeremy Spoon. What a lot of people don’t know is that I took that fight on 9 days notice with an unhealed cut on my forehead and had to cut 24 lbs to make weight. I hadn’t sparred in 8 weeks because of the cut, my timing was off, and my fight awareness was off too. I didn’t even try to hit him on the ground and I don’t know why… like it was a grappling match or something. But I still hurt him on our feet in the first round. I got super tired and I got jabbed 100 times in the 3rd round. I think that and the blood swayed the judges. My sister could have made my cut bleed if I fought her. It was nothing he did extraordinary to make me bleed. He had a full camp and I had no camp. That’s what it came down to. I took him down 5 times, stayed on top, and out-grappled him. They wanted me to lose that fight.
This is the first two fight losing streak of your career. Are you back with a vengeance starting on January 28th to begin 2012?
I’m coming back with a huge chip on my shoulder. I feel a lot of people have written me off and I’m looking for blood. I’ve worked extremely hard in this camp, this FULL camp and I’m coming out as a killer.
What do you know about Flavio Tanaka and what are your thoughts on fighting for this G1 event in general?
I’m not fighting Flavio anymore, he got injured but they have a good replacement in Yoshihiro ‘Bancho’ Takanashi. His record is 7-1-2. He’s tall, does a lot of clinch work, dirty boxing, and has fought in Pancrase. I’ve seen footage on him and have studied him. I’m excited about G1. It’s good international experience for me. I fight like I know I can and I’ll have an opportunity in Japan which is a blessing and a dream.
Any predictions as far as how you want this fight to go?
I’m gonna be crisp standing up and if I don’t land a straight right hand to put him away I’m gonna take him down and beat him up until he quits or I submit him.
What are some of your other goals for 2012? Care to share what’s up ahead for you?
I’m still under contract with Bellator. I’d like to get redemption in that organization with a FULL training camp. I’d also like to travel to Japan and fight. I’ve been approached by my management about possible fights abroad in the UK as well so we’ll see what happens. Other than fighting, I plan on getting good grades. I was always taught to be a ‘scholar athlete’ not a ‘dumb jock’ so I’m happy to be working toward a degree outside of the fight world which will improve me as a person in all aspects of life.
Any last words before your fight at G1 Fights: Sovereign Valor?
I just wanna say thank you to all my fans that support me and believe in me. All the fans from Houston and West Virginia especially as well as San Antonio and Austin. Also a big thanks to everyone at Austin Muay Thai for accepting me as part of the team and thank you in particular to the Peek family for making my transition to Austin possible. I appreciate everything. You are all going to see a fire in me that has been lacking the past couple of fights. I was put on this earth to fight and be elite and that will quickly be re-established in 2012.
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