DENVER, CO, January 24, 2012 – In preparation for UFC on FOX 2 this Saturday night, we recently caught up with UFC middleweight Chris Camozzi (15-5) of Englewood ‘s Factory X team. Now on his second stint in the organization, Chris has fought almost everywhere within the Colordo regional circuit along with far-off places like Canada and Australia. This time around, he’ll be taking on 6-1 pro Dustin Jacoby, a fellow Coloradoan fighting out of Finney’s HIT Squad.
With both guys looking to bounce back from a loss in their last octagon appearance, this should be a very pivotal fight for both men. Here is Chris with his pre-fight thoughts headed into the contest.
Interview – Chris Camozzi (Factory X)
Chris, thanks for taking the interview during fight week. How are you feeling headed into UFC on Fox 2 this weekend?
Going into this fight I feel bigger, stronger and more prepared than ever. My coaches pushed me out of my comfort zone for this camp and I feel like it really paid off. I got through camp injury-free and I’m ready to roll on Jan 28th.
Rewinding back a little bit, can you provide our Texas fans with a brief history of how you got into fighting?
I started out wrestling in high school and after I graduated I went to college for a year. During that year I played Rugby and after the season ended I also decided college wasn’t for me at that time. I started working and got bored. I wanted to get back into something competitive so I went and checked out a local BJJ/Muay Thai gym. I started training there for fun with no intentions of fighting at first. After about 7 months, I decided to give it a shot and I’ve been going ever since.
Nice. If you weren’t a fighter, what could you see yourself doing for a living?
I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. Competing in MMA has been the best decision I have ever made. My entire life revolves around it now. I can’t see myself working in an office or making $9 an hour doing something I hate. I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to build a life and career around something I love.
I know you’ve lived out in Colorado for awhile. What’s it like training and living out there in that high altitude?
I feel like training at a high altitude really gives me an advantage. I feel a huge difference when I go to sea level to fight. I train at 5,280 ft and the air is a lot thinner here. It’s basically like doing twice as much cardio as everyone else. Colorado is a great place to live too. I can ski within 30 minutes of my house, I can be in the city in 10 minutes, and there is also hunting, fishing, hiking and tons of activities. I love living here but I’d also like to live on a beach someday.
So cardio is an advantage. What else do you focus on to maintain an athletic edge?
Eating right, recovery, chiropractic work, sports massage and vitamins are all a huge part of my training. All of them help me continue to push harder each training session.
At this point you’ve fought all over the world. Anything stick out to you as a ‘most memorable’ moment in your career so far?
One of my most memorable moments was beating Dongi Yang at UFC 121. He had a lot of hype and was undefeated coming into that fight and I walked away with the win. Not only was it a huge fight for me but it was also a stacked card. I witnessed Cain beat Brock for the heavyweight title and the crowd erupted! Following that fight I enjoyed a few days in Huntington Beach with my girlfriend and friends.
Moving ahead to Saturday, how important is this fight with Dustin Jacoby?
This is the most important fight of my career as is every fight I have in the octagon. Jobs are always on the line and you must win to stay relevant. That’s a fact of life in the UFC.
Do you have any predictions for your fight on FUEL?
I plan on finishing Jacoby any way that opportunity presents itself.
What’s next after this?
In 2012 I’d like to buy a house, build long-term relationships with sponsors, expand my classes at Factory X ,and fight at least 2 more times!
Any last words before Jan. 28th?
Jan 28th I’m fighting for that bonus. I’m going to push the pace and finish the fight so make sure you tune in! Checkout my website at ChrisCamozziMMA.com and follow me @ChrisCamozzi. I’d like to thank Head Rush Brand, BluCore Shooting Center, Jamey Jasta, Torture House MMA, FreshFit Meals, RevGear, AmmoToGo, Performance MMA, Good4UDrinks, my team at Factory X, and my management Ingrained Media! Thank You!
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