Interview – D.J. Linderman looking to make a statement against Gerald Harris at Legacy FC 10

HOUSTON, TX, February 22 2012 – When it comes to discussion of the Legacy Fighting Championship 10 main event on HDNet between Gerald Harris and D.J. Linderman, one thing has been blaringly apparent – a lot more people know about the “Hurricane” than “Da Protégé.” That fact is understandable considering Gerald Harris is a former Ultimate Fighter cast member (season 7). Compounding that is the fact the 32 year old went 3-1 in his UFC appearances post TUF and garnered 2 ‘knockout of the night’ bonuses in the octagon before his abrupt release from the organization. Those notches on Harris’ belt have certainly made him a known quantity ahead of his Legacy debut. As for his opponent, well let’s just say D.J. Linderman isn’t necessarily cowering down at his opponent’s accomplishments. As a matter of fact, he’s looking at Gerald Harris as a stepping stone towards his own future success.

“I came into this sport because it was just a way to get the aggression out,” D.J. says about his simple beginnings in MMA. “I walked by a karate dojo one day and I saw that they were doing something other than karate… I asked them about it and they were saying that we could fight in a cage against other people and it was real. I was like, ‘for real?’ I asked them if I could do it and the next thing I know it’s a week later and I had a fight. I was hooked from there on out.”

Since those early days, Linderman has put in plenty of work to hone himself as a complete fighter. “I wanted to progress so I started training a LOT,” he says. Despite life and kids and all the other priorities he had going on, D.J. would gradually commit more and more of his time into training. Fast forward 25 fights later (11-0-1 at the amateur level and 11-2 as a pro), and D.J. Linderman just now feels like he’s coming into his own.

“I would say earlier in my career I was more of a kick-back and see what you’ve got type of guy but now I’m more of an explosive, in-your-face, type of fighter,” he says about his evolution. “In my last five fights I’ve been putting it all together. Working with guys like (UFC fighter) Rick Story has really helped as far making me a better wrestler but I think I’m a good standup fighter too.”

On his way to facing Gerald Harris this Friday, many have had this fight begged as a battle of ex-wrestler versus ex-wrestler but that’s actually not the case. Prior to picking up MMA, Linderman never wrestled a day in his life.

“Everybody thinks I’m a wrestler because of my forte of picking people up and slamming them into the ground but really I was a football player. I grew up playing football from the time I was five years old until I was 18 years old. I played a lot and I guess I kind of brought that same attitude into fighting. It actually came up in an interview before where somebody asked me to describe the type of fighter I was. I told them I like to take people down like in football so they started calling me a football-wrestler. I guess that’s where it kind of came in and its pretty funny to me but I was never on any wrestling teams and I’ve never taken a school day of wrestling in my life. It’s just been a part of the MMA game as I put everything together.”

Moving on to Legacy Fighting Championship 10, D.J. is out to prove that he’s every bit the protégé his nickname implies against his ex-UFC opponent. Adding to that challenge is the fact that he took this fight on less than one-month’s notice against such a tough opponent. He also took the fight knowing he’d have to cut down a staggering 50 pounds and two weight classes compared to his last time in the cage.

“I took this fight on 27 days notice and actually fought a week before that at 232 lbs. against a guy that was 270. Now I’m doing a 50 lbs. cut in 27 days and not that many people can do that. No cut is ever easy. I don’t know if fighters ever say that but it’s definitely not true. I’m getting pretty versatile though in being able to fight in different weight classes and bringing this power down from heavyweight to middleweight is going to be a great thing.”

“I feel Gerald Harris is going to come out and think he’s going to be able to deal with the same type of fighters he has been (fighting). He’s going to think he can get in there and think he can take me down easy but that’s not going to be the case. I’ve rarely been on my back in fights. I feel like I’m going to be the better wrestler even though he was nationally-ranked and things like that. I think I’m going to be the better fighter on the feet too and I’m not afraid to stand with him. I think it’s going to be a war between the two of us. I know everybody says he’s going to be a great cardio guy but I don’t think he’ll have the cardio I do. I plan on wearing him down and finishing him either a submission or by TKO. I really think this will be a great fight for my career and coming out of this event with a win will be even bigger after all is said and done”

Moving on, D.J. says fighting under “the bright lights” so to speak on the nationally-televised Legacy card on HDNet won’t bother him in the least. He’s fought in large organizations like Bellator before and the nerves help him more than they hurt him.

“I’m really hoping to win this fight and if the UFC calls with a deal, then good. If that’s not the case, then I would like to fight for the middleweight title with Legacy against maybe a guy like Jay Silva or someone like that. “Thank you to everybody out there supporting me. I’m a guy to be on the lookout for and I’m definitely coming up the ranks. You guys will see that in this fight. Gerald Harris better be ready to fight and not ready to do his little comedy shows. He better be ready to step in there and bang! This is going to be an explosive fight and you’re going to see something out of me that you haven’t seen before so make sure you’re watching.”

Acknowledgements

“I want to give a shout to my guys at Do Something Athletics. You can check them out on dosomethinathletics.com. Thanks to my sponsors at DOM Fightgear, War Fuel, and a lot of other people that have helped me in my hometown. I have local sponsors all over the place. I’m throwing a viewing party at the Miner St. Pub in Yreka, CA. They’re a big supporter behind us along with 1-2-3 stickers and everyone else.” – D.J. “Da Protégé” Linderman

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