SAN ANTONIO, TX, April 4, 2012 – In preparation for this Friday night’s Alamo Showdown 3 event at La Villita, we speak to undefeated 19 year old fighter Parker Reid out of Texas Powerhouse MMA. He’ll be taking on Cody Medrano for the ABG 135 lbs. in one of the three featured title bouts of the evening as he looks to up his record to 4-0 and earn his first belt in the process.
Interview – Parker “The Amazing Spiderman” Reid (Texas Powerhouse MMA)
Parker, thanks for taking the time to talk to us man. To start, why don’t you tell us a little bit about how you got involved with MMA.
Well it started from me getting into trouble all the time at school, not by acting out but just defending myself from kids picking on me. I would get into a lot of fights so finally my parents said I needed to do something with it. They thought I had an anger problem. I might have had a short temper to tell you the truth. I enrolled at Texas Powerhouse the day after my 15th birthday and have been training there ever since. Since then I have learned to be a better person and make better choices. Training has led me on the right path all this time even though I had to take a year off of fighting after I was diagnosed with stomach ulcers while getting ready for my third fight. That just made me want it a lot more and to take it more seriously so that’s where I’m at now. I would like to one day look back on it and say I made a difference in the sport. I don’t want to be someone who never learned from my or other peoples mistakes. I want to get my black belt in Jiu-Jitsu under my instructor and friend Jamie Miller.
What about as a fan, when did you start following the sport?
I have been a fan since I watched UFC 1 with my football friends when I was in 7th grade. I have been hooked ever since. I just respect everyone who is willing to sacrifice their life to be a champion. I love great fights…. Like Edgar vs. Maynard 2 – I thought looked like it just busted out of an action movie.
What do you do when you are not training or fighting? What other things are you focusing on?
Well the most important thing is college right now because you do need a degree in this world. I try to focus very hard on that. I also help with the kid’s Jiu-Jitsu and I am student instructor for Muay Thai at Texas Powerhouse MMA. Besides those things, I try to take care of my family by cooking and cleaning so you can say I’m kind of a house wife. I’m also just a big kid so I love playing video games with my friends, watching cartoons, camping, hiking, swimming, anything active really.
What do you think has made you into the person you so far and what kind of stuff do you want to do with your life outside of fighting?
I would have to say to that my family and my gym and martial arts because all three have saved my butt from falling into bad things like all my friends who I grew up with. Its helped me keep a clear head and focus on the right stuff. I want to earn a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology at UTSA but my lifelong dream is to join the military. Coming from a military family, I love everything that comes with it. As for which branch, I would love to be a marine but only time will tell what happens.
Looking ahead to this Friday, what can you tell us about this fight with Cody Medrano?
Cody Medrano will be a tough fight. I know he has won two fights by unanimous decision with his wrestling and I know he will be a lot bigger than me also. From what I hear, he is working on his boxing also for this fight so we’ll have to see how it goes down this Friday, Everything has gone right for me training for this one. I have focused on my Jiu-Jitsu like I always do under Jamie Miller and have been working with my Muay Thai coach Frank Cabarello. My team is my family and they push me when I need to be pushed. All I know is I’m going to win. I can’t so how but maybe it will be by cartwheel kick knock out with 1 second remaining in the round. Who knows.
Any last words for your opponent?
I’d just say good luck to him. This is still a sport and it is also martial arts so I respect any man willing to put the body on the line by stepping in the cage with anyone. After the bell rings though I have nothing to say, just things to do.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Yes actually I would like to give a shout out to Furious Brand for sponsoring me and also making me a walkout shirt. Also I want to shout out to my two friends Jonathan Valo and John Gushwa who are fighting lymphoma cancer. They are the true fighters in my eyes and of course to my family and friends and my boxer puppy Scooby who has become my new alarm clock. Thanks Scooby.
