By TXMMA Staff // Mike Calimbas // Photo via Bryan Little, Facebook
Lightweight Bryan “Clubber” Little committed to giving back while dishing it out
FORT WORTH, TX, June 26, 2014 – PCG’s Cowboys Extreme Cage fighting is fast coming up with the event scheduled for SA’s Cowboys Dance Hall this Friday. TXMMA has had a chance to catch up with several of the fighters prior to the event and from the sound of things, one can easily tell this is going to be a good one.
The latest featured fighter for this card is lightweight Bryan Little. Fighting out of Team Lutter in Fort Worth and trained by UFC vet Travis Lutter amongst many others, he’s one with a sound perspective on MMA and why he competes. Check out his interview below:
PCG Pre-Fight Interview – Bryan “Clubber” Little (Team Lutter)
5 years ago I relocated out to Texas via California to start training MMA. I had tried a month here and a month there at a gym in Hollywood but due to cost of living it was either train or rent so I sucked it up and moved in with my parents in Burleson. Along with wanting to start training more consistently I also moved out here specifically to get back into the church.
Fast forward to 2014 I’m doing what I always aspired to do. I’m training full-time. I have a fulfilling job working at JPS hospital. I volunteer for MADD and Habitat for Humanity and I serve in my church wherever I’m needed.
My favorite hobbies include training in general. Whether it be sprints, dieting or yoga. I love playing the role of scientist to see what works best for me.
I also really enjoy giving back especially at the gym. I remember when I was a white belt and was just blown away by all the different techniques and all the little microscopic movements and was blessed to have so many of The Team Lutter team help me find my own style that now it’s time for me to give back. Plus it also helps better myself by teaching.
But my number one hobby is music. Especially Electronic or for the older crowd, Techno. I enjoy listening to sets on podcast and especially live. I use to have a pair of technics and would lose track of time putting tracks together.
So you traveled all the way down here to train. What made you choose the team that you’re on?
When I made the move to Texas I wanted to train with someone with not only experience in coaching but also time in the ring/cage. After shopping around I found Travis but at the same time started training with Francisco Sanchez Zambrano at New World Combat in Fort Worth for Muay Thai. Even though Joe Trevino was teaching Muay Thai at Team Lutter and Travis was teaching stand up for MMA I think the more schools of thought for fighting the better. You take a little bit from everybody and make your own style.
Currently I’m under the instruction of MMA vet Eric Schambari but for my first 3 fights I took so much away from Wesley Gann. To say I train with one person if impossible. I’m constantly learning from all our guys. To this day I do the same. I take and move on and I take some more. New guys and vets alike. I just hope that new up and comers do the same with my style. If not I hope they learn what not to do.
By now you’ve had 5 fights as an amateur. What’s your record and what can you tell us about the experiences you’ve had so far?
I’m 3-2 as an amateur. All my wins are by decision and my two loses came by decision and guillotine. Being a .500 fighter isn’t what I envisioned but I wouldn’t trade it for a 5-0 record all coming by way of knockout. The growth from my loses has made me into the person I am today plus a training partner from Team Lutter told me when I was back and forth on taking a 3 day notice fight at Europa, “Take it!” I would have took a thousand fights as an amateur before I turned pro if I could. I took my first 3 fights in a little less than a year and my second 3 after a small stint to get my EMT license in six months. It’s been an amazing journey so far to say the least.
If a fan were to ask me a question about MMA we would have a great, lengthy conversation. I would be more interested in what they enjoy most about the sport and who’s their favorite fighter and why. But I like to think of myself as well-rounded although I haven’t showcased my stand up as much as I would like to.
Do you have any aspirations to turn pro? What are your other goals within the sport?
Trav and I have had many conversation. I could listen to that guy talk about anything. He could read me the back of a cereal box and I would be so enlightened. One of tour latest conversation was the “pro” convo. My goal for 2014 was to have a pro fight and he thinks I can still take 5 more amateur fights. Why not both?
This isn’t a career move just yet. I don’t have kids, other than my two dogs Clubber Lang and Manny Manuel who are my joy. I’m just fascinated with finding out how good of a fighter you are. Being only half way through the year I would love more than nothing but to take a fight once a month and kill two birds with one stone. I want a belt too.
Of course I would like to be invited into the TUF house and travel across seas to train but at 35 I’m just enjoying the wave. When all is said and done at the end of my run I can honestly tell myself with no regrets, I did what I set out to do. I can see myself coaching or being training partners for our up and coming pro fighters well into my 40’s. More than anything I want to be the one to turn you onto the sport. To teach you that MMA is an addiction where you’re always chasing that perfect diet, those perfect exercises for explosive conditioning and that perfect state of mental peace.
That’s a great perspective. Moving on to PCG, what are your thoughts on your upcoming fight and Jesse Almaraz?
Jesse has no experience in the cage but for all I know he can be the Babe Ruth of MMA. When promoter Greg Reid let me know my original opponent had family to attend to I was crushed. At the same time Jesse’s opponent was lost too. We’re both 155 but with this being my 6 fight I didn’t think he would take it but not have one MMA fight I can tell you he’s a fighter because that’s what fighters do. We’re crazy and we love to bang.
My thoughts on him? He’s very athletic and those Marines don’t give up. He’s got great coaches and besides that I really don’t know what to expect. Is he going to come out and try and rip my head off or is he going to push kick my Adam’s Apple in? Just be in the stands June 27th at Cowboys Dancehall to find out.
Predictions for this fight… Do you have one? How are you going to win?
Without giving away too much I think it’s all going to come down to experience. I plan on putting him in places he doesn’t want to be to where if he tries to play the strength game I’m going to let him know right away that that’s not going to work inside here.
Any last words for your opponent? Anything else?
I would like Jesse to know that I pray for him daily to be injury free in his camp and the Lord to give him the strength to have discipline in his weight cut and a speedy recovery.
I’m excited for everybody in attendance that night. With the UFC in town and the Spurs cleaning house who knows what’s going to happen. Maybe 9 months later you’ll have a last weekend of June 2014 baby. Just saying. These things happen.
And who knows who’s going to show up. The UFC weigh ins are that afternoon so don’t get your hopes up on anybody fighting Saturday to just drop in but I’m sure some big names will be cheering us on. You can bet on Travis Lutter and Pete Spratt will be there for sure.
I would like to thank Greg Reid for the opportunity to fight for his promotion and a big thanks to Mike Calimbas for such great interview questions. I’d like to thank my team, coaches, and family for their undying support. My brother Scott, my girl Rachel, my parents Donna and Kirk, my grandpa the original natural born fighter and my inspiration Vernon, Trav and Erin, Eric, Jerry, Josh G, Josh Q, Kevin and Stacey, Bobby, Wess, Isaiah and Johney, big John, lil Steve, Ricky, Jordan, the flyin’ Hawaiian Umi, Cowboy, the Axe, Fuentes, Jeremy, Melissa, Chris and Smash, big Mike, Serve, Vinny, Santiago, Albert, Schon, Liebel and Charlie Brown, Ben, Tyler, TL team mom Stacey Hunter and Rabbit in the hole and t-shirt Tony.