Exclusive Interview with Eric Center of Xtreme Couture
I recently caught up with Eric Center, an ammature MMA fighter out of Las Vegas who trains at Xtreme Couture.
Eric Center 5’11″ Fight weight 145/155 Las Vegas Nevada 0-1
(P.J.)Thanks for taking the time out man.
(Eric) You’re very welcome
(P.J.)Let’s start with the basics. When & where did you start training MMA?
(Eric)I started training MMA almost 2 years ago at Xtreme Couture and now I also train Muay Thai with Master Toddy.
(P.J.)Why did you choose to train at Xtreme Couture?
(Eric)At the time I didn’t know much about MMA. I looked up a few gyms and XC seemed to be the best. Little did I know then that the best fighters in the world train there and it would become a home away from home for me.
(P.J.)What disciplines do you train in & how many hours a week do you devote to training?
(Eric)I spend a lot of time in the gym. 5 days a week for between 1-3 hours a night and 4 hours on Saturdays. I devote a lot of time to my stand up but after my first fight I am going to work on my ground game a lot more.
(P.J.)Who and/or what keeps you motivated on a daily basis to keep fighting?
(Eric)The want to be the best me and the love of competition is what keeps me going. I fight because I really enjoy it and I love pushing myself.
(P.J.)What really gets your adrenaline flowing & is it something you try to utilize in your fights or does it just come natural?
(Eric)I am very emotional when it comes to fighting. Sometimes just thinking about being in a battle is all it takes to keep me going. I also watch a lot of highlights on the internet and that for sure keeps my adrenaline up.
(P.J.)If you weren’t fighting what would you be doing?
(Eric)In my 9-5 I am a Software Documentation Specialist a.k.a “I am huge nerd” so I would be doing something involving technology. I also have a 3 year old daughter who I love spending time with.
(P.J.)Every fighters goal is to make it big & become a champion. Do you have a time line set for yourself based on age/skill or do you aspire to fight well in to your 40’s like Randy?
(Eric)I am just starting my MMA career so I am taking it slow and steady. I am also learning from those around me who have been through what I am going through. I hope to average a fight every other month and when I get to around 10 I will decided if I want to turn pro. Beyond that it is hard to tell at the moment.
(P.J.)Speaking of Randy, who is your favorite fighter & why?
(Eric)My favorite fighter is Jay Hieron because he is like a mentor to me. He indirectly got me into fighting when I first met him a few years ago. He continues helping me out to this day & still gives me advice.
(P.J.)Who is your next opponent?
(Eric)I am not sure exactly who my next opponent is but I do hope to fight in Tuff-N-Uff again in November.
(P.J.)You recently tweeted you didn’t know much about Rob Anderson, is that something that stuck in the back of your mind going into that fight or did you stay focused on what you needed to do once the bell rang?
(Eric)I didn’t know much about my opponent Rob but when I look back on the situation it didn’t bother me because it was my first fight. I wanted to focus more on myself but the next guy I fight we’ll hopefully have some footage on him.
(P.J.)When, where & how can people get tickets for your upcoming fights?
(Eric)Tuff-N-Uff is held every month at the Orleans Hotel and Casino and tickets start at $20.
(P.J.) Eric I really appreciate your time & I am looking forward to watching you fight again. You definitely have the dedication & skill to go far in this sport we love. Is there anyone you would like to thank or give a shot out to?
(Eric)I would like to thank Mayhem365 management, Fuel the Fighter and Ryan Couture for helping me prepare for this fight. You can also check out my blog at http://ericmma.wordpress.com & don’t forget to follow me on Twitter.
Popularity: 23% [?]
Great KO/Sub Video for 09′
If this video doesn’t make you want to watch MMA then I don’t know what will!
Popularity: 2% [?]
The New Sweet Science
As we all know, boxing is on it’s way down while MMA is on its way up. Boxing has carried the name “Sweet Science” for a long time now. My guess is most if not all of us MMA fans loved boxing as well in it’s heyday. With that said, MMA involves boxing as well as several other disciplines, thus the name. To be the best in each & every weight class you need to know a little something about almost all disciplines & be able to utilize them. In boxing there are no kicks allowed. You can’t shoot on your opponent to take them down & submissions are a no no. MMA keeps the fighter thinking at all times. You never know where a strike is going to come from next. Boxers like Ray Mercer ( 48 years old, watch out Randy ) who basically need to self promote themselves by saying MMA fighters are afraid of him because of his freak KO against Tim Sylvia in :09 of the 1st round are ridiculous. Just because Fedor fans think of Fedor as “The Best” for beating Sylvia after his prime doesn’t mean any HW MMA fighter is afraid of Mercer. He’s basically an old Brett Rogers. The only thing they should be afraid of is the ratings because that would be about as interesting as the Fedor/Mousasi spar on HD Net ( and people accused Brock of bringing WWE antics in).
In my opinion, Wrestling, BJJ, Muay Thai, Kick Boxing, Sambo, Pankration, Judo, Submission Grappling, Karate, Boxing & several others make up the new Sweet Science that is MMA. One dimensional boxers don’t stand a chance in this sport.
Popularity: 9% [?]
pjharrison