1. How would you describe your physical and mental shape ahead of the fight?
I am peaking. I feel very good, ready to go. I was a little
heavy after 24 hours on a plane but the weight has come down nicely in
the head and I will be spot on 185lbs come the weigh-in. Mentally, I
cannot wait. I am going to make this guy regret ever talking rubbish
about me being from the north of England, my accent, my family and my
abilities as a fighter. So, body and soul, I am ready.
2. What is your verdict on Jorge Rivera both as a fighter and from his pre-match talk?
I used to think he was a nice enough fella. But he’s shown
himself to be a real dickhead. He’s a 38 year old man, and he’s acting
like a child. I’d be embarrassed to be associated with him to be honest.
He’s supposed to be an athlete, but he’s spending entire days making
stupid videos. He’s sold his soul and any credibility he had for some
YouTube hits. He’s an idiot. The talk just put more pressure on him. I
was already the favourite, but now he’s really under pressure to back
that crap up. It was interesting he had nothing to say at the press
conference when I was there – face to face and without his scriptwriters
he’s got nothing to say.
3. What is your pre-fight routine?
Wake up, have a medium sized breakfast. I try to sleep in and
maybe watch a bit of telly. It is basically boring. You are just waiting
for the UFC to take you to the arena, where you get hands taped, get
ready, warm up and watch fights on the undercard. The, all of a sudden,
it is time.
4. Do you ever feel fear/nerves before a fight?
I think anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is a fool or a
liar. I get nervous that I will let myself, my family, my team, my fans
and the UFC down. This is my life. This has allowed me to provide for my
family. I don’t want to lose. I have worked too hard. I’ve already been
KO’d, embarrassed, nothing is going to be worse than that so what’s to
be scared of?
5. Do you feel pain during a fight?
Yes and no. You do, but you want to win and so you sort of
ignore it. Plus your brain is so focused on other things that you don’t
feel it. Not like you do the next morning anyway.
6. What do you consider your most effective fighting weapon/what is the best move you have ever pulled off in the octagon?
My best weapon is probably my speed. I am faster than most
middleweights and I know how to use it. Best move is probably the flying
knee I used in the Ultimate Fighter semi-final v Ross Pointon in 2006.
One of my friends said it looked like something out of the movie the
Matrix…!
7. What is your prediction for the fight against Rivera?
He’s going to get a real beating. I think I will take him down
at will and his so-called massive power is a joke. I’ve stopped more
people than he has, I’ve beaten guys far and away better than he has.
He’s getting his backside kicked.
8. What are your UFC ambitions for the forseeable future? Any plans to fight in Manchester?
I’ve fought in both UFCs in Manchester, UFC 70 in April 2007
and UFC 105 in November 2009. Both were the biggest nights of my life.
The support I get from the fans at the MEN Arena… it is just humbling. I
know the UFC are looking to come back, and they know I want to be on
all Manchester cards. I would love to get a chance to the World Title in
Manchester.
9. Compare your life 10 years ago to now.
There is no comparison. I was working dead-end jobs after
quitting college, I had no money, I had a kid on the way and things
weren’t great. But I knew I was good at this, and I was lucky enough to
get the chance to prove that. Now I can provide a great life for my
family, I can quit right now and not work again in my life. A lot of
people thought I was mad, giving up work to do this but I worked out.
10. What do you like about living in the northwest/how do you wind down?
The people. There’s no pretentious idiots up here. I just like
doing normal things, going to the shops in Manchester, getting a meal
with my girlfriend and kids, going to the cinema. I love Las Vegas and
there places, but I couldn’t live there. My girlfriend and mother of my
kids is Australian, and she hates the weather but even she loves the
people. Luckily for me I guess!
What are your UFC 127 predictions? Let us know in the comments