Irish Whip Fighting Exclusive: Team Quest Interview

On the day the IFL announced their fight card for their 2007 Grand Prix (which consists of the four top fighters in each weight division) I had the unique opportunity to sit down with rising MMA star Matt “Suave” Horwich. With victories over the likes of Jason McDonald, Vernon White and Josh Burkman, he is one of the most dangerous and well rounded middleweights fighting today. Drawing strength from his deep spiritual faith he has unmatched focus determination that has helped him realize his dream of becoming a world class fighter. Coming off of a stunning KO via a “cro-cop” like high kick he shared with me his thoughts on winning the IFL GP and his goal to become the first ever IFL middleweight champion as well as becoming the first Rock/MMA superstar.By Doug MacEwan


Doug: “What initially attracted you to Mixed Martial Arts and how did you get your start?”
Matt: “Like a lot of young kids growing up I was always watching Bruce Lee movies and got involved in traditional Martial Arts at a young age. After watching Royce Gracie dominate the first few UFC’s, I saved up as much money as I could and moved to northern California to train with him for five hours a day five days a week for a month straight. It was an amazing experience for a sixteen year old and that helped me build the foundation for my submission skills.”

D: “That’s really impressive….so how did you find team Quest?”
M: “Even though I took some time off from training to pursue other interests like playing the guitar and exploring my musical side I was still watching all the UFC events I could and saw Randy Couture dominating much like Royce did during his first reign as the HW champ. At this point in my life I was traveling around and the opportunity presented itself for me to travel up north to begin training with Randy at Team Quest.

D: “What was it like training with all of the great fighters at Team Quest and what makes Team Quest arguably the best MMA training facility in the world?”
M: “Having the opportunity to train with the best MW fighters in the world in Matt Lindland and Dan Henderson along with other world class fighters like Ed Herman Nate Quarry and Chris Leben, you are being challenged by the best every day you come to the gym. Both Henderson and Lindland are two of the best wrestlers in the history of our sport and they helped me develop an excellent ground game. The environment is exactly what you need to push yourself to become a champion and you are constantly pushed every day to be the best. The work ethic we all have at TQ as well as the whole atmosphere here could not be better. I have to give a lot of credit to Matt Lindland who is like a father figure to many of the fighters and works really hard to promote us and get our names out there on top of training us to become the best. He had helped me so much over the course of my career and it amazes me how he is able to dedicate so much energy into helping all of us on top of the work he needs to devote to his own career. We also believe in cross training with other gyms and I have had the chance to train with BJ Penn, Chuck Liddell and many other top fighters and gyms.”

D: “What has your experience with the IFL been like and what are your thoughts on the merger between the UFC and PRIDE fc?”
M: “First of all I can’t say enough great things about the IFL. They treat their fighters extremely well and pay us a monthly salary to help us afford to train full time on top of what they pay us per fight. It ends up being much more than the UFC can offer unless you are one of the really big names. I am really excited about the upcoming GP and I think that the IFL has a great business plan and will continue to grow and become more successful. As far as the merger with PRIDE and UFC there are two ways to look at it. On one hand you now have the dream match ups like Shogun vs Liddell and the fans will get to see match ups they only dreamed about in the past. On the other hand this makes the UFC more powerful and without that competition they could end up paying the fighters less than they would have if they had PRIDE bidding against them for talent.”

D: “If you could fight anyone in the world who would it be?”
M: “I would love an opportunity to fight Anderson Silva because in order to be the best you have to fight the best. I have tremendous respect for him as a fighter and as a person and it would be an honor to test my skills against him.”

D: “How do you stay focused with all of the distraction and temptation that has gotten the best of many great talents in the past. I am also curious to hear your thoughts on the recent string of positive steroids tests that have plagued MMA”
M: “I put a lot of faith in god and I find it easy to make the choices that will put me in the best position to be successful. I owe it to myself and the people around me that I care about to stay focused and diet and train the right way. As far as steroids it is unfortunate that some people try to take short cuts and sacrifice the integrity of the sport and themselves. I can only control my own actions so there is not much I can do other than set a positive example”

D: “Give us your dream match ups for every weight class.”
M: “ That’s tough but here are the fights I am dying to see: HW-Fedor vs Gonzaga, LHW-Shogun vs Liddell, MW-Lindland or Henderson vs A. Silva WW- BJ Penn vs St. Pierre 2”

D: “Thank you for your time and giving www.irishwhipfighting.com and all the fans a glimpse into the world of Matt Horwich. The last thing I want to know is what your goals for the future are and how your fans can get in contact with you.”
M: “Thank you for your visit. My goal is to continue to fight hard and to win the IFL Middleweight belt. I would also like to continue to develop my musical talent and purchase land to build a house where I can spend time with my friends and loved ones. My fans can reach me on my myspace account under the screen name ‘Wildheart' or look me up by my name Matthew Horwich.”

Irish Whip Fighting Exclusive: Denis Kang Interview

Denis Kang is one of the top contenders in the 185lbs division in MMA today. Kang is a French-Korean fighter and holds a professional record of 27-8-1. Kang is best known for his explosiveness and well-rounded style of fighting and also holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Kang's most notable wins thus far have been against Akihiro Gono, Murilo "Ninja" Rua, Andrei Semenov and UFC veteran Amar Suloev.

Denis Kang has fought his most recent fights in PRIDE and is currently a free agent. Kang has been kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions for Irish Whip Fighting.

Masson Liang: What promotions have you narrowed it down to?
Denis Kang: Sorry man can’t talk about that.

MMA life…
ML: With that aside, you put on an incredible performance at Bushido 13 losing a razor-thin decision; you must be itching for a rematch. Is there a possibility for fans to witness a Kang vs. Misaki II anytime soon?
DK: There definitely could be, because I would jump at the opportunity to fight him again.

ML: Who is your toughest opponent thus far?
DK: Probably Andrei Semenov. I hit this guy with everything and he kept coming.

ML: Have you fought anyone you truly disliked? How did that affect your performance?
DK: I've never made my fights personal so no.

ML: Considered by many to be one of the top 185 pounders in the world, where do you rank yourself in the 185lbs. division?
DK: I think I can be the best in the world. Right now Henderson is number one for sure but I firmly believe I am very close.

Training….
ML: Have you trained at camps anywhere outside of the US (besides Japan for PRIDE and Korea for Spirit MC)? If not, is there any place you have your eyes set on to go train in the future?
DK: I love ATT and I don’t plan on going anywhere else.

ML: Who in mixed martial arts today do you look up to the most? Are there any fighters out there you'd love to train with?
DK: Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira.

ML: Joining ATT in Jan. '05, how has training changed from your ways before ATT?
DK: I have a lot more training partners now, and many coaches to work on every aspect of my game. It's great to have so many other pro fighters to train with every single day.

ML: How big of a factor do you think the mental aspect is in preparation for a fight? How do you usually prepare yourself mentally for a fight?
DK: The mental aspect is everything you could say. I don’t care how good you are if you cant hold it together in the ring you will get beat by a much lesser fighter.

ML: Do you pay any attention to rumors and negative feedback that may arise time to time on the Internet?
DK: Nope.

ML: Do you have any words of encouragement for young fighters out there looking to pursue a career in mixed martial arts?
DK: Keep training and thriving for improvement in every area of your game.

UFC…
ML: Being acquainted with Dan Henderson, have you gotten a chance to help him train at all for his upcoming title bout against UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson?
DK: I've spoken to him a few times but I have never trained with him.

ML: Should fans expect to see you in attendance at UFC 75, where Henderson is set to face Jackson?
DK: Maybe, it depends on my schedule.

ML: Hardcore MMA fans around the world are dying to see you step foot in the Octagon, how are chances of you joining the UFC looking these days?
DK: I would love to fight in the Octagon one day.

Other…
ML: Where do you see the sports of mixed martial arts in 5 years?
DK: 5 times bigger than it is now, haha.

ML: Taking a look around the Irish Whip, what do you think of the site?
DK: I like it. It seems very informative and easy to navigate.

ML: Are there any last words you'd like to say to the "Super Korean" Kang junkies out there? Sponsors?
DK: Thanks for the support throughout the years. I know I haven’t fought that much in 07 but it ain’t over yet and I will be in action soon!

We here at Irish Whip Fighting cannot thank Denis Kang enough for his support and time he took to answer our questions. We wish him the best in the future, wherever he may end up fighting!

An Irish Whip Exclusive: Interview with UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste!

The Lianger here, stirring up yet another Irish Whip exclusive interview. Who you ask? None other than UFC's resident hottie and number one ring girl, Arianny Celeste. Yeah, so wipe that drool off your face and read what Arianny has to say about the UFC as she gives Irish Whip fans a "backstage pass!"

General Questions...

Masson Liang: So I’m sure all the guys out there are dying to know, are you single now?
Arianny Celeste: YES

ML: As a ring girl, what attracted you to the MMA scene as opposed to boxing?
AC: It's exciting, there’s more than just guys punching each other. The different techniques and styles keeps me on edge!

ML: I'm sure that a transitional period was necessary when getting accustomed to the job. How friendly was the UFC in that respect?
AC: UFC took me in like part of the family...Everyone I work with is awesome and my UFC mom Leslie makes sure I have anything and everything I want or need!

ML: If you weren't a ring girl, what do you think you'd be doing instead?
AC: I would still be modeling here and there but I would still be going to school full time. I’m almost done with my degree but because of my crazy schedule I’ve had to take time off. I’m happy about it...I’m living life to the fullest and enjoying every minute of it!

ML: There's this ongoing dilemma about MMA overtaking boxing in years to come, what's your personal outlook on the situation?
AC: I think MMA is definitely taking over. I ordered the last boxing match against De La Hoya and Mayweather and I was really disappointed that I spent 60 bucks on it....haha.

ML: I couldn't help but notice that you posted many parts of "Pride Fighting Decade" on Dailymotion.com, have you been a long time PRIDE junkie even before your UFC days?
AC: I’ve been a fan of all MMA for a while now.

ML: On that note, have you gotten a chance to meet the recent Pride additions to the UFC such as Heath Herring, Mirko Cro Cop, Nogueira, and Mauricio Shogun Rua?
AC: The only one I’ve met is Nogueira...very intimidating but very nice guy!

ML: What do you think of the recent flood of women into the MMA scene, fighters such as: Gina Carano or Julie Kedzie?
AC: I think it’s awesome...it's all about women power!!

ML: Do you train any MMA personally? If so, have you ever had to 'throwdown' and use your skills to fend off jerks hitting on you? If not, have you ever looked into training as a hobby?
AC: I train at the UFC gym in Vegas with a trainer 4-5 times a week if I’m in town. We do cardio, weights, and boxing. Its fun and I definitely feel like I could defend myself if I had to!

On the job...

ML: How often do you get hit on at the UFC events?
AC: Not very often but if I do I usually don’t pay attention because it’s a loud obnoxious guy.

ML: What would you do if you fell while walking around The Octagon?
AC: John McCarthy almost pushed me off at a fight night in Vegas. I literally flew off the edge of the octagon but I reached for his shoulders and held on for dear life. We still laugh about it till this day! I'd defiantly be pretty embarrassed.

ML: Also, have you ever had an urge to pick a wedgie on the job? If so, how did you handle that?
AC: Haha yes...and I just pick it!

ML: What is your most embarrassing story while on the job?
AC: The John McCarthy one.

ML: Do you find that guys are threatened to be with you because of your job?
AC: Most guys are jealous and insecure. I don’t have time for that so I'd rather just be single and have fun and focus on myself.

ML: What is your all time favorite MMA fight?
AC: Hard Question but there is two that pop in my head.... Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia and Roger Huerta vs. Leonard Garcia. They were both jam packed with action and had me jumping out of my seat!

ML: Last but not least, who is your all time favorite fighter?
AC: A couple of my favorite fighters are GSP, Couture, Liddell, Rampage, and Anderson Silva. They are all skilled athletes!!

ML: Well Arianny, I can't thank you enough for your time and we here at the Irish Whip wish you the best!
AC: Thanks a lot!

*Catch The Irish Whip's Arianny Gallery Here!

An Irish Whip Exclusive: Interview with Bas Rutten!

Last week, I sat down with the one and only King of Pancrase, "El Guapo," Bas Rutten. He had some fascinating things to say about the current state of MMA, his family, projects he's working on, and of course, The Irish Whip. Follow the link below to see our exclusive interview.

Ben Zeidler: Would you say that watching Enter The Dragon was your biggest inspiration in getting involved with Mixed Martial Arts, or was there something earlier than that?
Bas Rutten: Yes, Enter the Dragon was the first time I got introduced to martial arts.

BZ: How has your experience been during your time as a coach in the IFL? How do you think the "team MMA" concept will play a role in MMA in the future?
BR:The coaching experience was great! I love it when I teach and the guys do what I say and win their fight, its very cool to do, you create this special relationship with them and its great when it pays off. The team format is great! These guys always have training partners and everybody is like a big family, we go to the movies together, dinner, breakfast and lunch, we even went on a fishing trip in Mexico, really cool. I wished that the team concept was there when I was fighting, all the guys have their own strengths and they pass it on to eachother so they get really strong, everybody tells the other fighters their secret techniques because they want to win as a team. Normally they wouldn't do that. Also, they are certain to fight at least 5 fights a year, winning or losing, so for the fighters its great. They also have a monthly pay check, so they don't have to do a job on the side plus if they get injured, that pay check keeps coming....

BZ: We at The Irish Whip loved The Eliminator, do you plan on making more movies in the future?
BR: I am working on getting my own movie done, its a real good story and I have already three or maybe even four A class actors who want to be in it. Let's hope it works out, its really cool, you watch!

BZ: What are your opinions on the recent upsets in the past UFC events?
BR: Upsets happen, I always say, this is MMA, anything can happen. Upsets are good also, makes both fighters, the winner AND loser, better.

BZ: Being one the best and most colorful commentators of MMA, is there a chance that you could replace Mike Goldberg?
BR: I like Mike Goldberg, I am happy with the IFL right now but the phone doesn't stop ringing. I have so many offers its crazy! It's really cool, it means that I am doing something good right? The IFL is great for me, so when it's good, I am happy!

BZ: Being a long time commentator for PRIDE FC and familiar with the "PRIDE scene," do you think the merging of UFC and PRIDE is a good or bad thing for mixed martial arts as a whole?
BR: For the fans, it's great! The UFC can give them great fights. But I believe competition is great also, they need more organizations otherwise if you are locked up and if you lose a few fights, your career is over. There are too many good fighters, so in order for them to compete on a regular base, they HAVE to win, that's a lot of pressure. So again, competition is great!

BZ: Who do you feel is the toughest opponent and what do you consider the biggest/best win of your career?
BR: My toughest opponent was Funaki, I knocked him down 4 times and he kept coming, the whole place was chanting: Funaki, Funaki! Than my final knee to his head kept him down, I was exhausted! For me that was also my biggest win because he beat me before and this was a re-match. Of course, my fight for the UFC Heavyweight title was also important for me, it was controversial, but I knew I won, John Mc Carthy said that he didn't stand us up because I was working from the back. Also when Kevin Randleman said in an interview that after I kicked him in the liver he couldn't do anything anymore, it made me feel good. Kevin is a great guy.

BZ: It's been reported that you've been contacted by WWE for potential work there. What are the factors that weighed into your decision not to pursue that option?
BR: The WWE offered me very good money but I had to do 220 shows a year!? My wife had just given birth to our second daughter, I wanted to see her grow up, so I said no. With that schedule I could have never done that, 220 shows a year and that's WITHOUT the traveling.

BZ: Please tell us about the training center that you are opening up with Randy Couture in Hollywood.
BR: Legends is a treally cool training center, I am on the road so much so I cannot be there to teach classes as much as I would like to be. The week of July 9-13 I am in Los Angeles so I can teach then. It's really a really good place, great teachers besides Randy and myself, there is Chris Reilly, who is also one of the owners, he's a great striking coach! Also Jeremy Williams (the coach from the "Contender") is a great instructor, Jason Miller, Karo Parisian, they all teach there and it provides an electric atmosphere with intense training capabilities with instructors who really know the fight game.

BZ: Your bar fight videos have taken on something of a cult following due to your use of original catchphrases. Are you pleased with the type of exposure they have received?
BR: I love the bar fighting DVD, when I saw the clip with the sounds on youtube, I was crying from laughing. I know its very good though, I have bodyguards, police officers, bouncers etc all emailing me how much it helps them. It's straight to the point, no BS. Funny story, I was sitting in the lounge at United airlines and this group of guys were looking at me, suddenly they got up and came to me, so I got up because I thought something was going down, they said that everything was OK and that they were Air Marshals and than they pulled out the Bas Rutten street fighting DVD, they asked me to sign them. How cool was that?! I sent them free Big DVD's of Combat, I mean, these guys protect all of us!

BZ: How did you find out about The Irish Whip and do you plan to continue following it as a reliable source for mixed martial arts news?
BR:The Irish Whip? I was surfing the internet and came to it, a really good site about MMA, I love it, very new news, and that's what the fans want right? Of course I book marked it and I will be back for sure!

BZ: We know you've been doing a ton of work with MMAtoday.com. What's been the most fun part of working with them and are there any big projects coming up on the site that you can tell us about?
BR: MMA Today a great online channel with many video clips all about fighting inside AND outside the ring or cage. You watch what happens in about three weeks, than the site is going to be what we really want it to be like and you will freak out! We have great ideas and now it's coming, sorry, its a surprise! I am going with some other fighters on Tuesday at the movie premiere party in Hollywood for the feature film, "Captivity". You will get to see really good footage from that as we will be shooting on the red carpet and inside the premiere party.

BZ: Can you give us any predictions for tomorrow's UFC 73 event?
BR: I am sorry for the UFC event, I don't like to do predictions because I know a lot of these guys. I can tell you that its going to be a great show though!!

BZ: Thanks so much for talking with us today. We really appreciate you taking the time.
BR: Thanks guys, Godspeed and party on!!

-An interview by Ben Zeidler