Address

Moved this blog to www.ohiomixedmartialarts.blogspot.com

Bhrandon Poindexter Interview

Bhrandon Poindexter is coming off of two losses. The last loss was a decision that
some feel he should have won. Bhrandon has constantly been fighting the top guys in the division, and he himself is one of the top guys in the division. Bhrandon is one of those guys who I think with Pro rules will be a better pro when he does turn pro.

Q: First, can you just talk about how you got started in the sport?
A: I got started about 4 or 5 years ago when I came home from college and my buddy Mario Micale was training. Everyone should know him, Super Mario. We started going to Pain Headquarters, and I just got into it to get a workout in, it was something different, it was hot on the streets. I just fell in love with this Muay Thai thing and Muay Thai turned into MMA and I have taken it to the highest point I can go right now.

Q: You said you fell in love with Muay Thai, so is striking what you picked up quickest was striking?
A: Oh yeah. I had been striking since I was a kid doing boxing with my uncle Lorenzo and things like that. So to get back in the gym and sharpen my skills up and do some more stand-up was refreshing and it all came back and made me fall in love again.

Q: I want to go back to your last two fights. First the Tyler Saltsman fight. There was a lot of talk between you two leading up to the fight. Was there a reason for that?
A: There is no reason behind talking ever in a fight. We were just gonna fight each
other. I just didn't like the way the kid carried himself. He's not professional in the sport. I want to take my career to the next level and I just feel like he's always bashing the sport of MMA. He's very disrespectful to everyone, not just me, to every one of his opponents. I don't know if he gets a kick out of it or what. But it was just a little trash talking and letting him know I'm not scared of him and this MMA thing is a business first.

Q: Looking back, you obviously wanted to knock him out. Do you think going in so
determined to get the knock out hurt you?
A: Oh yeah, most definitely I believe it did. I was thinking too much. I wanted to win too bad instead of going out there and fighting my fight. I guess I can say he did get in my head a little bit, I'll be a man about it. He didn't get in my head as much as I wanted to smash the kid to show him that he's not that great.

Q: Do you think under pro rules a fight between you two would be more suited for you?
A: Oh yeah, of course. I wouldn't have any restrictions, I wouldn't have to stand there and throw a one two to the head without head kicks, knees, flying knees, elbows, things of that nature. Everyone knows I am an explosive athletic fighter and for me to have limitations on my striking really hurts me. I train with Ryan Madigan, one of the top kick boxers in the world and we head kick and everything. So it's kind of different when
ou get in that cage and you're being restricted.

Q: After the fight there was some stuff that happened in the cage. Do you regret any of that?
A: No not at all. I never regret anything I do. I say what I mean and mean what I say at all times.

Q: Then we had the Russ Brletrick fight. I said you won rounds 1 and 2, is that accurate in your opinion?
A: Oh yea, for sure. Coming off of a fight two weeks before that one and then hopping right back in there. It was a little soon, but like you said, I felt I did enough to win the first 2 rounds, of course anyone who fights back to back like that is gonna have gas issues, so I guess I can say I was gassed out a little in the third and didn't do enough for the judges. But felt I won the fight and can't get over the hump right now.

Q: Is it frustrating when the read the decision and you feel you won, but they give it to the other person?
A: It's a little bit frustrating. It just makes me want to get back in the lab and the gym and do more work. I don't really hang my head on losses, I'm an amateur, I never really get down on myself in any sport. I played every sport all my life. I just let things go, I just try and improve myself to get that win. I don't need to be embarrassed or anything, it just makes me work harder.

Q: Is there anything you can look back on and say "maybe if I did this
different"?
A: Definitely. If I wouldn't have been that wrestler everyone thinks I should be, and stood with the guy and been my natural self I probably could have gotten a couple more points or did something for my advantage instead of being this wrestler. My coaches before the fight were telling me "you can take this guy down, if you see you're shot, take it". Which I feel now, looking back I shouldn't have done. I should have been my fighter. Like Is aid, back to the alb and improve my striking and not become this wrestler, just have that in my arsenal.

Q: That kind of answers my next question, but coming off of two losses, is there
something you want to really improve?
A: Not really. I have an all-around game, people just don't get to see it. Match-ups
happen and things like that. I've fought the top guys in my division my whole career and each guy is different. As you know, at this level, you get match-ups that the crowd wants to see, not so much as if it's a good fight for you. As far as improving, I can improve in everything. I'm still young, my Muay Thai, my wrestling, my Jiu-Jitsu, I just want to improve in everything so I can have an all-around game when I do go pro.

Q: You mentioned you have fought all the top guys. Do you take that as a sign they
obviously believe in your talent?
A: Yeah, I definitely do. Like I say, your resume speaks in this sport. If you don't
fight anyone in your amateur career, it will show as a pro no matter what. If you turn pro and have a terrible amateur record you might be a terrible pro, but then again you have to look at your amateur fighters, who did you fight, who was he against.

Q: Along those lines, NAAFS, seems to usually put you on the big shows. Do you take that as a compliment?
A: Definitely. I appreciate it each and every time. It shows that I'm an exciting
fighter, I sell tickets, and people like to see a great striker, a good fighter, and I try and be that and stay humble.

Q: You come from a great gym in Evolve. What are the benefits of training at a gym like Evolve?
A: The benefits are having every piece of equipment, anything I need is provided by John Cook. He does a great job opening the gym at all times. The classes we provide are literally seven days a week. I don't know any other gym outside of the top level UFC guys that can go to a gym and train seven days a week and get various styles. That's what are gym offers. We have everything to suit MMA. Not just boxing, not just Muay Thai, Not just Jiu-Jitsu, not just wrestling. We kind of strive to make every aspect of our game good and that's what I live about Evolve.

Q: One thing I like about Evolve is that it's one of those gyms where teammates really genuinely want to go root for a teammate, not doing it just out of responsibility. is that accurate?
A: Oh yeah. It's like a big family. We all train each other through are camps, each guy is going through something and we all go through it. John and Clint (Musser) try and implement a buddy system, where if a guy is cutting for a fight, grab another guy and get him to work out and cut with you. It becomes a big family bond. Everyone is there for everyone. If you don't have a great team, you don't go far.

Q: Let's say Nichole Long comes to you and says you can pick your next opponent, who
would you pick?
A: I really try and avoid calling people out, but I would really like to fight Drew
Schottenheimer or R.J. Buck. They both got good names and their resumes speak as well as mine. I think they would be a good match-up for me. There both local guys, so I would pick one of those two. Doesn't matter which one, but they are the only two in my division I haven't fought yet and I have a good chance of beating them.

Q; Have you given any thought to when you want to turn pro?
A: Definitely. We talk all the time, the coaches at the gym, my uncle Lorenzo and John Cook. The plan was to take one or two more fights, but I had to win. So we are getting back into the lab and more than likely take one more amateur fight and make my pro debut sometime next year.

Q: You fight for NAAFS. Is there a reason you like to fight for them?
A: I like fighting for them because of the exposure, and the matchmaker Nichole Long is a great woman. She takes care of all her fighters, she looks out for us. She doesn't have the best interest of one fighter, she looks out for both fighters. I know her on a personal level and she is a great woman. It's a great organization.

Q: Seems like maybe they are leading to Isaiah Chapman vs Cody Garbrandt. If that fights happens who would you pick?
A: I would have to go with Garbrandt. I've trained with the kid. He works hard, his hands are fast. Isaiah to me, he has a great record, but he reminds me of GSP, he just keeps winning. I don't know how he wins, but he keeps winning. The kid is good but I think Garbrandt has the upper hand mentally.

Q: Before we finish, anyone you want to thank or mention?
A: I want to thank my sponsors, Head Shot, Feel The Fight, Evolve, John Cook, my two
biggest fans, my girlfriend Shannon Floyd and my mother Amy Poindexter, my whole Evolve family, everyone who supports me, my fans and you of course for the interview.

Sarah McLeod Interview

Q: Can you start out telling how you go into the sport?
A: I was training for a Bikini competition and going to the gym all the time. That was gonna get me to set a goal and work out. I decided that was the next step would be to further challenge myself. Just like how you train for bodybuilding, kind of the same physically demanding workouts that MMA people have to do. So I felt the crossover would be the next challenge for me. I started searching and everyone kept laughing at me so I never joined an MMA gym cause no one wanted to take me n and teach me. I met someone who said "sure I can get you in the cage in 12 days" and I convinced someone I had a black belt in athleticism and was in the cage 12 days later doing my first fight with no experience or training. Just weights and cardio at the gym. So I did my first fight that was and it was a draw but I fell in love with the sport and that's how I got to do it. The first year, 2010, was just sticking to weights and cardio. I was stubborn to start at a gym cause everyone laughed at me when I told them I have the heart and dedication to do it. No one took me seriously and would teach me what I had to learn.

Q: Looking back, do you wish you trained a little more before the first fight?
A: Not really. If I trained a bit more I feel the result would have been different, but its what I needed to do, just get in there and see what I need to learn. I find that every fight is when I find out what to work on and learn. I'm the kind of person that will fight all the time and its better I train now. But now that I look at it.... it's just the way it went. It's hard to answer. It is what it is. But I think the result would have been different had I trained. Its just good to see how far my heart will take me and how much determination I have. The start of my career has built my confidence and shown how much heart and determination I have. If that can take me as far as it has, a lot of training can take me a lot farther.

Q: You just beat Ronda Gale. Did you avhe a game plan for the fight?
A: I took the fight on two weeks notice. I wasn't planning on fighting in June, preparing for my July 30th fight, which I still don't have an opponent. Usually my plan for any opponent is to stand and bang. It doesn't matter what my opponent likes to do. I prefer to stand but I do have a pretty good ground game. But once the bell rings, its just something in me, I like to stand and bang. My plan was to stand but if it went to the ground I had a couple techniques I would try, like getting on top or just stand right back up. But I was planning on standing. The research I did on Ronda is that she liked to stand so I figured it would be a striking match.

Q: Was there a point where you knew you could finish her?
A: Yeah there were a couple times I thought I should have finished her but I find when I fight sometimes emotion gets involved and I back off and kind of start looking at my opponent like "ooohh am I kind of hurting her?" and I back off. That's one thing I was thinking afterwords is that I shouldn't let emotions get involved and continue to be aggressive. That's something I gotta work on, she is trying to beat me up as much as I am trying to beat her up. I think I should have been on top of it more and more aggressive and I would have finished her earlier.

Q: Is it safe to say she fought as you expected?
A: Yeah. I thought she would stand and bang cause she is a striker and tough. I thought that I would be a bit too powerful for her cause my reach is longer and my punches are strong and I have good aim. I was thinking she may shoot in for takedowns, so I was surprised she didn't even look like trying to take me down. Maybe it was just my reach.

Q: You have told em you really respect Ronda. Why is that?
A: When I came to Ohio in December I saw her fight Marcia May, one of her memorable fights. A good brawl. She was just a tough lady and I read your story on her having a family, kids, a full time job and a hard worker. She got into MMA cause people said she cant. I can relate to her. I think a lot of females can relate to her in that people tell us we cant so we are showing we belong in the sport and are capable of challenging ourselves like guys to. So I have been following her fights ever since and any woman who gets in the cage I respect. I admire her for being 35 or 36 and having a family and juggling that all.

Q: You had to come without your team. But had great cornermen in John Hawk and the Rock Hard MMA guys. How much did that help?
A: Its always great to have people in your corner, especially I had a boxer and John who is a striker. They were helpful preparing me for the fight and told me how to strike. I took it last minute so I couldn't arrange for my trainer to come so I had to explain my game to John and Corey and they were experienced. Once you are in the cage its one on one so I can only hope my corners understand my game plan. They were helpful warming me and keeping me calm so I didn't get anxious or excited.

Q: The win put you in the top five for NAAFS ranking and it the title chase. Is that something you think about?
A: Yeah. that's a huge accomplishment to me. Its amazing to me. I was just looking at that. I know NAAFS has a huge women's league, the biggest I know of. Its an honor to be a part of the NAAFS family now and I'm hoping to work up to that title.

Q: How was your first NAAFS fighting experience overall?
A: I thought it was amazing. Everyone I met treated me with respect. The fighters were great, it was a great crowd. I don't have one complaint. Its professionally run and an organization I want to stay with.

Q: Would fighting on Eve of Destruction be a goal?
A: Definitely. I 100 percent want to be on that card.

Q: If you read comments on your fight, people make comments on your looks. Would you rather they focus on your skills?
A: Yeah. With any female fighter, they are admirable. I think the female fighetrs are beautiful just because we take care of ourselves and are fit. I think that in any case, a lot of fighters will get attention on their looks. But I prefer focus on my talent. As I fight more I think the focus will shift to my talents as a fighter.

Q: Nichole told me to ask, how you enjoyed the horror movies?
A: Haha. It was great. I watched horror movies with Nichole the night before the fight to take my mind of food and water for weight cut and I enjoy horror movies haha.

Q: For those who know me and you, did you ever think me and you would have this interview?
A: I always have positive hope for true friends. Always gonna be falling outs in life but I believe in positive energy. Any kind of negative energy is nothing I want to be part of. So I am glad we patched everything up.

Q: Before we finish, you know I love you to death, you are my little sister and so proud of you. Anyone you want to thank or mention?
A: You for doing this interview. Nichole is an admirable woman and great asset to NAAFS. She took great care of me and set me up with her home and everything. It was very comforting. My corners, John and Corey. My gym, Mid-America Martial Arts, they give me all the tools I need. And Endless Possibilities, my strength and conditioning gym.

Bhrandon Poindexter Interview

Bhrandon Poindexter is coming off of two losses. The last loss was a decision that
some feel he should have won. Bhrandon has constantly been fighting the top guys in the
division, and he himself is one of the top guys in the division. Bhrandon is one of those
guys who I think with Pro rules will be a better pro when he does turn pro.

Q: First, can you just talk about how you got started in the sport?
A: I got started about 4 or 5 years ago when I came home from college and my buddy Mario
Micale was training. Everyone should know him, Super Mario. We started going to Pain
Headquarters, and I just got into it to get a workout in, it was something different, it
was hot on the streets. I just fell in love with this Muay Thai thing and Muay Thai
turned into MMA and I have taken it to the highest point I can go right now.

Q: You said you fell in love with Muay Thai, so is striking what you picked up quickest
was striking?
A: Oh yeah. I had been striking since I was a kid doing boxing with my uncle Lorenzo and
things like that. So to get back in the gym and sharpen my skills up and do some more
stand-up was refreshing and it all came back and made me fall in love again.

Q: I want to go back to your last two fights. First the Tyler Saltsman fight. There was a
lot of talk between you two leading up to the fight. Was there a reason for that?
A: There is no reason behind talking ever in a fight. We were just gonna fight each
other. I just didn't like the way the kid carried himself. He's not professional in the
sport. I want to take my career to the next level and I just feel like he's always
bashing the sport of MMA. He's very disrespectful to everyone, not just me, to every one
of his opponents. I don't know if he gets a kick out of it or what. But it was just a
little trash talking and letting him know I'm not scared of him and this MMA thing is a
business first.

Q: Looking back, you obviously wanted to knock him out. Do you think going in so
determined to get the knock out hurt you?
A: Oh yeah, most definitely I believe it did. I was thinking too much. I wanted to win
too bad instead of going out there and fighting my fight. I guess I can say he did get in
my head a little bit, I'll be a man about it. He didn't get in my head as much as I
wanted to smash the kid to show him that he's not that great.

Q: Do you think under pro rules a fight between you two would be more suited for you?
A: Oh yeah, of course. I wouldn't have any restrictions, I wouldn't have to stand there
and throw a one two to the head without head kicks, knees, flying knees, elbows, things
of that nature. Everyone knows I am an explosive athletic fighter and for me to have
limitations on my striking really hurts me. I train with Ryan Madigan, one of the top
kick boxers in the world and we head kick and everything. So it's kind of different when
you get in that cage and you're being restricted.

Q: After the fight there was some stuff that happened in the cage. Do you regret any of
that?
A: No not at all. I never regret anything I do. I say what I mean and mean what I say at
all times.

Q: Then we had the Russ Brletrick fight. I said you won rounds 1 and 2, is that accurate
in your opinion?
A: Oh yea, for sure. Coming off of a fight two weeks before that one and then hopping
right back in there. It was a little soon, but like you said, I felt I did enough to win
the first 2 rounds, of course anyone who fights back to back like that is gonna have gas
issues, so I guess I can say I was gassed out a little in the third and didn't do enough
for the judges. But felt I won the fight and can't get over the hump right now.

Q: Is it frustrating when the read the decision and you feel you won, but they give it to
the other person?
A: It's a little bit frustrating. It just makes me want to get back in the lab and the
gym and do more work. I don't really hang my head on losses, I'm an amateur, I never
really get down on myself in any sport. I played every sport all my life. I just let
things go, I just try and improve myself to get that win. I don't need to be embarrassed
or anything, it just makes me work harder.

Q: Is there anything you can look back on and say "maybe if I did this
different"?
A: Definitely. If I wouldn't have been that wrestler everyone thinks I should be, and
stood with the guy and been my natural self I probably could have gotten a couple more
points or did something for my advantage instead of being this wrestler. My coaches
before the fight were telling me "you can take this guy down, if you see you're
shot, take it". Which I feel now, looking back I shouldn't have done. I should have
been my fighter. Like Is aid, back to the alb and improve my striking and not become this
wrestler, just have that in my arsenal.

Q: That kind of answers my next question, but coming off of two losses, is there
something you want to really improve?
A: Not really. I have an all-around game, people just don't get to see it. Match-ups
happen and things like that. I've fought the top guys in my division my whole career and
each guy is different. As you know, at this level, you get match-ups that the crowd wants
to see, not so much as if it's a good fight for you. As far as improving, I can improve
in everything. I'm still young, my Muay Thai, my wrestling, my Jiu-Jitsu, I just want to
improve in everything so I can have an all-around game when I do go pro.

Q: You mentioned you have fought all the top guys. Do you take that as a sign they
obviously believe in your talent?
A: Yeah, I definitely do. Like I say, your resume speaks in this sport. If you don't
fight anyone in your amateur career, it will show as a pro no matter what. If you turn
pro and have a terrible amateur record you might be a terrible pro, but then again you
have to look at your amateur fighters, who did you fight, who was he against.

Q: Along those lines, NAAFS, seems to usually put you on the big shows. Do you take that
as a compliment?
A: Definitely. I appreciate it each and every time. It shows that I'm an exciting
fighter, I sell tickets, and people like to see a great striker, a good fighter, and I
try and be that and stay humble.

Q: You come from a great gym in Evolve. What are the benefits of training at a gym like
Evolve?
A: The benefits are having every piece of equipment, anything I need is provided by John
Cook. He does a great job opening the gym at all times. The classes we provide are
literally seven days a week. I don't know any other gym outside of the top level UFC guys
that can go to a gym and train seven days a week and get various styles. That's what are
gym offers. We have everything to suit MMA. Not just boxing, not just Muay Thai, Not just
Jiu-Jitsu, not just wrestling. We kind of strive to make every aspect of our game good
and that's what I live about Evolve.

Q: One thing I like about Evolve is that it's one of those gyms where teammates really
genuinely want to go root for a teammate, not doing it just out of responsibility. is
that accurate?
A: Oh yeah. It's like a big family. We all train each other through are camps, each guy
is going through something and we all go through it. John and Clint (Musser) try and
implement a buddy system, where if a guy is cutting for a fight, grab another guy and get
him to work out and cut with you. It becomes a big family bond. Everyone is there for
everyone. If you don't have a great team, you don't go far.

Q: Let's say Nichole Long comes to you and says you can pick your next opponent, who
would you pick?
A: I really try and avoid calling people out, but I would really like to fight Drew
Schottenheimer or R.J. Buck. They both got good names and their resumes speak as well as
mine. I think they would be a good match-up for me. There both local guys, so I would
pick one of those two. Doesn't matter which one, but they are the only two in my division
I haven't fought yet and I have a good chance of beating them.

Q; Have you given any thought to when you want to turn pro?
A: Definitely. We talk all the time, the coaches at the gym, my uncle Lorenzo and John
Cook. The plan was to take one or two more fights, but I had to win. So we are getting
back into the lab and more than likely take one more amateur fight and make my pro debut
sometime next year.

Q: You fight for NAAFS. Is there a reason you like to fight for them?
A: I like fighting for them because of the exposure, and the matchmaker Nichole Long is a
great woman. She takes care of all her fighters, she looks out for us. She doesn't have
the best interest of one fighter, she looks out for both fighters. I know her on a
personal level and she is a great woman. It's a great organization.

Q: Seems like maybe they are leading to Isaiah Chapman vs Cody Garbrandt. If that fights
happens who would you pick?
A: I would have to go with Garbrandt. I've trained with the kid. He works hard, his hands
are fast. Isaiah to me, he has a great record, but he reminds me of GSP, he just keeps
winning. I don't know how he wins, but he keeps winning. The kid is good but I think
Garbrandt has the upper hand mentally.

Q: Before we finish, anyone you want to thank or mention?
A: I want to thank my sponsors, Head Shot, Feel The Fight, Evolve, John Cook, my two
biggest fans, my girlfriend Shannon Floyd and my mother Amy Poindexter, my whole Evolve
family, everyone who supports me, my fans and you of course for the interview.

Introduction

I have a popular blog covering women's MMA and fitness called Promoting Real Women. Through that I have become able to cover local MMA, mostly with the NAAFS. I had recently began writing for an MMA site, mainly doing my interviews. No hard feelings toward that site because I liked it, but I feel I do better on my own. So I decided to do this. This will be my interviews with local fighters, fighters who come here to fight, and sometimes other fighters. Also it will feature news about local fighting. Mostly it will cover the NAAFS. Why? Because Nichole Long and Greg Kalikas have been good to me. They let me do what I love, and will be letting me make my debut in December.
I will allow comments on the posts, but anything that is disrespectful will be deleted. So I hope you enjoy this blog.