| Wes Holverson Interview | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: May 26 2010, 07:35 PM (217 Views) | |
| Stern | May 26 2010, 07:35 PM Post #1 |
|
Interview with Wes Holverson When we think of the IMMAF, we think of tough-as-nails fighters going toe-to-toe with one another to prove their worth inside the cage. When we think of these hard-hitting fighters we think of the distinct and challenging weight classes such as lightweight. And when we think of the demanding lightweight class only one name comes to mind: Wes Holverson. A former two-time IMMAF Lightweight Champion, former Lightweight Grand Prix Winner, and former TIF 4 Lightweight Winner, Wes Holverson has proven himself time after time. With an 87% win percentage and only four losses on his nearly unblemished record, Holverson is no doubt one of the greatest fighters to ever step into the cage. However, many critics have said that he has had too many chances to prove himself against the likes of Paul Richardson and Matt Daniels and that his recent dropping of the lightweight crown to Ayumu Ochi is a fight that will hold him back for a long time. Nevertheless, Wes Holverson, as always, feels that he is the top dog in his division, a division that he has helped put on the top level of the IMMAF. Jamie Day: Thank you for joining me here today ladies and gentlemen, because, as you might have deducted for that video presentation, we have Wes Holverson here with us today! Wes, thank you for taking time out of your workouts to be with us. Wes Holverson: No problem, Jamie, I love to set out some time each month to interact with the other people involved in the sport I love. Usually it involves a fellow animal inside a steel cage, but if I can wear jeans and sip on a Coke then I am fine with that too. Jamie Day: Wes, it’s been a good bit since you sat down to an interview like this. So tell us, what have you been up to outside of MMA? Wes Holverson: I believe last time I had announced my engagement ot my long-time girlfriend Miranda. Well, we got married only a few months ago and we have been sharing some good times as newlyweds. It’s pretty weird wearing this ring all the time, but she loves all of that kind of stuff. I told her that I would have to take it off for fights, but luckily she’s okay with that… for now. Jamie Day: I know what you mean, my own wife pitches a fit every time I take it off to swim in the pool. I told her that I don’t want to lose it, but she insists on me wearing. Anyways, back to you, Wes. Take us back to that awful day when you unfortunately dropped the title to Ayumu Ochi after he caught you out of nowhere with that vicious Flying Triangle submission. What were your feelings going into that fight? Wes Holverson: Arsenault had been talking shit ever since he beat me with that horseshit referee stoppage and then I finally got my revenge in the grand prix finals where I snapped his ankle pretty good. Then I got even more payback when I knocked him out at IMMAF 162. So leading into my fight with Ochi I was pretty much the cockiest mother you had ever seen in your life. I was partying all the time and when I wasn’t I was at promotional events signing autographs. I think I began training for Ochi about three weeks before the fight, with only light stuff for the first week. The next two weeks I put myself into a grind in order to make up for lost time. All in all I felt that I could have trained a bit more because, while he wasn’t that big name star yet, he was definitely known as a dangerous BJJ practitioner. Jamie Day: So you were confident that you would win but in the back of your mind you knew that you were under prepared? Wes Holverson: Right, I felt that I could have done more, but was willing to rely on my god-given talents going into the fight. Jamie Day: I guess we won’t discuss the fight in detail, but it was the first time in your stellar career that you had ever tapped out. What was that like? Wes Holverson: The moment after I tapped I regretted it. Going into every fight I have a motto: “don’t tap, let it snap.” Things are a bit more cloudier when you are stuck in a triangle though, so I was looking for the best way to keep from blacking out. I regretted tapping out, but not letting myself get hurt allowed me to come back sooner and fight. Jamie Day: Yes, against Robert Hamilton. During that time, IMMAF Management had implemented the block schedule of fights, but has since decided to return to the old ways of doing things. What is your take on the whole block system and the subsequent return to the old ways? Wes Holverson: I am willing to do anything that the management tells me to do. I am just looking for a fight, no matter how it is put together. Just tell me when I need to be in the cage and I’ll be alright. Jamie Day: We have some emails that were sent in over the past couple weeks leading up to this interview, so would you mind answering some of the questions? Wes Holverson: No way, shoot! Jamie Day: This first one is from Dan P. in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It reads: “Dear Wes, what has been the toughest fight in your career?” Wes Holverson: I’m taking it by “toughest” he means the fight in which I had to sacrifice the most blood, sweat, and tears, so I will answer it pertaining to that. I would have to go with my fight against [Rodrigo] Franca where the first three scheduled rounds ended in a draw, the extra round ended in a draw, and then I was finally announced the winner after the end of the fifth round. Neither of us were expecting a match that would go for 25 minutes, but that’s what we got. After the match, we both talked for like three hours about how great it was. We are still good friends and I think that was the toughest five rounds of my career, easy. I think that was the one where I got my eye busted and fought half-blind for the last three rounds, but I’m not sure. Anyways, it was definitely a brutal fight because I had only expected three rounds at the very most. Jamie Day: This next one comes from Micah Silvers out in Pasadena, Texas. Micah writes, “Wes, if you could have any rubber match from your few losses that you’ve had, who would you pick to have it with?” Wes Holverson: That’s a good one. So it’s between Paul [Richardson], [Matt] Daniels, and [Ayumu] Ochi. Hmm, I will have to think about that one. I will have to go with Matt Daniels for the simple fact that he knocked me out. That is my one fight where I was knocked out, just like the Ochi fight being my fight where I tapped out. So yeah, getting some revenge for Daniels taking my title and knocking me out would be awesome! Jamie Day: Maybe we could get management to set that shit up! Anyways, here is the next one, which is from Melissa R. in New York: “Dear Wes, what has been your favorite ending to one of your fights?” Wes Holverson: That’s a good one too. I have submissions, knock outs, stoppages, and even disqualifications to choose from. I guess the one that sticks out the most is knocking out Jason Arsenault after all of that trash he talked for like a month straight. I had broken his ankle only a bit before that, so I knew I had the upper hand going into that one. After a pretty such even first round, I came out swinging, backed him up into the corner, and when he tried to sneak out I lit him up with a barrage of rights and lefts. Luckily, one caught and I retained my title. Jamie Day: I was watching that one too! Okay, Wes, this is our final question. Hunter J. from Virginia writes, “Wes, what has been the most rewarding part of fighting in the IMMAF?” Wes Holverson: I think getting a chance to prove your ability against men that are often superior to you. Fighting men like Hidehiko Futija, BJ Dwinell, and Paul Richardson has been awesome and has made me a much better fighter. Being thrust into the spotlight at such a young age in my career was, oddly enough, helpful in my development. I have proved myself against the best and I have beaten the best. In the end, this sport is about boosting your self-confidence and about knowing that you can do something that many other people cannot. Jamie Day: Well Wes, thank you for your time here with us today and I hope you had as much fun as we all did. Wes Holverson: it was a great day, Jamie, I was happy to do it. Jamie Day: Good luck in your future fights, wherever and whenever those may be. We all know you will dominate, as usual. Wes Holverson: Thank you, all of you. |
| Team Bold Website | |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · MMA Media · Next Topic » |







2:51 PM Jul 11