Thanks for taking the time to talk to us! I'm sure most people know by now but could you tell us what got you into MMA?
What lead me to MMA was that I took up an interest in wrestling at Mount Lake Terrace H.S which is a suburb of Seattle. I excelled in that with modest success but what I really felt the passion for was the competitiveness of it and the team unity. I started then at AMC with Matt Hume in about 1998. I entered some professional fights locally. In 2001 I fought in Shooto and was K.O’d by Akihiro Gono with a perfect spinning back-kick. That was humbling and realized that there more to my skill set to be developed. I then did immerse myself in the techniques and competed with notable success world-wide.
You've fought all over the world, are you looking forward to fighting in the UK?
I am looking very forward to competing in the U.K. The fans are incredible and the athletes are impressive. When I look at a country that size, measure it with the percentage of athletes that reside and compete in it. It’s pretty impressive. I am very much looking forward to the experience of all of it.
You haven't fought for quite a while now and were assumed to be retired, what made you decide to come back at BAMMA 6?
I haven’t competed since 2008. At that time I was at a point in my life where I wanted to focus on something with more foundation. I think I was ready to settle down and have a family and a business. It made it difficult to do when an athlete is training, traveling and competing. I have a very successful gym in Seattle with my team that is developing very well in terms of a team and they’re my family. I was approached by Brett (Atchley) about a year ago. He posed the question as to if I had any desire to compete. I found at that time, when he asked, that I did want to. He said he would start working on it and here we are. Let me say that I see BAMMA as of the top 5 in the world in terms of what they have done and I’m very excited and appreciative that they have chosen me to compete in their promotion.
What lead me to MMA was that I took up an interest in wrestling at Mount Lake Terrace H.S which is a suburb of Seattle. I excelled in that with modest success but what I really felt the passion for was the competitiveness of it and the team unity. I started then at AMC with Matt Hume in about 1998. I entered some professional fights locally. In 2001 I fought in Shooto and was K.O’d by Akihiro Gono with a perfect spinning back-kick. That was humbling and realized that there more to my skill set to be developed. I then did immerse myself in the techniques and competed with notable success world-wide.
You've fought all over the world, are you looking forward to fighting in the UK?
I am looking very forward to competing in the U.K. The fans are incredible and the athletes are impressive. When I look at a country that size, measure it with the percentage of athletes that reside and compete in it. It’s pretty impressive. I am very much looking forward to the experience of all of it.
You haven't fought for quite a while now and were assumed to be retired, what made you decide to come back at BAMMA 6?
I haven’t competed since 2008. At that time I was at a point in my life where I wanted to focus on something with more foundation. I think I was ready to settle down and have a family and a business. It made it difficult to do when an athlete is training, traveling and competing. I have a very successful gym in Seattle with my team that is developing very well in terms of a team and they’re my family. I was approached by Brett (Atchley) about a year ago. He posed the question as to if I had any desire to compete. I found at that time, when he asked, that I did want to. He said he would start working on it and here we are. Let me say that I see BAMMA as of the top 5 in the world in terms of what they have done and I’m very excited and appreciative that they have chosen me to compete in their promotion.
You're fighting Matt Ewin at BAMMA 6, is he fighter you know much about?
I do not know much about Matt other that what I’ve been able to glean and observe in his fight videos. He looks to me to be a serious competitor. He has in his career fought elite level athletes. Some we have in common. He looks to have a great take-down and his grappling is solid. I’m not able to really gauge his stand-up. My coaches and team have been working in all possible scenarios to prepare for him. I expect it to be a war and have no doubt that it will deliver in its entertainment. I am very much looking forward to meeting Matt Ewin in the middle. My hope is that he comes out ready to leave it all out there. That’s what it’s going to take from him if he expects to survive.
How is your training coming along for the fight? You've come in as a late replacement for Phil Baroni have you had time to prepare fully?
My training is on point. I have been actually training on a “fight camp” level for about 3 months. That is when the negotiations with BAMMA and Brett started. It’s the nature of the fight game that it can be temperamental and a lot of things happen. My management kept telling me that they felt that an opportunity would present itself. It did and I am ready. I told my coaches, Johnny Flavin, Jeff Horan and Maurice Smith that I needed to be ready. That is what we have been preparing for.
Does the late confirmation of the fight put him at more of a disadvantage than you?
I don’t see it as a disadvantage to me. Phil (Baroni) is a different competitor in terms of overall style than I am. He’s pretty explosive and has huge power in both hands. I am pretty confident in my overall skillset.
Coach Flavin and Horan have made some adjustment in the last few weeks in terms of points and techniques that have been emphasized but those foundations have already been in place. I guess what I’m saying is that I’m pretty solid in my preparation for Matt and I don’t see a disadvantage in preparation at the late stage. My coaches are on top of it. They don’t let me get away with anything.
Matt said he can't wait to “Salaverry the Salaverry” when we spoke to him recently, anything you'd like to say to him?
Lol!! Although appreciate Matt's interest and admire his enthusiasm. There’s only one Salaverry and I’m sure that he won’t be able to do me as well as I can. Lol!!`That’s pretty funny. Listen, I’m not much of a trash talker. I let my fighting do the talking. Someone made a comment recently about making “limeade (not lemonade) out of the limey”. It was pretty funny but it’s just not me. I respect everyone at this level. They have worked hard and sacrificed to get here. In my book, “don’t talk about it, be about it.” At the end, win or lose, I will shake their hand; embrace my opponent with not a drop of hard feelings.
The card has a bit of a US continent vs the UK feel to it with your fight and especially the main event between Tom Watson and Ninja Rua, who do you have winning that fight?
Absolutely!! It does. It’s a representation of our perspective countries and people. It’s patriotic and it’s in the interest of a good old knockdown drag out battle. I mean look, what more could I ask for? It’s going to be fun. It’s going to take place on one of the largest stages on the planet and I’m right in the middle of it. It’s awesome!!
Watson and Rua?? Man, you’re putting me on the spot. They’re both incredible athletes and very, very well rounded fighters. I like “Ninja” though. I have to stand behind a fellow Latin. I think “Ninja’s” BJJ is better but, from what I have seen of Watson, he’s got thunder in those hands and he has solid ground also. It’s just too tough to call. I hope I’m able to see it.
Are we going to see you back in the UK after this fight, Ewin is eyeing a title shot within 2 fights, and do you have similar goals?
As far as whether I’ll be back to the U.K? That is BAMMA’s call. I would love to continue to compete with them. I would really like to develop a solid relationship with them as well as the rest of the MMA community over there. As far as a title shot, of course I would be very interested in the title shot. In a perfect world that will happen and happen it will. I am in a place physically, emotionally and mentally to compete at my full potential. I don’t see much getting in my way.
Do you think BAMMA can become one of the top promotions out with the Zuffa umbrella?
I see BAMMA as a top promotion already. I see that they are growing and have the potential to secure themselves as a top promotion. They have been around for some time and their business model is an apparent solid one. They have had some epic cards. I don’t see anything standing in BAMMA’s way of being among the elite promotions in MMA at all. I would like to think that I can contribute to that in some way. However they see that I can do that, I would be honored.
Again thanks for taking the time to talk to us, would you like to mention
any sponsors?
Thank you for taking the time to talk with me. It was a good interview. I
would like to thank and mention a few people who have supported and continue
to.
My team at Ivan Salaverry MMA; I love all of you and thank you so much for
being there. I also want to say a special thanks to Donna being one of the
most selfless and kindest women I know.
My coaches and trainers: Johnny Flavin, Jeff Horan, Maurice Smith along with
Petey, Dano, Ivan for the time they have put in getting me ready.
I would like to send my thanks to:
Clinch Gear (Thank you Nick) http://www.clinchgear.com/
Big Sticky’s BBQ in Marysville, Wa. (Thank you Kelly) http://www.bigstickysbbq.net/
Ivan Salaverry MMA http://www.ivansalaverry.net/
Vxrsi (Thank you Dano) http://www.vxrsi.com/
Klench Custom Mouthguards ( Thank you Scott) http://www.klenchguards.com/
MMA Warlike (Thank you guys) www.mmawarlike.org
Addison Sports Management and Media (Thank you Brett) www.mmawarlike.com
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Interview supplied by HALO PR MMA
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