An Interview With...............Paul Saunders, Zoo Fight Club

First of all Paul, We at MMA Warlike want to thank you for this interview.

No probs mate!

Do you go by any nickname when you fight, if so how did you get it?

 No i dont use a nickname at all.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into MMA

 I got involved in traditional martial arts when i was about 16, I went through the ranks in that and progressed into wrestling and chinese kickboxing. I then started doing valetudo and it all naturally evolved into MMA.


Why fight MMA?

 In my opinion its the ultimate test of combined fighting skills.


What motivates you to fight?

 Its just in me, its not something i can explain, its just something i do and enjoy.

Give us your most memorable moment in MMA....That moment
that made you say to yourself "I want to do that!"

Watching UFC 1, seeing some great brawlers such as Ken Shamrock battle it out with some fantastic knock outs.

What would you do if you were not a fighter?

 I would`nt be me

How do you seperate fighting and your personal life?

With difficulty

Who is your favourite MMA fighter at the moment?

 GSP

We're aware that you guys are in your 40's. Do you think age matters when it comes to fighting?

 No I dont think it matters. Have you seen Randy Couture lately!

Now that you are in your 40's did you find the preperation for this fight harder than you used to?

Yeah definitely.

Whats your typical day in the gym?...Give us a little sneak
peek into your training regime.

 My days tend to change due to teaching but i get some stand up, rolling and conditioning in througout the day when i have time.

What element in your game are you most working on right
now?

 My stand up, Thai

If you could fight anyone in the sport of MMA, who would it
be and why?

 Dan Hardy, hes a good scrapper

If you could fight anyone NOT in the sport, who would it be
and why?

 Yeah and he'll know who he is when he reads this but I would`nt even waste my breath on him because he`s got his finger firmly fixed on 999.

MMA in the USA is really big. How big do you think MMA is going to compare to that here in the UK in the coming years.

 I think its on the rise here in the UK, with shows like UC MMA setting a high standard and other filter shows around the UK. I believe that MMA in the UK is just at the tip of the iceberg.

What do you do to relax?...What do you enjoy to do away
from training/MMA?

 I like to write.

Do you have any advice or anyone wanting to take up MMA as a sport?

 Find a good gym, don`t be afraid to ask questions and make sure its a good friendly enviroment. Do at least 3 to 4 sessions before going out and buying all the latest gear and turning up looking like a UFC fighters before you've even walked in the gym.


Who do you train with and what gym do you fight out of?

 I fight out of Zoo Fight Club and train with British ICO Thai champion Luke Read and 2 time British boxing champion John Pema. I also do a lot of sparring with a couple of guys from Zoo, Dave Warren and Mark Straughn. Ive had a lot of dietry advice from Mike Freeman to help with cutting weight.

You are fighting John Rutherford on Feb 26th Do you have any words for your opponent?

 I have chatted to John a couple of times, we're both of the same mind set. We're gonna get in there and give it our all and put on a good show.

Do you see yourself fighting again after this fight?

 Yeah why not.

Are there Fans, Friends or sponsors you would like to thank
and give a shout out to?

 I'd like to thank my misses for putting up with a 25 year old in a 44 year old`s body. All the guys at the Zoo for helping me get ready for this fight and Azur Marina Pavilion for sponsoring me. Ohhhh I almost forgot my childhood friend Mark King who was inspirational back in the good old days at the Budokai.

How can folks contact you?

 Facebook " Zoo Hastings"

Give the fight a plug.....When are you fighting, where and who are you fighting?

War on the Shore 2 in Hastings East Sussex on 26th Feb. I'm fighting John Rutherford.

Good luck on the 26th Paul and thank you for this interview!