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SHAWN BUNCH: "EACH FIGHT, YOU'RE GONNA KEEP SEEING IMPROVEMENTS AND MORE"

By Percy Crawford | January 03, 2013
SHAWN BUNCH:

"I felt like I had an alright performance for my first fight. I feel like each fight, you're gonna keep seeing improvements and more from me. And I handled my nerves pretty good it just felt like I was getting ready for another big wrestling match so my nerves didn't really bother me. I'm used to competing on the big stage," stated Bellator bantamweight Shawn Bunch, who talked about his victory in his MMA debut, his future plans, and much more. Check it out!

PC: Congratulations on your Bellator debut win over Chad Coon. How did it feel to get that first fight out of the way?

SB: Thanks, man. I appreciate it. It felt good to finally get in there and get my first win out the way.

PC: What was the game plan going in and did you feel like you were able to execute the plan before having your jaw broken? Were you able to somewhat sustain it or did it go out of the window and you had to improvise after the injury?

SB: My game plan going into the fight was just to control the pace of the fight right away and just get the first win out of the way. I kept the same game plan throughout the fight regardless of my jaw. My jaw wasn't a factor at all.

PC: When you say it wasn't a factor, do you mean you didn't know it was broken or you just kept to your plan even knowing it was broken?

SB: I really didn't notice anything wrong with my jaw until after the fight, after I cooled down, then it started bothering me and I knew something was wrong with it.

PC: Coon was obviously a tough dude. Was there anything that he did that surprised you or did you expect him to be tough?

SB: I knew he was tough going into the fight. I knew he had a lot of experience. My brother was friends with him in college, so I knew a lot about him. But none of that really mattered going into the fight. I just did what I had to do to get that first win under my belt.

PC: What do you make of your MMA debut and how were your nerves before the fight?

SB: I felt like I had an alright performance for my first fight. I feel like each fight, you're gonna keep seeing improvements and more from me. And I handled my nerves pretty good; it just felt like I was getting ready for another big wrestling match, so my nerves didn't really bother me. I'm used to competing on the big stage.

PC: If you had to compare it to your wrestling career as far as adrenaline and nerves and things of that nature, how would you compare the two?

SB: The nerves part felt the same going into the fight, but my adrenaline level is a little higher, but in all, it was a good feeling being out there and fighting in a cage for the first time.

PC: You have been eating through a straw since then and told me you have a few weeks left. Is that the most difficult part of the injury or will there be any lingering effects from this?

SB: Yeah, I'm not in any type of pain now physically. It's all mental, just not being able to eat, and drinking food through a straw is hard, but I only got like 19 more days. It's like being locked up and I'm making a list of all the things I'm gonna eat when I get these wires off (laughing).

PC: (Laughing) Yeah, Mike Kogan said they are gonna have to create a weight class for you because you're shrinking down to nothing (laughing). Physically, how are you and is your weight that low?

SB: (Laughing) Well, I hope I don't get that small, but my weight hasn't been too low. I been maintaining it drinking my boast for breakfast and drinking my Ensure for Dizzert (laughing).

PC: You're on your Kanye West, huh (laughing)? What is the timetable that you are being told on just training again and getting back in the mix at the gym?

SB: Well, hopefully I can get back to going hard when I get these wires off in 19 days and then I would say be back in the cage in March for my next fight.

PC: I hope you have a speedy recovery. I can't wait to see you back inside of the Bellator cage. Is there anything else you want to say in closing?

SB: Shout out to my MMA Elite Family; thanks for the support, along with my boy Omar at Functional Core and everyone at AKA in San Jose. Gotta shout out my big bro James, my sis Shaunta, Mom and Dad, my boy Angel, Jair, Bull and all the fam down in Palm Beach County.



[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]

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