"He has a school and I'm sure he works with fighters all the time. I know he's been training. It's not really important for me to go out there and push the pace at all. I'm not taking him lightly and will treat him like he cut me off in traffic...All I really care about is the W at the end and I will bite Javier's ear off to get it," stated MMA featherweight Din Thomas as he talked about his upcoming clash with Javier Vazquez on the June 27 Ultimate Chaos event. Check it out!
PC: How are you doing brother?
DT: All is well with me. I'm just about to go into my cave and won't emerge until it's time to do battle against Javi.
PC: How is training going for your fight at Ultimate Chaos in June?
DT: As stated, I'm about to go into my cave. Training so far is really good. I'm fortunate to always have training partners that are getting ready for fights. Obviously, Thiago Alves and Mike Brown are getting ready so it's been really fun working with these guys. But then Gleason Tibau, Raphael Robello, Fabio Mello, Luigi Fiorivante, Cole and Micah Miller and a squad of other guys are getting ready to throwdown so it's never a dull day at ATT. Also, with the World's coming up, a lot of guys, like Marcelo Garcia, Edson Diniz and Tagarella, are getting ready for that.
PC: If your goal was to stay active, you are definitely achieving that. How does your body feel fighting this often?
DT: I feel good. The more I train, the more technical I get. When you train more technically, your body doesn't take the wear and tear.
PC: How did this opportunity come up for you to fight on this card and what do you think of the card overall?
DT: My management does everything for me. I just sit by the phone and wait. I got the phone call and was like, "Sure! Send the contract!" As far as the card, I think it's substantial. There's a lot of fights, which will give a lot of young guys a chance to make money and showcase their skills. But the card is really being carried by Sapp and Lashley. We are just fillers.
PC: Javier Vazquez is a tough guy, but he's been retired for a few years now. How important is it for you to push the pace and see if he's been training during his time off?
DT: He has a school and I'm sure he works with fighters all the time. I know he's been training. It's not really important for me to go out there and push the pace at all. I'm not taking him lightly and will treat him like he cut me off in traffic.
PC: He is very well versed on the ground. What are the keys to a victory for you in this fight?
DT: I hate to be lame and cliche, but the keys to victory will be shown on the 27th.
PC: You've finished your last two opponents in the 1st round. Can we expect much different on June 27th?
DT: I never really anticipate finishing at any given point. It just presents itself and I go after it. All I really care about is the W at the end and I will bite Javier's ear off to get it.
PC: (Laughing) I think Vazquez will definitely be your toughest post-UFC opponent. Is this the type of fight you need right now?
DT: Yeah. I need to beat somebody at his caliber. I'd like to prove that I'm the best at 145 out there right now. I don't fight for money. I don't fight for chicks. I fight to prove that I'm the best. I'm not just putting on a TapouT T-shirt and talking about fighting. I'm going to prove it.
PC: This will be your first time fighting in Mississippi. What type of crowd are you expecting?
DT: Probably a bunch of guys with no teeth and white hoods.
PC: (Laughing) You may want to expect some boos if they read the website (laughing). We gotta hang out when you come down man so don't act stuck up (laughing)!
DT: You're buying the booze.
PC: I'm on it bro! What do you think of MMA fighters as boxers and boxers as MMA fighters?
DT: I think it's a bit easier for a MMA guy to compete in boxing than it is for a boxer to compete in MMA. MMA guys are GENERALLY tougher in the sense that we are used to getting kicked and elbowed and kneed and thrown down. I rememeber years ago sparring with boxers before I really knew how to box. They would always cry and complain that I was too rough with them. I was a little rough around the edges. I would punch them in the back of the head and in their kidneys. Anywhere I could hit them, I would. But that's just how MMA is really. It's rough and you dont complain. You just keep fighting. Complaining is a sign of breaking. A good MMA guy is hard to break. Don't get what I'm saying twisted. I'm speaking generally and it doesn't apply to all boxers or MMA guys.
PC: If you could choose one boxer to face under boxing rules, who would it be and why?
DT: Mayweather!
PC: Why Mayweather, and if you could choose one boxer to fight under MMA rules, who would it be and why?
DT: Mayweather! Because he probably just kicked my ass in boxing.
PC: Do you think Kimbo Slice would have more success as a boxer than a mixed martial artist?
DT: Probably as a boxer. He couldn't beat the top guys in boxing, but he could beat up some bums. But there's not a lot of guys in MMA he could really beat at this point.
PC: What boxer do you think could make a pretty smooth transition to MMA?
DT: I think Berto could make the transition. His family are very schooled at MMA. He already understands it. I think that Miguel Cotto could probably do it too. He has a MMA sense about him.
PC: Does Roy Jones stand a chance against Anderson Silva in an MMA fight?
DT: Roy Jones wouldn't win a standup fight against Silva if Silva was allowed to kick, knee and elbow, but if it was just boxing, Silva wouldn't last too long I don't think. In MMA, Jones wouldn't make it out of the first round. These are not knocks on these guys, just two different sports.
PC: Thanks for your time and your honesty as always brother. I'll see you in June. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
DT: Check out www.1001submissions.com/thedvd. It should be out in the fall, but you can preview clips of what we have been working on. Now it's time for me to close my cave door.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]