An Interview With Ufc Fighter Mike Swick
Mike “Quick” Swick (born 19 June 1979) is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter.
He was a participant in the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television series produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is one of the reasons for his popularity. He was eliminated from the competition after a semi-final loss to Stephan Bonnar.
Since joining the ranks of the UFC, Mike has gone 5-0 and is considered on of the top Middleweight contenders in the UFC
MMAToday: How did you get involved in martial arts and MMA?
MS: I started in Tae-Kwon-Do at the age of 8. I have just been progressing from there every since…
MMAToday: Once you got started did you ever think you make it all the way to the UFC?
MS: I hoped! Ha-ha
MMAToday: How much did your appearance on TUF affect your training and your career?
MS: It made my career what it is today. It was the exposure that I needed and it made me train harder than ever.
MMAToday: What is it like going from fighting in smaller shows to fighting in the UFC? Were you nervous or did you feel you were ready to be there?
MS: It’s a big difference. The UFC is the Big Show. I felt ready.
MMAToday: Your first 4 fights in the UFC lasted a combined 6 minutes or so, what was the rush?
MS: I am just an aggressive fighter… ha-ha
MMAToday: How has your training been coming? And how is the hand?
MS: Training is going great! Hand is almost 100%. I am still sparring and doing mitt work, I am just still a little careful with it.
MMAToday: Can you give us a little insight into your training regimen?
MS: We train 2-3 times a day, 6 days a week.
MMAToday: Who are you currently training with?
MS: We have a great crew in now… As far as training, I have Lynn Schutz, Bob Cook, Dave Camarillo, and Javier Mendez. As far as teammates I got Fitch, Koscheck, Thomson, Prangley, Southworth, Fukada, plus a lot of great up and comers. Baroni should be back soon as well.
MMAToday: What motivated you to keep going and fighting?
MS: Wanting to be the best…
MMAToday: Your next opponent is Yushin Okami on March 3rd, anything special planned for that fight?
MS: This fight is not for sure. Nothing is signed. We are still working on it. I want this fight though.
MMAToday: Where do you see yourself in the Middleweight title picture if you are victorious there?
MS: I guess it depends on how I perform. I plan to perform at my best.
MMAToday: How well do you stack up against the current champ Anderson Silva?
MS: Wouldn’t mind finding out… ha-ha
MMAToday: Is there any other Middleweight out there in the UFC you would like to fight? And why?
MS: All of them!
MMAToday: Would you still like a rematch with Chris Leben?
MS: That fight will happen eventually and yes I will be happy when it does. After his performance against MacDonald though, it wouldn’t be a step up as far as my career goes. I want to fight top contenders right now.
MMAToday: What fights in your career are the most memorable to you?
MS: All my UFC fights have been very memorable.
MMAToday: How much longer do you have on your current contract?
MS: A little over a year…
MMAToday: Any possibilities of jumping ship to another promotion when it’s up?
MS: Nope.
MMAToday: Is there any fighter outside the UFC you would like to mix it up with?
MS: Haven’t thought about it really.
MMAToday: What fighters do you enjoy watching and why?
MS: GSP, Liddell, Couture, CroCop, Riggs, Loiseau, Silva, etc… All the exciting ones! I am a huge MMA fan myself.
MMAToday: What fighters do you look up to?
MS: Too many to list!
MMAToday: Who do think would be your toughest fight and why?
MS: Right now, I think Anderson Silva. It would be a good test for me.
MMAToday: What are your hobbies outside of MMA?
MS: Traveling. I love traveling! Whatever happens after you die happens, but this is the only earth we will ever have and I want to see it all. I like playing poker as well.
MMAToday: Who do you think the best over looked fighter in your weight class is?
MS: I am not sure. I don’t follow the forums too much to know who is favored more and stuff…
MMAToday: What do you think of Randy coming back?
MS: I am excited, I like him a lot.
MMAToday: What do you think of the UFC bringing in fighters from pride etc?
MS: I think they are just getting the best fighters from all over the world from all organizations and I think it’s great. I love competition.
MMAToday: If you could fight anyone who would it be? Why?
MS: Silva for the title. I want the belt! Ha-ha
MMAToday: Thank you very much for your time Mike, is there anything you would like to add here to your fans or anyone in general?
MS: Thanks for all your support guys! Please check out my webpage at MikeSwick.com and my Myspace at http://Myspace.com/mikeswick. I am also running a UNICEF campaign to raise money for underprivileged children worldwide. You can check out that page at http://unicefusa.org/ert/mikeswick. Thanks!
Brian Robertson
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/an-interview-with-ufc-fighter-mike-swick-95145.html
I think Mike Swick is a coward for saying that he’s too small for the Middleweight division?
I can’t believe that this guy said that on his interview with Sherdog. fighters like Chris Leben, David Loiseau, Joe Doerksen, Frank Shamrock, Rashad Evans Jeff, Monson and Jason Lambert are just a few of examples of fighters who can say that they are too small for their category, but they doesn’t, they fight against fighters much bigger than them and they came out winning, like Josh Barnett against Semmy Schilt, is a good example too, i was a fan Swick but now i feel he is just looking for easy fighters, he said that at least he gain more weight, he would be too small, how he dare to said that, he’s much bigger than Loiseau, Leben, Steve Vigneault, Joe Riggs, and he was happy about those wins against them (except for Leben) and now when he finally fight against a fighter of his size, he scares about that, and besides he would be too much bigger for the Welter category and he seems happy with that, what a coward.
¿What do you think?
Although he’s got almost the same size than Rich Franklin, Yushin Okami, Marquardt, and of course Anderson Silva, i even dare to say that just Silva and Okami are bigger than him.
Coward is a very strong word. The best martial artist is the one who knows his limitations.
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I think you are being a little hard on Mike Swick. He looks smaller than his opponents in the ring. A person can compete in any weight class where they can make the weigh in.
If he drops down one weight class then he will be fighting quicker opponents and not necessarily weaker. It is tough to tell which weight class is right for a fighter.
If you think he is a coward then the same logic would consider Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Rampage Jackson, and a whole bunch of other light-heavyweights cowards for not competing in the heavy-weight class. The only fighters from the UFC who have competed in both classes that I can think of are Randy Couture, and Kevin Randleman, but I am sure there are others.
So now he will be dropping down to compete against the likes of GSP and Matt Hughes. Does that sound like a wimp out?
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it’s true that he’s been able to defeat opponents larger than he is, but the thing is…you always want to be the best. it’s not that he’s looking for easier opponents in the welterweight division, because you’ve got a tough class in there too, it’s because he feels that he can be better there. as for being small for his class, he’s 185 lbs and 6’1" that’s not a little guy. Swick is "quick" at 185, but if he can go down, he knows he’ll be much faster and if he doesn’t lose any of his power, then he’ll be up for a title shot in no time.
it’s a business and people like him do this for a living. so, he’s also probably looking at the money side of it too. he’s already popular, but if he gets to the top of his class, then he’ll be looking at a lot more money than he’s making now. i very much doubt he’s a coward. he gets into the octagon with the chance of getting KO’ed. trust me. he’s not a coward by any meaning of the word. he and his manager both probably feel that this is a better career move and that’s all.
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No, I do not think that because you got to have balls to get in the Octagon. Why fight 185lbs. if you can fight 170lbs.? At least try for success in 170lbs., then if you succeed then maybe move up. I saw his last fight versus that Japanese guy, and that guy was clearly too strong for him physically, a move down would make sense to me.
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I could’ve sworn I already said that to you in another question you asked about "Who would win out of Swick/Leben?" but I could be wrong. Anyway yeah he is a coward! He didn’t mind all those 30 second or less KO’s and had the nerve to say he wanted Anderson Silva now before Travis Lutter got his shot. Yushin Okami is no joke. He went into enemy territory and beat Mike Swick up badly, except at the tail end of the 2nd round where he got lazy & let Swick tea off a flurry on him. And as far as Swick wanting to move down to welterweight, he’s better off fighting at 155 if he can get down that low.
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Don’t blame him get on the mat and fight somebody bigger then you and you can see where he get’s off it’s tuff I know I roll with guys who are always bigger then me I don’t complain though but if he wouldn’t do good in the welterweight anyway considering it’s stacked right now.
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