MMAKO-Interviews

Friday, 05 June 2009

Interviews- Lou Russell

MMA-KO GETS A EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LOU RUSSELL

MMA-KO: How did you originally get into MMA?

RUSSELL: I STARTED WRESTLING WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD, AND AS I GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL WAS KINDA BORED WITH WRESTLING, SO I STARTED DOING SUBMISSION WRESTLING. THEN JUST BEING AROUND USA WRESTLING AND DAN HENDERSON AND RANDY COUTURE I KINDA EVOLVED FROM THERE, WATCHING THOSE GUYS CRUSH PEOPLE. THEY WERE THE MAIN REASONS WHY THOUGH. I HAVE KNOWN THEN BOTH FOR OVER 12 YEARS NOW, RANDY IS LIKE A DAD I NEVER HAD!

MMA-KO: How do you prepare for a fight?

RUSSELL: WHAT SUCKS IS, I COULD BE 10X'S BETTER BUT I OWN A HUGE HOUSE PAYMENT AND WORK AS A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER IN A MAX SECURITY PRISON, AND HAVE A FAMILY! ITS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO TRAIN YEAR AROUND SO I DON'T GET MUCH BETTER EACH FIGHT. I TRY TO GET BETTER IN MY HEAD, BUT WITH OUT MAT TIME, ITS SO HARD! I TRAIN 8-12 WEEKS FOR MY FIGHTS, HIT CARDIO 1-2 TIMES A DAY AND TRY TO ROLL 1-2 TIMES A DAY! I TRY TO FATIGUE MY MUSCLES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE CUZ IN A FIGHT, YOU USE EVERY OZ OF ENERGY YOU HAVE AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT FATIGUED FEELING OR YOU WILL PANIC AND FREEZE WHICH WILL COST YOU THE FIGHT! THERE IS NO OTHER FEELING LIKE BEING COMPLETELY DRAINED IN A FIGHT, ITS SUCKS SO BAD!

MMA-KO: What is your favorite fighting style?

RUSSELL: GROUND AND POUND! I LOVE WATCHING GUYS THAT HAVE AWESOME STANDUP LIKE CRO COP AND CHUCK, BUT I HAVE TO STICK WITH MY ROOTS AND THAT'S TO HURT PEOPLE FROM THE TOP! COUTURE/ORTIZ STYLE

MMA-KO: Your next fight will be a rematch with Chuck Booze on April 7, how do you see this fight going?

RUSSELL: SOMEONE IS GONNA GET KO'D, I KNOW THAT FOR SURE! HE IS A TOUGH KID! HE GAVE ME FITS IN THE 1ST ROUND CUZ HE WAS SOUTH PAW AND I WAS TOLD HE WAS NOT A GOOD WRESTLER SO I TOTALLY WAS SCREWED OFF THE GET!! I COULD NOT GET GOING CUZ THE SOUTH PAW, I WAS LIKE, "WHAT'S THE PROB HERE"?? DIDN'T REALIZE THAT TILL THE 2ND ROUND. THEN I KNEW I HAD MY HANDS FULL WHEN WE GOT THE FIGHT WHERE I WANTED IT, IN THE CLINCH AND HE TRIED TO THROW ME! I WAS LIKE OK, NOW I GOT PROBS! BUT THIS TIME IM GONNA BE READY FOR HIS STYLE, I HOPE!! LOL

MMA-KO: Where do you see yourself in another year from now?

RUSSELL: NOT SURE?? IM GETTIN OLD! O YEAH, CANT USE THAT EXCUSE CUZ RANDY! LOL! DEPENDS WHERE I AM IN MY LIFE AND I ALWAYS ASK RANDY WHAT I SHOULD DO, CUZ I KNOW HE WILL TELL ME THE TRUTH! KIM COUTURE TOLD ME I NEED TO MOVE TO VEGAS AND TRAIN THERE SO I CAN GET THE SKILLS AND TRY TO GO BIG! I WILL SEE WHAT'S UP AFTER THIS YEAR, I GOTTA BEAT CHUCK FIRST, HE IS COMIN FOR ME SO THAT'S MY MAIN THING RIGHT NOW! ITS ALSO UP TO J MANLEY AND JAMES GRUNSKY WITH THE WARRIORS CUP CUZ REALLY I OWE THOSE GUYS FOR MY ALL THE SUDDEN BLOW UP! THEY HAVE TREATED ME LIKE A SUPER STAR AND AFTER THOSE 2 FIGHTS I HAVE THE BIGGEST FOLLOWING NOW!! I ATE IN STOCKTON LAST YEAR WITH COUTURE AND A FAMILY AS WELL AS A COUPLE WORKERS CAME UP AND ASKED ME IF I FOUGHT AT THE WARRIORS CUP AND I SAID "YEAH"! THEY STARTED GOING ON AND ON HOW IT WAS THE BEST FIGHT OF THE NIGHT AND SO ON! THEY ASKED ME FOR AN AUTOGRAPH BEFORE THEY ASKED FOR RANDYS!! THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERYDAY!! LOL

MMA-KO: Tell me one thing about yourself that your fans wouldn't suspect ?

RUSSELL: THAT IM NOT COCKY AND I NEVER GO INTO A FIGHT AND THINK IM GONNA KILL MY OPPONENT!! OUR LAST FIGHT I SOLD A FEW HUNDRED TICKETS MYSELF AND HAD A FEW HUNDRED OTHER FANS, BUT I HEARD SOME BOO'S AND PEOPLE TALKING LIKE THEY THOUGHT I WAS COCKY OR ARROGANT WHICH IS SO NOT ME! I HAVE LEARNED FROM RANDY, ALL YOU CAN DO IS YOUR BEST AND IF YOU WIN OR LOSE, SO BE IT AND I GO INTO EVERY FIGHT CONFIDENT THAT I WANNA WIN, BUT I KNOW THAT I MIGHT NOT! I THINK GOING IN WITH A LIL FEAR HELPS PEOPLE AT LEAST ME IT DOES!

MMA-KO: Is there any changes you've made to prepare for this fight?

RUSSELL: MY STANDUP BIG TIME! I WENT OUT TO VEGAS AND TRAINED AT EXTREME COUTURE AND LEARNED SOME NEW STUFF FOR SOUTH PAW! SCOTTIE SMITH HAS BEEN REALLY HELPING ME A LOT TOO WITH MY STAND UP, SO ITS GONNA BE A KO FIGHT! HE DROPPED ME WITH AN ERRANT PUNCH THAT HIT MY SHOULDER THEN MY EAR AND DROPPED ME. BUT AS SOON AS I WENT DOWN, I SHOT IN AND TOOK HIM DOWN, SO I WAS NOT OUT, BUT IT DAZED ME!

MMA-KO: What is the one thing you want people to know about Lou Russell ?

RUSSELL: THAT I THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER DONE ANYTHING FOR ME! IM SO GRATEFUL FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, EVEN IF I DIDN'T SHOW IT!! I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT, THEY SHOULD ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES BE IT FRIENDS OR FAMILY OR ANYONE CUZ YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THAT PERSON MIGHT NOT BE AROUND ANYMORE! AND MY MOTTO, "NEVER SAY NEVER"

MMA-KO: What advice could you give to someone training to become an MMA Fighter?

RUSSELL: TAKE IT SLOW AND BE OPEN MINDED!! DON'T THINK YOUR A KNOW IT ALL CUZ YOUR NOT!! BE A GOOD TRAINING PARTNER, THERE IS NOTHING TO PROVE IN THE TRAINING ROOM, THAT'S HOW YOU HURT OR RUIN SOMEONE'S CAREER OR LIFE, SAVE IT FOR THE CAGE OR RING!!

MMA-KO: Do you have a Manager? Who are your Training Coaches?

RUSSELL: RANDY HELPS ME MAKE MY DECISIONS AS WELL AS MY FIANCÉ ERIKA BRANICH! SCOTT SMITH AND THE GUYS AT ULTIMATE FITNESS DOWN AT 17TH AND I STREET IN SAC HAVE BEEN TRAINING ME AND IM LOOKING TO START ROLLING AT NIGHT WITH THE GUYS AT CALIFORNIA MIXED MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY IN ROSEVILLE OFF INDUSTRIAL. BOTH OF THESE PLACES ARE ON MY FRIENDS LIST!!

MMA-KO: Tell me one thing about yourself that your fans wouldn't suspect ?

RUSSELL: THAT IM NOT GAY CUZ MY TOE NAILS ARE PAINTED!! I PAINT MY TOE NAILS RED WHITE AND BLUE WITH STARS AND STRIPES FOR ALL OUR TROOP WHO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS EVERYDAY!! WE NEVER GIVE THESE GUYS ENOUGH CREDIT AND FOR MY 3RD FIGHT NOW, I HAVE PAINTED THEM THIS WAY!! ALSO MY TATTOOS MEAN SOMETHING AS WELL! THE KANGI IS FOR MY SISTER IN LAW WHO IS FULL BLOWN JAPANESE, ON MY R- BICEP IT SAYS PROTECT MY FAMILY, ON MY L- DEFEND MY COUNTRY AND ON MY CHEST IS THE COMPANY I STARTED GROUND UP WITH MY FIANCÉ SAYS SUBMIT. STARS AND STRIPES GOING DOWN MY SIDE AND THE BACK OF MY NECK HAS MY MOM AND NIECES INITIALS WITH THEIR LAST NAME, LAST 2 SURVIVING PEOPLE WITH THAT NAME, MY R- LEG IS USA WRESTLING WITH OLYMPIC RINGS AND LEFT ANKLE IS FLAMES DONE BY A FRIEND WHO KILLED HIMSELF, AND THEN OF COURSE I GOTTA REP MY FAMILY WITH THE RUSSELL ON MY BACK!

MMA-KO::What is the one thing you want people to know about Lou Russell ? RUSSELL: THAT OUR #1 HERO SHOULD BE ONLY JESUS CHRIST!!!!

MMA-KO: Is there anyone you would like to thank?

RUSSELL: MY SPONSORS, BRUCE RUSSELL @ NOR CAL PLUMBING IN TRACY, DAVE SIMMONS @ PRO TECH MORTGAGE IN FOLSOM/ROSEVILLE, DINO @ THE WESTHOUSE BAR/NIGHT CLUB IN OLD ROSEVILLE, JAY LINSTROTH @ LINMOORE FENCING IN CITRUS HEIGHTS, JERRY @ CALIFORNIA TATTOO IN CITRUS HEIGHTS, MATT GAINES @ SHOCKERNUTRTION.COM, FULL CONTACT FIGHTER, MIKE ROBERTS @ RICH'S TIRE BARN IN ROSEVILLE, THE WARRIORS CUP, CLARENCE @ STOCKTON ARENA (ASK FOR HIM WHEN BUYING TICKETS), KIM AND RANDY @ EXTREMECOUTURE.COM, ULTIMATE FITNESS, CAL MIXED MARTIAL ARTS, ALL MY WORKOUT PARTNERS, TATIA @ ETHAN WADE, ERIKA AND CARISSA MY RING GIRLS, JEFF @ MMA KO FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU SHOW US BE IT NOT SO FAMOUS OR FAMOUS GUYS, AND MY ENTIRE FAMILY AND FRIENDS FROM ESCALON, TRACY, MODESTO, MANTECA, VALLEY SPRINGS, STOCKTON, SAC, ROSEVILLE, FAIR OAKS, LINCOLN, OROVILLE, AND ANYONE ELSE I MIGHT OF FORGOT, SORRY IF I DID!!!

On behalf of MMA KO, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Would you like to give any shout outs to anyone?

RUSSELL: I THINK I GOT THAT COVERED!! LOL! WELL HERE IS ONE, WHAT UP TO THE NEW UFC HW CHAMP-RANDY "THE NATURAL" COUTURE AND HIS WHOLE CREW FOR WHAT AN AWESOME JOB THEY DID IN WHOOPING TIM "THE CRY BABY" SYLVIA, AND THE NEW PRIDE MW/LHW CHAMP DAN HENDERSON!!