wondermut
02-17-2003, 01:53 PM
From: www.renzogracie.com
This interview took place a few days ago with Matt "The Terror" Serra. Matt is in a heavy training cycle getting ready for his upcoming fight with Din Thomas in the UFC. Before we get started with the interview, I want to thank Matt for taking the time to do this interview with me and giving us a little bit of what makes Matt Serra, Matt Serra!
Lynn: Hey thanks for taking the time to do this interview. I know that you are very busy with your upcoming fight in the UFC against Din Thomas. I'll try to keep this brief but still get to some very important questions that your fans out there are asking and dying to know. First off Matt give us a little bit about yourself. How long have you been training and how did a guy out on Long Island New York find his way into the Renzo Gracie Academy?
Matt: I actually started training around '93, with Renzo's old business partner Craig Kukuk. Renzo arrived not too long after. They split as partners and my brother and I decided to stay with Renzo. From day one, Renzo treated us like family.
Lynn: In regards to this upcoming fight with the tough Din Thomas how do feel going into it? Also Matt tell us your opinions or feelings on Thomas as a fighter please.
Matt: I feel very confident, training has been going great. I think Thomas is a very tough, well-rounded fighter. He has a lot of experience and this fight has the potential of becoming a war because we both come to fight.
Lynn: Din is now a part of American Top Team and has a Professional boxing background with ground training as well, this should make for a very exciting fight. Each of you is well versed in various techniques and experts in different fighting styles as well. How have you prepared for this fight?
Matt: I am covering all aspects of the fight. My fight training has been intense and in the heat of the battle, you fight the way you train, and I train like a madman!
Lynn: Sounds great! Everyone knows that you have some awesome guys surrounding you at your academies, having two of your own now. Who have you been training with primarily out of your academies?
Matt: They are not only my schools, they are run by my brother and I. Instead of Nick and I having a school a piece, we split up the time between the two academies. Man I have some tough guys here! I've been training with Joe Scarola, Tom Muller, Drago, Mike "Patolino", Luke Cuomo, and I have been working a lot of wrestling takedowns with Sergio Nicolosi, "Crazy" Chris, and Paul Creighton.
Lynn: This fight seems to epitomize to me on some levels what the NHB world is about right now. Here you have two fighters coming to the table with top notch credentials and both with a desire to win. I know you have prepared long and hard to come into this fight as you always do. I know winning this fight will mean alot as it will give you the shot at the Title. If BJ Penn is able to best Caol Uno, you will have a rematch with him. Maybe you can tell us a little about your feelings on these ideas.
Matt: I would love to fight Penn again or Uno, whoever wins that one.
Lynn: Right now you have quite a few of your teammates over in Japan fighting in various events including Pride and Pancrase. Is this something you would like to do, or do you feel that you have found a home with the UFC? I know that the UFC has been great to you.
Matt: I really enjoy fighting in the UFC, I will stay with them as long as I can. I would like to fight in Japan some day, but the UFC is the Big Show here.
Lynn: In regards to this upcoming UFC, I as well as your fans as you can read on the Internet are completely confused as to how this could be an undercard fight and not on PPV. Especially considerring that you are one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and even though the win was given to BJ, you won your last fight. Tell us your feelings on that and maybe you can help us understand why.
Matt: I think that they are hyping up the heavy weights on this card, you know, the return of Tank and Ricco defending the belt for the first time. No biggie, I'm just looking to fight.
Lynn: I know you are one of only eight Black Belts who have received this highly coveted belt from Renzo, along with your brother Nick of course. With that said what do you see as the future of Team Renzo from a perspective of someone who has been with Renzo Gracie for so long?
Matt: I see Team Renzo going straight to the top! With Renzo's guidance, we have one of the strongest teams out there. Renzo has a ton of experience. Rodrigo, Ricardo, and I are growing with each fight and learning from our experiences as well. And this, in turn, we can pass on to our students.
Lynn: How do you feel that the new academy that Renzo is building will affect guys like you?
Matt: I think it will be great because there will be a boxing ring, a fence, and a ton of mat space. When you and Renzo showed it to me the other day, I couldn't believe how big the place is!
Lynn: Is there anything else that you would like to say before we end this interview?
Matt: I just want to say that I apprieciate all the support from the fans and escpecially my family at Team Renzo Gracie. Make sure you catch my fight on Feb. 28! I will fight hard and make Team Renzo proud!
Lynn: Matt, I want to thank you for your time in answering these questions. I really look forward to doing a Serra Brothers Team profile very soon.
Matt: Thanks Lynn, I'll see you soon.
Well there you have it. Matt Serra, honest and cool as always. We wish Matt the best of luck in his upcoming fight with Din Thomas! It should be a barnburner!
This interview took place a few days ago with Matt "The Terror" Serra. Matt is in a heavy training cycle getting ready for his upcoming fight with Din Thomas in the UFC. Before we get started with the interview, I want to thank Matt for taking the time to do this interview with me and giving us a little bit of what makes Matt Serra, Matt Serra!
Lynn: Hey thanks for taking the time to do this interview. I know that you are very busy with your upcoming fight in the UFC against Din Thomas. I'll try to keep this brief but still get to some very important questions that your fans out there are asking and dying to know. First off Matt give us a little bit about yourself. How long have you been training and how did a guy out on Long Island New York find his way into the Renzo Gracie Academy?
Matt: I actually started training around '93, with Renzo's old business partner Craig Kukuk. Renzo arrived not too long after. They split as partners and my brother and I decided to stay with Renzo. From day one, Renzo treated us like family.
Lynn: In regards to this upcoming fight with the tough Din Thomas how do feel going into it? Also Matt tell us your opinions or feelings on Thomas as a fighter please.
Matt: I feel very confident, training has been going great. I think Thomas is a very tough, well-rounded fighter. He has a lot of experience and this fight has the potential of becoming a war because we both come to fight.
Lynn: Din is now a part of American Top Team and has a Professional boxing background with ground training as well, this should make for a very exciting fight. Each of you is well versed in various techniques and experts in different fighting styles as well. How have you prepared for this fight?
Matt: I am covering all aspects of the fight. My fight training has been intense and in the heat of the battle, you fight the way you train, and I train like a madman!
Lynn: Sounds great! Everyone knows that you have some awesome guys surrounding you at your academies, having two of your own now. Who have you been training with primarily out of your academies?
Matt: They are not only my schools, they are run by my brother and I. Instead of Nick and I having a school a piece, we split up the time between the two academies. Man I have some tough guys here! I've been training with Joe Scarola, Tom Muller, Drago, Mike "Patolino", Luke Cuomo, and I have been working a lot of wrestling takedowns with Sergio Nicolosi, "Crazy" Chris, and Paul Creighton.
Lynn: This fight seems to epitomize to me on some levels what the NHB world is about right now. Here you have two fighters coming to the table with top notch credentials and both with a desire to win. I know you have prepared long and hard to come into this fight as you always do. I know winning this fight will mean alot as it will give you the shot at the Title. If BJ Penn is able to best Caol Uno, you will have a rematch with him. Maybe you can tell us a little about your feelings on these ideas.
Matt: I would love to fight Penn again or Uno, whoever wins that one.
Lynn: Right now you have quite a few of your teammates over in Japan fighting in various events including Pride and Pancrase. Is this something you would like to do, or do you feel that you have found a home with the UFC? I know that the UFC has been great to you.
Matt: I really enjoy fighting in the UFC, I will stay with them as long as I can. I would like to fight in Japan some day, but the UFC is the Big Show here.
Lynn: In regards to this upcoming UFC, I as well as your fans as you can read on the Internet are completely confused as to how this could be an undercard fight and not on PPV. Especially considerring that you are one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and even though the win was given to BJ, you won your last fight. Tell us your feelings on that and maybe you can help us understand why.
Matt: I think that they are hyping up the heavy weights on this card, you know, the return of Tank and Ricco defending the belt for the first time. No biggie, I'm just looking to fight.
Lynn: I know you are one of only eight Black Belts who have received this highly coveted belt from Renzo, along with your brother Nick of course. With that said what do you see as the future of Team Renzo from a perspective of someone who has been with Renzo Gracie for so long?
Matt: I see Team Renzo going straight to the top! With Renzo's guidance, we have one of the strongest teams out there. Renzo has a ton of experience. Rodrigo, Ricardo, and I are growing with each fight and learning from our experiences as well. And this, in turn, we can pass on to our students.
Lynn: How do you feel that the new academy that Renzo is building will affect guys like you?
Matt: I think it will be great because there will be a boxing ring, a fence, and a ton of mat space. When you and Renzo showed it to me the other day, I couldn't believe how big the place is!
Lynn: Is there anything else that you would like to say before we end this interview?
Matt: I just want to say that I apprieciate all the support from the fans and escpecially my family at Team Renzo Gracie. Make sure you catch my fight on Feb. 28! I will fight hard and make Team Renzo proud!
Lynn: Matt, I want to thank you for your time in answering these questions. I really look forward to doing a Serra Brothers Team profile very soon.
Matt: Thanks Lynn, I'll see you soon.
Well there you have it. Matt Serra, honest and cool as always. We wish Matt the best of luck in his upcoming fight with Din Thomas! It should be a barnburner!