Curly Howard
03-10-2003, 03:05 PM
From http://www.canadamma.com/
Last weekend Tim Sylvia became the UFC Heavyweight Champion. Tim Sylvia and the rest of the Miletich Team can be contacted through their new website, www.teammfs.com.
Kendall: Tim that was a great fight last Friday! Has it changed your life at all being the UFC Heavyweight Champion?
Tim: It really hasn't changed much since I won the title. A few more people recognize me around town. All in all it hasn’t changed. I went back to the gym Monday morning. I guess the only thing that has changed is my diet. I went off of my diet this week and am eating everything in site, even Girl Guide cookies. As a matter of fact I am eating one right now!
Kendall: A lot of people have said that you should not have been given a title shot, that you only had one fight in the UFC. You were also very much the underdog with the odds. Did that hurt you mentally in preparing for the fight?
Tim: Actually, it drove me. I wanted to prove everybody wrong. I’m not much of a betting man, but when I saw the odds it really motivated me. I was going to prove the whole world that they were wrong.
Kendall: What was your game plan for the fight?
Tim: The game plan was executed exactly the way the fight went. We went into that fight knowing that I was going to use my jab a lot and throw him off balance. If he shot, I would throw him off me, then throw a right. We worked everyday on me defending leg kicks because he throws them and he doesn’t like getting hit. He thinks he would be out of range from a punch, but I’m 6’8. I’ll eat a leg kick, but give him the big right. I caught him right on the button and finished him off on the ground.
Kendall: There are a lot of other great schools out there. What made you go to Pat’s?
Tim: He is just a wonderful guy. I met him and his team before I moved to Iowa. I went to the first UFC that they had in Atlantic City and I had gone in way early before the event started. A lot of the fighters were already in the arena and I had to opportunity to meet Tito and Shamrock. They were cool. I got pictures taken with them. They weren’t like Pat and his guys though. Pat was just like one of us, down to earth. He is a god in my mind. He is just like us. He was joking. He had said to me, “Gee, you’re a big son of a *****, what do you do?”. I told him I trained, that I boxed and I had some fights. I told him I was looking to learn more. He invited me out to Iowa. That’s all it took. I went out there for ten days and stayed at his house. I worked really hard and he asked me to move out there. Now here I am, two years later!
Kendall: The team you are on holds many belts. Are you guys trying to get them all?
Tim: You bet! There is no reason why we shouldn’t. We are the best team! It’s motivating having great fighters to train with. It ups the expectations. You have to train as hard as they do. Hopefully you get to bring the gold home.
Kendall: Who do you think your next opponent will be?
Tim: I wouldn’t be surprised if it is Gan McGee.
Kendall: How would that fight go?
Tim: I feel it would be a hell of a stand up battle. I see him standing up with me and getting caught. Of course I would knock him out!
Kendall: A lot of the fans of the UFC have only seen you fight twice, once against Cabbage and just recently against Ricco. Both of these fights ended with you standing. People want to know if your ground skills are any good.
Tim: My ground skills are very good. A lot of people don’t know it and they will probably never see it. I am an exciting fighter. I want to keep in standing.
Kendall: You are managed by Monte Cox?
Tim: Yes.
Kendall: You obviously have a multi-fight deal. Two more fights?
Tim: Yes.
Kendall: From what I understand Miletich Fighting Systems is now 6-0 against Team Punishment. Is that accurate?
Tim: That sounds about right.
Kendall: You and Ricco were staring each other down in the octagon before the fight. I heard that there was also a stare down between Pat and Tito.
Tim: I believe it was Matt and Tito.
Kendall: Is there some bad blood between the two schools?
Tim: I really don’t know. Team Punishment is a ****y team and I think that it’s all that it really is. We just care about ourselves, our fans and what we do in the ring. We aren’t ****y and we don’t showboat. I really don’t know how to explain it with Team Punishment. Ricco was really ****y saying he was going to kick my ass and obviously it didn’t happen.
Kendall: Frank Mir just demolished Tank last week…
Tim: Come on! He demolished Tank! (laughing)
Kendall: He said he feels like he is the best in the world at the heavyweight level. Would you like to fight him?
Tim: Sure, I would fight anybody. I think he should fight Vladdy first.
Kendall: Then you would fight him?
Tim: I would fight him now, I really don’t care. Truthfully though, I think Frank and Vladdy have to face each other to be #1 contender. I believe Gan is the #1 contender right now.
Kendall: You have already stated that you think highly of Pat.
Tim: Yes.
Kendall: Who else do you admire and respect in this sport?
Tim: Randy Couture. He brought me out there to train for my fight with Cabbage. Hats off to him for what he did for me. He is so amazing. He didn’t even know me. He brought me into his house. Cooked me breakfast every morning, made me lunch, he’s just a great guy. I really respect him, how he trains, what he has done for the sport. I’m actually going to go out there and help him train for his next fight. He’s just a great guy. I kind of did my latest win for him. I know how hard he trained for his fight with Ricco and it didn’t work out. I did that fight for him and my team.
Kendall: Anything else for the fans?
Tim: Just keeping on watching the UFC! I’m going to get more exciting every fight! I improve every time. My takedown defense is great. I’m working on some other things, my footwork, and some things to make me a little quicker on my feet. I told everybody not to blink for my last fight, don’t blink for the next one either.
Kendall: Anybody else you would like to thank?
Tim: My team of course, Full Contact Fighter, Marinko and Grgo at International Sportswear and Fairtex.
Kendall: Thanks Tim!
Tim: Hey, no problem
Last weekend Tim Sylvia became the UFC Heavyweight Champion. Tim Sylvia and the rest of the Miletich Team can be contacted through their new website, www.teammfs.com.
Kendall: Tim that was a great fight last Friday! Has it changed your life at all being the UFC Heavyweight Champion?
Tim: It really hasn't changed much since I won the title. A few more people recognize me around town. All in all it hasn’t changed. I went back to the gym Monday morning. I guess the only thing that has changed is my diet. I went off of my diet this week and am eating everything in site, even Girl Guide cookies. As a matter of fact I am eating one right now!
Kendall: A lot of people have said that you should not have been given a title shot, that you only had one fight in the UFC. You were also very much the underdog with the odds. Did that hurt you mentally in preparing for the fight?
Tim: Actually, it drove me. I wanted to prove everybody wrong. I’m not much of a betting man, but when I saw the odds it really motivated me. I was going to prove the whole world that they were wrong.
Kendall: What was your game plan for the fight?
Tim: The game plan was executed exactly the way the fight went. We went into that fight knowing that I was going to use my jab a lot and throw him off balance. If he shot, I would throw him off me, then throw a right. We worked everyday on me defending leg kicks because he throws them and he doesn’t like getting hit. He thinks he would be out of range from a punch, but I’m 6’8. I’ll eat a leg kick, but give him the big right. I caught him right on the button and finished him off on the ground.
Kendall: There are a lot of other great schools out there. What made you go to Pat’s?
Tim: He is just a wonderful guy. I met him and his team before I moved to Iowa. I went to the first UFC that they had in Atlantic City and I had gone in way early before the event started. A lot of the fighters were already in the arena and I had to opportunity to meet Tito and Shamrock. They were cool. I got pictures taken with them. They weren’t like Pat and his guys though. Pat was just like one of us, down to earth. He is a god in my mind. He is just like us. He was joking. He had said to me, “Gee, you’re a big son of a *****, what do you do?”. I told him I trained, that I boxed and I had some fights. I told him I was looking to learn more. He invited me out to Iowa. That’s all it took. I went out there for ten days and stayed at his house. I worked really hard and he asked me to move out there. Now here I am, two years later!
Kendall: The team you are on holds many belts. Are you guys trying to get them all?
Tim: You bet! There is no reason why we shouldn’t. We are the best team! It’s motivating having great fighters to train with. It ups the expectations. You have to train as hard as they do. Hopefully you get to bring the gold home.
Kendall: Who do you think your next opponent will be?
Tim: I wouldn’t be surprised if it is Gan McGee.
Kendall: How would that fight go?
Tim: I feel it would be a hell of a stand up battle. I see him standing up with me and getting caught. Of course I would knock him out!
Kendall: A lot of the fans of the UFC have only seen you fight twice, once against Cabbage and just recently against Ricco. Both of these fights ended with you standing. People want to know if your ground skills are any good.
Tim: My ground skills are very good. A lot of people don’t know it and they will probably never see it. I am an exciting fighter. I want to keep in standing.
Kendall: You are managed by Monte Cox?
Tim: Yes.
Kendall: You obviously have a multi-fight deal. Two more fights?
Tim: Yes.
Kendall: From what I understand Miletich Fighting Systems is now 6-0 against Team Punishment. Is that accurate?
Tim: That sounds about right.
Kendall: You and Ricco were staring each other down in the octagon before the fight. I heard that there was also a stare down between Pat and Tito.
Tim: I believe it was Matt and Tito.
Kendall: Is there some bad blood between the two schools?
Tim: I really don’t know. Team Punishment is a ****y team and I think that it’s all that it really is. We just care about ourselves, our fans and what we do in the ring. We aren’t ****y and we don’t showboat. I really don’t know how to explain it with Team Punishment. Ricco was really ****y saying he was going to kick my ass and obviously it didn’t happen.
Kendall: Frank Mir just demolished Tank last week…
Tim: Come on! He demolished Tank! (laughing)
Kendall: He said he feels like he is the best in the world at the heavyweight level. Would you like to fight him?
Tim: Sure, I would fight anybody. I think he should fight Vladdy first.
Kendall: Then you would fight him?
Tim: I would fight him now, I really don’t care. Truthfully though, I think Frank and Vladdy have to face each other to be #1 contender. I believe Gan is the #1 contender right now.
Kendall: You have already stated that you think highly of Pat.
Tim: Yes.
Kendall: Who else do you admire and respect in this sport?
Tim: Randy Couture. He brought me out there to train for my fight with Cabbage. Hats off to him for what he did for me. He is so amazing. He didn’t even know me. He brought me into his house. Cooked me breakfast every morning, made me lunch, he’s just a great guy. I really respect him, how he trains, what he has done for the sport. I’m actually going to go out there and help him train for his next fight. He’s just a great guy. I kind of did my latest win for him. I know how hard he trained for his fight with Ricco and it didn’t work out. I did that fight for him and my team.
Kendall: Anything else for the fans?
Tim: Just keeping on watching the UFC! I’m going to get more exciting every fight! I improve every time. My takedown defense is great. I’m working on some other things, my footwork, and some things to make me a little quicker on my feet. I told everybody not to blink for my last fight, don’t blink for the next one either.
Kendall: Anybody else you would like to thank?
Tim: My team of course, Full Contact Fighter, Marinko and Grgo at International Sportswear and Fairtex.
Kendall: Thanks Tim!
Tim: Hey, no problem