I was recently invited to Courageous MMA in Taylor Michigan, for GNC and Healthy Food Bank’s Q&A with a pro. They were all there to bring awareness to the foundation that helps feed homeless people, less fortunate, and needy people, as well as children and guide them to healthier food choices, vitamins, and habit changing information.
The foundation is one-of-a-kind and will only distribute smarter and healthier food choices to the people and have a goal of sending out 100,000 bags of healthier food and vitamins from now to the end of 2014.
The guest favorite was the Q&A with Matt Hughes, former UFC champion. He took time to wrestle with Some fighters, explain different techniques and talk about health.
Here are some of the questions:
Q: What are the most important things for a fighter?
A: Eat, sleep and train. You can’t slack on any of it. Wake up, train, eat, nap, train, eat, sleep. Everyday.
Q: What if you don’t have time to train as much as you want?
A: The number one thing I tell guys is that you need to find a good gym. Number one thing you need is a good gym with good manager and other fighters there that will help to push you.
Q: Why do you feel like you were so successful? Because not as many fighters had such a long career with such success.
A: I think it’s a combination of a lot of things you know, I just have good genes, was born with the genes and and I came in at a time when the UFC was still learning it’s footing and wrestling for me was my in. I don’t think today,if I were to come into the UFC, that I would have nearly the same amount of success as I have, guys have really taken the sport and made it 100 times better. Wrestling is about control and a good jiu jitsu guy can sense something coming and I was that way with wrestling. I was able to tell if there’s a punch coming in or there’s a foot coming and I was able to feel that so I think that was part it. It was good wrestling training.
Q: How much weight on average do you think you would cut to make weight for fights?
A: Anywhere from 8 to 12 pounds. Sometimes less sometimes more. One fight in Las Vegas, my wife wanted to go for a walk so I put on my sweats my sweatshirt, hoodie, beanie and we walked from the MGM to the Stratosphere, at which point I poured sweat off my finger tips. I woke up that day maybe 7-8 pounds still over and once sweats just pours off your fingers, you’re good, you know. I knew right there I lost the weight.
Of all the different MMA fighters I’ve met over the years, Matt has to be the most humble, down to earth. The kicker (pun intended) was how he took the students to the mat and taught them so many things is a short time, followed it up with an autograph session.
Norm's World 