WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles Exclusive Interview

Promoted To Frontpage From Fanposts By Kelvin Hunt

I got the chance to sit down and speak with the WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles. As fighters hit pads in the background I asked Brian questions about being the underdog, the 125 pound division, and Pro Wrestling. Please enjoy!

via bodykore.com

Bowles: Nope not at all, I'm not Tim Sylvia. Everybody asks me that question, that's not who I am.

Erich: Talk about being an underdog through out your career.

Bowles:I don't mind being the underdog it kind of takes the pressure off you when you fight. When you the underdog everybody thinks that I am supposed to loose. Honestly it really doesn't matter to me, I am just going to get in the cage and do the same thing even if I wasn't the underdog.

Erich: Talk about not being underestimated anymore.

Bowles: It is kind of weird, like I was never supposed to win but now since I won the title I got the target on my back. Everybody has seen what I can do so now everyone is going to be after my belt.

Erich: Miguel Torres said he bought into his own hype when he fought you. It seem as if he is hungrier now that he has lost the title what do you think about that?

Bowles: You know I said this before, and I feel like everybody gets the belt and defend it a few times and then it is somebody elses turn. I feel like Miguel is going to come out hard. He is a true competitor and he hates to lose so I think he is training his butt off right now. He is hungry right now and he wants his belt back. Whether he gets it or not I have no idea. I'm training just as hard as he is so if we happen to fight again I don't know how it will go down.

Erich: Well I know what will happen you will catch him with that right again.

Bowles: (Laughs) That's right.

Erich: Will you ever buy into your own hype?

Bowles: No. That is just not who I am. People they get the belt and think that belt will be around their waist forever. But that is not reality, you have to build a reputation, you have to continue to build your skills, you have to build your mental strength. Just because I got the belt doesn't mean I'm going to be a different person.

Erich: Does it piss you when people ask you that you should be in the UFC?

Bowles: The only question I really hate about that is, "When you gunna fight in the UFC?" It is sort of like an insult to me. Even if I was in the UFC I would still be the champion at 135 pounds. I think some people are not true fans of the sport. They don't realize that I am the same champion as BJ Penn and GSP. The 145 and 135 champions in the WEC are the same as the champions in the UFC. Real fans know that.

Erich: Since you have been on T.V. for most of your fights in the WEC and everyone knows your name how has that fame played a part in your life?

Bowles: Not a huge difference, it's not an instant life changer. It's something you gradually accept and let it not get to your head. Guys in the UFC that are famous have already made it. Right now I think I am midway to that point. I have a long way to go before I am being mobbed in the streets like Chuck Liddell (Laughs)

Erich: Talk about the cross training you receive at the Hardcore Gym.

Bowles:You know were an MMA gym. we just don't go out there and strike. We don't just grapple in a fight. We use all elements of MMA when we step into the cage. We train to become complete Martial Artists. If you are not so good on the feet then we will work on that. It is just the way they teach us in the gym is to be well rounded.

Erich: All of the fighters that come out of the Hardcore Gym seem to be very good strikers. Talk about the striking that goes on in the Hardcore gym.

Bowles: You know a lot of our fighters compete in amateur boxing and Muay Thai boxing. We just emphasis good technique over power. It is not about throwing hard looping punches. It is about throwing quick and precise strikes at your opponent.

Erich: Talk about the 125 pound division. Have you see some of the fights at that weight? And is there anybody from the Hardcore gym that will compete at that weight?

Bowles: I haven't seen much of the 125'ers but the little I have seen of those guys I am impressed. They really get after it. Us 145 and 135'ers really get after it but 125 is on a whole nother level of aggression. I really like watching them do like crazy submissions and crazy flips and stuff they are really fun to watch. No not really, we don't have guys that are small enough to compete at the weight. I can't think of any off the top of my head but there are a lot of tough guys in Georgia like Jeff Bedard.

Erich: Could you or Jeff Bedard make 125 pounds?

Bowles: If I had to I could and I think Jeff can as well. I'll put it this way 125 is more of a possibility then 145. Actually Jeff has got a fight coming back in February. He is fighting at 135 and he will be fighting in the Tachi Palace. Jeff moved in with me and he is a great training partner. He mirror's a lot of what Cruz does so it helps me get an idea of what he is going to do.

Erich: Do you watch a lot of tape on your opponents?

Bowles: I like to watch video but I don't obsess over it. I have pretty much watched all of Cruz's fights. I know how he fights I know what he is going to do so I don't stay up and obsess over it. I don't like watching him beat up people everyday because it will mess up my training. I'll watch it, look at his tendency's and I'll give it to my coaches and they break it down for me. I just listen to what my coaches have to say.

Erich: What is your motivation for fighting?

Bowles: I just like what I do. I like the lifestyle I live. I've had real jobs, I have broken my back doing work I hate. Fighting is the coolest job I have ever had. Plus everybody recognizes me, I am famous but not really. It just is cool, this is where I want to be in life. It is fun fighting is something I love doing.

Erich: You have been to Las Vegas, how do the girls there compare to the girls in Athens?

Bowles: I'm not into the fake tits, the fake tans and all the fakeness. (Smiles) The girls in Athens are hot, you know everybody tries to tell me come to Vegas all the girls are hot. You know we are really spoiled down here so I would have to say Athens.

Erich: Are you a Pro Wrestling fan?

Bowles: No (Laughs) I stopped watching that when I was a kid. (Laughs)

Erich: Feel free to give a shoutout to any sponsors and tell fans where they can contact you.

Bowles: Shoutout to Hitman, follow me on twitter it is twitter.com/brian_bowles check me out on Facebook and Myspace. I also have a website. it is brianbowles.tv

Erich: Thanks for the great interview Brain and good luck against Dominic Cruz

Bowles: Thank you, and Thank you guys (MMA4Real.com) for the interview.