10 Questions With Chuck Grigsby (12/22/2008)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Chuck Grigsby (by Darrick Patrick)

Chuck "The Reverend" Grigsby is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as World Extreme Cagefighting, Midwest Cage Championships, Victory Fighting Championship, Mainstream MMA, Title Fighting Championships, Greensparks Full Contact Fighting, Glory Fighting Championships, Xtreme Kage Kombat, Dakota Fighting Championships, EFX, and Extreme Challenge.

Darrick: What was the road that led you to competing in professional mixed martial arts?

Chuck: First off, I'm a very competitive guy - not with others, but with myself. I love doing something, learning it's craft, and getting good at it. Fighting is a sport that I believe forces you to do just that. When I was young, I was involved in a lot of fights and many of them for sometimes the wrong reasons. Now, MMA has grown to be one of the biggest sports in the business and here I am.

Darrick: Generally speaking, what does a typical training session for you consist of?

Chuck: It depends on the type of opponent I'm fighting and what week I'm at in my training camp. Although generally, it's an upper body workout in the morning and lower weight training around noon. At night, I'll do boxing, grappling, pad work, running, etc. which fills my evening time up until about 9:30 p.m. every night.

Darrick: You're currently a free agent - for promoters who may be interested in having you fight for their organization, what information would you like to share?

Chuck: My availability is for planned shows or possibly on short notice as an injury replacement. Currently my record is 16 wins and 4 losses - some websites don't have a few of my fights listed. My last fight was in November of this year and that resulted in a first round victory for me against a fighter who was previously undefeated with six wins. My style and preference is to stand and strike, and I like to consider myself as a proven finisher with no fights going to decesion and only one of them going to the third round. I have fought for various promotions, some which were on live television and in front of crowds that ranged from 2,000 to 15,000 people - I am consistent and have the ability to work with anybody. I hold two light heavyweight titles currently and have successfully defended one of them twice. Tentatively, I will be defending my Victory Fighting Championship title for the first time in February but the contract on an opponent has not been finalized.

I'm 6'6" and fight at 205 pounds and I'm open to the possibility of heavyweight, but prefer light heavyweight. All of my medicals are current, as well as my passport. I am a free agent and can/will fight for any promotion that is allowable within my training and availability. I take my career and training very seriously, and I can assure you that I am a professional who gets down to business when my number is called. I'm very proud to say that I haven't pulled out of any fights during my career and have made weight for every weigh-in. You can contact me directly at chas_bo2005@yahoo.com or at www.myspace.com/godsson60. I can provide additional information or answer any questions about the possibility of fighting. I'm a fair negotiator, just contact me and we can discuss what you have in mind.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Chuck: Early in my career it was all about win streaks and how many KOs I had, but I've found out now later in my career that the support of the people who really believe in you is where it's at. The people who really care will be there no matter the outcome, and that drives my motivation to train and win. So in short, it all brings about a really powerful sense of being for me.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Chuck: I respect anybody who is willing to train, does what they say, and practices what they preach. I've found out the hard way that many people in this sport don't take themselves or their opportunities very seriously. That really bothers me personally because some guys out here have to jump through hoops and hurdles to have a chance. I respect hardnose workers and go-getters.

Darrick: Any words of advice for other individuals looking to train in MMA?

Chuck: It's not a glamour sport. Sometimes you see five or ten minutes of a guy in the cage, but don't realize all of the sacrifices and work that person has put in for three or four months to have that awesome performance.

Darrick: Outside of mixed martial arts, what are your other interests?

Chuck: I love drawing and reading my comics, but to be honest - it's all family time with Sara and Xander Grigsby outside of MMA.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Chuck: I'm an investigator who helps victims of violent crime.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Chuck: Wow, that is a different question. Well, when I was a kid I grew up in the projects in Kansas City, Missouri and my mom (being a single parent) was very protective of me. One day, she bought me a lollipop - one of those big swirly kind. I was outside with my friends just kicking it, bragging about it and what not. A group of older boys came over to my lane, which is a row of apartments where you live. One of the boys pushed me down, took my sucker from me, and then clowned me about it. So, I ran into where my mom was crying, screaming, and surely thinking she was going to go outside and check these fools for her beloved son - or at the very least, hug me, give me another sucker, and let me stay inside where it was safe. To my amazement, she told me to go back outside and get my candy back from them or she was going to beat me for not fighting back.

Stunned, I had no choice but to go back outside because my mom put it down when it came time for a beating. Anyway, I go back outside and demand my sucker back or else. Inside I was so scared, but I had no choice. Well, I got beat up some more and the sucker ended up broken on the ground. Finally, I go back inside and my mom had apparently watched the whole thing from the beginning. She simply said to me that when you stand up for yourself and make it harder for others to take from you, then they won't be willing to do it in the future. Even though I didn't fully understand what she meant at the time, that lesson has stuck with me 'til this day. Also, I don't ever remember having anymore problems with those boys I had to fight.

Darrick: If you had superpowers, what would they be?

Chuck: Hulk powers - everybody knows he's the strongest there is!

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Chuck Grigsby in the following places:

Official Chuck Grigsby MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/godsson60

Chuck Grigsby on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/chuck-grigsby-13066

Chuck Grigsby Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/13066