10 Questions With Chris Stringer (11/16/2009)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Chris Stringer (by Darrick Patrick)

Chris "Menace 2 Society" Stringer is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as Cage Wars Championship, Ultimate Force, Olympian MMA Championships, Ultimate Conflict, Atlas Fighting Challenge, Ultimate Glory, Swiss Las Vegas, 2 Hot 2 Handle, Ultimate Fight Night, Shooto Europe, and Ultimate Fighting Revolution. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Rich Clementi in Cage Wars Championship at CWC: Nightmare on November 29th, 2009.

Darrick: What was the journey that led you to professional mixed martial arts competition?

Chris: Well, basically my parents always told me to go out and play sports. I wasn't allowed to sit indoors watching TV all day, so when I was younger I tried every sport that you can think of. Football, basketball, rugby, etc. and I was rubbish at them all. I totally sucked. I always loved martial arts though when I was a kid (the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were my idols), so I eventually decided to try martial arts. I went to a gym in my town and was blown away by the training. I loved it and got hooked. I didn't know it at the time, but it was a MMA gym. I did really good during training sessions and asked for a fight. I had my first semi-pro fight when I turned sixteen and I loved it, so I fought ten more times until I reached the age of eighteen. Then I had a professional fight and decided I wanted to keep getting better so that I could continue to make a career out of it.

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

Chris: Yves Edwards because I watched a HOOKnSHOOT documentary with him and Aaron Riley when I was younger and he was really dead-on outside of the ring. When he fought, his stand-up was incredible and I fought like him. Less technical, but more scrappy. Also, Melvin Manhoef and Wanderlei Silva due to their aggression and they are really entertaining fighters as well. Joachim Hansen is so technical that it's unreal, and Sakuraba is a genius with his unorthodox moves - and he beat four Gracies. There are many more of course and the list keeps going on!

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Rich Clementi on November 29th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Chris: This is a fight of my dreams, Rich is a highly experienced fighter and I'm an up-and-comer. It gives me a chance to show my skills against one of the elite fighters of the world. He says he is taking me lightly, but he cannot afford another loss so I know that he is training hard and it should be a very entertaining fight.

Darrick: Do you have any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Chris: Go for it, don't let other people hold you back. You will gain so much from doing it and grow as a person and as an athlete. It will make you strong mentally and physically, give you loads of confidence, and improve your health.

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Chris: My nanny Bree, she was studying to become a doctor with four children when her husband died. She managed to bring up four kids in the troubles (riots and bombs in Belfast, Northern Ireland) and finished her course to become a doctor! She always said that if you want to do something, then go and do it.

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

Chris: Being confident in myself as a person and a fighter, as well as becoming a balanced person.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Chris: I have a fiancee called Lynne, so I like to spend time with her going to the cinema, eating, shopping, etc. I also love fast cars and modified cars. I'm a bit of a gadget freak too, so PS3, Xbox, big TV's, and lots of movies interest me as well.

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

Chris: I'm afraid of cotton wool! I really hate the stuff and don't understand how people use it. Ugghh!

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Chris: That's a hard one. Oh, I know...when I was around four years old I was running down my back garden, fell over, and broke my arm. It was really sore. I remember going to the hospital, getting a cast, then going home and hiding sweets up inside it to eat when no one was looking.

Darrick: If you were the last person alive on Earth, what do you think you'd do to entertain yourself?

Chris: I'd get all of the cars that I have ever wanted, then probably drive into a mall and do a few doughnuts. (Laughs) I would go to the biggest and best house that I could find and kit it out with massive TVs, Blu-ray, PS3, surround sound, a massive sofa, and of course I'd put a fridge in there. Then I'd go to the shop and lift everything possible, come back to the house, watch loads of movies, and get really really fat. That sounds like a plan!

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

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

You can also check out Chris Stringer in the following places:

Official Chris Stringer Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Stringer/1324907599

Chris Stringer on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chris-Stringer-13665