10 Questions With James Warfield (4/20/2010)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With James Warfield (by Darrick Patrick)

James "The Unbreakable Heavy Hitter" Warfield is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as the International Fighting Championship, Madtown Throwdown, Shine Fights, Freestyle Combat Challenge, Warriors 4 Warriors, Extreme Cagefighting Organization, Primetime Fighting Championships, Jungle Madness, Combat USA, Downtown Destruction, EVO MMA, Ultimate Battleground, Xtreme Kage Kombat, Ring Of Fire, and Ultimate Combat Sports,. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Travis Perzynski in King Of The Cage at KOTC: Turbulence 2 on April 24th, 2010.

Darrick: What was the path that led you to competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

James: I grew up training in Jeet Kune Do and Karate with my father and Master Thai, but even that discipline couldn't keep me out of trouble. Living in Milwaukee and Chicago, I had plenty of run-ins with the law. I knew I had to do something to change my life so that is when I gave up the streets and turned to boxing. As I got better in boxing, I got bored with it and I wanted a new challenge so I started amateur kickboxing.

While kickboxing, I met Demian Decorah (a ref at the time) who is a well-known MMA fighter here in the Midwest. He asked if I knew what mixed martial arts was and I told him no. Then he showed me a pair of MMA gloves and I wanted to know where the rest of the gloves were and he said that was it. I then asked him if we were also locked inside a cage and he said yes. I said, "I can get paid to fight in this cage and not go to jail?" He said yes, so I told him to sign me up! Then after seeing a Chuck Liddell versus Tito Ortiz fight I was hooked after that. I started training for my first amateur fight, then a few months later I turned pro and I have been trying to perfect my art ever since. MMA truly saved my life.

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

James: Just follow your heart and know that it is not an easy journey. Honest to God though, you get out of it what you put into it. Whether it is a Jiu-Jitsu tournament or an actual fight, the time you put in at the gym shows in your performance. Also, if you can take getting punched in the face, you can be a fighter.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Travis Perzynski on April 24th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

James: I respect Travis, he is a well-rounded fighter who is an up-and-coming fighter just like myself. I can't say I wish him the best of luck though because this is the same guy that will be across the cage from me trying to knock my head off. I can say I am not taking him lightly and I am highly looking forward to this fight. I am going to make sure that the fans get their money's worth.

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

James: My trainers Pat O'Malley, Ron Faircloth, and Kain Rizzo for helping me and getting me ready for fights. Most importantly though for teaching me all about MMA. Nick "The Goat" Thompson, Anderson Silva, Rampage Jackson, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Whisper Goodman, Jameel Massouh, Dave Strasser, Pat Barry, Duke Roufus, Brian Geraghty, Rick Roufus, B.J. Penn, and Yves Edwards are some of my favorite fighters. Of course also all my Chosen Few teammates, my dad, and the grandfather of all time, Bruce Lee.

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

James: After training as hard as I can and disciplining myself to stick to my diet, in the end it is me and another man in front of me. My sole objective is to bring the most pain as possible to that guy and knock him out. The fulfillment comes for me after I do that. When I look at the fans and they have an odd look on their face of shock like, "Wow, did that just happen?" I know then that it was worth their money.

Darrick: Where could you possibly see the future of the sport ten years from now?

James: I feel that ten years from now the sport will overtake boxing and eventually it will evolve into a whole different sport that goes way beyond MMA. Maybe with weapons allowed, like Karate sticks! (Laughs)

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

James: Being with my family, playing with my kids, fishing, poker, relaxing, playing PS3 and Xbox 360, swimming, basketball, and overall just loving life.

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

James: I am a great cook. If you don't believe me, ask my wife and she will tell you.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

James: Trying to set my little brother's shirt on fire when I was four years old. It didn't work on him, so I tried it on myself and got burns on my stomach. I remember it so vividly because the gauze would stick to my skin. Sorry if you got a bad image in your head. (Laughs) So much for supervison, mom and dad - and for not having childproof lighters back then in the eighties.

Darrick: If you had a working time machine, what are some of the points in history that you would visit?

James: I'd like to hear JFK or Martin Luther King speak. I'd also enjoy watching my three favorite fighters when they were in their prime - Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Jack Dempsey. Oh, and to have a chance to pet the original Old Yeller before they shot him. (Laughs)

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 James Warfield in the following places:

Official James Warfield Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/people/James-Warfield-Lane/100000898347362

Official James Warfield Facebook Group:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Unbreakable-Heavy-Hitter-James-Warfield/106575139376501

James Warfield on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/James-Warfield-8189

James Warfield Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/8189