10 Questions With Chico Camus (11/18/2010)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Chico Camus (by Darrick Patrick)

Chico "King" Camus is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as Evolution Fighting Championships, Racine Fight Night, North American Fighting Championship, Gladiators Cage Fighting, and Extreme Cagefighting Organization. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Jameel Massouh in the North American Fighting Championship at NAFC: Bad Blood on November 24th, 2010.

Darrick: How did you end up competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Chico: Actually, it's kind of crazy how it came together. I had a rough upcoming and was going through some tough times. I ended up meeting Anthony Pettis at a mutual friend's barber shop while getting a haircut and overheard him talking about a MMA fight that he previously won. I asked him where he trained and he said at Roufusport with Duke Roufus, but that he was opening up his own gym. So, we exchanged numbers. I went down and sparred with him and my life pretty much changed from there. I started training full-time and had my first amateur fight after nine months of training. Anthony took me down to Duke's place where I fought two more amateur fights before turning pro. I absolutely fell in love with the sport.

Darrick: Who is someone that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Chico: My mother, hands down. She's my hero, I don't know where I would be without that woman. She has taught me almost everything I know about life. She kept me in sports my entire childhood and did the best she could to provide for her kids. I love her to death. She is definitely an angel on Earth, not to mention my biggest fan. She attends all of my fights and she has stuck with me through the good and the bad times. She is one of the few people who never gave up on me and a big part of my motivation to be the best that I can be in mixed martial arts.

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

Chico: Don't give up on your dreams, you get out what you put in. Hard work pays off. Martial arts can change your life, I know it did for me. I was headed down the wrong path and the sport kept my mind off the streets and on staying in the gym. It made me a better person and bettered my lifestyle.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Jameel Massouh on November 24th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Chico: Jameel Massouh is a good fighter and is just coming off a victory in the Bellator Fighting Championships organization. He is a bit taller and kind of lanky, but I have fought a few tall and lanky guys in my career so far. So, I'm pretty good at adjusting to the height and reach advantage. We were supposed to fight already but I suffered a sternum injury that caused me to pull out of the fight. I really wanted that fight. I was very happy when Duke told me I had the fight again. Jameel has been kind of trash-talking me, so I'm glad that we're finally going to fight and put all the trash-talk to rest.

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

Chico: Winning! There's no better feeling in the world than getting your hand raised and knowing all the blood, sweat, tears, and hard work you put into the gym has paid off. That's why I love the sport. It's one-on-one, let's see what fighter trained harder and has what it takes to go the distance and not break. Go hard or go home.

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

Chico: I would definitely have to say my teammates and close friends, Anthony Pettis and Pat Barry. I have built a strong bond with those guys and everything they are doing inside and outside the cage is bringing in more fans and bettering the sport as a whole. Of course I can't leave out Duke Roufus. He's been like a mentor to me and taught me a lot about the fight game, so he's definitely someone I look up to in the MMA world as well.

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

Chico: I love sports. I spend most of my time though with my kids, family, and friends when I'm not training. I'm always in the gym getting better and working on my craft, but in the future I want to eventually open my own gym. I'd like to give back to the sport and give other people the opportunities that I've had.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Chico: I always remember being close to my family while I was growing up. My mother had seven kids - three boys and four girls, with me being the youngest. I spent most of my time with my older brothers playing sports. Ever since I can remember I have wanted to be a professional athlete in some sport. I am so blessed that I still had the opportunity to make that dream come true.

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

Chico: I'm very loyal. I have been through a lot and I fight for my family and friends. I'm a great father and I have a huge heart. I have been an underdog my whole life and fought through a lot of adversity growing up.

Darrick: If you lost one of your senses, which could you stand to be without?

Chico: If I had to lose one of my senses, I would have to say smell. It would suck to live without any of them, but if I had to chose I would have to pick my ability to smell.

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 Chico Camus in the following places:

Official Chico Camus Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Chico-Camus/100001182236476

Chico Camus on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chico-Camus-42850