10 Questions With Peter Sobotta (6/3/2009)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Peter Sobotta (by Darrick Patrick)

Peter Sobotta is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki, Free Fight Association Germany, Outsider Cup, Free Fight Championship, and Unlimited Combat System. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Paul Taylor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 99: The Comeback on June 13th, 2009.

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

Peter: My absolute role model as a child was Jackie Chan. I really wanted to be able to fight like him and wanted to learn Kung Fu. Since there was nothing like that in our small village of Balingen, my parents instead sent me to Judo training. Even without Kung Fu techniques like the Eagle Claw or the Snake Bite, I felt at home in Judo and kept training in it for five years. A friend later introduced me to Tae Kwon Do, which was a lot of fun as well. I stayed with TKD until a MMA school opened near Balingen and after my first trial there I knew what I wanted to do in the future. My first mixed martial arts fight came at age seventeen in Leipzig.

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

Peter: The people that influenced me the most growing up was my parents. For me, there are no people who work harder and at the same time are even more warm-hearted and loving. I am really blessed with them and my sister. They have always had my back in everything I've done and they are truly unselfishly supporting me now that I am in the UFC.

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

Peter: Find a gym you feel comfortable at and just give it a try. If you find the right place, keep on training and make it the center of your life. If you challenge yourself on a daily basis you won't just learn something about yourself, but you will also be much more happy and satisfied with yourself.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Paul Taylor on June 13th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Peter: I have trained hard for this fight for four months and I have never been more ready for anything in my entire life. I sincerely hope Paul is ready as well and not carrying any injuries. I also hope that broken rib of his is healed up one hundred percent because such an injury can break up so easily again in a fight. My teammates at Berserker's Gym in Poland are some of the fiercest and meanest guys in Europe. We train at a bunker with no heating and no windows. They told me at my final training camp that they are not coming to Cologne to see me win, they are coming for Taylor's funeral!

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

Peter: The most fulfilling aspect for me is learning something new every day. I'm like a sponge when it comes to learning new moves and new techniques. For example, after I lost my first fight I took a break from fighting for a full year to work on my ground game.

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

Peter: I admire Shinya Aoki for his Jiu-Jitsu and flexibility, Fedor Emelianenko for his cerebral approach and punching power, and B.J. Penn for his heart and fighting spirit. A combination of these three fighter's qualities would be unbeatable in my opinion.

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

Peter: In "ordinary" life, I'm nearing the end of my vocational education at the German Telekom. After my final exams, I'll be a certified IT system merchant. Furthermore, I am a member of the worker's council in my company. Besides mixed martial arts, which is my biggest passion, I also play ice hockey and go rock climbing.

Darrick: What moment in your life have you been proudest of so far?

Peter: A true crunch point in my career was my fight against Hendrik Nitzsche. I was just eighteen years old when I fought him and he had five times my experience, plus he was a really powerful guy that nobody wanted to face at that time. On top of that, I had a really bad cold and could hardly train for the fight. I really expected this guy to kill me - literally! I really vanquished my weaker self that night and since then I approach my fights much more relaxed.

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

Peter: I am terribly grumpy in the mornings. (Laughs)

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Peter: My earliest memory is leaving my birthplace of Zabrze in Poland for Balingen, Germany when I was three years old. I had to leave a lot of sandbox friends behind, but fortunately I adapted to life in Germany really quick.

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 Peter Sobotta in the following places:

Official Peter Sobotta Website:

http://www.petersobotta.com

Official Peter Sobotta MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/petersobotta

Official SLK Management Site:

http://slkmgmt.com

Official SLK Management MySpace Page:

http://www.myspace.com/slkmgmt

Peter Sobotta on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/peter-sobotta-15816

Peter Sobotta Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/15816