10 Questions With Zach Light (9/16/2009)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Zach Light (by Darrick Patrick)

Zach "The Lisbon Outlaw" Light is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, World Extreme Cagefighting, Bodog Fight, Total Combat, Extreme Fighting Challenge, Sparstar Promotions, Ultimate Warrior Challenge, Platinum Fighting Productions, Invincible, Pit Fighting Championship, Ultimate Athlete, Icon Sport, Bring It On Promotions, and Iowa Challenge. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Tyron Woodley in Strikeforce at ShoMMA: Strikeforce Challengers 3 on September 25th, 2009.

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

Zach: I am a wrestling product from Iowa. I have been wrestling since I was born. My brothers Ike and Shane are the reason I'm so damn tough. We wrestled and fought each other all of the time. I won a couple of state wrestling titles and I was a two-time high school All-American in freestyle. My collegiate career was short, but I was an All-American in college as well. School never really was for me since I seem to only excel in sports. After college, I worked every construction job under the sun and got in bar fights every weekend. I ended my string of bar fighting when the judge told me that if I get into one more fight I'd be going to prison for two years. So, I packed up my shit and moved to California.

I spent some time living with my mom whom I hadn't lived with since I was eleven years old. I also got to know one of my best friends to this day, my stepfather Harvey Schwartz. At some point, I saw Tito Ortiz fight on TV and I fuckin' loved it. I had seen UFC 2 back in '94 but this was different. The next time Tito fought, we got the PPV. I sat my beer down during the fights, looked at my ex-wife and brother, and said, "I'm going to fight in the UFC." Long story short, I started the next day and eight months later I was fighting in the UFC.

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

Zach: My father was my main influence. Man, when I was little I thought he was the fucking king! Nobody could touch him. That's what I wanted to be - invincible. I'm very competitive, just like him. My brother Shane was two years older than me and we were about the same size, but no matter what I did he'd kick my ass. I hated it then, but I look back now and I just loved wrestling him. He was so damn skilled. I miss those days of us three being together and wrestling in tournaments. Also, Brad Smith was my coach since I was five years old and if he told me I was going to do something, then nothing could stop me. He is the best and most honest coach I've ever had. I learned so much from him that I still use his workouts to this day with Rampage, Bisping, and Kongo.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Tyron Woodley on September 25th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Zach: He's probably the best athlete I've ever fought. He has a lot of hype surrounding him. I like that because I fight the best and that's a fact. I've been training for seven weeks for this particular fight. I've done my best in camp and I've also done more Jiu-Jitsu than I've ever done before. I feel blessed for this opportunity and I'm going to make the most of it. They didn't figure in the Scouse factor when they booked me for this fight!

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

Zach: The relationships with my training partners. I love training and helping people, I can see shit that most people can't. I love this sport so much that I can barely watch anything else now.

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

Zach: Rampage Jackson to begin with, I started when he started at Team Punishment. He has become so good and he is one of my best friends. He leaves no man behind and is one of the best people I've ever known. Cheick Kongo is not the typical fighter, he is a warrior. That man fucking trains hard and will fight anybody, anywhere. The best thing about him though is that he's such a good person who is always helping out with the day-to-day advice. And as for style, he's on it! (Laughs) Also, Michael Bisping trains harder than anyone I've ever been around. He does everything to the max and I fuckin' love that about him. He's just fun to be around. I have a lot of respect as well for my two Huntington Beach training partners, Tiki Ghosn and Rob McCullough. They have really helped me the most. I should also take this time to thank them since I've gotten more pussy because of those guys. Thanks, fellas! (Laughs)

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

Zach: My advice to people starting out is to find a good MMA gym and get your ass to work. It's not easy, but the rewards can be huge at all levels.

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

Zach: My two children are really all that I think about. I have a girlfriend in Liverpool which solidified my title as the American Scouser. I like to party as well. I travel around the world with the sport too, so that's nice.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Zach: I don't know why, but I remember wailing outside of our first house when I was three years old. I also recall that I was carrying a glass of water.

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

Zach: Man, everybody who knows me knows everything about me. I don't give a shit about what people think, so I don't keep much to myself unless it's about someone else.

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

Zach: My two children being born, being the best man in my little brother Ike's wedding, being a part of helping Rampage win his world title, and being a really big part of helping him beat Wanderlei Silva.

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 Zach Light in the following places:

Official Zach Light MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/zoutlaw

Official Zach Light Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1160355749&ref=ts

Zach Light on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Zach-Light-3919

Zach Light Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/3919