10 Questions With Tyler Stinson (4/6/2010)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Tyler Stinson (by Darrick Patrick)

Tyler "The Evolution" Stinson is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as Combat Sports Championships, Art Of Fighting, C3 Fights, Havic Prizefighting, Mixed Martial Madness, Link Fighting Championship, Midwest Cage Combat, International Fighting Organization, Good Guys Promotions, and Masters Of The Cage. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Demi Deeds in Bellator Fighting Championships at BFC 16 on April 29th, 2010.

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

Tyler: I've been an athlete my entire life, so whatever sport I was playing at the time I wanted to go pro in it. Once I got into high school, I played football and track. After I graduated, I went on to play football at a NAIA school. After the first semester I decided it wasn't for me. Not the football, but the "going to class" part is what got me. (Laughs) After that was over, I started watching the first season of The Ultimate Fighter with my buddy.

We decided we could do that stuff, so we bought some really cheap boxing gloves and started sparring each other in the kitchen! I then found a website that was taking applications for fighters. I filled it out, telling lies about what and where I had been training because I hadn't even found a gym yet. I got a call the next day saying they had a pro fight for me in seven days! I called Mark Jones, now my manager, and asked for a crash course in boxing. He called me a few choice names for accepting a MMA fight with absolutely no background or training. I went out and lost a split decision, but came back the next month and knocked out the same guy.

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

Tyler: I've had the chance to meet a lot of really cool guys in the last four years. I attended a Randy Couture fight camp two years ago and got to meet Randy, Jay Hieron, Mike Pyle, and Martin Kampmann - all class acts. I was asked to go down to Greg Jackson's camp for a week to help Donald Cerrone prepare for a fight. He and Leonard Garcia welcomed me like they had known me for years. Those two guys are two of the coolest cats I've ever met. The fighters who I look up to though and the main reason I started this are people like Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Rich Franklin, and Georges St-Pierre. Those guys are professionals in every sense of the word.

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

Tyler: Don't do it like I did! (Laughs) Take your time, find a good gym or two, learn the basics, and have fun.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Demi Deeds on April 29th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Tyler: I think he poses a few challenges for me, but nothing I haven't seen before. I imagine he will shoot in and try to take me off of my feet. That's how ninety percent of my fights go. Once the dude gets a taste of my left hand, he will want to take it to the ground.

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

Tyler: To do something so physically demanding and excel at it is a great feeling. I also love helping other guys evolve their game. Probably the most fulfilling aspect though is seeing my family after a big win. My family is a big reason I'm where I'm at now.

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

Tyler: Goes back to my family - and now I am an uncle and I carry that title very proudly. Also, in comparison to the people I respect in the fight game, it was the same when I was playing other sports. My favorite football player is Marcus Allen, for basketball it was Michael Jordan, and it was Ken Griffey Jr. for baseball.

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

Tyler: I have a dog, half St. Bernard and half Pit Bull, and she's a handful. I also go over to Lawrence quite a bit because I have a lot of high school buddies that go to KU now. Oh, and I'm huge into video games. Right now my game is Modern Warfare 2, bring it on anybody!

Darrick: If you were stuck in a bomb shelter for the rest of your life, what three items would you take in with you besides food and water?

Tyler: Ha! Let me think...clean underwear. (Laughs) A television with a DVD player built into it and all of my DVDs. I know that's technically three, but the last thing going in with me would probably be my dog. Now, if I'm in there because zombies have taken over the world, it's a totally different list!

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

Tyler: I work with kids with autism. It's the most craziest and rewarding job I've ever had. They're just amazing kids.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Tyler: It might not be the oldest, but the first thing that comes to mind was from when I was probably six or seven years old. A tornado came through our town and trashed the backyard. So the next day my dad, my sister Kelle, and I went out to pick up all the tree limbs. One limb had a slight bow in it and I remember my dad saying, "you two be careful with those..." Before he could get it out, my sister jumped on one end, and me standing at the other, took a shot right in the chin! Blood was everywhere and I was rushed to the hospital. I still have the scar.

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 Tyler Stinson in the following places:

Official Tyler Stinson MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/teamkayostinson

Official Tyler Stinson Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1462195921

Tyler Stinson on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Tyler-Stinson-17728

Tyler Stinson Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/17728