10 Questions With Nick Denis (12/18/2011)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Nick Denis (by Darrick Patrick)

Nick "The Ninja of Love" Denis is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as King of the Cage, Aggression MMA, Sengoku, Wreck MMA, and APEX Championship Fighting. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Joseph Sandoval in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC on FX 1: Guillard vs. Miller on January 20th, 2012.

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

Nick: I just basically wanted to do something fun while at university. I was bored of simply going to the gym and lifting weights, so I decided to take up Jiu-Jitsu. Once I got into it, I loved it. I started competing and eventually began thinking about mixed martial arts.

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

Nick: Yeah, just train. Train, train, train, train. Don't be in a rush. There are people that go into the gym thinking, "Oh, I'll just train for a few months and then I'll be fighting. No problem." Those are the people that end up quitting real soon because reality sets in that this sport is tough. Be quiet, don't talk trash in the gym, and just train. Be patient.

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

Nick: I respect Georges St-Pierre (GSP) because he is the best. I really respect his work ethic, as well as his ability to take his desire/dream and make his whole life committed to it. I also have a lot of respect for Randy Couture. This guy was much older than all of his competitors and was able to stay competitive until retirement. He is also a master at creating game plans.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Joseph Sandoval on January 20th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Nick: I'm extremely excited about it. This fight will be my UFC debut. Joseph is 6-1, and a southpaw striker. I think it is a great match-up for me. I couldn't be happier.

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

Nick: The feeling I get from pushing myself. When I'm able to continue past the point where my body and mind just want me to give up. I always feel amazing with a sense of accomplishment after the workout is over. Also, when I've been drilling a certain move over and over. To finally pull it off in training, or competition, makes me feel great.

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

Nick: I suppose my brother and my dad were both a great influence to me while I was growing up. My brother and I did Tae Kwon Do together. He was an older brother, so he would push me to train harder. He'd get me to go for morning runs with him, which I hated! My dad gave me a lot of life advice and tried to make me a good person.

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

Nick: Other than mixed martial arts, I'm basically a geek. I love spending time learning about the newest advances in technology, which is hard because the world is changing so fast. I am always trying to stay updated on current events. I love hanging out with my dog, Ninja, surfing the net on sites like Fail Blog, and just hanging out with my girlfriend, Jen. Oh, and eating. I love food!

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Nick: I was two years old and my family lived in Rockland in what we call "The White House". I remember getting out of bed one night and standing at the top of the stairs because I heard my brother and dad come home. My dad had bought a Batman figurine for my brother and I was upset. I wanted the Batman toy.

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

Nick: I have a master's degree in biochemistry. I quit my Ph.D. with one year left to pursue MMA full-time. I had one of Canada's best scholarships at the time and I am a published scientist. I spend a lot of my time thinking about religion.

Darrick: If you had superpowers, what would they be?

Nick: Hmmm...the ability to fly would be a good one. If I could have all the knowledge of the universe though, that would probably be pretty great too.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://www.myspace.com/darrickpatrick/blog/343519835

You can also check out Nick Denis in the following places:

Official Nick Denis Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=121504600

Official Nick Denis Twitter Area:

http://www.twitter.com/theninjaoflove

Nick Denis on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Nick-Denis-19128

Nick Denis Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/19128