10 Questions With Roli Delgado (12/10/2008)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Roli Delgado (by Darrick Patrick)

Roli (Rolando) "The Crazy Cuban" Delgado is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as No Love Entertainment, Absolute Fighting Championships, Modern Ringsport, Dangerzone, Tennessee Shooto, Extreme Brawl, and recently appeared on the eighth season of the television show The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against John Polakowski in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at The Ultimate Finale for season eight on December 13th, 2008.

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

Roli: I started training Jiu-Jitsu and then began fighting in local MMA shows shortly afterwards. I never really fought a lot - an average of twice a year.

Darrick: In your experience so far, what brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Roli: Teaching for sure, but a close second is when I gain a new weapon or make one of my weapons more efficient. I've worked extensively on my boxing lately and it's really gratifying to see the results.

Darrick: Since completing this recent season of The Ultimate Fighter, how else have you been spending your time?

Roli: I've been entirely too busy with my gym and training to do much else. Managing those two things with a wife and a baby is very difficult.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against John Polakowski on December 13th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Roli: I think it's going to be awesome - he's a great guy. We're both small for the division, so it should be an honest, tough, and fair fight. John has great stand-up and the heart of a lion. I really enjoyed training with him on the show.

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

Roli: Make sure that you train at a gym that creates fighters from scratch. It won't do you any good to go to a gym that has a bunch of tough guys, but hasn't developed any. If you are starting from scratch, sometimes you might want a smaller gym to learn good basics in.

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

Roli: My parents gave me a great work ethic in their own ways. I also learned a lot about life from the older guys in the gym that I started at. I was around a lot of great professionals on and off the mat that helped show me how to be a better man.

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

Roli: I love to trout fish, deer and duck hunt, and camp. Sounds cliché, but I really like the outdoors.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Roli: Living in a trailor with my mother in California. It was a piece of shit.

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

Roli: Smell, for sure - who would give up feeling, hearing, or seeing?

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

Roli: My two front teeth are caps. I lost the real ones as a kid when I was exploring an abandoned building and had a fence fall on me.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835

You can also check out Roli Delgado in the following places:

Official Roli Delgado Website:

http://www.rolidelgado.com

Official Roli Delgado MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/compcoach

Roli Delgado TUF 8 Blog on MMAWeekly.com:

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=7628&zoneid=4

Roli Delgado on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Roli-Delgado-3669