10 Questions With Brendan Barrett (9/4/2009)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Brendan Barrett (by Darrick Patrick)

"Brutal" Brendan Barrett is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as the International Fight League, Ring Of Combat, Extreme Challenge, Reality Fighting, and World's Best Fighter. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Randy Durant in the main event of Asylum Fight League on October 17th, 2009.

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

Brendan: I was initially in college double majoring in accounting and business/finance, took the LSAT, and was looking into law schools to become a CPA attorney. I was interested in either mergers and acquisitions, or corporate and entertainment law. During the first semester of my senior year in college, I took a study break to go pick a few things up and on the way back I ended up in a car accident. My back got injured and I was on some heavy medications. I tried to hold on and finish my senior year, but halfway through the second semester I was too far behind from not being able to sit through all of my classes. This was mainly due to the effects that the medication had on my concentration and ability to do my work. I pulled out of college and tried to get my life back together.

After I started to get my life on track, I had an uphill battle of trying to make enough money to get back to school and I was miserable. I did much meditating and soul searching to find out what truly makes me happy in life. Looking back, I realized the only time in my life when I was truly happy was when I was competing. After much more thought, consideration, and soul searching, I decided to fight. I was always against fighting despite all of the encouragement I would get from basically everyone around me trying to get me to do it. The more I researched and the more I learned about MMA, the more I realized how much it has evolved into a sport. When I saw that the fighters were competing out of respect and skill, then I was drawn to it. I got off of the couch, got myself back into shape, and started training some Muay Thai and Judo/Jiu-Jitsu. About three months later, I walked into a pro fight and walked out a few moments later with my hand raised and my opponent face down on the canvas. I was hooked.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Randy Durant on October 17th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Brendan: For my upcoming bout with Randy Durant, I am mainly focusing on getting back to how I used to fight when I first started. Recently I have fallen into a slump. I let a lot of things get to me on the business side of the sport and had some issues with management and trainers, added with a few bad calls. I have mentally been taking myself out of the game and it has certainly shown in my last few fights. I have gone out complacent and distant, waiting to get hit so I could wake up and get fired up. I am focusing on going out and fighting my fight, attacking first, and not worrying so much about what my opponent is going to do. Just do me, stop thinking, and let things happen.

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

Brendan: For anyone looking to compete in mixed martial arts, the main advice I can give is to be focused and have dedication. You have to be fully committed to the sport and push yourself when no one else is pushing you, eat right when nobody is watching you, and be extremely self-motivated and self-driven. Many people will get into fighting just to say they are a fighter or because they think they are going to be rich and famous. The reality is that very few people who start will be picked up right away and have an easy road. It will take time, sacrifice, and an extreme amount of hard work. If you truly want to take it somewhere, you need to be in it for the long haul through the ups and downs. Always remember that nothing truly worth doing ever comes easy in any aspect of life.

Darrick: Who is someone in the sport that you highly respect?

Brendan: I have a tremendous amount of respect for Georges St-Pierre. He is always respectful in victory or defeat. It is clearly evident that he strives to be a good example and role model for the sport and for all those who watch and support him. I had the pleasure of training with him in Manhattan at Phil Nurse's gym The Wat. Even in person and in training he treats everyone as equals with an enormous amount of respect. He is a class act outside of the cage as well as in.

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

Brendan: I get the majority of my fulfillment from martial arts out of the discipline it forces me to have in all aspects of my life. To train and compete at the level I want to reach and be successful at, I need to take care of my mind and my body with as much dedication as I put into my training. I need to eat right, get enough sleep, stay away from many things, and always keep myself focused. In doing this, as well as through my training, I have learned much more about myself. I have found what drives me and I have found out what I am made of when I go through adversity. I have gained a much better understanding of myself as a person through all of this, which not only helps me in the cage but also in many other areas of my life.

Darrick: Who is someone that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Brendan: I would have to say the most influential person in my life did not have an impact on me until I was older and that person is my grandfather. He was the hardest working man I have ever known and made sure that his family was always provided for. He was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease that changed his life drastically. He never once complained about his situation or asked "why me?" - even as he lost the ability to walk and later on the ability to speak. He always kept smiling and kept his head high. Even in his last few days, he showed me what it truly means to be a fighter.

Despite the fact he was barely fed for over a month and then was not fed at all for over seven days (due to the fact that he was no longer able to digest), he still never gave up or let go even though he was not able to even open his eyes anymore. He layed in his bed and would not give up for over fourteen hours as he labored just to breathe. Even in his last breath, eyes closed and all, he smiled. I can only hope that I have a fraction of the fight that he had in him. Although he is gone now, I know he will be watching me fight from above with the same smile and look of pride he always had on his face while watching me compete.

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

Brendan: I have a number of different interests outside of mixed martial arts. I enjoy working with my hands and had a custom woodworking business for a bit. I also like fishing and doing activities that are relaxing so I can unwind when I'm not training and fighting. I have recently started getting into modeling and am also working on several different projects with my new publicist, but more on that will be out soon, so stay tuned. (Laughs)

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

Brendan: Well, despite how many people tell me they perceive me from my appearence and how violent and brutal most of my fights are, I am actually a big softy. I guess it can be best described as: gentle by nature, brutal by trade. (Laughs) Outside of fighting and training, I am very mild mannered and laid back...well, most of the time. The training and competition seems to get out all of the anger, frustration, and occasional rage I used to carry around with me most of my life. It allows me to channel all the negative feelings and emotions into a productive, positive outlet.

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

Brendan: I am sure most fighters who were ever into comic books would love to be Wolverine. At least I know that was always who I wanted to be growing up if I had anyone's powers. Anymore though I think I would rather have the ability to read people's minds. This way I would always know what everyone else is thinking so I can utilize it better in fight purse negotiations, sponsorship opportunities, and I'd always be a few steps ahead of my opponents. Good luck trying to take advantage or screw over a guy who can read your mind. It could've prevented many issues I've had in my career.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Brendan: I never understood my oldest memory until I found out when I was older what was going on during that time. I had a rare undiagnosed illness/disease when I was a baby. They never fully figured out what it was and I remember being sick in the hospital. I was very sick and hospitalized for awhile with all sorts of crazy symptoms such as extreme fever, swelling all over the body, redness, and my skin was peeling off all over my body. Looking back they now believe it was Kawasaki disease. Not the happiest early memory, but life isn't always a walk in the park. We make of it what we choose.

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 Brendan Barrett in the following places:

Official Brendan Barrett MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/mmafighter205

Official Brendan Barrett Facebook Site:

http://www.hs.facebook.com/brutalbarrett

Brendan Barrett on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/brendan-barrett-19979