10 Questions With Hayder Hassan (1/25/2010)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Hayder Hassan (by Darrick Patrick)

Hayder "Hulk" Hassan is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as King Of The Cage, Xtreme Fighting Championships, and Raging Wolf. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Ryan Keenan in Strikeforce at Strikeforce: Miami on January 30th, 2010.

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

Hayder: Well, I started my training at American Top Team with the desire to get in good shape and learn some new skills. I had a wrestling background from high school so I always knew that I could fall back on that. After six months of training that consisted of boxing, Muay Thai, and Jiu-Jitsu classes, I started training in the mornings during the pro workouts. I grew to love the workouts and I excelled quickly. Soon after I had my first professional fight and won with a nine-second knockout.

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

Hayder: I have a lot of respect for my teammates and my coaches. I have been fortunate enough to begin my training at American Top Team. The level of fighters at our camp is first-class. You are forced to improve and get better or get beat up. I have tons of love and respect for my coaches Master Laborio, Conan, my striking coaches Katel and Howard Davis, and finally my conditioning coach. They put countless hours in to make sure that you are ready for your fight. They truly care about you and want to see you succeed. I'm grateful to have them in my corner.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Ryan Keenan on January 30th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Hayder: I'm very excited that Strikeforce has given me this opportunity to showcase my talents and skills. I know Ryan Keenan is a tough opponent and I look forward to stepping in the cage on the 30th and seeing who comes up on top. I have been training very hard for this fight, so I'm very confident in my abilities to get in there and handle business. All the hard work is done. Now it's time for the fun part and that is to fight. I'm going to hold nothing back for this one.

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

Hayder: What makes me happy is the journey that one goes through as they prepare for a fight. I think it's a very spiritual experience and with every fight you grow as an individual and as a man. You learn so much about who you are. The dedication and sacrifice you have to put into the sport is also something that I enjoy. Not many people get to say that they love their job. Many people wake up in the morning and dread going to work. I wake up every morning with a smile on my face knowing that this is what makes me happy and that there is nothing in the world that I would rather do.

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

Hayder: My advice for others is to stay dedicated and no matter what happens in a fight, stay positive and learn from the experience. I unfortunately lost my last fight. It was the first loss of my career. After looking back at that loss, I now know that it was the best thing to ever happen to me. When you win, you are happy and confident. When you lose though, you analyze everything that you did right and everything you did wrong. Since that loss I have become ten times a better fighter. I am much more technical and a patient fighter. This is going to help me towards future victories.

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

Hayder: My family is a big influence on me. My parents especially. They have always loved and supported me throughout my life. Now that I have chosen MMA to be my career, I want to show them that I have what it takes to one day be one of the best fighters in the world.

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

Hayder: When I am not training I really enjoy relaxing with my family, hanging out with friends, and going to the beach. Anytime you have a break from training it's good to unwind and let your mind be free of all the stresses that come along with training. I love to go to dinner, watch movies, and eat carrot cake. My favorite!

Darrick: If you had 24 hours left to live, how would you spend that time?

Hayder: I would spend all of that time with my friends and family. I know they would make me happy and bring a smile to my face even if I had a short time to go.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Hayder: One of my oldest memories is when my dad used to take me to the hospital with him and let me sit next to the surgeon and watch operations. Growing up as a kid, I always wanted to become a doctor like my dad. I remember my dad taking me with him and he would dress me up in the doctor's clothing and I would sit there watching people get cut open and fixed up. Growing up I always thought my dad had the coolest job in the world. Now I think that I have the coolest job in the world.

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

Hayder: Something that most people don't know is that I'm a clean freak. I like everything a certain way. I might even be a little OCD. When I put things in the fridge, they have to be in the right spot. If I see something out of place, I fix it right away. I hate mess. I like when things are clean and neat.

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 Hayder Hassan in the following places:

Official Hayder Hassan Website:

http://www.hassanmma.com/HassanMMA.com/HASSANMMA.COM.html

Official Hayder Hassan MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/373538977

Official Hayder Hassan Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Hayder-Hassan/5223501

Hassan MMA Facebook Area:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/HassanMMA/60317681318

Hayder Hassan on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Hayder-Hassan-46033