10 Questions With Brian Green (3/4/2010)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Brian Green (by Darrick Patrick)

Brian "Smokin" Green is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as Conquest Fighting Championship, Ultimate Combat Sports, Midwest Cage Championship, Max Fights DM, World Cage Fighting Championships, Extreme Fighting Xtreme, Title Fighting Championships, GreenSparks Full Contact Fighting, Judgement Night, Mainstream MMA, Universal Gladiator Championships, Madtown Throwdown, Absolute Fighting Championships, Xtreme Fighting Organization, Point of Impact, Downtown Destruction, Victory Fighting Championship, Gladiators, Courage Fighting Championships, and Xtreme Kage Kombat. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Chad Reiner in Ring Of Fire at ROF 37: Warlords on March 5th, 2010.

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

Brian: I had no idea what "professional MMA" really even was when I first began. I had started fighting as an amateur at the age of seventeen with a fake ID at a local bar called Toad Holler, where many top fighters such as Josh Neer, Jeremy Stephens, and Kevin Burns all got their start in the sport. After fourteen amateur fights, I went to a show as a spectator. When Josh Neer's friend who was supposed to fight had an opponent withdrawal, he offered me the fight. He informed me that since there was money to be involved, it would turn into a pro fight. I won the fight by guillotine in the second round, I believe it was, and earned two hundred dollars for my winning performance. Ever since then, I was hooked and have continued to grow my professional mixed martial arts career.

Darrick: You are also connected with matchmaking, promoting, and managing fighters. What are the details with your involvement in that side of the sport?

Brian: I was the matchmaker for Max Fights here in Des Moines. However, due to the last event which I took pride in getting my training partner (and coach really) Josh Neer, as well as my good friend Hermes Franca on the card to fight in front of Des Moines, the company's owners actually went back on their word they had given me. They made some dishonest actions and I ended up stepping away as matchmaker for the show.

I am co-owner/promoter of Des Moines MMA Fight Night with my business partner, as well as mentor, and in a way a second father, Anthony Porcelli. We generally have an event once a month. The shows are comprised of amateur fights, with the top amateurs around competing in a show that gives them a taste of what professional MMA competition is like.

Our events are ran as a pro show, except for elbows are not allowed due to the fighters being more inexperienced. There is no need for these guys, who are just trying out MMA to get a feel for it, to be competing with elbows and getting cut open. I don't see that being necessary. After a successful amateur career, they can decide to go pro and then use the elbows as far as I am concerned. I think it is a lot more safe for the competitors who fight for the shows.

My main focus at the moment however is my management. Feel free to check out http://www.SmokinMMA.com and see the fighters I currently represent. I am a full-time MMA kind of guy. I manage fighters, promote my amateur show, and I also fight as well.

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

Brian: Take your time and be sure to train at least a little bit before jumping into the ring. Learn the basics. Learn your guard. I'm not saying you need to be able to hit submissions and such, but at least know how to get your guard back and know how to protect yourself. Start out amateur and fight for a legit promoter (there are some real snakes in this game). After around ten amateur fights, if you're doing well against amateur competition, turn pro, and start your quest to make it to the next level in MMA.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Chad Reiner on March 5th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Brian: I think this is going to be a very good fight. The winner is going to be the fans! Chad has actually fought for me before, and I have a lot of respect for him, but this is a sport (the greatest in the world at that) and I love competing. I feel Chad and I are really the same fighter pretty much. We both have a good ground game and we also both have decent stand-up skills. I really kind of see it as fighting the same fighter that I am.

That sounded kind of weird, but what I mean is that we both have the same styles. We have some good stand-up skills and a good ground game to go with it. I feel my biggest strength is that I am well-rounded, and I see the same qualities as a fighter in Chad. Hopefully this will turn into a fight of the night and be a very good performance by both of us.

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

Brian: Winning - and having those who support me screaming their heads off. That gives me the motivation to keep winning.

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

Brian: I would say that the number one person I respect in MMA is Josh Neer. He is the most loyal person I have ever met through the sport. He has always stayed true and continues to train at Des Moines MMA, where he is at home (as far as a gym goes). He is a loyal fighter to sponsors, the gym, his fans, and several others. I am glad to be training partners with him and have learned a lot from him as a fighter, as well as a person.

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

Brian: My favorite thing to do is travel. I love being outside of my home region. Whether it be in the ocean, in the mountains, anywhere...I love traveling! It is most definitely my favorite hobby. I have several friends throughout the U.S. and Canada, and I love to visit them as often as I get the chance to.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Brian: Hmmm...probably when my mom and dad had horses. I used to jump on this one horse in particular named BC. I was riding him in the arena this one time and he got spooked by something. I must have only been about four years old and BC took off running. I was too young to be able to ride a horse at a gallop and I remember falling off him because I was riding him bareback. I tumbled right down his leg, and got an injured shoulder and a big scrape on my forehead out of the deal. I remember when my dad showed up, I was holding a Dr. Pepper. Which to this day is still my favorite kind of pop. (Laughs)

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

Brian: I am a huge family-oriented person. My grandparents are my life! They are the most important people in my life and I would do anything for them. They have always been the two people in my life that I could trust, no matter what. I can always trust them and count on them. They were a big influence in raising me and have helped me into becoming who I am today. I am forever grateful for those wonderful people and I don't deserve to be so lucky to have such great people as my grandparents. I also am a very firm believer in God. I try to live each and every day for Christ, who died for us.

Darrick: What moments in your life have you been proudest of so far?

Brian: I would say the top moments that I have been proud of in my life start off with when I was in little league and I hit four home runs in one game! It was my sixteen-year-old season. Next up is when I won the MCC middleweight title and my mom and dad were both there. I'd have to admit that my most proud moments consist though of when my dad is proud of me. Hearing him say that he is proud of me brings me a great deal of satisfaction.

Also, anytime that one of my guys that I manage wins a fight, I'm extremely proud of them. Especially when they use techniques that I have went over with them. Like when Demi Deeds here is going to win this huge fight against Alonzo Martinez tomorrow night, I will be extremely proud. We are going to make it up the ladder to the bigger and better shows. UFC bound!

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 Brian Green in the following places:

Official Brian Green MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/mmablondebomber

Official Brian Green Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000311613165

Smokin MMA Sports Management:

http://www.smokinmma.com

Brian Green on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Brian-Green-4164