10 Questions With Tommy Quinn (5/16/2012)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Tommy Quinn (by Darrick Patrick)

Tommy Quinn is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as Cage of Truth, Northern Fight League, and Ultimate Conflict. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Jack Mason in Cage Warriors Fighting Championship at CWFC 47 on June 2nd, 2012.

Darrick: How did you end up competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Tommy: My journey into MMA was quite an indirect one, but obviously one that has influenced most of my life until date. I started when I was seventeen years old and began through an interest in the sport from one of my old friends when I was at school. He was one of those lads who fought a lot out on the street and wanted to learn MMA for all the wrong reasons. He didn't want to join a club by himself though, so I decided I would go with him for a laugh. I never once thought I would ever fight. Roughly about a month or so later, my friend at the time quit. I made the decision to stick it out and have done so to this day.

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

Tommy: I never really looked up to many people when I was growing up. I was a roly poly kid. I was ridiculously overweight growing up which wasn't great but helped motivate me in my training. If I had to pick one person who influenced me, it was probably my father due to his work ethic. My father never had much growing up and worked hard as a bar owner for over thirty years. He has made a good living for himself. I have a lot of respect for those who don't make excuses, those who just work hard and get on with things. I think I learned this work ethic and stubbornness from my father.

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

Tommy: First off, don't do it if you're in it for the money. Especially within the UK, there is not enough money within the sport in this country. Second, expect it to be the toughest physical, mental, and emotional thing you could possibly do. You constantly question yourself when you are consistently sore from the impact of the sport, the amount of sacrifice for no guaranteed reward, and on those "off" days when you doubt your ability. It's a sport of ups and downs but you have to take it on the chin, both figuratively and literally.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Jack Mason on June 2nd. What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Tommy: My thoughts are of excitement, nerves, and anxiousness, but I'm delighted to be given such an opportunity. I understand that on paper I will be regarded as an underdog due to the sheer gap in experience, but that doesn't phase me. For what I lack in experience in the cage/ring, I make up for in training. It's the level of training partners which I have that gives me the confidence to take such a fight, so I'm just looking forward to making a return to fighting.

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

Tommy: Just the enjoyment and the thrill of fighting and competing really. I was never one for fighting outside growing up, so fighting is such is a novelty to me. I enjoy it as much as I possibly can. I like MMA mostly because team sports were not for me. I played football growing up and it used to frustrate me if we lost because others didn't put the same level of effort in as I did. Whereas in MMA, it's all down to you on that day. If you lose, it's all because of your own performance. That's why we as professionals train so hard to try and minimize the possibilities of error.

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

Tommy: The majority of the people in the sport aren't the big league players such as the GSP or Anderson Silva types. It's the hardworking people who have sacrificed a lot of time, money, education, and personal health to do something they really love or enjoy. It's the likes of those I've been in contact with that I respect the most such as my coach Peter Irving, my first coach Emmett McNally, Darren Hughes, and Greg Loughran. People like that, just to name a few. These are the guys who have been about the sport, grafted their hardest, but have never been given the opportunity to show their full capabilities under the big screen and receive a proper wage for their trade. They still stick at it though. These are the guys who I look up to. I want people to know when I'm older, regardless of where the sport takes me, that they can look up to me and say that I worked hard.

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

Tommy: I don't really have a life outside of MMA. Most of my time is at the gym or at work. If money wasn't an object, I am dying to do the likes of skydiving and such. I'm also a bit of a gadget freak as I like to try and teach myself a lot of different things. One of which that I'm currently teaching myself when time presents itself is video editing. I feel like I have a very creative mind.

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

Tommy: If I had a superpower, it would be to hold the characteristics of any animal. The reason being that I could be as strong as a bear, fly like a bird, swim like a fish, blend in like a chameleon, etc. You get the drift.

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

Tommy: All of my friends know this, but the general public doesn't. I'm a singer at heart. I've basically got everything except for the voice. (Laughs) God apparently loves a trier though. After this next fight, the crowd may get a rendition of my walkout song sang personally from myself.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Tommy: One of my oldest memories is of a Christmas morning. My sister and I were little, and "Santa" was still around then. I remember my dad opening the front door and Santa had brought my sister a brand new purple bike. I never got the Talkboy pen like the ones from Home Alone, but Santa brought me a Man United watch that I didn't ask for. Those were the good days. Santa was the man.

Thanks for the interview. I would like to thank Cage Warriors for scheduling the match and also thank Jack for taking the fight. I'd like to thank my manager Dave Kirkland, Jim Burn for setting the fight up, and all my training partners for getting me as prepared as possible for the 2nd of June. I'll see you guys there.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

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

You can also check out Tommy Quinn in the following places:

Official Tommy Quinn Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/tommi4

Tommy Quinn on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Tommy-Quinn-29689