10 Questions With Tom Gallicchio (9/18/2009)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Tom Gallicchio (by Darrick Patrick)

Tom Gallicchio is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as World Cagefighting Alliance, Ring Of Combat, Battle Cage Xtreme, UMMAXX, Cage Fury Fighting Championships, Extreme Challenge, SportFighting, Combat In The Cage, and Reality Fighting. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match was supposed to be against Mike Bernhard in Action Fight League at AFL: Rumble At The Rock on September 25th, 2009 but Gallicchio was forced to pull out due to injury.

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

Tom: Well, I've always liked fighting and I have been fighting all of my life. I wrestled for fourteen years or so, and have always dreamed of competing professionally. At nineteen years old I found the Rhino Fight Team through my wrestling coach Steve Rivera. Six months later I was fighting in my first professional match.

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

Tom: It's a tough way to make a living. Don't do it for the money because there is none. Stay in school! (Laughs)

Darrick: Your next scheduled match was supposed to be against Mike Bernhard on September 25th. Why is the fight no longer taking place?

Tom: I was really looking forward to this fight, a trip to Florida, and taking on the challenge of five 5-minute rounds. I sustained an injury that prevented me from grappling or throwing a punch. I'm not going to go into details because it still hurts and I want to fight next month. Maybe down the line Mike and I will meet again, but there are so many 170-pounders out there that I just want to find and fight the best.

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

Tom: Fedor Emelianenko, Anderson Silva, and Dan Henderson. They all kick ass and are super humble about it.

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

Tom: Hands down it would have to be the fight itself. I love competing and staying active. When I don't fight for awhile I get depressed and feel useless.

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

Tom: My grandpa Nicholas Gallicchio, the baddest and toughest guy that ever lived.

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

Tom: Video games, comedy, and bike riding. (Laughs)

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Tom: Hmmm...well, a long time ago I did a ten-question interview online for a website called http://www.Nokaut.com. The interview was also featured on MySpace MMA, could be seen on the FightZoo site, and was spread into some other areas around the internet as well. When I finished the interview, I didn't spell check it. Spell check is for bitches.

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

Tom: I lost my tooth from falling off of my bike in fourth grade. It wasn't from wrestling or fighting.

Darrick: When you're no longer amongst the living, how would you most like to be remembered?

Tom: Just as a rough and tumble fighter who made his mark on the sport.

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 Tom Gallicchio in the following places:

Official Tom Gallicchio MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/tomdatank5

Official Tom Gallicchio Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/tom.gallicchio?_fb_noscript=1

Tom Gallicchio on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Tom-Gallicchio-17843