10 Questions With Sergio Quinones (11/6/2010)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Sergio Quinones (by Darrick Patrick)

Sergio Quinones is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as Tachi Palace Fights, Gladiator Challenge, Palace Fighting Championship, and World Cage Fighting Organization. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Andy Miranda in Tachi Palace Fights at TPF 7: Deck the Halls on December 2nd, 2010.

Darrick: What was the path that led you to competing professionally in mixed martial arts?

Sergio: I was always into sports and competing as a kid. I grew up playing little league and Pop Warner football too. I tried wrestling in high school because it looked fun and I caught on quick, ending up in the top 12 in California by my senior year. When I was twenty years old, my boy Mike Martinez was training in martial arts with the local team here and took me to a couple practices. I stuck with it just for fun and learned a lot fast. I got offered a fight against a guy from the rival at a small, kinda' bootleg show (you know, where almost everyone starts out) for about 250 bucks. I destroyed the dude, then choked him out with a move I learned ten minutes before the fight. We now call it the Sergio Choke. (Laughs) It was really cool and a crazy feeling, so now here I am. It's been a cool little journey so far.

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

Sergio: My words of advice are "ain't nothing to it but to do it" - I don't know how many people have came up to me on the streets or drunks at parties and told me "Yeah, bro. Your fight was badass, I want to start training!" I always tell every person to just show up at the gym and test the waters. I don't think anyone has showed up yet. So, yeah. Just do it and don't get discouraged because you get beat up and your body gets pretzeled the first few weeks. You'll catch on eventually and if you don't - hey, this isn't for everyone.

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

Sergio: I respect everyone that takes the sport seriously, gets in the cage and leaves it all in there. It takes a lot of hard work to compete at a serious level in front of a bunch of people that want to see blood and heads knocked off. A couple of my favorites though that I respect are Chris Leben and Chris Lytle. They have both fought at the Tachi Palace where I'm fighting at and are now doing work in the UFC. They go in looking for the kill and have some of the craziest come-from-behind wins. I also like their character, I think everyone should be a little crazy.

Darrick: Your next scheduled match is against Andy Miranda on December 2nd. What are your thoughts about this upcoming fight?

Sergio: I'm really excited to be back at the Palace. It's the big show in Central California, if not all of Cali. I'm going against a really tough and older dude from up north in Santa Rosa. I've heard from a lot of people that he has a sick ground game and a nine-second knockout win, so who knows about his stand-up? It may be good or maybe he got a lucky shot. I don't know what he even looks like, so I'm not too worried about it too much. I'm just going to get myself ready and bring my fight to him.

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

Sergio: I think that would be the experiences I've had and the good stories to tell the grandkids. So far, I've fought down in Hollywood to up in Sacramento. I got to be on the TapouT television show and have had my photo on a couple posters along with big names. I've got lost at after-parties, kicked it with other crazy teams, and won some hotel room grappling matches in my boxers. The little stuff like that is priceless.

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

Sergio: I of course first have to say my mom and dad. They raised me in my kid years, who can have more influence than that? I grew up in a tough, Christian home so I learned discipline for sure. Also, my high school wrestling coach was an influence. As much of an asshole that he was, he's a really good coach and made me have a "got to train hard, let's kick everyone's ass" ethic. So, I've got to shoot him some props too. I've also become myself through self-learning as well.

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

Sergio: I just like to enjoy life while I'm still here. I like going to the movies and during the summers I love hitting the river or any type of water. I enjoy watching football on Sundays. Raiders, baby! I'm not big into the club scene every weekend but I do like to go out and hang out with friends. I like picking on my girlfriend until she gets mad and especially enjoy spending time with my newborn baby girl, Lillian. She's almost three months old now.

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

Sergio: I guess something most people don't know about me is that I can play the piano and I'm pretty damn good. With a little bit of practice, I could maybe be a pro. Perhaps when I'm all jacked up and too old for fighting.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Sergio: Probably from when I lived in Mexico. My mom would send me with a list and money a couple houses down to the little market to get stuff for dinner. The owner there knew my family and I, so he would get everything for me. I never got hurt or abducted since I ran my hood back then, even at four years old.

Darrick: If you had three wishes, what would they be?

Sergio: The first wish would be that I could turn into any animal I wanted and then turn back. I want to see how it feels to fly as fast as I can like a falcon, or hunt and eat a zebra like a cheetah. Wish number two is that all the Chuck Norris jokes were about me. The last wish would be that all our loved ones - like our parents, sisters, brothers, girlfriends, close friends, etc. never had to die and leave us one day. It's going to happen to everyone but let's face it, death sucks. (Laughs) It's just life though. Those would be my three wishes and I guess this is me in ten questions. Peace, love, and chicken grease.

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 Sergio Quinones in the following places:

Official Sergio Quinones MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/sergioquinones

Official Sergio Quinones Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001265172878

Sergio Quinones on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Sergio-Quinones-24206

Sergio Quinones Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/24206