10 Questions With Cody Gibson (11/22/2011)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Cody Gibson (by Darrick Patrick)

Cody "The Renegade" Gibson is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as Tachi Palace Fights, Gladiator Challenge, and The Warriors Cage. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is a bantamweight championship bout against Ulysses Gomez in Tachi Palace Fights at TPF 11: Redemption on December 2nd, 2011.

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

Cody: I grew up playing traditional American sports as a kid, but was always wrestling and fighting with my brothers. I was pretty short as a freshman in high school and didn’t end up making the freshman basketball team. I was crushed. My older brother Keith, who was already a wrestler, and my Dad, who liked wrestling, encouraged me to give it a try. From the moment I stepped on the mat I loved it.

I lost my first twenty matches. I remember after a tournament I had two black eyes and a busted lip. Walking to the car, my mom asked me if I wanted to try a different sport. I said, "No way." From there, I started to grow and ended up being a pretty good wrestler. I placed in the top twelve at state in California my senior year and got recruited to go wrestle in junior college. While in junior college and at the four-year school I went to, I ended up being a two-time All-American before graduating in 2010. I was already taking fights in the summertime during college. As soon as I got out of school, I started to really train MMA.

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

Cody: My parents have been a huge influence on my life. They adopted my older brother Keith and I from foster care in Oklahoma, and we were raised around a lot of love. My two younger brothers, Josh and Jacob, both have special needs. Despite all of the hardships my family has faced over the years, my parents have always been loving and caring. I am the man I am today as a direct result of how I was brought up. I am very blessed.

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

Cody: For young kids, I’d say to start with a base. Join your local wrestling club, BJJ, or striking school. As you progress, don’t neglect the different aspects that make mixed martial arts what it is. You have to be well-rounded to survive in this sport today. Work on your weaknesses and train hard. Everyone has a certain level of athletic ability. You can improve on your skills and become a better fighter, but there really is no substitute for training harder than everyone else.

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

Cody: I have a lot of respect for Ulysses as a fighter. His ground game is very good and he’s progressed as a fighter over the last few years. I can’t control his abilities. All I can control are my own abilities and how hard I train. Legendary boxing trainer Cus D’amato once said, “When two men fight, it’s a test of will not a test of skill. The man with the most will will win the fight, provided that the other man’s skill is not so great that his will is not tested.” I love this quote and have modeled my entire training camp around it.

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

Cody: I find fulfillment in testing myself and my abilities. I love to push myself further than I think I can go in training. The personal journey of a fighter is a tale not told enough.

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

Cody: My head coach and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach’s name is Tom Knox. Tom is a black belt under Cleber Luciano. Tom is one of those guys that you don’t meet every day. He’s a legendary pro skateboarder and really technical on the mat. He’s helped me grow so much in this sport already. I have a lot of respect for Tom. I am so thankful for all of the support he gives to me and everyone else who trains at our school.

As far as other fighters go, I’m a huge Chris Lytle fan. That guy goes into every fight like it’s his last and I love to watch him compete.

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

Cody: I enjoy spending time with my fiancée Jackie and our dog Franklin. I also coach a high school wrestling team and love seeing the growth and development in the kids. Outside of athletics, family, and good friends, I enjoy reading interesting novels and writing short stories.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Cody: I'm not sure if it’s my oldest memory, but I do remember my little brother Joshua, and then Jacob, both coming home from the hospital and being so excited to hold them. It was the start of our family and I liked being a big brother.

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

Cody: I don’t think a lot of people know that I keep statistics on everything. I’m sure somewhere out there it’s been diagnosed and there is a name for it, but I can’t help keeping organized statistics on just about everything I do. My fiancée makes fun of me sometimes for it and it’s pretty funny. Whether it’s seasons of Madden on the PlayStation or progression in my high school wrestling team, I chart everything.

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

Cody: I want to be remembered as a person who brought positive change into this world. We live on a chaotic planet with enough negative things around us to swallow us whole. I hope that someday, when it’s my time to go, that I’ve made some positive influences on people's lives. Whether it be through teaching, coaching, writing, or even fighting mixed martial arts, I hope that this world and the people I encountered while I was here are better off in some way from crossing paths with me.

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

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

You can also check out Cody Gibson in the following places:

Official Cody Gibson Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/codymichaelgibson

Official Cody Gibson Twitter Area:

http://www.twitter.com/TheRenegade559

Cody Gibson on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cody-Gibson-38903

Cody Gibson Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/38903