Jason "Dynamite" Dent Interview

UFC veteran Jason Dent discusses his MMA background, career and future fights

Pro Fighting Fans Director of marketing Luke Jernigan paid a visit to GriffonRawl MMA Academy in Mentor, Ohio last week and sat down with Jason "Dynamite" Dent. A 4-fight UFC veteran, Dent appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 9: U.S. vs U.K. and while he lost to eventual winner Ross Pearson, Dent impressed Dana White enough to earn a fight at the TUF 9 finale where he defeated fellow Team U.S. member Cameron Dollar.

Now 19-10, Dent remains focused on his MMA career with plans to fight next in April. As the head of GriffonRawl, Dent has taken his love of the sport into the business world where he teaches and manages his MMA gym which is a well-known and respected MMA gym in the Cleveland, Ohio area. In addition to his own success fighting in the UFC and as the reigning NAAFS Lightweight Champion, Dent takes great pride in the fact that he has four other professional MMA fighters and several successful amateurs training at GriffonRawl. Below is the interview with Jason Dent in January 2010.

Luke - Talk about your background and what helped shape your interest in Mixed Martial Arts.

Jason - I've always been facinated with martial arts. Martial arts movies and karate as a kid progressed into jiu-jitsu and eventually cage fighting.

Jason Dent demonstrates controlling the opponent during MMA class at GriffonRawl MMA Academy.

Luke - Coming from small-town America, what struggles did you have to overcome to get to where you are today?

Jason - I've really had to bust my ass. Nothing was handed to me; I have had to work for everything I have today and I have invested all of my fight money back into the gym and my business.

Luke - What is your role at GriffonRawl?

Jason - I am the owner (sole proprietor) of the GriffonRawl MMA Academy.

Luke - Talk about your experience with the UFC in 2006 & 2007 versus the most recent experience in 2009 (Jason fought at UFC 63 in September 2006 & UFC 66 in March 2007 as well as the TUF 9 finale in June 2009 & UFC 106 in November 2009).

Jason - This time around I was much more used to the cameras & publicity as opposed to at UFC 63 & 68. I was no longer in awe of everything.

Luke - What is next for Jason Dent? Do you see yourself fighting again in the UFC?

Jason - I love fighting. If I get back into the UFC that is awesome, but if not it's not a big deal. I hope to make it back, but I will fight elsewhere. Right now my main focus is the growth of my gym as we're preparing to have two more pro fighters soon. I'm not even 30 yet; I have a lot ahead of me.

Luke - Has there been any contact with Strikeforce or the WEC? Would either be an option you would want to pursue?

Jason - I have not heard from Strikeforce or the WEC but I would entertain any fight that I feel makes sense for me.

> Check out the great selection of MMA apparel, hats & gear including Intimidation MMA clothing online through ProFighting-fans.com!

Jason Dent instructs the MMA class at GriffonRawl MMA Academy.

Unprompted by a question, Jason volunteered some interesting information. "I would like to fight some legends of the sport before I retire," proclaimed Dent. Three MMA fighters he mentioned specifically were Yves Edwards, Jens Pulver and Hermes Franca.

MMA fans in Northeast Ohio can hear Jason Dent as a guest announcer for the NAAFS Caged Fury 9 event which will include the NAAFS Interim Lightweight Championship fight between current Interim Champ Frank "The Tank" Caraballo and Daniel Straus on February 20, 2010. Select main fights from the Caged Fury 9 event will be broadcast on SportsTime Ohio. Dent expects to take on the winner of the Caraballo vs Straus fight in June at the annual NAAFS Fight Night in the Flats event. Also fighting on the February 20 Caged Fury 9 event are GriffonRawl fighters Donny Walker, Reggie Parks and Bryon McCroskey.

GriffonRawl MMA Academy currently has four pros in addition to Jason Dent (Lightweight, 19-10 MMA) including Donny Walker (Featherweight, 13-7 MMA), Paul Compton (Featherweight, 12-4 MMA), A.J. Pulling (Welterweight, 9-3 MMA) and Mike Russo (Welterweight, 10-10 MMA). Dent said two amateurs Reggie Parks (Welterweight, 7-2 MMA) and Bryon McCroskey (Welterweight, 6-2 MMA) will look to turn pro as soon as this year.

GriffonRawl offers Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai and Judo Wrestling classes and offers private lessons. All of these classes are offered on a per-class basis as well as in monthly package deals. Also available is a Junior MMA class.

GriffonRawl MMA Academy is located at 6090 Pinecone Drive, Mentor, OH 44060. You can contact GriffonRawl at 440-358-9371 or on the Web at www.ohio-mma.com.

By Luke Jernigan
ProFighting-fans.com Director of Marketing

Photos by Luke Jernigan