Strikeforce Columbus: Brian "The Predator" Rogers interview
- First of all Brian, how did you get your start in mixed martial arts, and what made you choose to train at Strong Style?
I grew up doing karate, until I got to about junior high. I had just gotten my brown belt and I discovered that plans in sports collapse. I did football, wrestling, and track through junior high and high school and that led me to getting a scholarship to Walsh University in North Canton. I played Inside Linebacker there from ’02 to ’05. I graduated in ’06 and was bored out of my mind. I was asking around about gyms, and I was watching the old-school UFC when I was a kid doing point tournaments in karate. For the first 6 months of MMA, and my first fight, I trained with Team Instigator in Canton, Ohio. I’m still good friends with those guys. Terry Blackwell is a good friend of mine, and so are a lot of the guys at that gym. I felt like I needed to make a change to grow my career. Going into my second fight, I started driving from Canton to Independence (a suburb of Cleveland) to get to Strong Style to spar a little bit. Over time, it kind of progressed, and I’ve been going there full-time for about four years.
- You’ve been fighting mostly in smaller regional promotions, and now you’re moving up to the undercard of a Strikeforce show. What was it like to get the word that Strikeforce wanted you to fight for them?
It was very exciting. My goal is to be in a major promotion. I’ve fought in a lot of big regional promotions, but I made my pro debut in 2008 on the short-lived, poorly-prepared BET Iron Ring, and the biggest thing since then, arguably, as far as media attention. The hardcore Midwest MMA fans know the NAAFS (North American Allied Fight Series) and Ultimate Cage Battle. I’ve spent time in those two promotions, which are well-known for regional promotions. I was the introductory bout for Shine Fights in 2009 at their first show. It’s exciting, and I’d love for it to turn into a potential Challengers contract and work my way to the main card. If it’s a one and done thing, I’d honestly be a little bit disappointed, because I feel like I could compete with a lot of the Challengers or main card Middleweight divison.
- Have you signed a long-term contract with Strikeforce, or are you fighting for them on a fight-by-fight basis?
It’s a one fight deal. I started harassing Rich Chou on Twitter back in December to put me on the local card for an opportunity to show what I can do. I think he’s seen film on me, but it’s different once you see a guy fight in person. I’d be honored if they said they wanted to have me back and put something on paper. I’ve always played sports and been a competitor, but at the end of the day, I fight for money and the zeros behind the dollar signs.
- Initially, you were supposed to fight Mojo Horne, but he was injured and now you’re fighting Ian Rammell. Did the switch in opponents change your training camp at all?
Not a ton, to be honest. What a lot of people don’t realize is that I have my opponent change almost every fight. Going back to my pro debut, I tried out for Iron Ring and didn’t hear anything until 2 weeks before the fight and took the fight. My next fight, I didn’t have an opponent until 3 weeks before the fight, and I beat him. My third fight, for Shine Fights, I was supposed to fight Kris McCray, who was on Season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter, where he was the runner-up. He backed out 2 weeks before the fight. Instead, I got a Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt that didn’t speak a word of English, and I lost that fight by decision. It’s pretty normal to have a change of opponent. In August of 2009 for the NAAFS, the guy I was supposed to fight got arrested 2 days before weigh-ins. In October of 2009, opponents dropped out left and right, and I fought a guy that showed up 13 pounds overweight. He showed up and I ended up beating him. Flashing forward to March of 2010, the opponent dropped out 3 days before hand and I beat the replacement fighter. Virtually all of my opponents change in the 8 weeks leading up to the fight. With the gym (Strong Style) being flooded, I feel frustrated and I feel very bad for my coach Marcus Marinelli. I’ve had my opponent changed and I’ve had people drop out of fights, so I almost expect it to happen.
- What do you know about Rammel and what do you expect to see from him on Saturday?
As far as I know, he wrestled at Heidelberg, a Division III College. He’s a little bit taller than me, I think he’s somewhere between 6’1-6’3, so he’s going to be a little bit long. He comes out in a southpaw stance, but he’s primarily a grappler. If you ever notice a guy like Matt Hughes, he switches his stance depending on when he wants to strike or shoot. Rammel comes out in a southpaw stance, but I don’t think he’s much of a striker, he’s more of a grappler and ground and pound guy. I actually found out one of my teammates, Smokin’ Joe Highland, wrestled him in college. I found one film on Youtube, and he threw some punches, but his main goal was to get to the ground. That’s pretty much all I have to go on for Saturday.
- Since he’s primarily a wrestler, how confident are you in your takedown defense?
I’m pretty confident. I know if I get taken down, I feel like I’m going to get back up. I’ve got a win by triangle on my record too, so if it stays on the ground, I’m comfortable there, too. It’s not shark-infested waters. He’s a tough wrestler and a scrapper, but he’s not a world-class submission guy like a Jacare or anything like that.
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- You are being sponsored by Intimidation Clothing for this weekend’s fight. What is your walk-out shirt?
My walk-out shirt is Intimidation. IntimidationClothing.com. I’m wearing the black and blue Intimidation sponsor shirt with my other sponsors on the back. I’m wearing the blue Intimidation Fight shorts, and an Intimidation Clothing hat too, but I’m not sure if it will be a beanie or a baseball cap. Intimidation has been a big help to me for this fight.
- Also fighting on Saturday is Strong Style teammate Chris Lozano. Have you been working with Chris in preparation for his big fight, and what’s your prediction for how Chris’ fight with Lyman Good will end?
My primary training partners, I’m sure I’m going to forget someone since we all train as a team. As far as guys my size, I train with Chris Lozano, he’s a tough striker. That’s why he is in the Bellator tournament. Forrest Petz is a 7 time UFC veteran, who’s very heavy handed. Big John Hawk, the former NAAFS Heavyweight champ, who’s now at 205 and ready to make a run at that title. Matt Masterson, Johnny Soder, and our Heavyweight Stipe Miocic. I think I only named our pros, but there’s a lot of ammy guys that help out. I’m excited for Chris in Bellator, he’s got a big opportunity in front of him. He’s going to make waves when he knocks off defending champ Lyman Good in the first round. He’s going to open some eyes. Lyman isn’t going to try to stand with him, Chris knows that. Lyman is going to have to work for 15 minutes to put Chris on his back and try to ground and pound him or submit him. I don’t think he can submit Chris and Chris’ cardio is great, so he won’t be able to grind Chris down. It’s a 15 minute countdown for Chris to land one strike to put him away. He’s got power like that in his right hand, left hand, both elbows, both feet, both knees. Good’s going to have to work for 15 minutes, but Chris could land the fight in any second. I’m excited, but unfortunately, I’m probably going to miss it live. If I fight early enough, I’m going to have to find a TV and catch it somewhere. I’m excited and I’ll have it on the DVR. Afterwards, hopefully I can text him or tweet him so we can both celebrate from a couple thousand miles away.
- Thanks for taking some time to speak with me, Brian. Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I would first of thank ProFighting-Fans.com right out of the gate for helping me out and giving me this opportunity to get my name out there. I’d like to thank Intimidation Clothing. IntimidationClothing.com. A reminder that they’re doing a t-shirt giveaway, so if anyone is down there, wear your Intimidation Clothing t-shirt and you’ll get a voucher for a shirt. I said on Twitter that if someone buys 2 shirts from Intimidation, I’ll give them one of my Predator shirts for free. Thanks to Jose’s Landing, ProActive Health Care, Faction Mouthguards, John P. Lennon, Crow’s Auto Body in Canton, Ohio, Muscle Basix, the Senate for Applied Health Sciences (my nutritionist), Voltage MMA Store in Akron, Ohio, my roommate and conditioning coach Cal Crowell. CalCrowell.com, I’m looking at a picture of my banner to make sure I don’t forget anybody. Also thanks to everyone at Strong Style. The bar sponsoring my afterparty in Columbus is Park Street Saloon, so it’s right there downtown in Columbus, so stop in and check it out.
By Curt Heinrichs
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer