Pete Williams (PW): Yeah, rain was huge factor, especially in the earlier fights were it was really raining

hard. I got lucky the rain stopped, the mat surface was a little drier, I didn’t have it as bad as other guys but

it was a huge factor, like a slip-and-slide contest out there.

TheFightGame.tv: So you felt it hindered you ability to strike, that you were more vulnerable to slips and

falls?

PW: Definitely, I had to relax a little on the striking, hold back a little bit, be a little more patient. Because if

you get too aggressive you’re going to slip and fall and get yourself into a bad position, so I decided to be a

little bit more patient and wait for openings, wait to counter some of his attacks.

TheFightGame.tv: What do you feel is next? Is there an opponent you’d like to fight?

PW: I’m not really gunning for anyone in particular. There’s talk of me going to Pride which I would definitely

love to go to. Also UFC’s under new management, that’s a good deal, they may want me to go over there.

I’ve got another fight with King of the Cage for the heavyweight title hopefully. Ricco (Rodriguez) won his fight

so it looks like it’s me and Ricco. That will be a great one.

TheFightGame.tv: I think we’re all looking forward to that one. You guys are pretty close friends, do you

think that might hinder your ability to still be professional about it?

PW: I had a similar situation with that in UFC Brazil. I fought Shoyoshi Kasaka, a really nice guy, a really

good friend of mine, and I lost that fight because we were both kinda half-assing it. I came out on the bottom

end of that and I realized after . . . yeah we’re friends, but you know what? This is my livelihood, this is our

livelihood, when you get in the ring it’s all business. We beat each other’s ass every day in training anyways,

might as well do it and get paid and go have a beer afterwards. If that happens (the Ricco fight) I think we’ll

both be able to perform and I don’t think it’s going to hinder us at all. I’m sure afterwards we’ll be just as

good, if not better friends regardless because we’re both a couple of tough competitors.

TheFightGame.tv: Do you see yourself going to Japan and competing with some of the top-notch fighters of

Japan?

PW: Definitely, I’m in a heavyweight class, there’s all those guys out there, Vovchanchyn, Kerr, Goodrich,

Coleman’s back on the scene. The possibilities for fights (are there), there’s a lot of big tough fighters out

right now.

TheFightGame.tv: Is there any special plan ahead (for the Lion’s Den Chula Vista in San Diego) as far as

making their own tournament one day?

PW: There may be some works. Ken (Shamrock) may be involved in some events, that still has yet to fully

developed, hopefully it does. For now it’s keep training, hopefully fight in Pride, and obviously that other fight

in King of the Cage for the title.

TheFightGame.tv: How did you get started in martial arts?

PW: My first experience in any kind of "martial arts" you’d say was high school wrestling as far as physical

contact sports -- one on one competition. From that I went straight to submission fighting at the Lion’s Den. I

never did any kind of karate or anything like that growing up.

TheFightGame.tv: Is that right? Your stand-up skills are great. Is that just natural for you, to kick with that

kind of intensity, and knowledge of knowing where to kick at the right time?

PW: I think so, I’ve always been a pretty naturally athletic guy, I tend to pick things up pretty quick, not to

mention I’ve got great teachers. Everywhere, you look at the guys at the Lion’s Den, on the submission side

teaching me, and also these other guys like Guy Mezger, Alex, even learned some kick-boxing from Moe

Smith. Ya know, all really good stand-up and really good kick-boxers.

TheFightGame.tv: As far as the pursuit of your career . . . do you see (it going) for the next five years? Ten

years?

PW: Hopefully not ten years, that last five have been pretty tough. Maybe another five, maybe less . . . I just

want to really make my mark before I leave the sport.  Everyone does, and I think I can do it. We’ll see

where it takes me.