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Beginners Pancrase Tournament Interviews
April 18, 2004
We apologize for taking so long to post these. Last Sunday, we had the chance to talk to Carlos Fuentes and Mike Villa, participants in the round-robin grappling event held at Submission Factory. They talked about the event and how they felt participating in it. The following interviews were transcribed from video interviews done at Submission Factory of April the 18th. We'll be bringing you the Larry Landless interview next Tuesday.
Carlos Fuentes (Submission Factory)
AL: I’m here with Carlos Fuentes at the Submission Factory Pancrase event turned round-robin grappling event, how was it for you Mike?
Carlos: It was really good, It’s always good here. These tournaments are experience and they are something else.
AL: Are you planning to participate in any other events in the future or do you want to do a few of these before going on to bigger things?
Carlos: You know what, I think all this is good experience. I’m going to do whatever they throw my way - whatever tournaments they line up for me, I’ll be there.
AL: Any other besides just submission tournaments - Like, do you plan on participating in an event like King of the Cage - get into a cage, stuff like that?
Carlos: Yeah, that’s my goal. I learn a lot from these. Hopefully one day soon, real soon, I can get into King of the Cage.
AL: How did you feel your opponents today?
Carlos: They were both tough. I’ve rolled with the first guy (Alex Zepeda). That guy's just tough. I train with him and he’s just a tough guy. The second guy was just quick. Unfortunately, it ended the way it did and I couldn’t finish it.
AL: For all of you who haven’t seen the fight, the fight ended when his opponent suffered a cut right around his eye and the bout was declared a draw. When are you coming back, when can we see you again?
Carlos: You know what, I’ll be here again at the next tournament, in two weeks, I’ll be competing again.
AL: Mike, Thank You for your time.
Carlos: Thank You
Mike Villa (Team Raza)
AL: I’m here with Mike Villa who just participated in the Submission Factory round robin grappling event, how was it for you and was this your first one?
Mike: Well, actually this is my second one. I did the fourth American annual, but this is my first one rolling with guys 200 (pounds) and above. I’m at 175 so there was nobody at my weight but I said - I already traveled over here so I might as well hit it, you know what I mean. I'll see what happens, represent – I just try to take it as best I can...you just got to represent though.
AL: We know your opponents were about 30lbs. Heavier than you – Did you feel them really stronger than you - than the opponents that you have faced?
Mike: Well, Of course. It’s like with jiu-jitsu, you got to deal with more skills. If you got more skills, you just use less strength... I got slammed a couple of times and got my eyebrow cut open but that’s just part of the things that happen, you know. It’s a contact sport. But it’s more in the head, you know what I mean. The knowledge you got makes it a whole lot easier, if you really good, no matter the way you are – you just handle business.
AL: You mentioned you got slammed and you got cut, did you feel it when the cut happened?
Mike: You know what, It’s like I kind of felt the elbow hit my face but what I saw, I just saw the blood, then the ref stopped it – it really wasn’t a matter (to be concerned). I told him I could keep going but it was pretty much a risk so they didn’t want to further it anymore.
AL: Are you going to be at the next one?
Mike: Yeah, I going to represent as much as I can at tournaments. When someone throws something , I’ll be there to represent – Team Raza, Alhambra, CA.
AL: Who do you train with?
Mike: I train with Joey Alverado, he’s my trainer, we’re with Team Raza right here in Alhambra, CA. I've been doing this for almost a year now and I plan on doing Pancrase, full contact, just everything I can. I’m mostly just a boxer but I got into this sport and I liked it. Just takes it off the streets and into a ring you know.
AL: Well, Mike, Thanks for being here and we hope to see you again.
Mike: Thanks a lot brother – Team Raza
TheFightGame.tv would like to Thank Mr. Villa and Mr. Fuentes once again for their time and graciousness, and to all the crew at Submission Factory for all their great hospitality.
(4/23/04)
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