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[Ramma]

UFC light heavyweight contender Houston Alexander talks about his upcoming clash at UFC Fight Night 13. Check out what he had to say about his loss to Thiago Silva at UFC 78 and the changes he's made since then as he looks to get back in the win column starting with a victory over James Irvin on April 2nd.

PC: How's everything going my man?

HA: It's going pretty good brother.

PC: Are you in serious training for your fight against James Irvin in April?

HA: Ah man, training hasn't changed too much. We just tweaked a few things up from the last fight, but everything is pretty much the same.

PC: Have you watched any footage on Irvin yet and what do you think of him as a fighter?

HA: He's a good boxer and he has great takedown defense so obviously he's a good wrestler too, so he looks like a solid guy.

PC: Was he the type of fighter that you would prefer to come back with?

HA: It doesn't matter who I come back to the cage with. It could be anybody in the top 10 or anybody in the bottom 100. It doesn't matter to me. A fight is a fight!

PC: That's our motto. I'm glad you said that. I wish I had a prize to give you for the plug.

HA: (laughing).

PC: You know the fans went nuts on the keyboard after your loss with the "overrated" comments and that they knew, once you got on the ground, you would lose. How important is it for you to look spectacular against Irvin to quiet the critics?

HA: It doesn't matter what other people think. It matters how I train in the gym and how I perform. I made a mistake or two in the last fight that cost me and you learn from your mistakes. I've had millions of fights and, again, no one has to get in that cage with me so people can say what they want. We just gotta lessen the mistakes and we've done that.

PC: Did you go right back into the gym after the Silva fight or did you take some time off?

HA: We went right back into the gym. The philosophy doesn't change whether the outcome is me winning or losing. The outcome is the same. We get back in gym; that's my job. I'll take working out over construction any day (laughing).

PC: (laughing) I agree with you 100% on that brother; no shit!

HA: (laughing)

PC: I don't think people understand that you have so many other things going on man. You're a single parent. You do radio on top of your fighting career. How are you maintaining everything?

HA: Man, you know what? To me, it's easy because once you get into a regimen, it starts getting easy to you. I do radio on Sunday and everything is kind of chilled out on a Sunday. The kids are at school the majority of the time so it gets easy man. By this time, I'm actually trying to chill out at the end of the day before I workout before I go to bed. I still gotta do the Mr. Mom thing. I gotta cook, clean the toilets and again, like I said, it has become normal.

PC: Sometimes, when cats get that first UFC loss, they play it a little more cautious. You're a very aggressive fighter. Can the fans expect anything different?

HA: No, it's going to be the same. That's how I fight. I fight aggressively and that ain't going to change for this fight. As a matter of fact, they might see me a lot more aggressive even more than I was for the Jardine fight. It's going to be an interesting fight man. We're about to start putting the pressure on these guys. I don't think I've done too bad up until this point, even with the loss. They have to remember, these are top-ranked guys all over the world. These cats are not in the UFC for nothing. It doesn't change anything for me. I'm going to fight the way I fight, but with probably a little more aggressiveness.

PC: How was it fighting over there in London?

HA: London was cool. It's a lot of history over there and I'm a history nerd. I watch the History channel all of the time. It was interesting to see how old that country was compared to the United States. It was amazing being over there.

PC: In April, you will be heading to Boston…

HA: No, we're actually over there in Denver on April 2nd.

PC: I'm thinking about the 2 guys in the main event both being from Boston.

HA: Come on man, you supposed to be on your business.

PC: I know man, you taking my job (laughing).

HA: (laughing) You gotta be on top of your game (laughing).

PC: I'm all messed up now man.

HA: Nah, but that's another thing we're changing up man is the focus on the fight. The last fight, it was a lot of focus on me and the media attention and all of that crap. We stopped that I don't do any of the media stuff until I'm done with my workout. I had 50 people call me for interviews in 1 month. That just goes to show you how hectic it was. We went back to the basics, brother, that got us the first 2 wins and we'll get to all of the media hype after the fight. Before that, everything was a lot more controlled.

PC: It's a lot of pressure on you guys being in the UFC during fight week and having to be other places…

HA: Just being a dad. That's something I've been able to manage. I've been able to multi-task for awhile. I just gotta make sure that none of the UFC things overwhelm me like it did in the last fight.

PC: I've never seen a choke slam landed in the Octagon before man. How did you pull that off?

HA: (laughing) I think it was more out of frustration. When I had him cornered up, he was holding on for dear life and once it got on the ground, I made a mistake. My ground game hasn't changed. I just made a few mistakes that got fixed right after the fight. That just showed the strength that I have when I want to use it. Just remember that I'm still just feeling all of these guys out man.

PC: I feel you totally, but man, you just don't understand the things that come out of some of these fans mouths on the message boards after a loss.

HA: Again, a lot of these guys don't have to get in the cage and deal with a win or a loss. When I lost, I felt like the whole state of Nebraska lost and when I got back home, it felt that way. People were crying and everything, but again, it's just me in the cage by myself, bottom line. I think I've done a lot better in my UFC fights than these people that they gave a lot of money to. A lot of these guys have debuted and supposed to be these top fighters and have gotten beaten up so I don't feel too bad.

PC: What do you think about Brock Lesnar crossing over into MMA?

HA: I don't know man. It is what it is and it just shows you that MMA is no joke. You have to be on your P's and Q's and one mistake can cost you. I think he was winning that fight up until one mistake cost him and again, you're dealing with some of the best fighters in the world; you're not dealing with flakes.

PC: I know people wanted to see you and Sokoudjou mix it up. Is there anyone in particular in the division you would like to test your skills against?

HA: Nah man, not really. Anyone that's in the division that they want to set me up against and this is not trying to take the political way out, but I really don't have a particular guy. Whoever they assign me, that's my job.

PC: I appreciate your time. I know you are a busy man…

HA: It's nothing right now man. Right now, I'm just laying around scratching my nuts right now man (laughing).

PC: (laughing) We can keep it moving then brother. You got a little down time right now, huh my man?

HA: Yeah, I actually have to get up in a little bit and cook dinner and then work out, but it's nothing right now.

PC: Are you training once a day or are you two-a-days right now?

HA: Ah man, actually I'm on three-a-days right now. Well, 4 if you count the 50-minute workout I do before I go to bed.

PC: What does that 50-minute workout consist of? Weights?

HA: The workout before I go to bed is actually with smaller weights, but it's actually more of your bodyweight. We do a lot of body conditioning. A lot of the physical part of the Octagon is your body weight anyway.

PC: They've been showing a lot of these cat's workouts. We might get to see that All Access with you on there and see your regimen.

HA: Oh yeah, but you know, everybody's exercise is pretty much the same though. You take the workout we had tonight though and we punched for an hour straight. We did punching drills for an hour straight without stopping. That just goes to show you what type of level we're trying to be on. We're trying to be real aggressive with these guys that are not aggressive. All of the aggressive guys are the guys at 155 pounds.

PC: That's why that division is so entertaining.

HA: Yeah man because they go at it man. Them cats got the speed and the size for it so I wouldn't expect anything less from them.

PC: I know we talked about it a while back, but you weighing in at 203 and stuff like that, obviously weight isn't an issue?

HA: No man, I sit around at 207 and that's on a heavy day so I'm good as far as weight. I like to stay healthy and I have to give props to 8Ball Nutrition Company; they help me out on that. If I wasn't on any supplements, I would be lower than that to be real with you. I keep pretty slim and right around my weight at about 205. I've been doing that since I got out of high school.

PC: It looks like you have 40-inch thighs though man?

HA: (laughing) And that's another thing we've been doing is working on my base. I'm going to have some tree trunks out there in that cage.

PC: Man, you start getting them kicks going.

HA: I got some kicks for them. Them knees are going to be horrible.

PC: Those knees are something vicious now.

HA: They've gotten even better bro. A lot of cats don't even know man, but this is our first year having a coaching staff. The last 7 years, I didn't even have a coaching staff.

PC: Damn, so you pretty much were training yourself?

HA: Yep! It's a lot of small things that people don't know. I'm getting better and better as I go along. A lot of people have peaked already and I'm getting better.

PC: How did you get into the whole music biz?

HA: I've been promoting and doing all of that stuff for the last 27…all of my adult life basically. I've been involved with Hip Hop all of my life so it's almost second nature. This is definitely something to fall back on.

PC: Who are some of the people you listen to my man?

HA: I listen to a lot of 70's stuff man; a lot of 70's soul music because I don't listen to a lot of stuff that's out right now. Everyone sounds alike and it's not taking away from the newer generation, but the newer generation doesn't have an identity yet. You still have song writers and musicians, but musically, everyone sounds the same. If you put on something real old, you could hear the heart and soul those people put into their music.

PC: Do you plan on getting behind the mic anytime soon?

HA: I don't rhyme man. I do radio so I don't rhyme at all. I assist people that do it. I actually help out those people.

PC: I would like to see you attempt to redeem yourself against Thiago though.

HA: I'm looking for a rematch with Thiago. I'm hoping I get it down the line if he can get past Evans.

PC: You're one of the fighters that I speak with that seems like you enjoy training?

HA: Yeah! I've been working out my whole life so training is nothing. You supposed to work out on a daily basis and keep your car tuned. Your body is like a car. If you let your car sit for a while, then eventually, the oil will sit and the gas will evaporate and you'll be wondering why your car is running like crap. You have to keep your body well-tuned too man.

PC: Houston, I appreciate it man. It's always a pleasure to rap with you. Good luck my man.

HA: It's no big deal. You already know what it is man. You call me and you can get that scoop man.

Source - FIGHTHYPE \\ CONTENT

[Quintessential Studmuffin]

I hope hes been training non stop BJJ and wrestling since his Thiago fight.If there is a rematch(which there wont be),I see it going the exact same way.

[pa99fighter]

He does not want a rematch let me tell you. Houston is one of my favs and Silva is one of my least favs but that is the worst matchup possible for him

[tapper]

it will be a long time before these guys rematch, but will proly go the same way. i wouldn't say he's been exposed, but i like how new guys come in, lose, and then talk a little smack about a rematch. what he should doin is focusing on is his next fight, and prey he gets a better matchup style wise.

[JMH]

I don't know, I see Houston upsetting Thiago. I like his attitude. If he's mentally strong that goes a long way doesn't it? And if he is working on his base and hell, he comes out aggressive, I give him that edge over Silva if it stays standing. And we all know what Houston can do if it stays standing. It's always a pleasure to see this guy fight. He doesn't hug, he fucking choke slams!

Who knew it'd take MMA fighters to show pro wrestlers how their moves are supposed to work, hah.

[kingrobert]

I really like Houstons fighting style and attitude. He seems to be a good romodel to but Im not sure he would want to fight Silva again. I think Silva would probably win that fight 9 out of 10 times. Houston has great stand up but Silva really put him in unfamilar waters and it showed as Houston kinda freaked out. Its no disrespect to Houston cause Silva is a good fighter who I think will keep going up the ranks in the LHW division.

[Gmunit]

no he doesn't

[noahm]

PC: Are you in serious training for your fight against James Irvin in April?

HA: Ah man, training hasn't changed too much. We just tweaked a few things up from the last fight, but everything is pretty much the same.



"I made a mistake or two in the last fight that cost me"



"whether the outcome is me winning or losing. The outcome is the same"

---That is brilliant Houston

"PC: (laughing) I agree with you 100% on that brother; no shit!"

"HA: (laughing)"



"I just gotta make sure that none of the UFC things overwhelm me like it did in the last fight. "

-Like that stuff he was doing to you on the ground?

"My ground game hasn't changed. I just made a few mistakes that got fixed right after the fight. That just showed the strength that I have."

????


"HA: It's nothing right now man. Right now, I'm just laying around scratching my nuts right now man (laughing)."

Same move he pulled in guard


---This is why he will lose to Thiago every time.

[KENO5366]

Originally Posted by pa99fighter

He does not want a rematch let me tell you. Houston is one of my favs and Silva is one of my least favs but that is the worst matchup possible for him

Agreed.

[erockomania]

I love this guy. I wish him the best.