The always outspoken and vibrant "New York Bad Ass" Phil Baroni will take on Joey Villasenor next Saturday on the first live MMA event to take place on network television. Baroni took a few minutes this week to sit down with MMANews.com's own Chris Howie to discuss numerous topics of interest in this MMANews.com Exclusive interview.

Chris Howie of MMANews.com: This is Chris Howie with MMANews.com and today I'm speaking with the "New York Bad Ass" Phil Baroni. Phil thanks for taking this interview on short notice. How are you today?

Phil Baroni: No problem man. I'm doing really well. I'm in great shape and feel excellent and 100% confident going into this fight.

MMANews.com: How has your training gone for the fight?

Phil Baroni: It's going great. Everything has gone great for this fight. I've been training down at AKA in San Jose and I'm training hard. I've put a lot of hard work into this fight. It will all pay off on May 31st.

MMANews.com: Now you have trained at AKA in the past correct?

Phil Baroni: Yeah, I trained there for all of my Pride fights that I've won. I'm undefeated when I train out of AKA. For whatever reason when I didn't come down here I've lost all my fights.

MMANews.com: Did you go right into training following your last fight?

Phil Baroni: Yeah I fucking went running into training the next day. That was a fucking disgrace. I was close to being in shape then so I figured there was no point in getting out of shape so I went right in you know.

MMANews.com: Did you feel unprepared going into the fight with Hose?

Phil Baroni: Yeah, I knew I was unprepared. I had about 3 weeks to train for the fight and I had a lot of weight to lose. I had to lose 17 pounds before the fight and at weigh-ins I was like 3 quarters of a pound over. Kala was a good guy though and gave it to me.

MMANews.com: How do you feel you match up with Joey Villasenor?

Phil Baroni: I feel like I'm better in all aspects of the game. He's well rounded but I'm a bigger, stronger, and better athlete. He's a veteran with a lot of different tools but mentally and physically I'm tougher.

MMANews.com: Do you feel the fight will stay standing?

Phil Baroni: I feel that he can't take me down and if I do end up on the mat I'm just going to stand right back up.

MMANews.com: What does it mean for you to be fighting on CBS?

Phil Baroni: You know it's cool and it means a lot of exposure. It's kind of an honour to be picked you know? I suppose there are a lot of other fighters out there but I feel I deserve it. I've never been in a boring fight and they need exciting fights to get this over. They need another Bonnar/Griffin to make this work and I feel that I can bring that to the table. I'm not that excited like some of these guys are because I never got into fighting to be a Rockstar. I've been doing this a long time. I've been a pro for 8 years now. When I turned pro it was to fight and to be a professional fighter and to compete. There was no getting rich or being famous. You had the hardcore but it wasn't about being on TV, hell, it wasn't even about being on PPV when I started out. It's cool that the sport is growing and that there are better opportunities and all but to me if I wanted to be on The Ultimate Fighter or a reality TV star than I would have went to drama club when I was in school and tried to be an actor or I would have taken more ground balls when I was in baseball and maybe played in the Major Leagues at third base or some shit.

MMANews.com: So you look beyond the way the sport is becoming main stream?

Phil Baroni: I don't know if I look beyond it or look through it but all I look at is the guys in my weight class and what I have to do to become a world champion. That's more important to me than being on a box of Wheaties. I didn't get into this game to be famous, I got into it to be the best in the world.

MMANews.com: Do you feel EXC getting on CBS was a big step competition wise competing with the UFC?

Phil Baroni: I think it was huge for them. It will be good to get out there and be on network television. In terms of competition, I mean the UFC has the Coutures and Liddells and the Titos and all the big stars you know. So if they throw them guys on a PPV that is still going to be pretty big.

MMANews.com: Being on CBS could mean more fighters jumping ship and such. Do you see that happening more?

Phil Baroni: I think it is definitely better for the fighters. I think the UFC did a great job getting the sport into the main stream and I don't think that ever would have happened before if it wasn't for the UFC. It's better for the fighters though because it gives them more options. The UFC has all their bonuses and such but you're not going to fight in the UFC for some undisclosed bonus that you might not even win you know. I also hope the Japan organizations do well to. If the best fighters have options than you're going to have to treat them well and pay them well to keep them around.



MMANews.com: You mentioned you are in this sport to be a fighter and for competition. Where exactly is the line between where a fighter is looking for competition and where a fighter is just looking for a big pay day?

Phil Baroni: I mean there is a line. When I first went to Pride I went there for the competition but they paid me good money. I couldn't go to the small shows and get the best competition. I maybe could have gone to the UFC but I wanted to fight the best and Pride is where the best was. Obviously I don't care about records you know? Records are just numbers. What's really important and it can not be portrayed with a win/loss record is the battle you bring when you fight. The only way that can be measured is to watch the fight and to see what would transpire. There were a lot of guys that were 35-0 when they went to the UFC and got knocked the fuck out as soon as they arrived. To answer your questions thought, with me I look for competition and fight for a shot at a world title.

MMANews.com: Do you feel your fight with Villasenor could possibly lead to a match up with the winner of the Robbie Lawler/Scott Smith fight?

Phil Baroni: Possibly yeah. I could definitely see it. I think a fight between me and Robbie Lawler would be huge. As a matter of fact I think that fight was suppose back in the day in the UFC but Lawler got hurt and things didn't work out. I think that fight could be a headliner on a CBS show. If we both come out looking impressive it could happen and I know after I knock out Joey Villasenor and if Lawler wins his fight than it could happen. It's a great fight but to be honest with you... I'd rather fight Frank Shamrock. For some reason I'd like to beat Frank Shamrock. That would mean a lot to me.

MMANews.com: You have a non exclusive contract correct?

Phil Baroni: Well kind of I guess. In terms of a UFC contract you are exclusive and you can not fight for anyone else. Mines different from that. One thing I can say though is that Pro Elite has treated me the best.

MMANews.com: If given a chance would you go back to fight in Japan? I believe DREAM and Pro Elite just hooked a deal up between each other.

Phil Baroni: Yeah for sure. I loved Japan. The atmosphere and the people were awesome and I think I have a pretty big name over in Japan. There are some big fights over there for me that I think the fans would like to see. Maybe a possible rematch with Minowa or maybe with Kazuo Misaki who is a grand prix champion. I think a fight with him would be awesome.

MMANews.com: Was there ever mention of you fighting in the DREAM middleweight tournament?

Phil Baroni: Yeah it was mentioned but I haven't really been following it because of his fight with Joey. Has it even started yet?

MMANews.com: Middleweight started a few weeks ago.

Phil Baroni: Well then I guess I'm not in it eh? [laughs] I like the idea of a grand prix though, I think it's cool. You can take 16 of the best fighters in the world and put them into one big tournament. It could turn you into a star overnight or it could lead to a real bad night for you.

MMANews.com: Why do you think grand prixs don't happen in the US nowadays?

Phil Baroni: I think it's just the commissions. I mean fighters fight but the commissions are just control freaks. I like the idea though. It helped make the UFC popular in the US and it helped make Pride and K-1 big in Japan. I'd be willing to risk not winning it than not going into it at all.

MMANews.com: Now you just mentioned a fight with Frank Shamrock. Is that a fight that still lingers on your mind?

Phil Baroni: Of course. It's always on my mind. I think that Frank would do that fight. He's into big fights right now and he is getting older. I think he is frustrated that he couldn't knock me out and I think that he is challenged by that. I was hurt going in and at 100% I would beat him and I would knock him out. I think after I beat Joey Villasenor that a rematch with Shamrock would be marquee for Pro Elite.

MMANews.com: What were you thoughts his last fight with Cung Le?

Phil Baroni: I don't think he fought the smartest fight that's for sure. He tried to beat Cung at his own game but I think by the 3rd round Frank was starting to figure him out and he was getting Cung a little bit tired. It was back and forth in the first round then Cung took over in the second but I think by the third round Frank had him guessing and then he hurt Cung. Then of course Franks arm got broken and it went down hill from there but I think if it had of went longer the fight would have went Franks way.

MMANews.com: How do you see your fight next weekend with Villasenor going?

Phil Baroni: Well I think I'm going to knock him out. I think we're going to stand and bang and then I'll hurt him. I'm going to be too fast for him and if he tries to take me down I'm going to stuff his takedowns and make him tired and then I'll catch him.

MMANews.com: Ok Phil well I won't keep you much longer here. Is there any message you would like to send out to your fans?

Phil Baroni: Thanks for the support. Sorry I let you guys down in some of my other fights but I'm 100% prepared for this one. I've done everything right for this fight and you are going to see my at my best and I'm going to win. Thanks for all the support over these last few years and make sure to watch next weekend on CBS.

MMANews.com: Phil, I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me and I'm looking forward to seeing you fight next weekend.

Phil Baroni: Alright bro. Thanks a lot and take care.


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