MMANews.com's own Chris Howie recently caught up with top Middleweight fighter and PRIDE veteran Denis Kang to discuss a number of topics. Below is a complete transcript of the interview which was conducted on Thursday, August 9, 2007.
DENIS KANG INTERVIEW (August 9, 2007)
Chris Howie of MMANews.com: This is Chris Howie with MMANews.com and today I am speaking with one of the best middleweights in the world today, Denis Kang. How are you today Denis?
Denis Kang: I’m good man. Good to be talking with you.
MMANews.com: So what has Denis Kang been up to lately?
Denis Kang: Just training, you know? Everybody knows I haven’t fought since March because I had a little injury and a little set-back but everything is 100 percent now. I’m training 100 percent now and hoping to be fighting sometime in September. I don’t know who for yet but I’m getting ready for it anyways.
MMANews.com: Are there any prospects?
Denis Kang: There are a few but unfortunately I can’t talk about it at this time.
MMANews.com: Ok, I understand. The injury you had was to your hand correct?
Denis Kang: Yes, it was.
MMANews.com: Everything is fine with it now, back to 100 percent?
Denis Kang: Yup.
MMANews.com: This injury occurred when you fought in South Korea, correct?
Denis Kang: Yup, when I fought at Spirit MC.
MMANews.com: Do you have plans to fight there again?
Denis Kang: Yeah for sure I do. I’d like to fight there once or twice a year if I can. I’ve been with that organization for a long time and I’d like to keep on supporting the sport in Korea in anyway possible. I think there is a lot of potential for growth in Korea.
MMANews.com: Now I’m not sure if you can answer this or not, but does being able to fight in Spirit come into play when signing a contract with a North American company such as the UFC or EliteXC?
Denis Kang: Absolutely. I actually have a pre-existing contract with Spirit and I have to fight there at least once a year. It is always something that we stress when talking to other organizations.
MMANews.com: Who are some fighters out there that you would like to get in there and fight with?
Denis Kang: Right now I would like to fight someone outside of Korea but there are some fighters in Korea that I would like that fight that are doing good and have some pretty good records, but I can’t remember any names right now.
MMANews.com: What is the heavyweight limit in Korea?
Denis Kang: Heavyweight is anyone above 180 lbs. so someone like Matt Hughes would be a heavyweight over there, or Georges St. Pierre.
MMANews.com: Have you been helping prepare Marcus Aurelio for his fight coming up at UFC 74?
Denis Kang: Everyday man, everyday. I’m actually on my way to do that now.
MMANews.com: I spoke with Marcus about a week or two ago and he seemed confident, how has been looking in training?
Denis Kang: I’ll tell you man, when this guy is motivated and training hard, nobody can stop him. His ground game is sick. I don’t even think I’ve ever scored a point against him doing jiu-jitsu. I think he brings a whole new jiu-jitsu technique and when he gets in there you are going to see the real jiu-jitsu from Brazil, tight positioning, real sick submissions. We are always working on his ground and pound so he can take advantage of elbows against the cage.
MMANews.com: In most rankings you are at least in the top five, who are some of the fighters in the division that you would like to fight?
Denis Kang talks about a number of topics to MMANews.com …
Denis Kang: I think the number one fighter in my division is Dan Henderson bar-none. I think number two would be Anderson Silva and I’d rank myself at number three. I’d love a chance to get at both of those guys just because of the types of fighters that they are and I’d also like to climb the ranks.
MMANews.com: Do you see Dan staying at Light Heavyweight or coming back to Middleweight?
Denis Kang: It depends, I’ve heard Dan talk about wanting to stay at 205 lbs. because he doesn’t like cutting weight to get to 185 lbs. Pride made him go into the tournament not last year but the year before that so I don’t know. Money talks and money has a funny way of changing people’s opinions.
MMANews.com: Do you see the Pride organization coming back or do you think that is something that will be under wraps for a while?
Denis Kang: No, Pride’s gone. I’m pretty sure that they won’t be coming back anytime soon. There may be a few shows here and there. All I can say is that the Pride that I was in before will never be back and I will miss it dearly. Anybody that has been to a Pride show live will know what I’m talking about. It was a special energy and atmosphere going on when you were at one of those events. It is definitely a huge part of MMA history.
MMANews.com: With fighting in Korea have you learned to speak the language?
Denis Kang: A little bit, I’m learning.
MMANews.com: Your dad is Korean correct?
Denis Kang: Yeah, my dad is Korean and my mom was from France. I was born in France then we moved to Spain and then Canada. I’ve grown up all over the world.
MMANews.com: Where do you spend most of your time now?
Denis Kang: South Florida and Vancouver, almost half-and-half.
MMANews.com: Do you have anything coming up or have you just been training to hopefully fight in September.
Denis Kang: There is going to be some announcements bro, but I can’t tell you [laughs]. I’d love to tell you but I can’t. I’m training to fight in September and that is all I can say right now.
MMANews.com: I understand. What are your thoughts on the steroid situation that has been a problem lately especially with Sean Sherk and Hermes Franca testing positive in a championship fight?
Denis Kang: At this point in the sport people should know they are going to be tested and going to be caught. It is their own fault for getting busted. I for one am not 100 percent sure that Sherk did it just from seeing the way his levels were. I’ve seen all the little mini-investigations on the internet but I’m not 100 percent yet. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens after the second hearing. I think if they do get caught it’s there own fault. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.
MMANews.com: Is middleweight a weight you feel comfortable at or do you feel you could move up or down?
Denis Kang: It’s my most competitive weight but I have been known to compete at 205 lbs before. For anything big I’d like to stay at middleweight.
MMANews.com: Who are some of your favorite fighters to watch?
Denis Kang: Fedor [Emelianenko]. [Antonio] Rodrigo Nogueira, Sean Sherk, B.J. Penn just to name a few. Guys like them I watch because I like watching guys I can learn things from. I do a lot of homework watching tapes and such, analyzing their moves and I try to emulate them.
MMANews.com: What parts of your game have you been working on?
Denis Kang: Umm, right now I’m working on jiu-jitsu. I kind of let that slip a little last year because I was focusing on my stand-up. Although my stand-up did get a lot better, but I wasn’t maintaining my jiu-jitsu. I’m trying to make it better now and I have all the tools at American Top Team to do that.
MMANews.com: Like you were saying earlier, guys like Marcus Aurelio…
Denis Kang: …yeah man exactly. There are a lot of black belts here. Aurelio and I are working everyday rolling and doing technique. He has been helping me a lot.
MMANews.com: You mentioned ranking yourself at number three with Henderson and Silva above you. How do you feel you match up with those fighters?
Denis Kang: I think I match up every well. First of all I think I match up well with anyone and could hold my own with anyone. With Silva he is a dangerous striker but I think I could hang around with him on the ground so I would probably want to take him down. Henderson would be a different story. He’s a different kind of fighter, rough and tumble and in your face kind of fighter. I would need a more technical approach against someone like Dan.
MMANews.com: How do you feel he will match up against Rampage [Jackson]?
Denis Kang: Anytime Dan has been put up against insurmountable odds like a heavier fighter in Quinton Jackson, he always comes through so I think he will do well. I don’t know how that fight is going to end though [laughs]. I know it won’t be easy for Jackson. I’ll tell you that.
MMANews.com: How do you feel you match up against someone like Matt Lindland?
Denis Kang: Man that would be a good fight right there. He’s gotten a lot better than he use to be but I think the only place he would give me a problem would be the clinch and wrestling but everywhere else I feel I’m ahead of him.
MMANews.com: Is there anything you would like to say to your fans out there?
Denis Kang: Just thank you for the support and be watching for some big announcements and for me to be in some even bigger fights.
MMANews.com: Ok Denis, I’d like to thank you for taking the time out to speak with me and I look forward to seeing you back in the ring or cage.
Denis Kang: Thank you man.
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