Matt Lindland Interview September 20th

2000 Olympic silver medallist and 185 pound fighter Matt Lindland, who has fought some of the best in mma including Phil Baroni, Pat Miltech, Mark Weir, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and recently defeated Jeremy Horn by TKO in the second round of IFL Portland, talked to mma365 about his recent fight, training with Team Quest, and his future plans.

mma365: The IFL Portland event was held in Oregon, the state you were born in.When you were starting your career, have you ever imagined that the sport of mma would grow so fast or big that major events such as the IFL would be held in cities around the United States other than Las Vegas and AC?

Matt Lindland: Yeah, there were several shows out here that set up a good foundation for that out here in Portland, it set it up for that, laid out the ground work.

mma365: This event was your debut as a team coach, and you also fought during that night, how different was this than any other fight night?

Matt Lindland: It was quite a bit different that other fight nights, but I've competed in the sport of wrestling for so long and I've coached guys, and worked corners and competed in the same tournaments many other times so it wasn't really that new of an experience for me.

mma365: Many criticize the team concept because once you turn pro you are an individual, and no longer fighting for a team (except for in a gym) as you do in the amateur ranks. However, it seems to be a good advertising technique which has landed the IFL sponsors such as XBOX360. What are your thoughts on the whole team concept of the IFL?

Matt Lindland: I think it works great, it definitely takes every fighter as an individual fighter but you can also add up the scores as well. The team is what's going out there in the ring, its what is going out in the training. They work together and help each other improve, its a big experience what they are doing before they get in the ring. In the ring, I've noticed the guys after they fought that they wanted to sit out there and be right next to the mat and support the guys out there from their team, so I personally think its a really great concept ...I was part of the US Olympic team, wrestling team, and I think its a big deal, and great to be part of something bigger than yourself.

mma365: Jeremy Horn, an always dangerous fighter who has faced some of the best in mma, can you recap the fight with him for us.

Matt Lindland: Sure. First round, I went out and hit him a bunch, and kicked him in the head, kneed him in the face, and took him down. I hit him some more, and let him up, and then took him down again ...round ended. I came out and threw a big high kick in the second round, and it landed fairly clean, he went to come back but I landed a left hook and he went down.

mma365: Many thought the fight would go the distance, was your game plan to go
for the knockout?

Matt Lindland: I don't know if that was really part of the game plan but I was aiming for his chin, and that one landed clean. The game plan is never to go for the decision, that is never the game plan. It is part of reality, sometimes fights are hard to finish, there are allot of tough guys, but I was ready to go the distance.

mma365: Your previous fight was a split decision loss (arguably a win) with Rampage Jackson, will you now pursue a rematch?

Matt Lindland: I would love to get a rematch with Jackson, and see what happens. There are so many organizations out there, so many offers on the table, and if that is the best offer I would love to get a rematch with him.

mma365: You have fought with the IFL, WFA & UFC. Pride FC is hosting their first event at Vegas on October 21st and they are still finalizing matches for the event. Has your manager worked on getting you to fight for Pride, or is it just too soon for you since your last fight and will contracts with the WFA and IFL prevent you from doing so?

Matt Lindland: I'm currently in negotiations in with many organizations...yes I'm open to talking with Pride and even taking a fight on short notice with them.

mma365: Randy Couture and Bas Rutten opened up legends gym. Couture is part of Team Quest. Does this mean that you will be training part time in his gym, or will you continue to train in Oregon?

Matt Lindland: Randy retired now. Randy is not training anymore anywhere as far as I know, I think he is affiliated with legends gym and promoting his gym down at LA and where he is living, he doesn't live up here in Oregon anymore. I'm not sure what his plans are, who knows maybe we will see him back here in the ring some day. Fighters have come out of retirement, and it wouldn't surprise me.

mma365: Weight-training, how necessary & effective is it for the mma fighter?

Matt Lindland: I think every person as an individual has their own amount of training, so I don't what it is like for everybody else, but I definitely have my share of weight training. It is more to stay in shape and to keep everything moving right, to keep my joints and ligaments strong. I think it is a big part of preventing injuries for myself. Everybody is individual in how much they weight training, and what kind of weight training they do. I'm sure they won't be doing allot of heavy lifting when they have a fight coming up that week, they might go circuit. For myself it is important to lift and prevent injuries.

mma365: Congratulations on your win over Jeremy Horn, and good luck in your future plans.