Your nickname is McLovin. Who gave you the nickname and how did it happen?

 

A couple days before my fight with Goulet jorge gurgel and i watched super bad.  On the way out i made a joke about making McLovin my nickname, and jorge said "ha you cant go back on it."  so he called bruce buffer, and had him announce it.

 

What has been the highlight of your UFC career?

 

Its hard to say what the highlight of my career is so far.  My ufc debut was almost my highlight as it was going to be my big break, but i got submitted.  Then my fight with josh koscheck was going to be my next big break, but i got knocked out.  So...ask me again in a year.

 

Who has been your biggest influence in MMA and why?

 

my biggest influence has been jorge gurgel.  He has helped me out so much throughout my career, any time i need anything he is always there.  I also have to thank Jon Stutzman a lot for all his help.  When I first moved to ohio i couldnt afford rent, so he let me live at his house until i could afford my own place.  For a couple months i slept in his living room a tiny bed that my legs hung off almost to my knees.  Then when i decided to drop out of college and stay he cleared out a room for me, and i got a bigger bed.  He also helped me out a lot with my jiu-jitsu, and is now one of my best friends.

 

Do you think that the Koscheck fight was a fight that made people notice you?

 

I think that it made people start taking me more seriously, and not just looking at me as some kid.  Even though i lost i think i made an impact, but i know what i did wrong, and i am already fixing it. 

 

What is the strongest part of your game?

 

right now my jiu-jitsu is my bread and butter, but i am trying to make my standup just as good as my ground game.

 

If you were not a pro fighter what would you be doing?

 

I would still be in college trying to figure out what job i would hate the least.  Unless i could land a job as a video game tester. 

 

What kind of things do you do to relax and get away from Fighting?

 

I play video games, guitar, i go camping, hiking, and lay around watching tv. 

 

What do you want the fans to know about you?

 

that i want to be the best, and i work very hard every day to make that dream a reality. 

 

 

i think that being as laid back and relaxed as i am helps me when i fight.  I don't ever get nervous before fights, but i think that's because i love fighting so much.  I smile the whole time in the locker room, and i smile the whole way out to the cage.   

 

What is it like for you as a guy from the small town of Louisa, KY, to hear the cheers when you walk into the arena? Is there a sense of pride and accomplishment?

 

There is no feeling like hearing a crowd cheer your name as you walk out, its an indescribable feeling.  I think coming from such humble roots makes it all the more special.  Its not very often that someone from around here is on tv or ppv.  Every time i come back home everyone's very excited to see me.  After my fight with koscheck my dad took me to work with him on the coal mines .  All the miners i met were huge mma fans, knowledgable of the sport, and had seen all my fights.