Check out my article on MMASpot.net on Vitor Belfort. Thanks Behind the scenes will soon follow.
MMA Spot - Vitor Belfort ~ Sacrifice, Discipline And Humility
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Strikeforce Interview with Gegard Mousasi, Jake Shields and Dan Henderson
Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Media
By Breanna Armstrong
Behind the scenes of my interview with Gegard Mousasi, Jake Shields and Dan Henderson at the Strikeforce open media work out day on March 17 at Legends MMA gym in Hollywood, Calif.
It was a scorching, hot day in Hollywood as I stepped into Legends, the outside appearance of the gym was not so pretty. There were shabby dogs running around, and a pretty beat up gate surrounding the wear-house like gym. I didn't know what to expect. When I stepped into the gym, it was like I stepped into an art gallery. The walls were painted in bright colors and the interior design was fit perfectly for an elite gym.
Although it was still stuffy, being inside a gym that literally creates legends was worth it. My photographer and close friend, Lisa and I entered the gym where the Strikeforce fighters were working out to showcase themselves to the media. There is Dan Henderson, the fighter that I am so use to seeing in the UFC, now in his glory now as a most honored and anticipated Strikeforce fighter who is going up against Jake Shields for the title on April 17.
Shields was standing on the other side of the room with his belt, calm, collected and cool. All cameras were on Aoki, the superstar from DREAM. DREAM's Vice President was there to showcase him now, as a Strikeforce contender going up against the also present Gilbert Melendez for the title.
Every time I see King Mo, I feel his confidence rising off of him, sometimes lifting him up about a foot off the floor. Well, that's how the media responded when he walked into the crowded room full with martial arts equipment like a cage, a ring and jiu-jitsu mats. Which is a home a way from home for this elite group of warriors. King Mo was all smiles and when he stepped into the cage to throw down for the media's fancy. He had everyone laughing. I feel like most laugh and encourage, because he is the last person in the world that you would want to get on his bad side.
I go downstairs to interview Dan Henderson, who is relaxing without media interruption. Then and just then, Gegard Mousasi, walks through the doors. He had his typical ivy style cap on with a white shirt and a little cut under his eye. Casual. I have met him once before and threw some questions his way while we were at the Called Out MMA fights in January. Instead of getting to fully enjoy his time at the fight, of course, the humble Mousasi was more than happy to appear to be enjoying his time answering some questions for me.
I walk up to Mousasi to shake his hand and re-introduce myself, but he already was way ahead of me. He smiled and remembered who I was and I got right in there for his first interview out of many more to come that day. It was a good interview... I am looking forward to his fight against King Mo, who has been talking smack on Gegard non-stop. Gegard's response to his opponent's criticism: I'll take it out in the ring. Class act.
Back to Dan, our interview also went smoothly and we got to joke around about how he was not doing anything for St. Patty's day. His teammates that came with him were hilarious, I kind of doubt they sat around their hotel room on St. Patty's day, they were too lively of a crew, although none of them wore green. I felt most comfortable interviewing Dan. I was a little intimidated to at first, until he just had a way of making everything come so naturally. He is a really chill and down to earth kind of guy.
I then made my way back upstairs to interview Dan's opponent, Jake Shields. I have always been a pretty big fan of Jake, ever since I saw him on Bully Beatdown. I knew that he would be a cool interview. I was right. He was very professional and thorough with his answers. This guy is only 9 years older than me, and he is this HUGE superstar fighter. I have the utmost respect for the professional fighter. It takes a lot of sacrifice to get where these men are today, standing in front of probably 60 people all wanting an interview with them, a picture of them and a shot at the spotlight through them.
Who could get the best interview? Who could get the best picture or the most hits on their article? And all these fighters are thinking is: fight, train, eat, sleep. It takes commitment, it takes perseverance and it takes control. Being in a room of legends at Legends in Hollywood was truly an enlightening experience.
By Breanna Armstrong
Behind the scenes of my interview with Gegard Mousasi, Jake Shields and Dan Henderson at the Strikeforce open media work out day on March 17 at Legends MMA gym in Hollywood, Calif.
It was a scorching, hot day in Hollywood as I stepped into Legends, the outside appearance of the gym was not so pretty. There were shabby dogs running around, and a pretty beat up gate surrounding the wear-house like gym. I didn't know what to expect. When I stepped into the gym, it was like I stepped into an art gallery. The walls were painted in bright colors and the interior design was fit perfectly for an elite gym.
Although it was still stuffy, being inside a gym that literally creates legends was worth it. My photographer and close friend, Lisa and I entered the gym where the Strikeforce fighters were working out to showcase themselves to the media. There is Dan Henderson, the fighter that I am so use to seeing in the UFC, now in his glory now as a most honored and anticipated Strikeforce fighter who is going up against Jake Shields for the title on April 17.
Shields was standing on the other side of the room with his belt, calm, collected and cool. All cameras were on Aoki, the superstar from DREAM. DREAM's Vice President was there to showcase him now, as a Strikeforce contender going up against the also present Gilbert Melendez for the title.
Every time I see King Mo, I feel his confidence rising off of him, sometimes lifting him up about a foot off the floor. Well, that's how the media responded when he walked into the crowded room full with martial arts equipment like a cage, a ring and jiu-jitsu mats. Which is a home a way from home for this elite group of warriors. King Mo was all smiles and when he stepped into the cage to throw down for the media's fancy. He had everyone laughing. I feel like most laugh and encourage, because he is the last person in the world that you would want to get on his bad side.
I go downstairs to interview Dan Henderson, who is relaxing without media interruption. Then and just then, Gegard Mousasi, walks through the doors. He had his typical ivy style cap on with a white shirt and a little cut under his eye. Casual. I have met him once before and threw some questions his way while we were at the Called Out MMA fights in January. Instead of getting to fully enjoy his time at the fight, of course, the humble Mousasi was more than happy to appear to be enjoying his time answering some questions for me.
I walk up to Mousasi to shake his hand and re-introduce myself, but he already was way ahead of me. He smiled and remembered who I was and I got right in there for his first interview out of many more to come that day. It was a good interview... I am looking forward to his fight against King Mo, who has been talking smack on Gegard non-stop. Gegard's response to his opponent's criticism: I'll take it out in the ring. Class act.
Back to Dan, our interview also went smoothly and we got to joke around about how he was not doing anything for St. Patty's day. His teammates that came with him were hilarious, I kind of doubt they sat around their hotel room on St. Patty's day, they were too lively of a crew, although none of them wore green. I felt most comfortable interviewing Dan. I was a little intimidated to at first, until he just had a way of making everything come so naturally. He is a really chill and down to earth kind of guy.
I then made my way back upstairs to interview Dan's opponent, Jake Shields. I have always been a pretty big fan of Jake, ever since I saw him on Bully Beatdown. I knew that he would be a cool interview. I was right. He was very professional and thorough with his answers. This guy is only 9 years older than me, and he is this HUGE superstar fighter. I have the utmost respect for the professional fighter. It takes a lot of sacrifice to get where these men are today, standing in front of probably 60 people all wanting an interview with them, a picture of them and a shot at the spotlight through them.
Who could get the best interview? Who could get the best picture or the most hits on their article? And all these fighters are thinking is: fight, train, eat, sleep. It takes commitment, it takes perseverance and it takes control. Being in a room of legends at Legends in Hollywood was truly an enlightening experience.
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