Anonim
Interview with... Keith Wisniewski
Submitted by: Keith Mills
Posted On 01/21/2005
On January 29th Keith Wisniewski takes on Shinya Aoki in Shooto in Tokyo. On the one hand this fight in Japan is a step up for Keith following a year of relentlessly pushing forward with his career. On the other it is disappointing for fans watching his career for any significant period of time as it is only a B-Class fight. Wisniewski has fought at A-Class four times before and in the last two and a half years has only lost to Jason Black, however Shinya only has a verifiable 1-1 pro record. Still, Shinya is said to be underrated and B-Class or not this is one of the Mid-West’s best Welterweights taking another stride forward with greater exposure this time than possibly any previous fight to date.
KM: You were saying you were just training in Indianapolis. Where? KW: I was training at Ring Sports but about four guys from (Dave) Strasser’s came down. A lot of good Welterweights in one place at one time. I get the best training I ever get at Duneland (Vale Tudo). Sometimes it is nice to roll, give it a different look, especially with other guys in my weight class.
KM: Who from Strasser’s? KW: Chris Lytle, Dave Strasser, Derrick Noble, Nick Thompson, the rest of the Integrated (Martial Arts) guys. It was a good workout. I think everyone got something out of it, everyone has some tough fights coming up.
KM: Didn’t you just beat Derrick Noble? KW: We just fought on the Iron Heart Crown (note: decision win, November 20th ’04).
KM: Can you describe that fight? KW: Close fight. I won the first round, he won the second, and I won the third. Not the most exciting fight in the world; neither of us got off as well as we’d like to. We’re both exciting fighters but I pulled off a close decision.
KM: What did that bring to training, that he knew something about you because he fought you? KW: We both knew each other pretty well, we are close friends. We fought on a bunch of cards and I probably watched him fight ten or twelve times and him likewise for me. Pretty much everyone in that room. Derrick had fought both me and Chris, Dave had fought Chris…I think the only people that hadn’t fought were me and Chris. A lot of good competitors, good friends, and a good workout.
KM: IN your fight against Derrick was it an issue you were friends with him? KW: A little bit. I’ll fight anybody as long as its not a Duneland guy. Whoever the promoter puts across from me. When you fight someone you have gone to the bas with and you are friends with it’s a little bit awkward but it’s a job and you got to do it anyway.
KM: You have had six fights in the last six months but the first six months of ’04 off. Now here we are in a break waiting for Shooto. How do you feel about this time in your career? KW: I’ve been nursing a string of injuries. They are not enough to keep me from fighting, just a matter of protecting a little bit more in the gym than I’d like. I feel good. I hope to continue at this pace if I can get good offers.
KM: How are the injuries healing and what can we expect? KW: I’ll probably be close to 100%. As far as fighting performance I’ve been injured the last few fights but I don’t think it has affected my performance in the ring. It has only affected the way I prepare; I had to tone down some of the more rigorous training I do, full contact stuff we do. I’m going to come in to this fight close to 100% and as always I’m expecting to win.
KM: Did that have any affect on you coming off of three decision victories in a row? KW: I wouldn’t say so. Some of the injuries happened in the (Steve) Berger fight (note: decision won October ’04). That was just a brutal fight. I don’t think that is going to be put out on DVD but it was definitely the best fight of my career. Just the type of fight that it takes a while to fully recover from. All three of those opponents are really tough, they came to win. I had (Carlos) Prater in a lot of trouble, had him in full mount and he didn’t quit, just kept fighting.
KM: Wasn’t he the FFC Welterweight Champion at the time? KW: Yes.
KM: And now that is your title? KW: Yep.
KM: Congratulations. How do you feel about that title? KW: I feel good. FFC is a good organization, a real great venue. A really good experience and I’m looking forward to going back.
KM: I think the last time we updated was right before Kyle Jensen in Extreme Challenge (note: rear choke 2:19 r1, September 24th ’04). Can you tell us how that went? KW: Good. I was nervous about that fight. I got stitches out on Tuesday and fought on Friday. I was sweating that a little bit. He went for the takedown and I countered it and just methodically worked from side mount to mount, took his back and choked him. To beat a guy of that caliber in that fashion I felt really good about the fight.
KM: Tell me more about the Prater fight. KW: It went really well. I was able to control the clinch and get most of the takedowns. I actually had a triangle rear mount, had him based out on his stomach and they stood us up in the first round. To be honest that guy is really hard to finish. I had good position again in the second round but wasn’t able to put him away, so he may well have escaped but I was a little disappointed in that standup. Second round was more of the same; I got a takedown and held mount for two or three minutes. Third round mostly standup and I think he got the better of that exchange. He ended up getting a takedown and raining down some good elbows, busted me up good. I was able to finish on top. There was a little controversy at the end but I got the decision.
KM: What controversy? KW: They actually stopped it to check my cut with six seconds to go. I was on top, it wasn’t like I was in trouble or getting finished at the time they stopped to check it. My nose was bleeding pretty badly but they already rung the ten second bell. They didn’t actually restart the fight, just went to the judges cards with like four seconds left in the fight. I don’t think we could have even gone across the ring in that time but its one of those I wonder why the doctor or ref would even bother to do that. I’m a strong believer in fighter safety and have been in situations where both myself and teammates have been hindered by stoppages for fighter safety and I never complained. I don’t think this was the case. I was on top hitting the guy in the face, I’m not going to get hurt in four seconds.
KM: What do you think of fighting in Shooto? KW: I’ve been fighting in Shooto in the US. This is actually my fourth Shooto fight. I’m happy with my first time in Japan, I’m really excited about that. I am a little disappointed this is a B-Class fight more because of my opponent than me. I’m known for winning third rounds and have taken a lot of fights in the third rounds and now I only have two rounds to work with. Other than that I think it’s a fight I should win and should be a good experience.
KM: You are known for third rounds but have finished many in the first like Jensen and that fight in M-1. Even Nuri Shakir was a 1 round fight. You just aren’t known for your second rounds. KW: In the second rounds I have lost a lot of rounds. I come back to win the third and take a decision but several fights I have tapered off in the second and got my wind in the third. Obviously I’m looking to keep my intensity up throughout the course of this fight so I think I should be 100% every second of this fight. I am a strong starter and can’t remember the last time I lost a first round.
KM: Is that something you train for or just the way most fights turn out? KW: I think I’m more relaxed than most fighters. A lot of fighters take a few minutes to get into a groove, get their nerves calmed down. That hasn’t been an issue for me, at least not for several years. The moment I hit the ring I’m implementing my game plan from the word ‘go’. I just think a lot of time I’m able to set the pace and the reason a lot of time the second rounds don’t go as well is the fighters recuperate and they get in their gameplan. I think its nerves mostly. I’m very focused from the time I get in the ring.
KM: I don’t know much about your opponent Shinya Aoki. You were saying he is B-Class and known for a submissions game? KW: I have a tape of him fighting Seichi Ikemoto (note: DEEP 15th Impact, July ’04). Seichi has a lot of fights, like twenty-five fights. He ends up armbaring Seichi in the second round of that fight. In the course of that fight he went for a lot of submissions. He transitioned from position to position and went for a lot of risky things. One of those fighters that is really dangerous. I’ve seen some of his amateur fights and it looks like he likes to swing maybe a little bit wild. He’s also a lefty. You could see some power punches landed by both of us. I feel I’m going to be the better wrestler and probably better striker so its just a matter of staying out of his submissions.
KM: I would normally be looking at the time zone difference being your first fight in Japan. You have however had one in Russia (note: M-1 October ’03). Did the fight in Russia help prepare you for this? KW: I really didn’t feel like it was a problem at all in Russia. I went over there obviously with Miguel but Dave Strasser was there in my corner because he was there with one of his teammates. He gave me some helpful hints on how to sleep the first night, when to go to sleep and stuff. I’m actually going on the same schedule, going out two days before. I feel I’m on the same schedule, it is about the same distance in flight, and I don’t foresee it being a problem.
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Submitted by: Keith Mills
Posted On 01/21/2005
On January 29th Keith Wisniewski takes on Shinya Aoki in Shooto in Tokyo. On the one hand this fight in Japan is a step up for Keith following a year of relentlessly pushing forward with his career. On the other it is disappointing for fans watching his career for any significant period of time as it is only a B-Class fight. Wisniewski has fought at A-Class four times before and in the last two and a half years has only lost to Jason Black, however Shinya only has a verifiable 1-1 pro record. Still, Shinya is said to be underrated and B-Class or not this is one of the Mid-West’s best Welterweights taking another stride forward with greater exposure this time than possibly any previous fight to date.
KM: You were saying you were just training in Indianapolis. Where? KW: I was training at Ring Sports but about four guys from (Dave) Strasser’s came down. A lot of good Welterweights in one place at one time. I get the best training I ever get at Duneland (Vale Tudo). Sometimes it is nice to roll, give it a different look, especially with other guys in my weight class.
KM: Who from Strasser’s? KW: Chris Lytle, Dave Strasser, Derrick Noble, Nick Thompson, the rest of the Integrated (Martial Arts) guys. It was a good workout. I think everyone got something out of it, everyone has some tough fights coming up.
KM: Didn’t you just beat Derrick Noble? KW: We just fought on the Iron Heart Crown (note: decision win, November 20th ’04).
KM: Can you describe that fight? KW: Close fight. I won the first round, he won the second, and I won the third. Not the most exciting fight in the world; neither of us got off as well as we’d like to. We’re both exciting fighters but I pulled off a close decision.
KM: What did that bring to training, that he knew something about you because he fought you? KW: We both knew each other pretty well, we are close friends. We fought on a bunch of cards and I probably watched him fight ten or twelve times and him likewise for me. Pretty much everyone in that room. Derrick had fought both me and Chris, Dave had fought Chris…I think the only people that hadn’t fought were me and Chris. A lot of good competitors, good friends, and a good workout.
KM: IN your fight against Derrick was it an issue you were friends with him? KW: A little bit. I’ll fight anybody as long as its not a Duneland guy. Whoever the promoter puts across from me. When you fight someone you have gone to the bas with and you are friends with it’s a little bit awkward but it’s a job and you got to do it anyway.
KM: You have had six fights in the last six months but the first six months of ’04 off. Now here we are in a break waiting for Shooto. How do you feel about this time in your career? KW: I’ve been nursing a string of injuries. They are not enough to keep me from fighting, just a matter of protecting a little bit more in the gym than I’d like. I feel good. I hope to continue at this pace if I can get good offers.
KM: How are the injuries healing and what can we expect? KW: I’ll probably be close to 100%. As far as fighting performance I’ve been injured the last few fights but I don’t think it has affected my performance in the ring. It has only affected the way I prepare; I had to tone down some of the more rigorous training I do, full contact stuff we do. I’m going to come in to this fight close to 100% and as always I’m expecting to win.
KM: Did that have any affect on you coming off of three decision victories in a row? KW: I wouldn’t say so. Some of the injuries happened in the (Steve) Berger fight (note: decision won October ’04). That was just a brutal fight. I don’t think that is going to be put out on DVD but it was definitely the best fight of my career. Just the type of fight that it takes a while to fully recover from. All three of those opponents are really tough, they came to win. I had (Carlos) Prater in a lot of trouble, had him in full mount and he didn’t quit, just kept fighting.
KM: Wasn’t he the FFC Welterweight Champion at the time? KW: Yes.
KM: And now that is your title? KW: Yep.
KM: Congratulations. How do you feel about that title? KW: I feel good. FFC is a good organization, a real great venue. A really good experience and I’m looking forward to going back.
KM: I think the last time we updated was right before Kyle Jensen in Extreme Challenge (note: rear choke 2:19 r1, September 24th ’04). Can you tell us how that went? KW: Good. I was nervous about that fight. I got stitches out on Tuesday and fought on Friday. I was sweating that a little bit. He went for the takedown and I countered it and just methodically worked from side mount to mount, took his back and choked him. To beat a guy of that caliber in that fashion I felt really good about the fight.
KM: Tell me more about the Prater fight. KW: It went really well. I was able to control the clinch and get most of the takedowns. I actually had a triangle rear mount, had him based out on his stomach and they stood us up in the first round. To be honest that guy is really hard to finish. I had good position again in the second round but wasn’t able to put him away, so he may well have escaped but I was a little disappointed in that standup. Second round was more of the same; I got a takedown and held mount for two or three minutes. Third round mostly standup and I think he got the better of that exchange. He ended up getting a takedown and raining down some good elbows, busted me up good. I was able to finish on top. There was a little controversy at the end but I got the decision.
KM: What controversy? KW: They actually stopped it to check my cut with six seconds to go. I was on top, it wasn’t like I was in trouble or getting finished at the time they stopped to check it. My nose was bleeding pretty badly but they already rung the ten second bell. They didn’t actually restart the fight, just went to the judges cards with like four seconds left in the fight. I don’t think we could have even gone across the ring in that time but its one of those I wonder why the doctor or ref would even bother to do that. I’m a strong believer in fighter safety and have been in situations where both myself and teammates have been hindered by stoppages for fighter safety and I never complained. I don’t think this was the case. I was on top hitting the guy in the face, I’m not going to get hurt in four seconds.
KM: What do you think of fighting in Shooto? KW: I’ve been fighting in Shooto in the US. This is actually my fourth Shooto fight. I’m happy with my first time in Japan, I’m really excited about that. I am a little disappointed this is a B-Class fight more because of my opponent than me. I’m known for winning third rounds and have taken a lot of fights in the third rounds and now I only have two rounds to work with. Other than that I think it’s a fight I should win and should be a good experience.
KM: You are known for third rounds but have finished many in the first like Jensen and that fight in M-1. Even Nuri Shakir was a 1 round fight. You just aren’t known for your second rounds. KW: In the second rounds I have lost a lot of rounds. I come back to win the third and take a decision but several fights I have tapered off in the second and got my wind in the third. Obviously I’m looking to keep my intensity up throughout the course of this fight so I think I should be 100% every second of this fight. I am a strong starter and can’t remember the last time I lost a first round.
KM: Is that something you train for or just the way most fights turn out? KW: I think I’m more relaxed than most fighters. A lot of fighters take a few minutes to get into a groove, get their nerves calmed down. That hasn’t been an issue for me, at least not for several years. The moment I hit the ring I’m implementing my game plan from the word ‘go’. I just think a lot of time I’m able to set the pace and the reason a lot of time the second rounds don’t go as well is the fighters recuperate and they get in their gameplan. I think its nerves mostly. I’m very focused from the time I get in the ring.
KM: I don’t know much about your opponent Shinya Aoki. You were saying he is B-Class and known for a submissions game? KW: I have a tape of him fighting Seichi Ikemoto (note: DEEP 15th Impact, July ’04). Seichi has a lot of fights, like twenty-five fights. He ends up armbaring Seichi in the second round of that fight. In the course of that fight he went for a lot of submissions. He transitioned from position to position and went for a lot of risky things. One of those fighters that is really dangerous. I’ve seen some of his amateur fights and it looks like he likes to swing maybe a little bit wild. He’s also a lefty. You could see some power punches landed by both of us. I feel I’m going to be the better wrestler and probably better striker so its just a matter of staying out of his submissions.
KM: I would normally be looking at the time zone difference being your first fight in Japan. You have however had one in Russia (note: M-1 October ’03). Did the fight in Russia help prepare you for this? KW: I really didn’t feel like it was a problem at all in Russia. I went over there obviously with Miguel but Dave Strasser was there in my corner because he was there with one of his teammates. He gave me some helpful hints on how to sleep the first night, when to go to sleep and stuff. I’m actually going on the same schedule, going out two days before. I feel I’m on the same schedule, it is about the same distance in flight, and I don’t foresee it being a problem.
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Krzysztof Piekarz
