10 Questions for Marcus Brimage

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Marcus Brimage never shied away from competition. He always ran towards it.

Now 29 and established as one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s most entertaining bantamweights, Brimage will return to the cage at UFC 182 on Jan. 3, when he meets undefeated organizational newcomer Cody Garbrandt at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The American Top Team-Spartan Fitness representative last fought at UFC Fight Night “Rockhold vs. Bisping” in November, as he wiped out Jumabieke Tuerxun with a first-round head kick at the Allphones Arena in Sydney. A graduate of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 14, “The Bama Beast” has compiled a 4-2 record since arriving in the UFC a little more than three years ago.

In this exclusive interview with Sherdog.com, Brimage touches on his military service, dealing with a potentially catastrophic injury and his time fighting on the regional circuit in the South:

Sherdog.com: What makes you tick inside that cage?
Brimage: I enjoy almost everything about fighting. It’s like you’re in a physical chess match against someone; that’s what I love most about it. I love to see who the better fighter is. Truth be told, I never understood the allure of competition; it’s just always been a part of me. Since I was 5 years old, I’ve been involved in competitive sports. After high school, when I couldn’t play any college sports, I felt an empty void in my life. That’s when I found MMA and boxing. I’ve just always been drawn to the competitive nature of sports.

Sherdog.com: Tell me about your time in the military. When and where did you serve, and how did it impact who you are today?
Brimage: I enlisted in April 2003, when I turned 18. It was right after high school graduation and I was shipped off to San Antonio. I stayed on until last year. It had a huge impact because I come from a military family. My dad retired at the rank of major in the National Guard. He was active-duty prior to that. My brother is a Naval Academy graduate -- he and Brian Stann know each other. Now he’s a captain in the Army. Me just being in the military carried on a family tradition in my house. It was quite an honor to join the military. It played a huge role in my life. The discipline that comes with it has made my career easier at times.

Sherdog.com: On your UFC.com profile, you list your brother and your father as your heroes and point to their simultaneous deployment. How would you describe that time in your life?
Brimage: It was very difficult. At one time, my brother went to Iraq and my father was in Afghanistan at the same time. That left me and my mother at home. My mother had her husband overseas and a son overseas, so I’m sure it was very difficult for her at times. That was pretty scary at times for me, too.

Sherdog.com: What was it like fighting on the amateur and regional circuits in the South and what was the craziest thing you saw or experienced during your time there?
Brimage: A guy fighting for a case of beer. That was normal at one time. It’s not any more, thank God, but at one time, that was pretty regular to happen (laughs).

Sherdog.com: What’s the strangest thing that has ever happened to you in a fight?
Brimage: It was at the St. Patrick’s Day Massacre event. I was chiseled and looking super sexy. My opponent took off his shirt and didn’t look like anything impressive, but that was the day I learned the meaning of “old-man strength.” I clinched up with him because I thought I’d be stronger, but I remember just crumbling (laughs). “What the hell is going on?” I was freaking out. He was really strong, and I didn’t know what to do. At the end of the round, I asked why he was so strong. They said, “That’s old-man strength, boy!” I’ve never forgotten about old-man strength since then (laughs).

Sherdog.com: You ruptured your Achilles tendon in 2013 and went over a year between fights. What was that time like for you and did you ever consider the possibility of not returning?
Brimage: The thought of not returning never entered my mind; it was just a matter of when I was going to return. It felt like time was crawling. It just wasn’t moving fast enough. I couldn’t wait to get clearance from the doctors to start training again. My attitude made a night-and-day change when the doctor cleared me to fight.

Sherdog.com: At 29, you are in the middle of your competitive prime. What are your goals in the UFC’s bantamweight division and what do you need to do to achieve them?
Brimage: My goal has always been to be the UFC champ, regardless of the division that I’m fighting in. What do I need to do to achieve that? Just continue to work hard and stay at the pace I’m at. That’s all I’ve got for you (laughs).

Sherdog.com: Did you feel any added pressure entering your bout with Tuerxun on a two-fight losing streak?
Brimage: No, not at all. I was mentally prepared from the very beginning of training camp. I went in there knowing that I was going to win -- I wasn’t leaving Australia without a win.

Sherog.com: What did you think when the post-fight bonuses were announced afterward and you did not receive one of them?
Brimage: Truth be told, I was very upset, but I’m very blessed to have at least one more opportunity to make up for that. I’m always coming for that bonus, and I always will.

Sherdog.com: A hundred years from now, when we are all dead and buried, what is written on your tombstone?
Brimage: “The Greatest.”