Gerald Strebendt Interview
Rob King Jan 24, 2004
Gerald Strebendt fighting out of Los Angeles, California,
recently took the time to talk to Rob King about his upcoming UFC
fight, his first UFC fight, and fighting overseas.
Rob King: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us Gerald. It was officially announced earlier this week that you will be replacing Javier Vazquez at UFC 46 in a match up against Matt Serra. What has your training been like for this fight? Is there a different between "maintenance training" and training when you know you have an upcoming fight?
Gerald Strebendt: Before this fight came about I had just
fought two fights in Europe. One Muay Thai fight and one Cage
Fight. I have been in great shape since September of last year. Now
that I am fighting for sure I am going back to Los Angeles and I
will be training specifically for Matt. I am still so young in my
career that I pretty much train hard all year around. I am not to
the level where I can slow down in between fights but I hope to
reach that level soon so my joints can take a break.
Rob King: Who are you training with in preperation for this fight?
Rob King: Do you follow any sort of special diet during training? Or do you just eat whatever you want until you have to cut down in weight a week or two before the fight.
Gerald Strebendt: My diet is a low carb diet with alot of steamed vegetables and meat. I am a very big 155 pounder. I usually cut from 175 pounds to make this weight.
Rob King: What are your thoughts on Matt Serra? What's your plan of attack for this fight?
Gerald Strebendt: My thoughts on Matt Serra. Well to start off I am a big fan of his. I enjoy watching him school people with his jiu jitsu and I especially liked his attacks on Shonie Carter. He is a very high level jiu jitsu fighter and I respect him a lot.
That being said, I am not afraid to mix it up with him on the ground and I think he will be in for a big surprise as soon as we hit the mat. He will know with in 30 seconds of hitting the mat with me that he better protect himself or he will get caught. On the feet I am going to try to knock his head off but I do get a little wild sometimes so he will probably take me down.
I have never been known for knocking people out but I have fought 2 muay thai fights in the last 4 months and I am going to try to put him on a strecher. That mindset alone makes me dangerous.
Rob King: Going back to your UFC 44 fight, take us through the fight from your view.
Gerald Strebendt: I knew that if I fought hard from the opening bell that there was a chance I could get floored. But who the hell wants to see me run around and try to avoid getting hit for 15 minutes? I will never fight like that. I don't care if its Dwane Ludwig or Yves Edwards, I am going to face the fire and throw everything I have at them.
I can't worry about getting knocked out because as soon as I start worrying about those type of things I will lose my excitement for fighting.. And if I lose that I am just wasting the fans money. They will want to see me fight Serra on the ground and they want an exciting war so I swear to God thats what they are going to get.
Rob King: How were you planning on beating Josh that night?
Gerald Strebendt: My gameplan was to stand up with Thomson but you know how gameplans can fall apart as soon as you get in the cage and start fighting. I just reacted and tried to get him on the ground as soon as I could. He fought that fight perfectly and beat me and thats that.
Rob King: What did it mean to you to get a chance to fight in the UFC? What about getting asked back for a second appearance?
Gerald Strebendt: For me to be fighting in the UFC is a miracle and a blessing. I have always wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and to be a part of something that is elite. The UFC is just that. This is the biggest group of elite fighters in the country and to be a part of it is like living history.
Rob King: Getting away from the UFC, you are 24 years old and have a MMA record of 7-3-0. Do you think being so young and having so few fights is a hinderance in both getting fights and then when in the fights, being in situations you haven't been in before? Or do you see it as being beneficial?
Gerald Strebendt: I am still young and it takes a certain amount of fights to make a fighter seasoned to the point he can fight at his highest level. I still need a lot of work in certain areas but my two fights last month moved me much closer to that point.
Rob King: What's been the biggest win of your career?
Gerald Strebendt: My biggest win was against Jean Silva in London for the Cage Rage Lightweight title. I was fighting in a foriegn country with a hometown crowd throwing insults at me and booing me but I came through and won against the odds. Jean Silva is a Black Belt from Brazil and has a lot of wins by submission and I finished him with a rear naked choke in the first round. For me that was huge. I know I can fight with anybody on the ground.
Rob King: Now you have fought over in England on two occasions. What are your opinions about fighting over there?
Gerald Strebendt: What do I think about England? I love the country and the history there and I was proud to get to go there and entertain people. I loved walking around by the River Thames and walking by all the nice buildings around Westminster Abbey. I can't wait to go back and beat Jean Silva in our Cage Rage 6 rematch on May 23rd! I am not going to go over there and let someone take my title.
Rob King: What does the future hold for Gerald Strebendt in terms of both every day life and your fighting career.
Gerald Strebendt: What does the future hold in store for me? Its hard to say where I will be in 1 month or 10 years. I am going to be doing my first small acting job in January and I might be the next Matt Damon or I might fall flat on my face.
I just want to pay my dues and put myself in a situation where I can make a comfortable living for my family when I am older. I want something special to pass on to my kids when I am gone and I can't think of anything more honorable than a UFC title belt. Who knows what the future holds.
Rob King: Anything else you'd like to say?
Gerald Strebendt: I want to let my sponsers know I appreciate them right now, Vince Voyeur.com and Lorenzo Zwirn, the crazy Vitamin guru. I couldn't do it with out you guys! Eddie and Joe, you guys have done more than enough and I will always be in debt to you guys. Chris Brennan for all his jiu jitsu insight and financing, All you guys got me where I am now it's up to me. Matt Serra, thank you for taking this fight. Don't get injured and do me a favor and fight me hard and I will do the same.
Rob King: Thanks for the interview Gerald and good luck in your upcoming fight.
Gerald Strebendt: Thanks. See you in Vegas!
Rob King: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us Gerald. It was officially announced earlier this week that you will be replacing Javier Vazquez at UFC 46 in a match up against Matt Serra. What has your training been like for this fight? Is there a different between "maintenance training" and training when you know you have an upcoming fight?
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Rob King: Who are you training with in preperation for this fight?
Gerald Strebendt: I am training with Eddie Bravo and Chris
Reilly for this fight. Chris is the most accomplished American Muay
Thai fighter in the country and Eddie Bravo is a jiu jitsu
revolutionary. No one has more knowledge than these guys.
Rob King: Do you follow any sort of special diet during training? Or do you just eat whatever you want until you have to cut down in weight a week or two before the fight.
Gerald Strebendt: My diet is a low carb diet with alot of steamed vegetables and meat. I am a very big 155 pounder. I usually cut from 175 pounds to make this weight.
Rob King: What are your thoughts on Matt Serra? What's your plan of attack for this fight?
Gerald Strebendt: My thoughts on Matt Serra. Well to start off I am a big fan of his. I enjoy watching him school people with his jiu jitsu and I especially liked his attacks on Shonie Carter. He is a very high level jiu jitsu fighter and I respect him a lot.
That being said, I am not afraid to mix it up with him on the ground and I think he will be in for a big surprise as soon as we hit the mat. He will know with in 30 seconds of hitting the mat with me that he better protect himself or he will get caught. On the feet I am going to try to knock his head off but I do get a little wild sometimes so he will probably take me down.
I have never been known for knocking people out but I have fought 2 muay thai fights in the last 4 months and I am going to try to put him on a strecher. That mindset alone makes me dangerous.
Rob King: Going back to your UFC 44 fight, take us through the fight from your view.
Gerald Strebendt: I knew that if I fought hard from the opening bell that there was a chance I could get floored. But who the hell wants to see me run around and try to avoid getting hit for 15 minutes? I will never fight like that. I don't care if its Dwane Ludwig or Yves Edwards, I am going to face the fire and throw everything I have at them.
I can't worry about getting knocked out because as soon as I start worrying about those type of things I will lose my excitement for fighting.. And if I lose that I am just wasting the fans money. They will want to see me fight Serra on the ground and they want an exciting war so I swear to God thats what they are going to get.
Rob King: How were you planning on beating Josh that night?
Gerald Strebendt: My gameplan was to stand up with Thomson but you know how gameplans can fall apart as soon as you get in the cage and start fighting. I just reacted and tried to get him on the ground as soon as I could. He fought that fight perfectly and beat me and thats that.
Rob King: What did it mean to you to get a chance to fight in the UFC? What about getting asked back for a second appearance?
Gerald Strebendt: For me to be fighting in the UFC is a miracle and a blessing. I have always wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and to be a part of something that is elite. The UFC is just that. This is the biggest group of elite fighters in the country and to be a part of it is like living history.
Rob King: Getting away from the UFC, you are 24 years old and have a MMA record of 7-3-0. Do you think being so young and having so few fights is a hinderance in both getting fights and then when in the fights, being in situations you haven't been in before? Or do you see it as being beneficial?
Gerald Strebendt: I am still young and it takes a certain amount of fights to make a fighter seasoned to the point he can fight at his highest level. I still need a lot of work in certain areas but my two fights last month moved me much closer to that point.
Rob King: What's been the biggest win of your career?
Gerald Strebendt: My biggest win was against Jean Silva in London for the Cage Rage Lightweight title. I was fighting in a foriegn country with a hometown crowd throwing insults at me and booing me but I came through and won against the odds. Jean Silva is a Black Belt from Brazil and has a lot of wins by submission and I finished him with a rear naked choke in the first round. For me that was huge. I know I can fight with anybody on the ground.
Rob King: Now you have fought over in England on two occasions. What are your opinions about fighting over there?
Gerald Strebendt: What do I think about England? I love the country and the history there and I was proud to get to go there and entertain people. I loved walking around by the River Thames and walking by all the nice buildings around Westminster Abbey. I can't wait to go back and beat Jean Silva in our Cage Rage 6 rematch on May 23rd! I am not going to go over there and let someone take my title.
Rob King: What does the future hold for Gerald Strebendt in terms of both every day life and your fighting career.
Gerald Strebendt: What does the future hold in store for me? Its hard to say where I will be in 1 month or 10 years. I am going to be doing my first small acting job in January and I might be the next Matt Damon or I might fall flat on my face.
I just want to pay my dues and put myself in a situation where I can make a comfortable living for my family when I am older. I want something special to pass on to my kids when I am gone and I can't think of anything more honorable than a UFC title belt. Who knows what the future holds.
Rob King: Anything else you'd like to say?
Gerald Strebendt: I want to let my sponsers know I appreciate them right now, Vince Voyeur.com and Lorenzo Zwirn, the crazy Vitamin guru. I couldn't do it with out you guys! Eddie and Joe, you guys have done more than enough and I will always be in debt to you guys. Chris Brennan for all his jiu jitsu insight and financing, All you guys got me where I am now it's up to me. Matt Serra, thank you for taking this fight. Don't get injured and do me a favor and fight me hard and I will do the same.
Rob King: Thanks for the interview Gerald and good luck in your upcoming fight.
Gerald Strebendt: Thanks. See you in Vegas!
