Quarterly Rankings
component of the fighting. When I first set out to do mixed martial arts, I started with jiu-jitsu and I competed extensively in that. And then I started wrestling, and I competed as often as I could in that. And then I started boxing and I competed extensively in that also. So everything I did had its place. Obviously, I did the jiu-jitsu for the ground, for the finishes and the defense on the ground, I did the wrestling for the takedowns and the takedown defense, and I did the boxing for the striking offense and defense. So everything's important. I basically set out to be a well-equipped fighter, so that's why I trained in all those areas, because I was preparing myself as a professional mixed martial arts fighter. FiveKnuckles.com: You made your entry into the UFC by way of participating on "The Ultimate Fighter" season 6 where you were coached by Matt Serra. What was that experience like?
Sotiropoulos: The show was a great experience. We got to train twice a day.We had accommodation, transport, coaching, food; everything was paid for. It was great. It was a big benefit. I'd been travelling since 2001, that was my first international experience, when I came to the USA. And I basically would travel every year for training. I came again in 2002, and that was to wrestle in New York with a couple of the colleges. I also trained at Renzo Gracie's while I was out there. In 2003 I came back to LA and trained with the Machado's. Then I went down to Brazil and I competed in Abu Dhabi. From there I went to Greece and I wrestled in Greece. Then in 2004 I started boxing. And then in 2005 I returned to the USA looking to start MMA. I trained again at the Machado's. I went to American Kickboxing Academy. I visited Team Quest. And then in 2006 I fought in Guam. I met Enson Inoue and he invited me to Japan. I went to Japan via Thailand and I lived in Japan all that year.
So all these years I was basically travelling and training to prepare myself for fighting; learning these skills and acquiring these skills. Now here (TUF 6) was an opportunity where I could focus just on training, not have to worry about travel expenses, or accommodation expenses, or food, everything was taken care of. These are the necessities of life, and it was all taken care of. It was a great opportunity and I loved it. And I would do it again. It was nothing different from what I was already doing. I was already training full-time since 2004, and I had trained full-time in short stints prior to 2004, but I had always gone back to work to support myself and gather the funds to set out on more expeditions and training trips and so on. It was a great opportunity and that's why I loved it.
A lot of guys that were in the house, I don't think appreciated it, or saw it as as great an opportunity as I did. I don't think a lot of those guys had travelled as much as I had travelled. The problem with some of those guys was that they were married or had a kid, and it was very hard for them to be away from their families and loved ones. Which I understand. At the time I was single, but now I'm married, so I understand that's what made it hard for them to be in there. Otherwise, we were isolated,...
| (15) Comments
Click here to Register!