Mma fighters you met...and how were they?

akc814ilv said:
I've heard that shogun and Wandy are both really nice. How was chael though? Lol
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Shogun was super cool! I came all the way from Ontario, Canada and did not expect any MMA fighters to be there. I stumbled on the "GEAR" booth and my jaw dropped when I saw Shogun. He was talking to a fan, noticed my hard on and smiled and winked. When he was done with that fan I just walked up to him and started blabbling about Pride and being my favourite fighter. Martin Kampmann was beside him and was like "fuck this dude for not noticing me."

Shogun was all smiles though! I didn't realize there was a huge fucking line by the side of the booth and I basically just jumped in front of the line. But Shogun didn't seem to care. Probably my favourite experience ever.

Chael was super nice. I went all Canadian on him and called him "sir." He's sneakily big. Long line up after the "fight" so I didn't get to talk to him much outside of "you're a great fighter and best of luck with your career!"

Wandy was the hardest to hunt down. Security took him away and I couldn't find the booth he was staying at. I assumed he left. As we left the Expo. I gave it one last shot and with the luck of a thousand Zeus', I found him chilling with his Brazilian mates by himself. I was pretty nervous as he seemed hyped up and a scary dude as is. But I mustard the courage to call out "Wanderlei!" He looked up smiled! We shook hands and his friends were kind enough to take our pic!

Just the best experience for someone who loved Pride and those fighters the way I did! Best experience at Olympia was meeting non-bodybuilders LOL

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Gil Melendez used to work at Fairtex in the gear department (back in 99), I used to go there to train as well as sell their gear. Reconnected around 2006 when he was strikeforce champ, and he remembered me and we've stayed friends since

Jake Shields, I would see him at clubs all the time (I'm a club/radio DJ in SF), and because he knew me through Gil, we also became friends.

Josh Thomson, we were sponsored by the same clothing company so it's all friends and friends of friends, I actually put together his entrance music for the second fight again Gil (don't tell Gil), but Showtime didn't allow him to use it due to licensing rights or they needed my release as the "artist"

Rumble, also same clothing sponsor, very cool and soft spoken guy, even out at parties

Cung Le, I got introduced to him and started DJing his local tournaments and also started training at his gym (free) once a week but after a year, that 1+ hour drive was too much

Koschek, met him at an expo but he reached out to me after due to mutual friends, we always talked about doing a joint bday club event but never could get it together.

All the above, I consider my friends still...below is just chance meetings

Randy, we worked together at a retail store grand opening...him signing and me DJing, nice guy but nothing further

Forest, met twice...first time very cool, talked a bit but second time was kind of an ass

Stephen, pretty cool guy (just around UFC 56)

Herb Dean, was cool at first but he tried to hook up with the girl I was with. We all met at a club after 56 in Vegas, one of his girls was hanging with us. Funny he was trying to call my date all night, even heard the phone going off as we were in bed and laughed about it later...lol good times
 
My former gym: Randy Couture, Matt lindland, Chael Sonnen, Hendo, Leben, Herman, Schultz, Pat Healy, Jake Ellenberger, Mike Pierce, Rick Story, Zac George, Chris Wilson, Mike Dolce list goes on and on and the Best trainer around Robert Follis

Tyson Griffin- cool
Kimbo Slice (RIP) Super cool dude
Ken Shamrock- dickhead
Forrest Griffin- cool dude, they had gym closed for him to train and he let me in for pics and to BS for a few
Glover Texiera- cool
Diego Sanchez, Rashad Evans, Keith Jardine all hung out at my hotel in Vegas drinking Mickeys
Shane Carwin- HUGE HANDS
John Doomsday Howard
Saul Almeida
Too many

Boxing:
Irish Micky Ward
Shane Mosley
Floyd SR
 
Fabricio Werdum: 2013, He was working the broadcast for Spanish TV at UFC 160 and was walking by my seat before the first Early Prelim. Wasn't really friendly at all when I asked for a pic and didn't even smile in the picture. I know he was working and all but at least fake that you're glad I just paid $1200 for my seats.

Jeremy Stephens: This was just Memorial Day weekend in Vegas the night before he beat Barao. I was walking through the Mandalay after dinner with my girlfriend and spotted him walking to the escalator. He was getting into the elevator when I asked for a pic and he was super cool about it. I'm 5'9" and I was at least 2 inches taller than him even though he's billed at my height lol. Super nice dude and even his girlfriend asked to take a picture before my girlfriend took over duties.

Chad Mendes: I grew up in the same town as him and went to the same junior high as him 1998-1999. Had a couple classes with him. Normal dude into wrestling and fishing. Pretty typical Central Valley type dude and we all had no clue he would eventually sign with the UFC and fight for the title multiple times.

Sara McMann: Memorial Day weekend. I was sitting front row cage side and she was pleading with Sean Shelby as to why her performance against Jessica Eye was so lack luster and who she wanted to fight next. When they stopped talking I asked her for a pic. She was super nice and talkative and thanked me for coming out.

Brian Stann: Also Memorial Day weekend. I had the VIP pass and got early access and was able to hang in the octagon. I asked the employees of the UFC if I could get a meet and greet real quick and they signaled him over. Dude is fucking huge. I'm average height so it's not like i'm tall but the dude is easily 220-230 and built like a tank. Super nice dude and was happy to answer questions from everyone.

Cody Gibson: Before he got cut, last year I reached out to him on twitter and asked if he wouldn't mind coming out to my classroom and talk to my students about the UFC, training, mma, etc etc. He is a fellow teacher as well and so he was super up for it. He showed up to my class during lunch and we just shot the shit, talked mma, ufc etc etc for an hour until my students came in. We watched his fights, he talked to the class, and had a bunch of UFC gear to hand out. He had a bunch of cool stories like getting drunk with Frank Mir and Bruce Buffer being a d bag to the fighters. Sorry to see he got cut but he's been killing it on the regional scene ever since. Hopefully he makes his way back.

Ashlee Evans-Smith: She's from NorCal originally and about 8 years back I was at a party in Santa Rosa with some friends. This girl pissed off Ashlee, who was super punk rock at the time lol (not really, she listens to shit like Anti Flag), and Ashlee beat the shit out of her in front of everyone in the backyard. I heard she was in and out of trouble during that time and kept hearing her name until I saw she signed with the UFC.
 
JT RIPPER said:
Gil Melendez used to work at Fairtex in the gear department (back in 99), I used to go there to train as well as sell their gear. Reconnected around 2006 when he was strikeforce champ, and he remembered me and we've stayed friends since

Jake Shields, I would see him at clubs all the time (I'm a club/radio DJ in SF), and because he knew me through Gil, we also became friends.

Josh Thomson, we were sponsored by the same clothing company so it's all friends and friends of friends, I actually put together his entrance music for the second fight again Gil (don't tell Gil), but Showtime didn't allow him to use it due to licensing rights or they needed my release as the "artist"

Rumble, also same clothing sponsor, very cool and soft spoken guy, even out at parties

Cung Le, I got introduced to him and started DJing his local tournaments and also started training at his gym (free) once a week but after a year, that 1+ hour drive was too much

Koschek, met him at an expo but he reached out to me after due to mutual friends, we always talked about doing a joint bday club event but never could get it together.

All the above, I consider my friends still...below is just chance meetings

Randy, we worked together at a retail store grand opening...him signing and me DJing, nice guy but nothing further

Forest, met twice...first time very cool, talked a bit but second time was kind of an ass

Stephen, pretty cool guy (just around UFC 56)

Herb Dean, was cool at first but he tried to hook up with the girl I was with. We all met at a club after 56 in Vegas, one of his girls was hanging with us. Funny he was trying to call my date all night, even heard the phone going off as we were in bed and laughed about it later...lol good times
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Lol awesome post!

I'm just glad herb didn't steal your girl! It'd be one thing if it was like Alan Joubain or something but if it was herb that would be rough lmao.
 
007 said:
My former gym: Randy Couture, Matt lindland, Chael Sonnen, Hendo, Leben, Herman, Schultz, Pat Healy, Jake Ellenberger, Mike Pierce, Rick Story, Zac George, Chris Wilson, Mike Dolce list goes on and on and the Best trainer around Robert Follis

Tyson Griffin- cool
Kimbo Slice (RIP) Super cool dude
Ken Shamrock- dickhead
Forrest Griffin- cool dude, they had gym closed for him to train and he let me in for pics and to BS for a few
Glover Texiera- cool
Diego Sanchez, Rashad Evans, Keith Jardine all hung out at my hotel in Vegas drinking Mickeys
Shane Carwin- HUGE HANDS
John Doomsday Howard
Saul Almeida
Too many

Boxing:
Irish Micky Ward
Shane Mosley
Floyd SR
Click to expand...

When I met Ken he was super nice. Maybe it was because he was surrounded by marines and he just wanted to come across as respectful, but tell me more about your bad experience with him?
 
akc814ilv said:
When I met Ken he was super nice. Maybe it was because he was surrounded by marines and he just wanted to come across as respectful, but tell me more about your bad experience with him?
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he was doing a signing with Randy Couture at a Harley dealership in Oregon. Randy talked with everyone as long as it took. Ken was a yes and no now you got to go type of guy. He did have a guy fighting that night in Portland so maybe his mind was someplace else and he was pushing his book on people.
 
007 said:
he was doing a signing with Randy Couture at a Harley dealership in Oregon. Randy talked with everyone as long as it took. Ken was a yes and no now you got to go type of guy. He did have a guy fighting that night in Portland so maybe his mind was someplace else and he was pushing his book on people.
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Thanks for responding.

The reason I asked is because he almost seemed a bit shy when I met him. He wasn't standoffish or anything but did seem a bit on the shy side. I know with his public persona that doesn't make sense but that's the vibe I got.

Then again he took time to talk to everyone and shake hands and stuff so maybe it was because he was around a bunch of marines and he had gratitude for the military.

I've heard other stories of him big timing fans before though. So yours isn't the first time I've heard it. On the flip side I had a buddy who met Ken years ago who took a picture with Ken and Ken actually posed for the pic with my friend standing in front of ken and ken simulating putting him in a RNC.

Maybe it just depends on the day lol.
 
akc814ilv said:
Not at like an expo though. Guys you've met in a gym or just out and about.

Ken Shamrock. Met him while I was in the Marines. He was super nice. He was actually there as a guest showing us some self defense tactics. (Yes I'm old because this was years ago).

Anderson Silva- nicest fighter I ever met. I didn't say much to him but just asked to shake his hand. He was very kind and took the time to shake the hand of everyone there and was all smiles the entire time.

Big Nog - also very nice. I could actually communicate a bit with him which was cool. He was also very nice to my demon of an ex wife even though she didn't care about mma and didn't know who he was.

Andre Galvao- this one was different because for a time I trained at ATOS so I'd see him quite a bit. He is a very nice person though. Has a good sense of humor and the absolute best guy I've ever rolled with, hands down.

Cris Cyborg- also very nice. Saw her at a restaurant. I'm not a douchebag so I didn't bother her while she was eating, but when she left I just asked to shake her hand.

Royler Gracie - this was when I trained at Gracie Humaita. So I met him multiple times. He was always friendly and funny. I have a great deal of respect for the Gracies so I didn't really talk his ear off. Just thanked him for the work him and his family have done and shook his hand. His bjj knowledge is freaking amazing, but that goes without saying.

The only person I met that was kind of a dick was Josh Burkman. I don't really hold it against him though because he seemed like he was in a hurry. I don't ask for pics or autographs, but ask to shake their hands. Josh shook my hand but said "no autograph" when I hadn't even asked him for that.

There are a few more lesser known fighters that I've met just from years of bjj training, not to mention big names in bjj that didnt really ever do mma, but that I was stoked about meeting, but these would be the biggest ones.

Any experiences you guys have?
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Ken Shamrock
Maurice Smith
Francisco Filho
John Lewis
Tsuyoshi Kosaka
Tank Abbot
Randy Couture
Ivan Salisbury
Matt Hume

All of them were happy to chat, take pics, offer training advice and were fun to party with.
 
I have never met Fedor but I'm sure he's the nicest man ever. I envy those of you who have.
 
akc814ilv said:
Lol awesome post!

I'm just glad herb didn't steal your girl! It'd be one thing if it was like Alan Joubain or something but if it was herb that would be rough lmao.
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Yeah in fact, in hindsight we probably coulda stolen one of his and had a threesome...didn't realize it til later and my girl probably coulda made it happen lol
 
Frye and Stann were real cool dudes! frye.jpgFf stann.jpg
 
I met Gideon Ray after one of his fights. I had just gone to the bathroom and he was buying a hotdog at a concession stand. I congratulated him on his win, he said thanks and I went back to my seat. He seemed nice.
 
JT RIPPER said:
Gil Melendez used to work at Fairtex in the gear department (back in 99), I used to go there to train as well as sell their gear. Reconnected around 2006 when he was strikeforce champ, and he remembered me and we've stayed friends since

Jake Shields, I would see him at clubs all the time (I'm a club/radio DJ in SF), and because he knew me through Gil, we also became friends.

Josh Thomson, we were sponsored by the same clothing company so it's all friends and friends of friends, I actually put together his entrance music for the second fight again Gil (don't tell Gil), but Showtime didn't allow him to use it due to licensing rights or they needed my release as the "artist"

Rumble, also same clothing sponsor, very cool and soft spoken guy, even out at parties

Cung Le, I got introduced to him and started DJing his local tournaments and also started training at his gym (free) once a week but after a year, that 1+ hour drive was too much

Koschek, met him at an expo but he reached out to me after due to mutual friends, we always talked about doing a joint bday club event but never could get it together.

All the above, I consider my friends still...below is just chance meetings

Randy, we worked together at a retail store grand opening...him signing and me DJing, nice guy but nothing further

Forest, met twice...first time very cool, talked a bit but second time was kind of an ass

Stephen, pretty cool guy (just around UFC 56)

Herb Dean, was cool at first but he tried to hook up with the girl I was with. We all met at a club after 56 in Vegas, one of his girls was hanging with us. Funny he was trying to call my date all night, even heard the phone going off as we were in bed and laughed about it later...lol good times
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Herb wanted to get an early stoppage.
 
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Chris Gaines said:
Met Fedor at a seminar. I was wearing this shirt.

ssabsolutevictoryhi.png


He started laughing and showed his buddies it. Dunno what he was saying, but he thought it was sweet!
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sweet shirt, you can you get that?
 
The only fighter I've ever met was Jeremy Horn. He was corning a few of his fighters at a regional mma show at a casino here in Upper Michigan. I shook his hand and snapped a picture with him. He didn't say to much, but he wasn't a dick as he was nice enough to take time out for a picture. I was going to leave him be, but there weren't to many people asking to get a picture with him, so I didn't feel bad asking.
 
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