Practice What You Preach - Rev Returns to MCC

On June 27, 2014, Chuck "The Reverend" Grigsby (23-9) will look to collect the 6th championship belt of his MMA career at MCC 54. He will take on Robert "The Destroyer" Morrow, a tough veteran of the Midwest fight circuit. The five round title fight will headline a 14 bout card at Hy Vee Hall in Des Moines, Iowa.

Robert Morrow is a power puncher with some solid victories on his resume, and certainly isn't a fighter to be underestimated. In speaking about what he knew about him, Rev said, "the guy across from you in the cage is the toughest guy in the world until you beat him. That guy is the best, strongest and most skilled guy. You have to respect your opponent. You have to respect the game. You don't get this far in MMA without respecting the game."

Chuck won't be watching any tape on Morrow, or any of his future opponents for that matter. "I used to watch tape earlier on in my career and it didn't help. Some guys would look fast on tape, and it didn't translate to the fight. Sometimes they'd look stronger on tape. You never know until you get in there with them."

(MCC 54 Promo Poster)

In his last bout, Chuck steamrolled Dan McGlasson in just over twenty seconds. In describing the fight, he said, "I had respect for him, but he filled in at the last minute. I work way too hard preparing for my fights, mentally and physically. I don't think he was prepared. You can't get in there with me if you aren't prepared."

(Rev gets the quick finish)

When describing the amount of fights that have fallen through, a major problem for fighters, Chuck didn't want to point fingers. "Nowadays people pull out, think about what the outcome might be. I might have been able to make more money that way. I haven't had the greatest management all the time. You have to make your own opportunities. Embrace every opportunity and prepare the best you can."

The biggest topic I wanted to ask Rev about was the bout at VFC 40 against Houston Alexander. "Alexander is this big scary guy everyone is afraid of. I wasn't. He lay and prayed the first round. The referee wasn't the greatest and let him lie there. I started to do better in the second, and in the third was really causing damage." It looked like Chuck had opened up a cut with an elbow, with blood coming out near Alexander's right eye. When asked about what happened in the fourth, Rev explained, "my mouth guard came out for the first time in my career. I made eye contact with the ref and I thought he was going to let me put it in. When I went to grab it, I got hit and knocked off balance. I take full responsibility for the loss."

(Rev throwing a big uppercut)

When I asked about a potential rematch, Chuck said, "I'd be excited about taking that fight. That would be an great fight for the fans. A lot of people would like to see it. Really it is the one fight of my career where I'd like a re-do. I feel like I can win that fight and I'd be better prepared. Of course, he'd be better prepared for me. But, I don't think he will take the fight."

(Rev throwing the jab)

Chuck is proud of what he has accomplished in his career, from amassing regional titles, representing Team USA East to a silver medal in M-1, fighting around the world and being in the MCC Hall of Fame. Currently training out of Omega MMA and Westchase Impact Martial Arts under Alexey Petrov, Rev explained that he is training with some up and comers that not many people know about yet. However, MMA is not a team sport, "it is about self discipline, respecting your opponent, preparing yourself for every scenario. You can never do enough. I've seen so many up and coming fighters with potential have 3, 4, 5 fight careers. The thing about MMA is that it exposes you mentally."

(Rev with Team USA East)

Overseas fighting really opened up Chuck to several things and expanded his game. "Not many American fighters go overseas to fight, I've fought in Amsterdam, Bulgaria, Russia. Win or lose, it makes you a stronger person. I've been lucky to get those opportunities." Not everything goes according to plan overseas however. "You have a fourteen hour flight, you are in different time zones, new food, new environments, there are a lot of unknowns."

(Rev throwing a punch)

Rev actually was in Sochi, Russia, before last years Winter Olympics. "They took us around to lots of the construction sites. It is a resort area, kinda like the Florida of Russia." When asked about the stray dogs that were made popular in the news, Rev said, "Now that you mention it, there were lots of stray animals running around. Not just dogs."

(Rev in Sochi)

I was wondering about the best wins of his career, and one fight that came up was his battle with Bellator veteran Atanas Djambazov (18-4) of Bulgaria. "Over in Bulgaria, I didn't know who was a friend or foe. That guy is a monster. I actually pulled my groin in the first round of the fight. They have a canvas on the floor of the ring over there, it is way different. It was bananas. I just kept battling and pulled off the decision. I left everything in the ring. Afterwards we were treated like kings. We all went to dinner after the fight and were treated very well. They respected us for having good sportsmanship, representing ourselves well and leaving everything out there."

I asked about the nickname "the Reverend" in our first interview, but wanted to learn more. Rev said, "You know, I originally wanted to be called The God Son for my first fight." But that nickname didn't get close to sticking. "Everyone was calling me The Reverend for that fight anyway. It actually started in high school, and I don't know who started saying it. My coach Tom Lee had all the basketball players wear a suit and tie to school on Friday game days. I'd never had a reason to have a suit or a tie before. I guess one of the kids saw how I looked and how I was carrying myself, and called me "The Reverend." It snowballed from there.

"It isn't religious at all. It is a positive thing and I do take pride in the name. I don't want to be an Axe Murderer or an Assassin. I'm proud of the nickname." Pressing a little more I was able to get Rev to talk more about what got him into MMA, he said, "maybe it was insecurity, trying to prove something to someone. I've been very fortunate to always have success. I wasn't sure who I was, and maybe [MMA] helped me. You learn something about yourself."

My first interview with Chuck was six years ago. He is the same genuine high character person today as he was then. The biggest difference seems to be his motivation for fighting. Early on, Chuck's motivation seemed to be more about accumulating belts and getting to a bigger stage. Now it is all about fighting for the Grigsby family, or as he calls it the "G-Unit."  "I want to thank my family most of all. They've had to sacrifice for me to do this. I also want to thank my inner circle, my role models, coaches and friends. I don't want to list names because I'll accidentally forget someone, but you know who you are. I also want to thank Joe from MMA Blaster. He let's me talk and really does a great job translating."

(Rev repping Team Revolution)

*Click on photos to enlarge

Bobonis Defends Combate Extremo Title on March 24th

Pro MMA fighter Shah Bobonis will look to build on his four fight win streak on March 24, 2012, when he fights Rodolfo Rubio in the Combate Extremo promotion. The title fight will take place in Monterrey, Mexico.

Bobonis has been a friend of mine since I did a story on him in preparation for a bout back in 2008. I was recently able to catch up with Shah and ask a few questions about his upcoming bout.

MMA Blaster: You haven't fought since your Bellator knockout victory over Marcos da Matta in September, how has training been going?

Bobonis: Yeah, I havent fought since September of last year. I was supposed to fight on the XFC in December of last year, but my opponent was injured nine days before the fight. My training for the March 24th Combate Extremo title defense has been going great.


MMA Blaster: What members of the FFA team have you been helping out?

Bobonis: We have a great group of small guys at FFA. The list includes Tulio Quintanilla who is also a Bellator veteran; Jason Soares, the FILA 2011 no-gi world champion at 65 kilos; Edwin Sarriar, the 125lbs WFO amateur champion; Edir Terry, a Karate black belt and great kickboxer; and my coaches are some of the best MMA minds in the game.

MMA Blaster: How frustrating is it to have scheduled fights fall through? Is it just part of the MMA game?

Bobonis: As far as fights falling through, I'm used to it. I don't make the same mistakes that I have made before. In the past, I would usually just take a short notice fight at a higher weight class. That accounts for half of my six losses. I'd say once a fight is signed you only have about a seventy percent chance of actually fighting the person originally scheduled, if you get to fight at all.

MMA Blaster: Judging by a video of your next opponent, he looks to have some grappling skill. How do you like to attack grappling oriented fighters?

Bobonis: I agree, Rubio does have decent BJJ. From looking at the tape, I think that is his strength. I plan on taking what he gives me. If he intends on grappling, I have no qualms pounding him out. There is no way I end up on my back in this fight. When punches and elbows are raining down, it's really hard to pull off a submission against a top level guy.


MMA Blaster: What do you like most about fighting in Mexico?

Bobonis: I really like Mexico, and fighting there presents a different challenge. When I fight in the United States there are many high level grapplers who have a huge hole in their striking game. Usually in Mexico it’s the reverse, on average I feel the top guys in Mexico have much better striking then most fighters in the US.

MMA Blaster: Would you like to get another fight in Bellator? Would you be willing to fill in and fight as an alternate in the season 6 tournaments? How do you think you would stack up to the fighters in last seasons Ultimate Fighter?

Bobonis: I’m ready to fight ANYONE in the world at 135 pounds. The best shows in the United States are Bellator and the UFC. Looking at the last season of the Ultimate Fighter reality show, I feel like most of the guys at bantamweight wouldn’t last two rounds with me. There are plenty of guys in the Bellator bantamweight tournament that I would love to fight. I have a good relationship with the south Florida matchmaking consultant for Bellator, so I hope to be on a Bellator card later this year.

MMA Blaster: Many fighters are embracing twitter, what are your thoughts on it? What is your twitter handle?

Bobonis: Twitter is great, I personally love it along with any other form of social media. For some guys I see how it could be a loaded gun with no safety. I have an MMA blog that comes out weekly on a few websites and I always post links to it on my Facebook and Twitter. I wish I was more tech savvy so I could do more. My Twitter handle is @shahbobonis.


MMA Blaster: What were your thoughts on the Diaz versus Condit fight? Who do you think won?

Bobonis: I think Condit clearly won by landing all the clean shots standing. Aggression is great, but it has to be effective aggression. Diaz wasn’t effective at all, he was countered all night. Another thing I’d like to touch on, how is Diaz so angry all the time? Most the people I know who smoke weed are pleasant and laid back. The Diaz brothers are the angriest pot heads I’ve ever seen.

MMA Blaster: Do you have any thank you's or shout-outs?

Bobonis: I want to thank FFA, Brawl and Maul, Trim Nutrition, MMA Solutions, MMA Athlete, all my training partners at FFA and my parents.

Bobonis Ready for Fight Time!

On August 19, 2011, mixed martial artist Shah Bobonis will look to make it four wins in a row against rising ATT prospect Caleb "Sideshow Bob" Archer. The 135 pound bout will take place in Howard Davis, Jr.'s "Fight Time 6 – Pride & Glory" at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Bobonis' is a two-time Combate Extremo 155 pound title holder, who defeated Manuel “Manix” Gallareta in the first round to win the 145 pound belt on May 21st. Bobonis has won all three of his fights this year and has not allowed one opponent to make it past the second round.

Hopefully all goes well for Bobonis, who announced that he will face Marcos da Matta on the televised portion of Bellator 50, which takes place on September 17th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

MMA Blaster: How did your fight against Manuel “Manix” Gallareta play out in Combate Extremo? What did you do to stop the fight?

Shah Bobonis: The fight with Manix went great. I knew his stand up was his strength and he was coming off a knockout win over the Combate Extremo champion. Once we got to the floor, it was a one-sided fight. Right after hitting the matt, I sunk in a North-South Choke to finish the fight.

(Shah wins with a North-South Choke)

MMA Blaster: Was that for a championship belt? What weight? Are you looking to stay there or keep moving down?

Shah Bobonis: That was for the Combate Extremo 145 pound belt. I will be moving down in weight, as my next fight on August 19th for Fight Time Promotions will be at 135lbs. I’ll be fighting American Top Team prospect Caleb Archer.


MMA Blaster: How has training been going? Are you still training at FFA?

Shah Bobonis: Training is going great. I feel like I’m getting better every day. I work with Coach Marcos Avellan every morning and he has made it possible for me to train full time. He now has a "Fighter House" that some of his fighters live in rent free.

MMA Blaster: What do you know about your next opponent Caleb "Side Show Bob" Archer? Is that the main event?

Shah Bobonis: Yes, the fight on August 19th is the main event. I know Caleb has been doing Muay Thai for a long time. He trains at ATT so he is going to be at least decent in every aspect of fighting, but his stand-up is his strength.

(Bobonis, Howard Davis, Jr., Caleb Archer)

MMA Blaster: What promotion will that fight be in? Where will the fights take place? How do fight fans get tickets?

Shah Bobonis: I’m fighting in Fight Time 6 – Pride & Glory at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Anyone who would like tickets can email me shah5297@gmail.com, or hit me up on Facebook. I’ll have tickets for sale this weekend.

(Promo poster)

MMA Blaster: Are you looking for sponsors? How does a company become a sponsor?

Shah Bobonis: I’m always looking for sponsors!!! The fight will be rebroadcast on Fight Zone TV so it’s a good fit for anyone looking to sponsor a fighter and get publicity. Anyone interested can email me shah5297@gmail.com.

MMA Blaster: Any shout-outs or sponsor mentions? Thank you's?

Shah Bobonis: Thank you to my parents, everyone at FFA and Brawl N’ Maul. Thanks to you Joe at MMA Blaster for the support and the ink!

Gary Goodridge - The Warrior Spirit

On February 16, 1996, Gary "Big Daddy" Goodridge arrived on the combat sports scene with a big splash. From his first fight in the UFC when there were virtually no rules, through his last kickboxing bout in Sweden, Gary has gone all out giving everything leaving everything on the canvas scoring some of MMA's most iconic knockouts.

Goodridge made his debut at UFC's 8th tournament clad in a black gi and a death stare. With a boxing and arm wrestling background, Goodridge proceeded to enter the cage at UFC 8 and destroy All-American wrestler Paul Herrera with a barrage of elbows from the goose neck/crucifix position.

In his second fight of the night, Gary fought the 2-0 Lion's Den product Jerry Bohlander, again Gary scored a big TKO with a barrage of heavy right hands while standing over his opponent. In the finals, Gary met Don Frye, and despite throwing Frye like a rag doll, eventually sucumbed to defeat. With highlight reel KO's in hand, the legend of Gary Goodridge had began.

(Goodridge Elbows Herrera)

With mixed results at UFC 10 and UU 96,Gary rounded out his UFC career defeating Andre "Big Chief" Roberts at UFC 19 and John Campetella at UFC 10. On July 6, 1997, Goodridge won the first International Vale Tudo Combat tournament in Brazil, defeating Augusto Sanchez, Cal Worsham and then Pedro Octavio in the finals to take the title.

(Goodridge Takes Out Roberts)

Next, Gary made his first trip to Japan, making the biggest mark in the very first Pride Fighting show. Gary fought UFC 6 champion Oleg Taktarov. Despite being an underdog, Goodridge delivered one of the most violent punch KO's of all-time, flooring The Russian Bear as he was taken out of the Tokyo Dome in a stretcher.

When I asked him about the fight, Gary replied, "I was put in there for him to kick the sh*t out of me. That's what I thought anyways. Then I KO'd him. I loved it and had an amazing contract after that fight. Beating him made me lots of money."

An instant star in Japan, Gary would go on to fight over 30 times in Pride and K-1, with numerous kickboxing bouts sprinkled in. When asked about his popularity in Japan, Gary responded, "I am an all or nothing fighter and let it all hang out in the ring. They love the no give up attitude I adopted."

(Goodridge's Japanese Pride Figure)

Gary's other big wins in Pride included a devastating head kick KO over Don Frye, a TKO over Dan Bobish and a submission via punches over Valentijn Overeem. Gary's big kickboxing wins came with KO/TKO victories over Mike Bernardo, Cyril Abidi, Scott Lighty and Wesley Correira. Gary won the K-1 World Grand Prix in Hawaii Tournament on July 30, 2005.

(Goodridge landing a punch on Dan Bobish)

When asked about his current fighting situation, Gary described losing a kickboxing fight in Sweden last week against Cătălin Moroşanu. Gary stated that he was retiring from fighting.

(Gary's Last Promo Picture)

Unfortunately, one thing still is hovering over Gary's head. FEG, which operates Dream and K-1, has yet to pay Gary for his bout against Gegard Mousasi last New Year's Eve. Gary spoke about that situation, stating, "I have worked for them for over 14 years and I've never been screwed by them at all." Gary is trying to raise some aweness in the media regarding the his non-payment and the non-payment of other fighters.

(Goodridge head kick KO over Don Frye)

Regardless, Gary will always be known as a fighter with a true warrior spirit, budo. Big Daddy always put everything he had into his fights, laying everything on the line. We wish Gary the best in his future pursuits.

(Goodridge wins over Jan Nortje)


(Goodridge Kickboxing KO)

Shah Bobonis Stops the Show

Despite having his scheduled Rad Rock MMA fight cancelled and pushed back, pro fighter Shah Bobonis was able to pick up another bout for Fight Time 4 - MMA Heavyweight Explosion on April 1, 2011.

During the fight, Shah was able to secure a first round TKO victory via doctor stoppage. Shah should have a busy summer, next fighting in a Combate Extremo 145 pound championship bout on May 21st against Manuel "Manix" Gallerta.

MMA Blaster: What did you know about your opponent going into your last bout?

Bobonis: My last fight was against Chris Thorne from American Top Team. I knew he was a Florida state champion wrestler and former Marine. I figured he would come out and try to make it a grappling match. To my surprise he started to stand up and trade with me, needless to say, the bout went better than I thought it would.

MMA Blaster: How did the fight play out? What did you do to stop the fight?

Bobonis: After a few exchanges I slipped a two punch combination of his and grabbed my Thai clinch. The first knee was to the body and I heard him let out a grunt as he bent over. The I landed clean knees to the middle of his face, one of which opened a huge cut. That's when he started to go to his wrestling, trying to pin me against the fence to get a take down. But, he was eating knees to the body and shoulder butts the entire time. As we circled to the middle of the cage in the over under clinch, I was still landing knees to the body.


As one of the knees landed, he grabbed my leg and tried to go for a single leg takedown. I grabbed a standing Kimura and nearly ripped his shoulder off. That created a scramble on the floor and Chris ended up in side control. After regaining full guard, he couldn't get off any shots and we were stood up. I ran across the cage and hit him with a flying knee that drove him straight back into the cage. He tried to shoot in after that and sprawled out eating elbows to the side of the head as the bell rung. At the end of the round, the docs came in and stopped the fight due to a cut. That was my second straight win over a ATT opponent.


MMA Blaster: What weight was the fight at?

Bobonis: That fight was at 145 and was the easiest weigh-in of my life. After my fight in Mexico, I'm looking for a catch weight fight at 140, then I'm moving down to 135.

MMA Blaster: Did you try out for TUF? How did that go?

Bobonis: Yes, I did the TUF tryouts. I tapped the guy I grappled with, then I was in the process of tapping him again when he picked me up and slammed me. After we were explicitly told "NO LEG LOCKS AND NO SLAMMING!" I wasn't asked to hit pads after grappling.

MMA Blaster: Why don't you think you didn't get the call to hit pads in the 2nd stage of the tryout?

Bobonis: I don't really know, but I think maybe with a 10-6 record they are looking for guys with less losses. To be honest, I could easily be 10-2 right now. I took a catch weight fight in Costa Rica at 160 pounds, when I was ready to fight at 145 pounds. The promoter said the guy I was supposed to fight missed his flight. I should have just walked away! Me being a idiot, I wanted to fight so I fought the guy at 160 pounds. He is now 8-2 as a pro and holds a title in Costa Rica. I took another fight at 160 on four days notice, not smart. I have two spit decision losses that could have gone either way. But I'm going to keep taking smart fights, get better everyday, and see where my career goes.

MMA Blaster: What are your plans for the near future in MMA? Future fights?

Bobonis: I'm fighting Manuel "Manix" Gallerta for Combate Extremo on May 21st for their 145 pound title in Monterrey, Mexico.

MMA Blaster: Any shout outs? Sponsor mentions?

Bobonis: I want to thank my parents, training partners at FFA and Brawl and Maul for all the support.

Rev Reigns Supreme at WWFC

Chuck "The Reverend" Grigsby emerged victorious at World War Fighting Championships 2 which took place at the 7 Flags Event Center in Clive, Iowa on April 9, 2011. Grigsby fought battle tested Sean Huffman, who has fought in over 32 MMA bouts, which includes career wins over solid veterans Mike Van Meer, John Halverson, Joey Clark and Dennis Reed.

The fight was Rev's first fight under 205 pounds, contested at a catch weight of 190 pounds. With summer approaching, expect to see Rev keeping a busy schedule while continuing his martial arts journey.

MMA Blaster: How did the fight play out?

Rev: The fight went like everyone told me it would go after I told them about the matchup. It was three rounds with a guy who would not quit and take everything I had. I thought he would go down with the shots he took. I give him a lot of credit for that, he is a warrior. Ironically, it was the perfect fight for me to shake some of the rust off and get some work in.

MMA Blaster: What was the result of the bout?

Ultimately, I won by unanimous decision. My corner men and teammates thought I could have finished the fight earlier. Obviously, I still have some more work to do to put together a complete fight, which I still haven’t done despite attaining my 21st career win.

(Grigsby v. Huffman)

MMA Blaster: How was your first cut to 185? When was the last time you weighed that much? Who helped you get there?

Rev: The weight cut was tough, but achievable. My opponent actually asked for it to be at a 190 catch weight and I felt really good on fight night. But, it was different from my first time that I cut from heavyweight to light heavyweight.

I think the last time I weighed 190, I was junior in high school, bananas. My nutrition and conditioning was guided by Kosama’s meal plan and their 10 week Complete Body Transformation along with my MMA training at New Beginnings MMA Program with my training partners and coaches Josh Neer, Miguel Rios, Elvis Mutapic, Kervin Veasly, Dwayne Cason, and Kisor. They really had me peaking for this fight.

(Rev getting down to 190)

MMA Blaster: What are your plans for the near future in MMA?

Rev: Currently, I have a verbal agreement for a fight with Superior Cage Combat in Vegas next month. Then possibly a fight in Canada in June. I am also tentatively open for the moment for the months after May, and we will get that all sorted out with my management, KO Dynasty this week. That’s the beauty of it for me right now, I am not locked in with an exclusive long term contract with any one promotion. I have more than one option on the table regarding what’s next.

MMA Blaster: Any shout outs? Sponsor mentions?

Rev: I would like to give a shout out to Sean Huffman for taking the fight, when many fighters said they would take the fight but didn’t, for whatever reasons they gave. I have a lot of respect for him. I would also like to thank my family, teammates, friends and fans for the support and sacrifices they made to help me be successful. It means the world to me. I can’t do it without cha! -Rev

(Rev's fight shirt from Respek Fightwear)

Exclusive Interview - Chuck Grigsby

Here is an exclusive interview with mixed martial artist Chuck "The Reverend" Grigsby. Chuck has been fighting professionally since 2005 for a variety of fight promotions, including the WEC, M-1, VFC and MCC.  After fighting professionally 26 times in four years, Grigsby took 2010 off while focusing on his family and coaching.

Chuck's next challenge awaits in the World War Fighting Championships fight promotion on April 9th. The card will be headlined by his training partner and UFC veteran Josh "The Dentist" Neer at the 7 Flags Event Center in Clive, Iowa.

MMA Blaster: You did not have a fight in 2010, why was that?

I took off for a few reasons, but the most important to me was to spend time with my family. I wasn't around much in 2009 because I was traveling internationally fighting for M-1. The second reason I took some time off was I felt like my performances weren’t at the dominanant standard I set for myself, despite winning 13 of my last 16 fights.

MMA Blaster: How does taking a year off help your fight career?

The time off was very beneficial, not only physically, but mentally as well. I am the type of fighter that likes to stay really busy once I’m in full fight mode. I don’t just train for the next fight then stop and start training again, I train all year long. With that being said, as a veteran in the sport, fighting all year long does take it's toll and you do get dinged up a bit.

(Rev securing a rear naked choke)

MMA Blaster: Were you focusing on coaching during your year off?  How did that help your game?

I focused on coaching with non-fighters as a kickboxing coach with a company called Kosama, you can visit at Kosama.com. Ironically, teaching and coaching at Kosama has been very rewarding and has motivated me more than training any other fighters.

MMA Blaster: Why have you decided to fight at 185 pounds? What mental challenges do you face in dropping a weight class?

I decided to fight at 185 because it has always been a fantasy of mine after I competed successfully at 205. The mental challenge involves staying disciplined with my diet and doing all things in moderation. It's tough because my frame isn't necessarily built to be that light. I do believe that I have the correct approach dropping weight in a healthy and safe way so I am strong and peaking cardio wise when I compete.

(Rev lets out a victory scream)

MMA Blaster: Are you focusing on being a student now? What sort of frame of mind does that put you into?

Yes, definitely! I am known for my stand-up skills and sometimes people who want to improve in that area seek me out for coaching. Now, I am the student in all areas. I am focused on absorbing everything from anyone who has something to offer and I think it will show in the upcoming year.


MMA Blaster: I've heard you have a fight scheduled for April 9th? What promotion will that be for?

That will be World War Fighting Championships based out of Des Moines, Iowa. This fight is honestly more of an experiment to see if all the things I am training so hard on work. Also to see if competing at 185 is something I can be successful at.

MMA Blaster: What is it like fighting in your hometown?

I’m actually from Missouri, the "Show Me State," so Des Moines is not actually my hometown, but I have been here for most of my life. I enjoy fighting in Des Moines because of the support I get from my family and friends in the crowd. It really elevates my training and performance on fight night.

(Rev going to the body)

MMA Blaster: What challenges are you looking forward to in your upcoming fight?

I’m a seasoned veteran with 26 fights, but this is a new weight class. The type of fighters I will be facing now are quicker, more technical, and possibly even more athletic. It is all new. I compare it to coming down from fighting in the Heavyweight division to Light Heavyweight. Everything seemed so much faster.

MMA Blaster: Who is helping you get ready for the fight? Who are you training with?

The usual suspects, haha, Kervin Veasly, Josh Neer, Anothony Porcelli, Pete Peterson, Cardell James, Paul Bird and all of my fight partners and teammates who come in to get better everyday in practice

MMA Blaster: What are your current goals for your fighting career? Where will you be in a year?

My goal is the same as it always has been, but in a new weight class. That is to dominate and smash out in this this weight division.

(Rev with the M-1 2nd Place Cup, 16 teams competed)

MMA Blaster: Have you thought about returning to M-1 competition? Other international fights?

I won't even think about any of that until I see what happens in this fight in April. All of the other stuff will be what it will be when that time comes. I have learned in this sport that you can only control, or know what is going to happen, one day at a time.

MMA Blaster: Any shout-outs?

Big shout-out to G-unit, and all the peeps who have faith and love for me. I wouldn’t be able to do this without you. Thank you!

(Rev getting down to 185)

Exclusive Interview - Shah Bobonis

*Since the interview, Shah has informed me that a major sponsor has pulled out of the event and it will be pushed back to May.

I recently had the chance to catch up with Shah Bobonis, a veteran mixed martial artist with over 17 professional bouts. Looking to build momentum off a January victory, Shah seeks another win in South Florida's Radrok MMA 2. The event takes place on March 25, 2011 at Florida Atlantic University's Burrow Arena in Boca Raton, Florida.

MMA Blaster: Since we last talked, you had a bout against Jaime Jimenez, how did that fight play out?

Shah Bobonis: The fight went well, he was a tough guy! He had me in a nice kimura in the first. As the fight went on I started landing my hands more and more. After taking a kick to the mid section, Jamie grabbed my leg, and got me to the floor. I hit a wrestling switch from butterfly guard to get back on top. Jaime was on all fours and I had a great wrestling position on his side to strike from. Then he tried to gramby roll me twice and on the second attempt I took his back and got the rear naked choke.

(Shah sinking the choke)

MMA Blaster: You had a prospective fight in Bellator's third season, why did it fall through? What do you think about fighting for Bellator sometime in the future?

Shah Bobonis: I sprained my knee pretty bad before the Bellator fight and had to pull out. It's really hard to get the call from a great show and then have to give up the chance to fight a great opponent on a great show. I can only hope that I get the chance this year to fight on Bellator.

MMA Blaster: Your next fight will be at Florida Atlantic University for RadRok MMA Championship, what do you think the atmosphere will be like? How do fans get tickets?

Shah Bobonis: Tickets should be on sale on their website soon. I know I will probably start selling tickets next week. I am fighting a well established American Top Team guy near ATT Coconut Creek gym, so I expect to hear a bunch of ATT fans cheering him on. Freestyle Fighting Academy, FFA is only a hour away, so I know I will have plenty of supporters cheering me on as well.

MMA Blaster: What is it like fighting in Florida as opposed to other places around the world?

Shah Bobonis: Fighting in Florida is getting easier now as far as the number of shows that are being held in the state, so I'm taking advantage of that. It is a bit more comfortable to sleep in your own bed every night before the fight so I welcome the change. Although I love to travel to fight and get the me versus the world mentality going.

(Shah throwing a punch in a Costa Rican fight)

MMA Blaster: What do you know about your opponent Chris Manuel? What are his strengths?

Shah Bobonis: Chris Manuel is great everywhere. He is an ATT black belt, very good wrestling for MMA, and text book kickboxing. He has no weaknesses

MMA Blaster: What weight will the fight be at? Is that where you feel more comfortable?

Shah Bobonis: The fight will be at 145 where I feel great.  For the Bellator fight I think I might have injured myself because of the weight I was trying to cut. My body was wearing down and I was really tired the day I sprained my knee.

(Radrok Promo Pic)

MMA Blaster: Where have you been training lately? Who are your main training partners now?

Shah Bobonis: I'm training at FFA with the Avellan brothers. It's a true MMA gym where I can train every aspect of my game. The guys there push me all the time. There are too many pro fighters at FFA to name, but they know who they are. They kick my butt all the time. Fighters who are Bellator veterans, NAGA champions, high level wrestlers, black belts in BJJ and in Karate, so I see it all. I get extra wrestling training with Chino Duran and Pat Williams; both are pro fighters who wrestled in college. Chino wrestled at Northern Illinois with guys like Clay Guida. Pat wrestled at ASU with CB Dolloway, Ryan Bader and Cain Velasquez.

MMA Blaster: You've began managing fighters, what challenges does that present? What is the most exciting part about that job?

Shah Bobonis: I just started managing fighters. I started just to help guys out at the gym because I had fought so many different places and ended up having a huge contact list of managers, promoters and matchmakers from all over the world. I've already put guys in Bellator, M-1 Global and the XFC. I'm getting enjoyment out of seeing guys that I train with win as I help guide their careers.

MMA Blaster: How does a prospective business sponsor one of your fighters?

Shah Bobonis: Aquiring sponsorships is the weakest area of my managing skill set mostly because of time. I also work close to full time as a bartender, so the time it takes to sell fighters is something I'm trying to outsource. I'm currently looking for someone to partner with to work on sponsorships. I have a few candidates in the works, but I'm still taking applications. At this point if anyone is interested in sponsoring one of my fighters, please send me a email at shahbobonis@aol.com.

MMA Blaster: Do you have any shout outs? Sponsor mentions? Shah Bobonis: I want to thank my most loyal sponsor Brawl and Maul! Everyone at FFA.  Also, Chino and Pat.

Mikey Rukus - Sounding Off

As a fighter approaches the cage or ring a key component in getting them into a frame of mind to fight is their entrance music. Musician Mikey Rukus, an avid MMA fan, is on the forefront, crafting unique custom introductions for fighters. I had a chance to catch up with Mikey, here is the interview:

MMA Blaster: What exactly can you do for an MMA fighter?

Mikey Rukus: I create custom entrance themes for fighters, much like the WWE Superstars who come out to their own music. I can perform all styles, including rock, hip hop, heavy metal, orchestral, electronic, punk. I specialize in the dramatics and high energy.


MMA Blaster: What fighters have you wrote songs for?

Mikey Rukus: The most notable introduction song I've done was for Robbie Lawler. I have several UFC fighters that want music, but the UFC will not allow custom music in the organization. My business has really picked up with MMA companies.

MMA Blaster: Where is your home base?

Mikey Rukus: I'm based in Richmond, Virginia. I have done work for The 10th Legion and Extreme Brawl MMA promotions in the United Kingdom. I perform live as well as a solo artist with a full back up band.  I can go anywhere. 


MMA Blaster: What is the creative process you go through?

Mikey Rukus: If a client approaches me for music, I gather all of their information, find exactly what they are looking for, then create three samples based on that information. The client chooses the sample that they feel best represents their brand. I specialize in brand identity.  The key is when I create a song for a client, they retain all copyrights.

I can use any catch phrases or motto's they want people to hear within the lyrics. I can sing and/or rap with any style: rock, hip hop, heavy metal, orchestral, punk, or electronic. Everything is completely original. I create all music involved in the process. There are no stock beats, everything is from scratch for every client.


MMA Blaster: How did you get started in the music business?

Mikey Rukus: My older sister snuck me out to see Metallica when I was thirteen.  After seeing that show I knew what I needed to do and taught myself to play guitar, bass then drums, then started using sequencers and small hard disc recorders to do small stuff.

I've been playing music for nearly twenty years, having done everything from rapping on underground mix tapes to scoring indie horror films. My writing has always been adrenaline charged, high energy and dramatic, and my love for MMA has always been there, it just felt right to go after.

MMA Blaster: What do you do to get ready for a live show?

Mikey Rukus: Just prepare. Practice wise, I've learned to turn the switch on and go from Mike Rivera to Mikey Rukus rather quickly. I have the tendency to drive my wife crazy in the day leading up to a show, but I don't see it though, haha.

MMA Blaster: Who are your favorite fighters right now?

Mikey Rukus: I have several, I like watching Jon Jones and BJ Penn.  Ovince St. Preux is set to have a breakout year. I would like to see more of Alistair Overeem in the states, which I know with the upcoming tournament in Strikeforce will be great. In the lightweight division, I'd have to say Anthony Pettis and Clay Guida just because of the high energy. In the welterweight division, I gotta go with Georges St. Pierre. I love to watch Cyborg Santos in the women's division.

Mikey Rukus music can be found here: www.soundclick.com/mikerivera.

The Rev Back From Russia

I was able to catch up with Midwest Cage Championship and Victory Cage Championship's 205 pound champ Chuck "The Reverend" Grigsby as he returned from his trip to St. Petersburg, Russia.

Chuck took part in this season's M-1 Challenge which can be seen on HDNet. He had a good run on Team USA East, traveling to the Bulgaria, Netherlands and Russia. In between his M-1 run, Rev also was able to defend his VFC belt in front of his home crowd in Des Moines, Iowa. Here is the interview:

MMA Blaster: Rev, since we last talked you have fought twice, how did your VFC title defense against Demetrius Richards go?

I won, but I really didn’t have my best performance. To be honest with you, and not to make any excuses, but I had an injury going in to the fight. It was my 2nd title defense for VFC and I really did not want to pull out at the last minute.

Looking back, I really loved the challenge of overcoming the adversity even though I should have probably pulled out. I basically only had one leg for the fight, and he forced me to find another way to win than what I am accustom to.

(Rev landing a left hand)

MMA Blaster: What is it like defending your belts in Iowa in front of your home crowd?

I’ve always felt that you need to take care of business in your own backyard before you can go out an try run the streets. I've held the VFC and MFC belts since 2007, and defended each of them twice. VFC treats me well, as well as MCC. Both organizations have supported my international ventures this year.

When I fight at home, I feel like I'm more under the microscope and feel as if I need to prove something to the people who have come out to support me. The pressure forces me to stay focused on the task at hand, so I don’t let anyone down. It’s a positive thing.

MMA Blaster: What was your game plan going into the fight?

Honestly, I wanted to get in and get out with a win as fast as I could. I had a fight lined up in Russia two weeks following. My opponent had other plans, and it ended up taking me over two rounds to finish the fight. I know how hungry fighters can be when they get a chance to fight for their first belt. I expect them to be in the best shape of their life, focused and determined when they have a fight with me.

MMA Blaster: What occurred in your last fight against Besiki Gerenava in M-1? I heard there was some controversy surrounding the fight, can you talk about that?

It was a split decision loss that myself, the media, corner, and the Russian crowd all disagreed with. I knew going into the fight that I needed to finish by submission, KO or referee stoppage in order to win. This is the international scene, and if you don’t do that, you have to expect they are going to give a decision to their countryman.

It could have been Finland, Spain, Germany, or Japan, any place in a country that is not your own you have to win with a stoppage. My only mistake other than not getting a stop, is that he may have won the first round of the three that took place. He was a good fighter, and I take responsibility for the loss.

(Rev lands a right hand)

MMA Blaster: What are your thoughts on the team taking 2nd place in the M-1 Challenge?

Honestly, it was a win win situation after making the semi finals. Nobody, except our team, believed that we would be one of the last two teams standing out of the 16 countries that participated in this awesome tournament. Winning silver instead of gold stung a little, but overall it was probably one of my biggest accomplishments as fighter, and I cherish the opportunity I had to represent our country.

(Team USA East)

MMA Blaster: How often do you plan on fighting in 2010?

Depends on who and where, I think. Fighting overseas exposed me to different skills and techniques I'm planning on incorporating into my skill-set. It will take some time to train to become proficient and effective with these new skills.

MMA Blaster: What organizations do you plan to fight in for 2009? Will you be fighting oversees? Europe? Japan? USA? Will you be defending any of your belts in Iowa?

I really can't speak specifically on that right now because my manager Reed Wallace is working on the international and national opportunities. But locally, I have another title defense for MCC that I wanna do. They have someone holding an interim belt while I have been away, so I would like to clear that up. Tentatively I have also talked to VFC about fighting for another title at 185. There is plenty of work out there for me if the contract is right.

(Rev and Reed Wallace)

MMA Blaster: Any shout outs?

I wanna thank my family: Xander, Sara, Berniece, Jaunette, Frank, Jan, and Carrie. They continue to be my core and foundation for success. My manager Reed Wallace of White Choclate Management. M-1 Global, Midwest Cage Championships, Victory Fighting Championships and all the wonderful people who are involved in making the shows tick. Big thanks to Des Moines Mixed Martial Arts, Des Moines Jujitsu Academy and Round Kick Gym.

Also wanna thank my inner circle of friends and training partners for helping me with my preparation and performance which include Anthony Porcelli, Josh Neer, Dwayne Cason, Kervin Veasly, Cardell James, Kevin Burns, Pete Peterson, Ed Spitzer, Chris David, Jeremy Stephens and Mike Ayers. Thanks to Joe at MMA Blaster for your time and support!

The wonderful fans that have followed and continue to follow my career. Thanks for being there with me. In this business I have learned there are only a few that truly understand loyalty, commitment and support with the ups and downs of the fight game. I couldn't do it without ya! Dreams Goals and Dedication.

Also like to thank my main sponsors, Joe Abbott of KOBC clothing, Joe Spenceri of Animal Instinct, Sophi Blocker of Rumors Tattoo and the 515.

Exclusive Interview - The Reverend

In his past three fights, Chuck "The Reverend" Grigsby has been traveling across the globe fighting for the M-1: Challenge promotion. I was able to catch up with and ask some questions about his recent mixed martial arts bouts.

MMA Blaster: Where are you training right now?

I primarily train at the Des Moines Mixed Martial Arts Academy run by Anthony Porcelli. I train my kickboxing with Kevin Veasly and Cardell James, and when I have the opportunity, I like to also work on my Jiu Jitsu at Des Moines Jiu Jitsu Academy. I train with some of the best submission wrestlers and Jiu Jitsu guys in Iowa.

MMA Blaster: Since the last time we talked, you defeated Rob MacDonald from The Ultimate Fighter show, how did that fight play out?

It was a real quick fight. I think felt like it was over in 7 seconds and I enjoyed that. I am very fortunate to get a win in the manner that I did, you don’t get many fights like that.

MMA Blaster: What led you to the M-1 promotion?

I have always wanted to fight internationally. I think that is the best option for me and my style of fighting. I played pro basketball overseas after college for a few seasons. My manager Reed Wallace has many connections internationally and M-1 was the best option.

MMA Blaster: What was it like fighting in Bulgaria for your first M-1 fight?

Bulgaria was wild! There were so many things outside of the actual fight that I had to consider, but outside of that extra stuff, I just assumed it would be like any other fight. I loved the experience, especially getting a win over an Olympic level wrestler and fighter. They displayed good sportsmanship and were good to us, despite our team shutting them out.

MMA Blaster: How did the fight play out against Atanas Dzhambazov? What type of fighting background did he have?

His style was Sambo. He was an extremely strong individual and gave me some unique challenges during the fight. It didn’t help that I pulled my hamstring in the first 30 seconds of the fight either. He was really tough, it was very good win for me.

MMA Blaster: What are the fans like in the M-1 events?

They are different in each different country. In Bulgaria they were much like American fans being rowdy and into the fights. In Holland the fans were very laid back and nonchalant, but you can tell they were well educated in MMA. The Russian fans were really into it and love their Russian fighters, it is a tough team to fight against.

MMA Blaster: What is it like fighting on Team USA East?

I am very proud to be a part of the championship team, it was a lot of work and we were never considered the favorites. That made it even that much more satisfying. I enjoyed seeing fighters from all over the country, with all the different skill sets and styles coming together for one common goal, Team USA East winning. The bond with your teammates is much like the bonds you develop with the guys you train with regularly. The experience of traveling out of the country to fight and going to the finals was awesome. M-1 is like the World Cup or Olympics of MMA.

(Team USA East Pictured)

MMA Blaster: In your second fight you fought at heavyweight right? What happened in the fight with Jessie Gibbs? How much weight were you giving up?

Yes, that fight was at heavyweight. He was too big for me honestly. I think he had like 40 pounds on me. I won’t fight at HW again unless it a opponent I can’t turn down. If anything I might look at the 185 division, but I doubt that. Weight cutting can be hard and I didn’t want it to be an issue. Traveling for that many hours while trying to cut weight can be really brutal if you don't have an organized weight cutting system.

MMA Blaster: How was the fight against Spencer Hooker? Did you look at any of his tape, I saw he has some quality victories?

He is probably the most skilled heavyweight in the M-1 Challenge. That is why I fought him because I wanted to go against the grain and challenge myself. It was a good fight and very technical. I think if we were fighting in neutral territory the fight would have gone into the 3rd round where I would have had another round to break him down, or visa versa. There was no quitting in that fight.

I knew he was a Jujitsu guy, so I knew I had the advantage in stand-up. It seems that most fighters see me a pure stand-up fighter, so they think I’m a good match up for them if they are a wrestler or submission fighter. He was tough and had no quit in him. He took some really good shots from me and was still standing, not many guys can say that. It was awesome fight.

MMA Blaster: What was it like fighting in Russia?

The Russian people were really open to Americans and our culture. Americans have a lot of misconceptions about the Russians. I would like to take my family over to visit someday.

MMA Blaster: What sort of preparations do you have to make before fighting oversees?

I have to be literally fight ready on the day I leave the United States in order to combat the hurdles of cutting weight and training. Usually the time I am overseas I focus on doing light cardio and technique and pray that weigh-in's come faster than they ever do!

MMA Blaster: Any shout outs?

I am able to unveil my family who are my heart and soul: Xander, Sara, Berniece, Jaunette, Carrie, Mannie and all of the rest of the crew. Also want to say thanks to my manager Reed Wallace of White Chocolate Management, training partners and coaches. I couldn’t do it without cha!

MMA Blaster: Sponsor mentions?

KOBC clothing apparel http://www.kobc.tv/, Animal Instinct clothing apparel www.myspace.com/luckyhands, Cup O' Kyptonite Coffee and Comics http://www.cupokryptonite.com/, and Jordan Creek Chiropractic. All those guys have been great to me.

(Rev's Bling)

*You can catch the M-1 Challenge on HDNet!
*Visit past articles on Rev by clicking the label below.