XFC went 1 on 1 with one of the true favourites of Aussie MMA Matt Te Paa in a pre title-fight interview.
Matt at only 23 years of age has fought close to 40 professional bouts in MMA, professional boxing and the occassional Muay Thai fight to boot!
On the morning of his latest pro-boxing fight, Matt was kind enough to offer his time out to speak to XFC.
Hey Matt, what’s been up since your last fight at XFC 10?
Had a few boxing fights since the last XFC, to keep me fit and sharp. Lots of training. Got rid of the bombshell girlfriend to concentrate (on fighting) and make me hungrier for success. I’m ready to do real damage.
This is the big dance, been a long time in the making due to varied commitments but now you put the interim title up against the XFC title. You and Gilly (Steve Gillinder) 1 on 1 for the undisputed Australian Title at 65kg?
Yeah, now that I’m fighting at 65kg, this was always gonna be the lightweight fight for the XFC fans. I’m glad that we can finally see who the real XFC lightweight champ is.
You and Steve are pretty similar fighters. Both of you are willing to fight anyone with Steve fighting the nations best and also in Japan & you taking on all comers in all styles at all weights in Australia & NZ. Both of you are fitness freaks and are very aggressive too. How do you see Steve as a fighter and any expectations for the fight?
Steve represents a good all rounder to me. Someone who you can’t take lightly, or he’ll slip on a sub, or knock you with something. This is a good fight for me. For the first time in my career I will be coming in with a size advantage. Naturally this means: strength for me, speed for him. Unfortunately for Steve I have freakish speed.
Tell us about yourself as a fighter. You seem to just go with the flow and are pretty eclectic and good all round. We’ve seen ground war’s and stand up massacres with brutal KO’s. What would be the ideal fight for you?
I really want a ground game. I feel I am too skilled and powerful for him to last a whole round with me on the floor. I am a professional fighter, if I can do it without bruises or cuts, that’s always a better day at the office.
We are seeing more and more XFC fighters go onto international fame. Justin Lawrence just signed a big deal with Pride for LHW Champion Hector Lombard and SCHAFFA has been on a tear in K1. Is an international MMA career something you’d like?
Yeah, I will be doing a stint training fulltime in the US later this year, then I’ll have a crack at the overseas market. I’m looking to fight for another 2-3 years, so it’d be good to say ‘been there, done that’.
XFC are talking about a 65kg Grand prix event in October. Win, lose or draw against Steve should we pencil you in against Australia’s best and perhaps an international or 2 for October 14 at Southport RSL?
Of course
Who are your heroes in MMA and if you could make the perfect fighter what and whom’s skills would he have?
Takedowns = Hughes, Couture
GroundnPound = Fedor, Hughes
Submissions = Eddie Bravo,
Striking = Crocop, Hunt
Fearlessness = Hunt
Back to Steve and XFC 11. How confident are you and can you at all fathom anything but winning?
I see myself holding the belt high, and the sun shining out of my ass! Haha, na I am real confident, I wanna do this well.
Is mental preparation a lot at your level? Do you go to sleep actually seeing the fight prior to it happening?
I visualise it a lot, but I don’t think I’d want it in my sleep as I’d probably see myself trying to punch him, but I got no power, or I keep missing… I hate those dreams!
Fight day tell us how it go’s down. From the day of weigh in.. waking up for a 65kg weigh in that night.. to weigh in.. the post weigh in feed all the way through to the fight?
Weigh in day: Chill out, do Yoga in the morning, sleep, don’t eat or drink much at all. Maybe jump in the sauna for 30-40minutes if I need to. Weigh in, and usually it’s subway, or rice and fish after. I love seafood! Fight day - Yoga in the morning, sleep, go to the fight. Smash him.
Post fight, what’s up then? Beer with Steve?
Yeah, sounds good. Always love to chill out with my opponent after a fight, you form a bond like no other once you’ve gone at it & shook hands.
Having fought in MMA, Pro Boxing & Muay Thai. How do they all differ – training wise? In the ring? Damage & recovery etc?
Muay Thai would be the most physically demanding. Getting all bashed up with shins, knees and elbows from start to finish. Boxing feels like a walk in the park coming from MMA & thai. They’ve only got 2 weapons, so it’s a LOT less stressful on the mind. MMA is generally pretty cruisy injury wise. If you get hit good the fight’ll be over, and when your grappling you wont get smacked too hard, if at all. I come off most of my fights scratch free. But like most, I limp for a week after a thai fight.
Any words for the fans, who you are a big favourite of at Logan diggers being that you reside nearby?
Yeah, big whats up to all the people from McCawleys Bar. Whats up to all the pretty girls I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know, since moving here. And don’t think any of you are gonna be my baby momma!
Any parting words for Steve?
Train harder!
Thanks for your time mate and look forward to seeing you at XFC 11
Cheers.
MMA Universe
