Matt Mitrione, Unfiltered – Part Two

HeavyMMA: You mentioned in there stepping away from The Mitrione Minute and the different irons you have in the fire. How do you balance all of those things with making sure you’re getting the proper preparation for this fight? Where does knowing when enough is enough come from for you?

Mitrione: I’ve always been rather nomadic. My family growing up, I played in the NFL, I played in college, so I was used to “we’ve gotta go here, we’ve gotta go there. You just got traded to this team.” So instead of being in England with this team, you’re in Amsterdam, and now you just got traded to this team, so now you’re in Frankfurt, Germany.

I’ve always been at the point where it’s just roll with the punches; wherever my job takes me is wherever my job takes me, but I always make sure I get time to train. Like if I’m in a hotel and there are other UFC guys around, doesn’t matter if it’s a 185 pounder, 170 pounder, I’m like, “You wanna go get some time in?” Mike “Joker” Guymon, we were training with him – he taught me some interesting guard passes and stuff like that. Even if I can’t be home, I’ve got to get time in. I don’t have to be sleeping in my own bed get that time. I can get it anywhere.

I think that’s something I understand, and the people around me understand. Chris Lytle, Ed Jones, Jake O’Brien for that matter – people who are kind of in my camp – they know, “Okay, we’re going to go over here. I did some homework, and there’s three gyms within this many square miles. I think this one is going to be the best, but then this guy also has a Thai coach here that I think it would be good to get some work with,” so that’s what we do.

That’s probably the reason why I travel so much, and I train with so many people; I’m always on the road. It’s not hard for me. I’m a heavyweight, so I eat what I want. I make sure I get my workout in. I’m always pretty diligent on my cardio, so that’s kind of just how it is.

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HeavyMMA: We’ve talked about your traveling around before and a lot of people are starting to embrace that need to have a base camp, but also move around. On the flip side, there are also those people who talk about the benefits of staying in one place, staying at home and sleeping in their own bed. Do you see the sport moving one way or another?

Mitrione: You talking about the curves of MMA? The happenings of?

HeavyMMA: Yeah – just in general, what are your opinion on the trends in training as a fighter.

Mitrione: I think it kind of sucks to have camp in other places. Like spending my camp up in Milwaukee for Kimbo. Sleeping on an air mattress for me – I’ve been doing that for this camp – sleeping on an air mattress every night. I chose to stay in a place that didn’t have cable, didn’t have Internet, anything. Just me, and I pirated Internet from the house next door, and I slept on an air mattress all the time. The only thing that we had was a ceiling fan. For me, that’s comfortable for me; I understand that. That keeps me lacking, grinding it out. I usually ride a bike everywhere I go. I just make sure that I grind it out.

I keep myself as grimy as possible. Once I want to start staying in hotels and renting nice houses, then I might have lost touch a little bit.

HeavyMMA: Pat Barry wanted me to tell you that you’re not really friends; he’s been faking this whole time. He says you’re knock-kneed too.

Mitrione: (laughs) I think I want the whole world to know that Pat Barry’s butt is so big that he’s chaffed every time he takes a step, and his balls are sore because every time he takes a step, they’re rubbing on it. I miss Pat. I’m going to see him today. I’m going to see him, then give him a haircut. Something needs to happen with that bad hair he’s got.

HeavyMMA: How cool is it to fighting on the same card as a guy like Pat that you’re so close with?

Mitrione: It’s cool, man, but it sucks fighting after Pat. It’s stressful. I fought after him at Fight for the Troops 2; watching him fight Joey (Beltran) was stressful. It was difficult to watch. So I’m glad I get to get done with it this time, and then I get to watch. I get to make my post-fight speech, and then I get to put the pressure on Pat. I like that.

HeavyMMA: Any surprises for post-fight speeches? You fired your agent, then Pat fired you, so what do you have planned? Is there something good coming if you end up talking to Joe Rogan again this time?

Mitrione: Well, I already thanked my hands, so I need to figure out what else I can thank. I’ve always got something witty and creative to say. I guess that’s the gift and the curse of being highly intelligent and vocal.

Honestly man, I’m just excited to get in there. I’m excited to get in there and punch Morecraft in the mouth. I think it will be fun. I think it will be a fun fight, the fans will like it, and he’s got a little bit of hype behind him too, so it’ll be fun. It’ll be fun to get in there and really do’em up and see what happens. See who’s the best man coming out.