Irish Whip Fighting Exclusive: Elvis Sinosic Interview

Irish Whip Fighting got the chance to sit down with MMA star Elvis Sinosic. Read on and hear him talk about his loss to Bisping, steroids in MMA, and his next fight. An Interview By Jordan Arnold

Jordan Arnold: Can you tell us a little bit about your recent loss to Michel Bisping? Was he different than what you had trained for? Do you think you could beat him if ever given another opportunity?
Elvis Sinosic: Well I was caught by surprise with his takedown. I thought he was going to try and stand to KO me. I guess when I outclassed him standing, he changed his game plan. I think I proved during the match that I have what it takes to beat him. So of course, given another opportunity, yes I do think I would beat him. But sadly, the odds of that are unlikely.

JA: Are there any fighters that you're dying to fight before the end of your career?
ES: I always want to face the best guys out there, so guys like Chuck, Wanderlei, Shogun, all those guys are amazing challenges that I would love to face. And there are a lot more top guys in the LHW division too.

JA: You are 36 years old, how many more years of competitive fighting do you think that you have left in you?
ES: I figure I have atleast a couple more years left in me. But as Randy has shown, if you really have the desire and dedication, it can really keep going on.

JA: You have always been great when it comes to getting on the side of the fans…however I noticed that there is a "fan" website of yours called www.stalkelvis.com. How do you feel about this?
ES: I’m pretty cool with it. If you go to the site and read it, the guy who set it up did it with good intentions. He wanted to share his experience of meeting me and his impressions with everyone. The site name sounds strange, but it is a good site. Worth having a look at.

JA: What win do you consider to be the greatest of your career?
ES: Probably Jeremy Horn because he was the number one contender in the UFC at the time. It was my UFC debut and it got me a World Title shot with Tito Ortiz. That was just one where everything went right when I look back on it.

JA: You have always been known for stepping up to the plate and taking on huge challenges. After fighting guys like Ortiz, Bisping, Sobral, Tanner, etc…who would you say has been the toughest competitor that you have faced?
ES: You know, all the guys I have faced have been tough. I’ve fought some of the toughest and most talented guys in the sport. They all bring something different to the table. So each in their own way are the toughest fighters I have faced.

JA: Could you tell us a little about Sinosic-Perosh Martial Arts?
ES: Sinosic Perosh Martial Arts (SPMA) is the Academy that was setup by myself and my good friend and now business partner, Anthony Perosh. We wanted to have a place where we could not only train ourselves, but bring up the next generation of Australian grapplers and fighters. We cover BJJ, Thai Kickboxing, MMA and Yoga. We cover kids from 6 yrs old, to adults in their 50’s and 60’s. It’s a place where anyone can come and train, whether you want to do it for fun, fitness or to be the next World Champion. You can find out more about SPM at www.spma.net.au

JA: In your opinion, who are the top 205 pounders? Are there any up-and-comers (maybe some guys in your camp) who you expect to make a big splash soon?
ES: Well everyone knows that the top guys are Rampage, Henderson, Liddell, Shogun, Rogerio, Arona, with guys like Forrest, Bisping, Sokoudjou, Alexander and many more shooting up the ranks. In my camp, my training partner Anthony Perosh has decided to cut down to the LHW division. I think he will make a big impact there. Some of the guys in our camp who have already made an impact are guys like Shane Nix, Jesse Landry, Chit Kit Cheung… and we’ve got more guys ready to make their debuts soon.

JA: You have trained in many different styles of fighting (kickboxing, judo, freestyle wrestling, etc…). How much does it help your fighting to have all of these different styles under your belt?
ES: I trained in all the different styles trying to find the best blend of what really works. It helps in that it has made me realize what does work. That is why our MMA program consists of BJJ, Muay Thai and Wrestling. All these are tried and tested arts. Their training is applied and used everytime. Combined in the right way, gives you the best combination for either fighting or self defence.

JA: You have won 1 out of 7 total fights in the UFC. Would you say that this is due to the octagon, the mainstream attention, or just bad luck?
ES: Probably a little bad luck, probably a lot of tough skilled formidable opponents. I don’t want to pad my record, so I always look for the toughest fight I can. I will always aim for the tougher opponent if I am ever given the choice. I probably could have done better with my career if I’d had a manager who helped with that. But hey, I’ve loved every challenge and I’ve become a better fighter from every match. I know the fans enjoy what I do, and hopefully as long as they want to see me continue fighting, then you will see a lot more of me in action.

JA: Do you have any upcoming fights lined up?
ES: No fights at the moment lined up. But I am trying to get something organized for later this year. It’s pretty much up to the promoters if they’re interested. And as you know, the promotes listen to the fans.

JA: With the increasing amount of MMA fighters getting caught for steroids, what is your take on this issue? Why are people taking steroids if they know they can get caught?
ES: It’s the same reason people will find a way to use the rules. Winning becomes the most important thing. Winning becomes more important than anything else. When that happens, the risks don’t seem so big, because if it can help you win, then it’s worth the effort. That is why I just come to fight. I believe it is my performance that is important. If I give my best performance, then victory will come from that. For me, it is fighting that is important, giving my best, never giving up. Victory is not my goal, that is just the outcome.

JA: Would you like to thank any sponsors or say anything to your fans?
ES: I always thank my fans, it’s because of them that I keep on fighting. If they didn’t want to watch me fight, then I wouldn’t be fighting. Thank you very much for all your support. I want to thank my friend and training partner Anthony Perosh, all the guys at the academy, my students and training partners, my friends and family. Thanks to my sponsors Atama and Fairtex for continuing stand by me.

JA: Well thank you very much Elvis, and I look forward to talking with you in the future.
ES: Always a pleasure. I look forward to the next time.