Marcus Davis Interview

Top Ten Welterweight Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis recently chatted with Ben Zeidler about his big winning streak, his upcoming fight with Jess Liaudin, and taking on Georges St. Pierre down the road. Originally conducted for MMA Madness

Ben Zeidler: Tell us about working with Tim Sylvia at the bar and how that led you to a career in MMA.

Marcus Davis: Yeah, sure. It was 1995 and Tim and I were doormen together at a bar. I became the GM of the bar and so I had all the doormen going to a boxing and MMA school inside a Gold's Gym. I made it mandatory that the doormen go there to train. Tim was a real big guy, about 235 pounds and playing semi pro football, but he needed to learn how to throw some hands. So I started working with Tim and he said he wanted to try the Pancrase stuff. He did three or four of those, ended up meeting Pat Miletich, and that's how it all started.

Ben Zeidler: So where did you come into the mix?

Marcus Davis: Well after Tim left, I was still training boxing. I wanted to do some MMA stuff too so I went out, trained with Tim, met Miletich, and decided that I wanted to do this.

Ben Zeidler: The man who beat you during your time on TUF, Melvin Guillard, has been having some troubles in the Octagon lately. When we talked to him the other week, he admitted that you are a much better fighter now than when he beat you. He did say, however, that he would still have the advantage. How do you see that fight going now?

Marcus Davis: You know, just like Melvin thinks he would beat me, I think I would beat him I think that my mistake against Melvin and Stevenson was, well my mistakes were two things. One, I was a much more superior striker but they took me out of my game. I waited, circled, stayed away waiting to set things up. I didn't create anything. Since then, I haven't waited. I brought it to everyone I fought and I've beat ten guys in a row. And you know, I've become a much better all around fighter during this time. I've become a good grappler, a good wrestler, I'm decent at takedowns, takedown defense, and I'm just much more well rounded. I'm more well rounded than Melvin, too. Melvin has great, explosive wrestling but his technique is sloppy. He's got no submission game and I've submitted 9 guys in my career. I've only gone the distance on two fights that I've won, I've knocked out 7 and submitted 9. I've got a good game.

Ben Zeidler: Since that fight, you're on a winning streak of over two years. What do you attribute this success to?

Marcus Davis: It's a combination of things. My game is well rounded because I train with guys to work on my weaknesses. I worked with Jorge Gurgel for fighting on my back. I used to hate being on my back and now I'm submitting people from there. Mark Delagrotti has been working with me for a long time and getting me comfortable with knees, elbows, and kicks. I worked out just last night with Kenny and Keith Florian, two jiu-jitsu black belts. I'm just filling in all the holes in my game. I'm much more confident and I create openings instead of waiting. I bring to to people. That was my issue before, but it's not a problem now.

Ben Zeidler: You've got an upcoming fight with Jess Liaudin. How do you see yourself matching up with him?

Marcus Davis: I think I match up really well with him It's a tough fight, he's very dangerous and underrated. He's got a great grappling game, decent strikes, but he tries risky stuff. He likes the flying hooks and spinning backfists. I'm more technically sound and I'm faster. I think I'm stronger than him in a lot of areas. Everywhere I read, he's telling people that he's gonna stand with me, that he's gonna knock me out. I can tell you that even if he believes he's going to stand with me, once I touch him, he's gonna switch to wrestling. I knock people out with jabs, just ask Shonie Carter. He's gonna get hit once by me and go "wow, I can't believe he hits that hard." I'm training ground, I'm training stand up, so I don't know where it's going to finish but I think he's [Liaudin] right when he says it's gonna end in the first.

Ben Zeidler: Sounds like it's gonna be an exciting fight.

Marcus Davis: Oh yeah, it'll be a good one.

Ben Zeidler: Being undefeated in UFC competition, how many fights do you think it'll take before you earn title consideration?

Marcus Davis: I'm patient so I don't really care (laughs). I fight to fight. I'm 5 wins in a row, about to be 6, so if I get up to 25 wins, at some point, I'll get a title shot. If I don't get one during my career, I'm not gonna look back and say I should have had one. I'll just say "geez, I had a great time doing that." I won't have any regrets and I'm in no rush.

Ben Zeidler: Where do you rank yourself among the other Welterweights? It seems like you're starting to creep into the top ten in a lot of polls.

Marcus Davis: You know what, that's hard to say. I didn't think I was a top 10. I thought maybe top 15. There's guys in the top 10 who I think I could beat and there's guys in the top 10 whose styles would give me trouble. It's all about styles. I could beat certain guys in the top 10 but have trouble with guys ranked below me. I'm not too concerned with all that though. You know, if I were #2, there would be 10,000 guys saying I shouldn't be there.

Ben Zeidler: Tell us a little bit about your big win against Paul Taylor. Did you expect to win by submission or was that a surprise?

Marcus Davis: No, I thought I would catch him with my hands standing up or if we hit the ground, I knew I would be able to submit him I'm a much better grappler than the guys he's fought and the guys he trains with. All the UK grapplers are way behind the ones in the United States. It's like going to Japan and they're still wearing Wrangler Jeans and listening to disco. That's where they are when it comes to the ground game.

Ben Zeidler: What'd you think of the GSP-Hughes fight? Did you go?

Marcus Davis: I didn't go. After training that day, I watched it with my manager. Man, he is scary. Just...I don't even know...un-friggin-believeable.

Ben Zeidler: So, how many years before you're ready to fight GSP?

Marcus Davis: (Laughs) You know, people ask me all the time, what if they told you that you had to fight GSP. I always say the same thing. I'd show up and fight him. GSP's wrestling is light years ahead of mine. Like I'm in Kindergarten and he's a professor at a college. He's a better kicker...a better everything. But he got caught by Matt Serra and I hit harder than him. I hit harder than anyone in the sport, I would say. Mark and I train and he wears mitts and he still says it hurts and he needs to take a break. If he made the mistake of weaving when he bobbed, he'd need help tying his shoes for two weeks. In this sport, it's whoever wants it more and who makes the right decisions.

Ben Zeidler: Any sponsors you'd like to thank? Websites you want to plug?

Marcus Davis: Irishhandgrenade.com and full contact fighter. Joe, with full contact, has been with me the whole time and I'm staying with them. I've had big offers from other companies, but my loyalty is with them.

Ben Zeidler: Anything to say to your fans?

Marcus Davis: Hey, you know what, I appreciate the support coming from the show like I did and doing a sucky sucky job. And now I have fans and having people supporting me in America and the UK has been great.

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Irish Whip Fighting Exclusive: Marcus Davis Interview

In his first post-Taylor fight interview, Irish Whip Fighting had the privilege to sit down with UFC Fighter Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis. An interview by Irish Whip Fighting.

Irish Whip Fighting: At UFC 75 you won "Fight of the Night" and "Submission of the Night". At such an important event, with many great fights, how does it feel to receive an honor like that?
Marcus Davis: Feels great- shows I have come to be an exciting and more complete fighter.

IWF: You've improved vastly following your "The Ultimate Fighter" losses to Stevenson and Guillard. What's caused the improvement?
MD: Identifying my weaknesses and then working with 2 great camps - Sit Yod Tong and Team Gurgel.

IWF: Do you think you would be able to beat Stevenson and Guillard now?
MD: I would beat Guillard in 1 round. Joe Stevenson is still another story. I wouldn't be as easily taken down and my ground is actually a strength now but not like Joe's. If we stand I will if he keeps me on the ground Joe wins it.

IWF: You were a relatively successful boxer in the New England Circuit with only one loss. What made you want to become anMMA fighter?
MD: Bored. Just bored of politics and boxing in general. I was watching MMA and knew that this was the sport for me.

IWF: I've heard that you have considered retirement a few times. However, you always seem to bounce back in a big way. Now you obviously have a bright future in front of you, but being 34, how many more years do you think you have as a fighter?
MD: I'm hoping 2 more years as long as my body holds up.

IWF: What advice would you give a young fighter who hasn't made it yet?
MD: Work on the things you don't like to work on the most. I identify your strengths and weaknesses find a school/team that complements both your strengths and weaknesses.

IWF: You haven't lost since 2005. Being on the run that you are, do you feel like you should be in line for a title shot soon?
MD: Not really. I think there are more deserving guys in the top 10 like Jon Fitch, Karo, St. Pierre.

IWF: Also, whom would you like to fight next?
MD: Gomi is my dream fight but for right now Jess Liaudin had mentioned he would fight me so lets do it in England January 2008.

IWF: Do you think that being on The Ultimate Fighter helped you get to where you are today?
MD: Yes. It opens doors for me to train with the best and get to where I am today.

IWF: How do you feel you match up with current Welterweight champion Matt Serra?
MD: I like Matt a lot. I think I match up rather well. My stand up is a lot better and I am a 195lbs guy who fights at 170 so I'm guessing I would be stronger and I am now difficult to take down. I haven't been taken down in a fight since the finale of the ultimate fighter.

IWF: Speaking of Serra, any predictions for the Welterweight championship bout between Hughes and Serra?
MD: Very tough fight for Matt Serra but this is an MMA fight so anything can happen. If I had to bet I would say Matt will win.

IWF: Where would you rank yourself in your division?
MD: I think I'm in the top 20 maybe 15.

IWF: What has been your toughest fight thus far?
MD: Paul Taylor

IWF: Fans are beginning to jump on the Marcus Davis bandwagon. I've heard people say that you have a better stand-up then Georges St. Pierre, I've heard people say that you have the best stand-up in your division, and I've heard people say that they think you can beat the top guys in your division (GSP, Hughes, Serra). How much does it help to know that you are becoming more and more popular among the MMA community?
MD: It’s great to get some respect. I really was a horrible MMA fighter when I was on the show but I go all over and grapple, kick box and wrestle big named guys and no one dominates me anymore. It’s a good feeling.

IWF: More and more fighters are getting caught with steroids lately. Why do fighters take them if they know they'll probably get caught?
MD: Great question. I’ve been tested every time I have ever fought in the UFC except once and I don't know how anyone would risk it. I will say that if they did this in any other sport you would see 10 more times people getting caught then you do in MMA.

IWF: All the shirts on your site are out of stock! (I really want one!) When are you getting more in?
MD: We sold 600 pieces and we are looking at getting more done- BUT- my new Team Irish MMA line is SICK and we are moving- hoodies- flexfit hats- beanies long and short sleeve shirts like crazy.

IWF: Would you like to thank any sponsors?
MD: Full contact fighter all the way they have been with me my whole UFC career and treated me better then I could have imagined.

IWF: Anything to say to your fans?
MD: Thank you so much for believing me and supporting me throughout the tough times- I try to perform in exciting fashion for you and that's why I finish fights.

(Originally published on MMAMadness.com)

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