411 MMA Interviews: Nathan Coy
Posted by Jon Butterfield on 01.25.2011
411's Jon Butterfield sits down with Nathan Coy for an exclusive interview to talk about his controversial loss to Tyron Woodley, his upcoming fight against Nate Moore and more! Check out the full article to see what he had to say!
Even a quick glance at Nathan Coy's MMA record ahead of his fight with Nate Moore at next week's Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg event made it clear that he ticked all the boxes to make for a very worthwhile Fighter Profile. He'd already fought some tough fighters in the early stages of his career, and not only did he prove that he was every bit the blue-chip athlete the likes of Rick Story, Mike Pierce and Paul Bradley are considered to be, but he'd actually beaten a number of those top fighters – in this instance, the former two. Yet while Rick Story and Mike Pierce are considered by almost everyone to be among the welterweight division's best prospects, Nathan Coy is a name that remains unfamiliar to many.
Why, then, might that be the case, and what did he plan to do about it? For the next thirty minutes, myself and Nathan would discuss the ups and downs of his career thus far, what he thought of the opponents he'd already faced, and what ambitions he holds at this point. The answers he gave were honest, and, more often than not, frank and to the point! His opinions of Tyron Woodley and the outcome of the fight they had, the level of demands he places on his own performances, and the drive he possesses to claw his way to the top were all delivered with straight-laced appraisal, making this interview a must-read!
To begin with, then, I thanked Nathan for joining me on the phone from Colorado, and dived straight in with the questions. Had he always wanted to compete in MMA, or was that something that came later?
"I turned my attention to MMA after [my wrestling]," he told me, adding "I actually trained at the Olympic training centre. I had an aspiration to compete in the 2008 Olympics and for whatever reasons, my reasons, I decided to go into MMA in 2007."
So was that decision catalysed by anyone in particular? Were there any individuals that inspired Nathan to take up MMA?
"Well to be honest, I really didn't know MMA as a sport [when I started]," he answered honestly, "I hadn't really watched it, so I would say no, there was no [particular] role model for me in MMA. I think the role models that helped me inspired me through wrestling. I think that [the] work ethic that wrestlers have [was something I wanted to] transition into MMA."
Did Nathan prefer to train with fellow wrestlers, then, like Team Quest teammates Matt Lindland and Chael Sonnen, or did he feel it was more useful to mix it up with fighters with other styles?
"Sure, that's a good question," Nathan said, "I, for one, believe that wrestling is the best foundation in MMA, so to have that mindset in the gym everyday where you've got a guy whose trying to stand up and then take you down, having those training partners [is] helpful, but of course I think the other disciplines in the sport, Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing, you know, [it's] important to go with those guys to give you a different look. But as a foundation it's great to have training partners that are accomplished wrestlers."
That made sense. I wondered if when he made his debut in 2007 against Aaron Emerson, then, he'd been able to take in all those other aspects of the sport. Was he a ‘complete' fighter at that point?
"No, I did not feel like a complete MMA fighter at that time at all," Nathan told me, "I was, at that point primarily just a wrestler."
Perhaps it was handy, then, that his second opponent, Rick Story, was also primarily a wrestler. Nathan went on to win that fight by decision – was it a surprise, then, to see Rick achieve the kind of success he has in MMA?
"Well no, actually, [but] it's funny because [while] his wrestling prowess wasn't exceptional compared to some of the [other] wrestlers that were coming into the sport at that time, there was something that I could see in him. Something [told me] that he was gonna be a great fighter as he continued to grow in the sport, so actually afterwards I really felt confident that he was a great opponent, and [that] he was gonna climb up the ladder, as I would too."
Did it feel like a particularly big win at the time?
"I don't know if I felt that it was a big win, but I felt that it was a [good] win at that [particular] point in time. [But] I was a little disappointed after the fight to be honest, [even though] I did feel like he was [very talented], and you just can tell sometimes from the guy's eyes that they're [going to make it]."
I couldn't help but wonder what kind of ‘disappointment' Nathan was alluding to here – was there anything in particular that he was unhappy with?
"I felt, you know, it was closer than I expected," Nathan admits, "[but] I feel like it's gonna be hard for me to walk away from any fight and feel great about it just because I'm always looking to improve."
Does that mean that Nathan is a perfectionist in his approach to the sport?
"No question," he simply states.
Speaking of opponents now fighting in the UFC, Mike Pierce is another, although he took a slightly different route to the UFC. Pierce competed at TUF 7 in the welterweight category. Did that appeal to Nathan, and did he ever apply for The Ultimate Fighter show?
"Yeah, sure, I would like to have that opportunity at that point," he admits, "[I did apply once], and I think I made it pretty far along in the competition to get on the show, but eventually other people were looked upon over me."
Was that for season 7 as well, then?
"No, no, no, not for 7," Nathan says, "I don't know what number it was, in fact they actually didn't even take middleweights [or welterweights], I think they took heavyweights. I don't remember, it wasn't a welterweight show though. [At that point] I was a middleweight, it was just to get my name in the hat, I didn't [actually] think I would make the show."
Back to Mike Pierce; after his win over Jerrod Jones, Nathan was involved in a post-fight altercation in the ring, in which Pierce taunted Soulforce with his wins over other Team Quest fighters. Did he have any personal hostility towards Mike at the time then, or vice versa?
"No, between the two of us there was no animosity. I think [it was] just the fact that he got into the ring after the fight and had the microphone in his hand. It was just tension at that point, I didn't dislike him in any way, [but] I realized he was gonna be the next fight I had and I had to take him serious."
And take him seriously Nathan did, winning the fight by unanimous decision. But little did Coy know, a loss was right around the corner... I asked Nathan about the loss to Brian Foster in 2008. Were there any lessons to take from that fight, did he, as the old adage goes, ‘learn more in defeat than in victory'?
"I absolutely learned a lot in that fight," Nathan admitted, "Without question I learned the most out of that fight, [more than any other]. It wasn't necessarily the effort I put into it, [but I learned] after the fight that I had to change some ways I was preparing myself to fight. I learned a lot behind the scenes, I guess you could say, [about needing] to prepare myself more in the future [so I would] never be off track again."
So what sort of things did Nathan have to work on?
"Well, actually I lost that fight in a submission," Nathan recalls, "I'd taken him down, [and] it was a great action-packed top and bottom grappling game, you know, there [was] a lot going on and he caught me in a Kimura. At the time, I'd only been working stand up, so yeah, I can look back and say I had to work more on the grappling aspect of the sport too. I couldn't get too far ahead of myself, and [I had to] remember this is a sport that can go anywhere from the feet to the ground. I overlooked him, you know, [and] looking back on it I would've taken that fight a little differently. He ended up being a stud, [and]I didn't know that [would be the case]. He's a tough guy and I definitely overlooked him and that's a lesson I learned. This is a fight game, we're in here determining a winner, and you gotta remember these other guys are also coming in with [the] mindset that they're gonna win, and that changed my perspective."
Did the loss perhaps make Nathan hungrier as a fighter, then?
"No, I was just hungry not to lose again! I was looking to win and get after it, and not take any chances anymore," Nathan says, "[Like] not thinking that I'm better than somebody, [because] that's never gonna be the case. We're equal until we prove it in the Octagon."
Speak of equal, Coy's next fight with Paul Bradley was extremely close. Coy eventually wound up losing by split decision – what exactly went wrong, and how did it affect his mindset?
"Well I left saying that if I was tentative and didn't go after it like I should, I would retire from the sport," Coy states purposefully, meaning every word. "I was not happy with that fight because I fought not to lose, it reminded me of some of my wrestling days, [when I would] get into a competition and the idea [was] not to lose when it should always be to win and get after it. I felt that I didn't pull the trigger in that fight, and that was another big deal [for me]. I will retire if I ever have a lacklustre performance [like that, and] I didn't like the feeling afterwards. I wanna push myself in every fight and prove my worth in this sport. If I don't feel like I'm putting it all on the line, I will retire, no question."
So with that revelation, was the Paul Bradley defeat harder to take than the submission loss to Foster?
"Yeah, probably so. Yeah. They were both hard [to take], actually, [because] I'm living month to month and trying to pay for the sport, so I [took a] step back [and] it felt like forever before I'd get another opportunity."
But get another opportunity Nathan did. He would go on to win three consecutive fights after the Bradley defeat, in fact. Was it a relief then to put those fights behind him?
"Sure, it was a relief because [if] I had lost any of those three fights, I probably would have been done [with MMA]."
Wow – how things change! Instead of retirement, then, Coy's resurgent career saw him offered a fight against undefeated Strikeforce welterweight prospect and former NCAA Division I wrestler, Tyron Woodley. Was that the biggest fight of Coy's career to date?
"No," Nathan says, "I think maybe the biggest fight of my career was Mike Pierce. Woodley was just a great opportunity to fight a guy who was thought of highly [but who] hadn't accomplished [anything] at that point, you know. People have a good respect for Woodley, and [yet] I believe he hadn't even gone 15 minutes [at that point], and I'd gone 25 minutes! [And] you know, there's a lot to a decision fight, it really tests your mental capabilities, [so] yeah, for me I knew Pierce was tough and that was for a belt, [so] that was much more significant."
Was Mike Pierce also the toughest fight, then?
"I think Mike Pierce is definitely the toughest fight, yeah."
Getting back to the T-Wood fight, was the global intrigue factor important, given that it would be viewed right around the world? Was Nathan pumped to take the fight on such a stage?
"I think the reason why I'm with Strikeforce is because they put me up against Woodley in my hometown, [and] I wouldn't pass that up, [and] probably going back I [still] wouldn't pass it up. That's a great opportunity, you know. I got support here in this town, so it [was] an honour to fight Woodley here."
In that fight, both guys came out really strong, and fought a close fight right to the end. In the first round, Woodley actually took Nathan's back, and having submitted four of his previous five opponents by submission, did Coy feel any danger, or was he comfortable?
"I felt comfortable, there's nothing I don't see in our gym that Woodley was gonna offer me any differently. Throughout the fight I adjusted, [and] I felt all right."
Would Nathan accredit the loss to Brian Foster as a big influence on improving his submission defence to such a high level then?
"Yeah, from the beginning my goal was to be the best multi-dimensional fighter in MMA," Nathan tells me, "I have to get great at every aspect if I wanna be on top. That's where the sports going, everyone's getting well-rounded, [so] I'd credit some of that to Foster, [yes], but I'll also credit that to knowing that if I really want to get a chance in the sport I'd better get better."
In round two, Nathan started to take over with excellent clinch work against the fence, using knees. He also picked T-Wood off with solid leg kicks. Did Nathan feel the confidence draining from Woodley at that point?
"In a fight, the process of a fight, man, sure I guess instinctively I knew that maybe he was breaking down, but there was no moment in the fight where I felt ‘man, I have this fight', I was just kinda going one hundred miles an hour and trying to do my best to win. [I had] a gameplan to come forward, to test his will, [and] that's what I did."
In the third round, the commentators, who were talking Woodley up a great deal, seemed to concede that Coy may have been winning the fight on points. Did Nathan feel he should have got the decision?
"Oh yeah, without a question, the only thing that prevented me from winning that fight [is] our judging criteria. The first round was split, you could call it either way, the second round, I dunno, four minutes to one minute, I won four minutes, he won one, if it was [straight up] fight rules, I think aggression would have had me winning that fight. I dominated the third. You know, looking at it from my perspective, I think I won 11 or 12 minutes out of 15 minutes. It's ridiculous, but this being the rules, he finished the second round in a position where he never even did damage to me, I mean I slipped, and that's how he got on top, and I was still trying to work to get up. He never even did any damage on top, [and] looking back at it, [it was]a very poor decision. I'd love to see the Compustrike, like [what] percentage of my strikes landed, and how many [I threw in] total, because I don't see no way he wins that fight. But that's all in the past, [and I have to] just move forward, you know, [and] if he continues to climb the ladder [then] we'll fight again, and I guess I'll have to prove that the judges made a wrong decision the next time we fight."
As for Coy's next fight, Nate Moore awaits, a man who recently fought Coy's team mate Tarec Saffiedine, losing by KO. What does Coy know about Moore, and how tough an opponent is he going to be?
"Well, for one, at this part of my career I'm not gonna fight any bums," Nathan states firmly, "So he's gonna be tough. He trains at a great camp, so I expect him to be a multi-dimensional fighter. He can take it anywhere, [and] he's a wrestler so he's gonna have mental toughness [and] heart, there's no question about it. I'm gonna have to get in there, mix it up, and see what he's worth, you know, [see] if he can take 15 minutes. I [also] plan on entertaining the crowd and making it an exciting fight, so if he's up for that, it'll be a hell of a fight."
Will Coy be coming out with a tailor-made plan for Moore, then, or will it be a case of trying to impose his own game plan?
"I will be coming at him with everything," Coy tells me, "I'll bring it all, no question. My game's improved quite a bit since I last fought, and I think it can go anywhere. It doesn't matter, yeah, really, I'm prepared wherever the fight goes, and [want to] initiate where it goes [also.]"
Does Coy expect to finish the fight, or is he expecting it to go the distance?
"Gosh, you know, I would say to give him credit I would expect it to go to the judges, but I am going into the fight to finish him."
Is that always the case for Nathan?
"Yeah, anything can happen, [but] I can [certainly] say that I'm gonna bring everything and go all in, I know for a fact [that] I've had another great training camp, and I'm ready. And like I told you, I'm not gonna be satisfied with a poor performance, so I'm really gonna get in there and mix it up and go all in."
Also fighting on that show is the Welterweight Champion, Nick Diaz. How does Coy match up to him?
"You know, Nick Diaz is the Champion, and I've heard other people say that he has problems with wrestlers, well [let me] tell you what, he's got some great stand up and [he's great] on his back, so he presents a lot problems for anybody, but sure I match up well; I match up well because they say that wrestlers have a chance with him, [but] he's gonna be a tough fight, but I'm ready for him. My skills are equal [to his], I believe at this point, and I'd sure love the chance to have a crack at him before these other guys do. We'll have to see what Strikeforce says after this fight."
Assuming Coy beats Moore, how far away from a title shot does he think he is?
"Well, you know, honestly, I'm ready for Nick Diaz tomorrow, my skills have improved, but that's not how the sport works," Nathan admits. "You've gotta have a name and a fan base in order to get an opportunity to fight for the belt. You might not even be the best fighter, but if you've got the support of the fans you could get a title shot. I don't know, I would think I'm the next fight away, but that depends on what the executives think at Strikeforce."
Did Cyborg get his shot against Nick because of his factors like popularity and his fanbase, then?
"The welterweight [division] is a little bit thin at Strikeforce, [but] only because a few of the young guys haven't established themselves as a commodity in the sport yet, but in time there's a few studs in there, you know, definitely. For one, [though], I'm [just] glad to see Nick Diaz fight at welterweight, and I guess Cyborg is the right call at this point [actually]."
Would Nathan welcome a fight with Cyborg?
"Yeah, I think it's all about moving up the ranks, and [I do] want a chance to fight those guys, those so-called top ranked guys. To be honest, [a few years ago] nobody knew who Pierce was, nobody knew who Story was, nobody knew who Foster was, nobody knew who Bradley was, but I knew getting in there [with] these guys [that they] were at the top of the division, you know. Nobody else knew at the time, but you just kinda know who's got it in them, and those guys had it in them. I've already fought a bunch of studs, and anybody put in front of me now is gonna be much of a difference, I've already had all the tough battles, and in my opinion, it only gets easier [from here]. My skills are getting better, so I really think it will get easier for me, you know, maybe [except for] St. Pierre, you know, [because] I'll tell you this now: number one guy at welterweight in MMA."
Undoubtedly true. Would Coy relish a fight with GSP at some stage?
"I'll tell you what I'd really like, I'd like to get that belt from Strikeforce and then I'd like to call out St. Pierre in the UFC and make a unified belt there, [but] I don't know if Dana would take to that, but that's what I'd like to see happen."
Wow, so Nathan would like a huge cross-promotional superfight?
"Exactly. Bring it."
So not a man lacking confidence by any means! Is there anything he'd like to add regarding the Nate Moore fight, then?
"Just this is the best I've felt going into a fight and I expect great things, and all I can say is I'll bring everything I've got to the fight and I'll make it exciting for the fans, I promise."
Well, there you have it, folks – Nathan Coy, a potential star in the making, and a confident man intent on ‘bringing it all' to the cage with him at Strikeforce – make sure to check out the show, and the fight, and I'll be back on Friday with another Fighter Profile!
