411 MMA Interviews: Shane Del Rosario
Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 07.04.2011
Undefeated Strikeforce heavyweight Shane Del Rosario speaks with 411mania.com about his career threatening car accident, his rehab and recovery, when he hopes to fight again and more!
Strikeforce heavyweight fighter, Shane Del Rosario (11-0, MMA; 3-0, Strikeforce) remained undefeated last February when he defeated Lavar Johnson in a reserve bout for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Rosario was originally scheduled to face another undefeated fighter, Daniel Cormier (8-0, MMA; 5-0, Strikeforce) at Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum, but unfortunately Rosario was recently injured in a car accident when he was struck by a drunk driver. Rosario is currently undergoing rehab and is focusing on getting better to hopefully make a return to the cage later this year. Earlier this month at the Supremacy MMA event at GameStop at Universal City Walk, I was able to catch up with Shane for an exclusive interview:
Jeffrey Harris: Shane, how are you doing right now since the accident? Are you OK?
Shane Del Rosario: I'm doing alright in general, but as far as training and fighting I can't do it at all. I'm still in a lot of pain. The doctors told me don't do anything yet. We're going through rehab every other day or so, but still no training. My goal is to get back hopefully mid-Fall. I don't know, it's kind of basically month by month. It's a frustrating process. I'm still trying to recuperate with rehab and hopefully get back to training soon.
Jeffrey Harris: How hard has this experience been since you had a ton of momentum coming off the win over Lavar Johnson. And with everything going as of late with ZUFFA buying Strikeforce, does this feel like a big roadblock?
Shane Del Rosario: Definitely. You kind of said it all. Last year I only had one fight because of injuries and whatever it was, I couldn't get a fight. This year I was hoping to get 4-5 fights. I had one. I had a good showing, and then I had this wreck happened . . . so it's frustrating. We've been working hard the past five years to get to where I'm at now and try to advance further and now I'm stuck here. So it sucks. It was absolutely out of my control. There was nothing I could've done to avoid it but that's life. And if there is something to take from it, it could've been a lot worse. And I'm just going to work hard to get where I was before and just keep winning fights and go from there.
Jeffrey Harris: Since you are a ZUFFA contracted fighter, ZUFFA recently enacted a new medical insurance coverage policy. Are you covered for this situation?
Shane Del Rosario: You know it is really cool stuff by them. The sport is still fairly new and that's a huge step for them to get coverage for all fighters. It's a step in a positive direction. It's always the first steps that you can't hope for everything for this. It's going to definitely get better in the next couple of years. As far as the accident, the accident happened before we actually got coverage. The coverage started June 1. So I cannot do that. It happened before so I can't expect anything, but I'm very grateful to the organization. I'm very happy how things have turned out. It seems like they are really taking care of us: Dana and the Fertitas. And I'm excited. I wish I could've fought for them and make a name for myself for them before the companies merge or whatever is going to happen. And I'm just going through it, hoping to get back soon.
Jeffrey Harris: Do you have any recollection of the accident at all?
Shane Del Rosario: Yeah it was a real surreal feeling. I was getting home. I was like basically at the lights to my neighborhood. I was like packing for Coachella the next morning . . . but I was at the light and I just kind of remember looking over thinking, "Wow. We're going to be hit." The lady fell asleep I guess and came over the median. I remember thinking like, "Wow, I'm going to be really messed up right now." But I'm hurt pretty bad. I can't fight, but it could've been a lot worse. I'm walking around. I have my health. I'm alive. I can see my family, and that's what's important.
Jeffrey Harris: Where was the major damage from the accident? Shane Del Rosario: It's in my back. I have several herniated discs, bulging discs. Nothing permanent right now, but basically the doctor is saying take your time over the next couple of months, get some progress, and we'll go from there.
Jeffrey Harris: Do you think you will fight again in the Fall or maybe the Winter?
Shane Del Rosario: Yeah hopefully. I mean this is what I do, and I'm working hard for this to get where I'm at. And I'm not going to let this sideline me. UFC bought Strikeforce – that's a huge opportunity for me. The sport keeps growing continually every year, and this is my time to make a name for myself and really get out there and make something. So I'm hoping to fight by the end of the year for sure if not twice.
Jeffrey Harris: How many fights do you still have under your current Strikeforce deal?
Shane Del Rosario: I still have 4 fights with Strikeforce. And as of right now, as what Dana and everyone says it's going to be Strikeforce [and] UFC and that's how it is. And I'm excited. I've been taken care of by both organizations and I'm very happy to fight for either one. As of right now, my main goal is to get healthy and then we'll fight from there on.
Jeffrey Harris: So is the goal to fight in the UFC eventually?
Shane Del Rosario: Oh yeah. I mean the UFC is number one right now. Scott Coker has been a very good promoter and always taken care of me, so I love the guy for that. But yeah, the UFC has been number one and it has been for a long time. That's the goal. You don't fight just to fight and be there. You want to become a top contender, make some money, and be on top, and that's what I'm doing.
Jeffrey Harris: Great job in the Lavar Johnson fight. You definitely made a statement there and you are still undefeated. What did you think about your performance in that fight?
Shane Del Rosario: I was kind of disappointed in myself only in the fact that it was my first fight in a while. And I was I guess a little more nervous than I should've been. I kind of exerted myself too much. I should've relaxed more. I kind of gassed myself a little bit, but I still got the win. Lavar is a tough guy. He was kind of in a similar position. He has mostly wins. But my sights are far ahead of this fight. I want to get to the top and get a belt. So that's a sign for me to go back to the gym and train more and learn more and come back stronger.
Jeffrey Harris: Is there anyone you would like to thank or give a shout out to?
Shane Del Rosario: Yeah, my manager Jason House [with] Iridium Sports Agency. Definitely my coach, Colin Oyama, Giva Santana, and TeamOyama.com. All my sponsors: Metal Mulisha, Rock Star, Extreme Endurance, Power & Balance, Courtesy Company, and Fahrenheit Nutrition.
Jeffrey Harris: Shane, thanks so much for your time. Good luck with healing up the injuries and I hope we see you again in the cage really soon.
Shane Del Rosario: Cool, thanks for having me.
Thank you to Shane for taking the time to speak with us. Shane will also be one of the playable fighters in the Supremacy MMA videogame due out later this September 27 on Xbox 360 and PS3. Remember to check out the UFC 132 recap of the 411 Ground and Pound Radio Show. You can find out more and listen to a podcast of our last episode here:
