411Mania Exclusive Interview: Benji Radach!
Posted by Lotfi Sariahmed on 10.30.2007
As part of 411Mania's IFL Grand Prix coverage, 411Mania interviewed Benji Radach prior to his bout with Brent Beauparlant! Lotfi Sariahmed talks to Benji about everything from his bout with Beauparlant, to his thoughts on the Rothwell debacle and the Randy Couture situation! All that and more inside!
He is arguably the best middleweight in the IFL today. Benji Radach has stormed onto the scene this season with the LA Anacondas going undefeated in his individual bouts helping lead the Anacondas to a #1 seed in this year's playoffs. Now he heads into the World Grand Prix this Saturday with a bout against Brent Beauparlant. 411Mania's Lotfi Sariahmed talked to the "Razor" about his bout on Saturday and other various topics.
411Mania.com: Your last bout came as part of the IFL team semis in a win over Gerald Harris back in August. Unfortunately the team lost and that was the end of the season. How have things been for you adjusting to training to fight in the Grand Prix?
Benji Radach: It's been kind of the same scenario because we have four guys in the Grand Prix. We're all kind of training as a team. This time around I've been training with Alex (Schoenauer) and Bas (Rutten) and Chris Horodecki and Jay Hieron. We train hard man. I've trained harder than ever. I'm in great great great shape and I'm ready to go.
411Mania.com: Staying on the subject of your team, your coach Shawn Tompkins left his coaching duties with the Anacondas and left the IFL. How did you find out about Tompkins leaving and how do you feel about the move?
Radach: I'm not sure. There are a couple of different reasons why he left the team. But the IFL offered Bas the job as we were getting ready for the Grand Prix and he jumped on it. I'm glad he did because he's really pushing us hard. I'm ready to go.
411Mania.com: Any word yet on who might be replacing Tompkins?
Radach: I'm not sure yet. There have been a few names tossed around but nothing for sure yet.
411Mania.com: Looking ahead to your fight on the 3rd, what have you been doing to prepare for your opponent Brent Beauparlant?
"I'm prepared for this fight and beyond."
Radach: I haven't watched much tape on him at all. I'm just training really hard myself in certain areas that I think will be key in the fight. But mainly it's just getting my cardio in tip-top shape. I know he can go a long distance and he's a good wrestler. I'm prepared for this fight and beyond.
411Mania.com: What are some of Beauparlant's strengths that you're worried about going into this fight?
Radach: Not really worried. I just have to be aware of certain things. He's a good wrestler supposedly and it seems like he has a lot of focus and strength. Going into that last round he's still pretty strong and keeps coming. He hasn't really been hurt striking so he could take a punch from what I hear. So I'm just going to do my thing and not worry about what he's going to do. I'm just going to focus on what I want to do to end the fight.
411Mania.com: Benji there's a lot of talk going into this Grand Prix by the "pundits" saying you're the guy to beat in the middleweight bracket. Does that put any extra pressure on you?
Radach: I don't even think twice about it. I'm just doing the things I need to do to prepare for the competition that's going to come my way. I know it's going to come. Next year is going to be even tougher than this year. I just want to finish this year strong and go into next year undefeated and hopefully finish out all my opponents this year.
411Mania.com: The IFL will be broadcasting an hour of the Grand Prix live on MyNetworkTV and your fight is scheduled to be one of those broadcast bouts. Any additional pressure?
Radach: I think there's a little bit of pressure I guess. But I usually don't focus on that. The day of the event I'm usually just worried about my opponent and focused on him and put out everything else. So there's not too much more pressure. Whenever anyone talks about pressure it just kind of makes me focus more and get more into the fight.
411Mania.com: As a fighter in the league, what does it mean to you to know that people will finally get to see what the IFL has to offer on live TV?
Radach: I think it's awesome. The IFL is just proving it's stepping along. Taking baby steps forward and forward. They're doing different things and its very exciting. Next year's supposed to have more live fights throughout the year not just the Grand Prix. This is a big step for MMA period.
That's going to be an awesome fight to watch.
411Mania.com: The other fight in the middleweight Grand Prix has Matt Horwich taking on Brian Foster. What do you think about the fight and who do you think will make it to the Finals?
Radach: That's going to be an awesome fight to watch. I'm really excited about that because it could go either way. Matt is a technician on the ground, he's strong, tons of cardio and you can't hurt the guy. But on the same note, Brian is tough as hell and he's trained with a lot of really tough guys. He's going for broke and he really wants to come back and fight me but Horwich is a big mountain to try and get across. So we'll see how it goes. Brian might be able to hurt him though because he hits hard.
411Mania.com: Any preference on a potential opponent for the Finals?
Radach: It's tough because they're both dangerous. Matt is dangerous on the ground. I've trained with Matt a lot so I kind of know his game pretty much. But it's going to be interesting. I don't know how it's going to turn out.
411Mania.com: Are you making any preparations for either of your potential opponents in the Finals?
Radach: No not really. I can't look past Brent because he's a tough guy. I'm just taking it one step at a time and then after this fight I'll figure out who I'm fighting and prepare for him.
"All of a sudden he's dropped out and it's not very cool."
411Mania.com: Unfortunately there have been some problems leading up to the Grand Prix. Ben Rothwell and Mike Whitehead will not be competing because of contract issues. How badly do you think that hurts the league?
Radach: I think it hurts. I don't know how much it was the IFL's fault why he dropped out. I don't know a whole lot about that. I think it was a bad decision. I think they should have Ben fight in the Grand Prix for sure. It definitely hurts sales. Everyone wanted to see Big Ben Rothwell. He's fun to watch and he's been a big name in the sport. All of a sudden he's dropped out and it's not very cool. I don't know. It hurts a little bit.
411Mania.com: From a fighter's perspective what do you think when you see this sort of thing happen?
Radach: It worries me a little bit because mine will be up next year and I'm sure it'll be the same kind of deal. They'll ask me if I want to resign before the Grand Prix and if I decide to or if I don't it's going to weigh on whether I compete in the Grand Prix or not. So I'll have to think about that for a little bit but for right now I'm staying with the IFL.
411Mania.com: The other big news from MMA over the last few days comes from the UFC with Randy Couture resigning and vacating his belt and position as commentator. It's a move that some have dubbed as historic in terms of what it will mean for the fighters in the future. What do you think about what he did?
Radach: You know I haven't been paying attention to a whole lot about that. I know he did resign and stuff like that. It doesn't sound like the UFC's really let go of him yet. But I don't really know a whole lot about that. I haven't talked to Randy about it.
411Mania.com: The IFL just finished up its 2nd set of tryouts in New York this weekend for the IFL Draft. You were involved in the 1st set of tryouts in California. Explain to our readers how this whole Draft is going to work.
Radach: It's been really cool. It was a really fun event at the LA Boxing gym in LA. It was really cool. They had like 300 kids that came in, lots of talent, duking it out to be a part of the IFL. It was really exciting. They were throwing down trying to knock each other out. It was full MMA with headgear on but you could still get hurt. And they do it for free. So a lot of heart and drive and it was pretty cool.
411Mania.com: Were there any potential talents you saw from the tryouts you were at?
Radach: Yea there were a few out there. I can't remember the names because there were so many but I know the faces. There were about 10 kids that looked pretty decent.
411Mania.com: Before I let you go I need a prediction from you for your fight against Beauparlant.
Radach: I'm going for a TKO in the 1st.
411Mania.com:Are there any sponsors you want to thank before we go?
Radach: I want to thank EliteMMA. I also want to thank Bob LaGrotta, Bas Rutten and Dennis Hallman and Ryan Parsons too.
411Mania.com:Thanks for giving us the time once again Benji.
