411mania MMA Interview: The “Hillbilly Heartthrob” Brad Imes
Posted by John Curry on 04.25.2008
Not many fighters enter the cage at 6’7” tall and weigh in at over 260 pounds. Even fewer fighters have the ability to pull off not one but TWO gogoplata submission victories in a row. 411mania’s John Curry sits down with the one fighter to have done that, The “Hillbilly Heartthrob” Brad Imes.
Brad Imes has always been a large presence in the room. Standing 6' 7" tall and weighing 265 pounds, Imes has all of the physical powers to be a contender in the world of MMA. A man with powerful standup, excellent wrestling skills (he's been wrestling since he was five), and a smart head for the cage, Imes is just flying under the radar of the MMA world. Since his 2 gogoplata submissions in a row, Imes has been sought for fights all over. His next fight as Brad told me in a 411mania exclusive will be in June at the Adrenaline PPV. What a lot of people don't know about Brad Imes is that not only is he an excellent fighter who is constantly improving, but he is a movie buff and a comic collector. Imes and I discussed the problems with comics that have been made into movies. We both discussed our displeasure with Ang Lee's Hulk and Daredevil. Imes is one of the funnier more down to earth fighters you will ever meet and see. I hope at the end of this interview more of our readers begin to understand how the "Hillbilly Heartthrob" is someone you could sit down and drink a beer with. But if you are buying be prepared to pay for the whisky.
"Conditioning=Confidence"
411ManiaMr. Imes, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to join 411mania. Please tell our readers about your pre-mixed martial arts life?
Brad Imes "Before MMA I was big on football. I played for Offensive tackle for Missouri while I earned my degree in Agricultural Economics. After college I played Arena Football for the Iowa Barnstormers. I was hoping to get a contract for the NFL but that didn't work out *laughs*. I didn't really care too much for Arena Football, the pay was low and the injuries were high. It was like being tackled on concrete. I also worked as the strength and conditioning coach at Missouri and at TCU. I started training for MMA in 2004. I really didn't know that much about the sport until about 7 months before I went on TUF. grade didn't follow sport before about 7months before TUF2. I'm just being honest I wasn't that familiar with Rich Franklin before the show. "
411Mania Can you tell us what your daily routine for training is? What do you spend most of your time working on?
BI "I spend most of my time sparring with Jens Pulver and Tim Sylvia. Doing a lot of swimming. We visit TFX chiropractic, where we do functional training work with sledgehammers, flipping tires and things like that. I don't really do any real traditional lifting anymore. Which is weird because when I was in college I could bench press 565 pounds. Now if I tried to get under a bar my arms would probably snap. *laughs*, I just don't do traditional lifting anymore as my body gets older and takes a beating. I still feel just as strong though as I did back then. I also bike training with hypoxic deprivation training which increases endurance. I can really feel the difference with my endurance in the ring."
411Mania You are known for winning two straight fights via submission with the gogoplata. As a big guy myself, I have to ask how the hell did you do it?
BI "*laughs* I've been doing yoga for about seven years. I was actually introduced to it by a girl I was dating in college. When she first brought it up, I was like I'm not doing it. But my flexibility got better and when I was training with my fight with Rashad and Joe Riggs put me in it and I was like what the hell is that..he showed me and I was like I can do that. I don't do it very much in practice as they know all my tricks. I do use it in my fights though as they don't know my tricks. *laughs*"
411ManiaContrary to what would seem to be the case for such a big fighter, you have only knocked out one of your opponents but submitted seven others. So I have to ask which submission is the most painful you have ever had put on you in either training or fighting? Which is your favorite to use aside from the gogoplata?
BI "The most painful was being arm barred by Dan Christenson who broke my elbow. It didn't really hurt that much at the time, I mean I heard it crack, but after the fight it swelled up and hurt like hell. One guy I train with has no legs and he was a 3 time all American wrestler. The first time I worked with him I was like I felt bad but then I realized this guy is freakishly strong. I mean you get the crap beat out of you and your like, "damnit I got the crap out of by a guy with no legs." *laughs* the guy is a monster I tell you. He can do things that I'll never see in the ring. My favorites are Triangle chokes; I'd also like to get a flying arm bar."
411ManiaTell us do you have any pre-fight or post fight rituals?
BI "Post fight I'd put down a bottle a Jack Daniels. Pre fight I use meditation and visualization and to try focus myself. Warming up and get a good sweat going before the fight."
411Mania How do you celebrate after winning a fight?
BI "I go out with my friends and family and have a good time. Get rowdy and drink a lot. I put off drinking for five weeks before a fight so when it is over we get to have a good time."
411Mania I noticed you have a new tattoo on your chest of a Celtic cross in respect to your Irish heritage. But I have to ask you what are the initials in the cross for?
BI "When my mom passed away in Nov. 05 I got the cross with her initials…my brother, sister and I all got it one the day of her burial."
411Mania So you have a close family who supports you?
BI "Yeah. My brother and I are 13months away and my sister and I have always been close. It's funny when I started doing this my mom was like "what is it" and I was like it's like wrestling and she was like "oh..you have always loved wrestling." I started wrestling when I was five. My sister on the other hand was like "No. People actually get killed doing this" *laughs*
411Mania Most of our readers know you from your life on The Ultimate Fighter season 2. Since then the casual MMA viewer probably hasn't had a chance to see you fight. How have you changed as a fighter since then?
BI "I'm trying to improve in all aspects. The one area of the game I have trouble with is standup. I was 27 when I started training so I didn't really have the years of training that other fighters did. My wrestling background helped me pick up tae kwan do and jujitsu quicker. I think I am just more motivated now. I don't assume going in that just being big means I'll win."
411Mania I got to tell you, I noticed something in one of your pictures on Myspace. You like big trucks. Tell us about that?
BI "Yeah, I have a 78 International scout 2 convertible with a 6" lift kit on it and a 66 scout 800 in junkyard condition. I am going make the 66 trail ready. Probably going to put lift kit and boggers on it. When I was in high school I had an s-10 4x4 I couldn't get it stuck anywhere. We used to go across the street during lunch to this construction site and just run through it. I would bring my car home covered in mud and my mom would just be ready to jump my ass *laughs*."
411Mania You have expanded your horizons beyond MMA fighting into films. Tell our readers a little about that.
BI "I was in a film called Missionary Man. I shot it last February and it came out on DVD in January. The movie was written and directed and starred Dolph Lundgren. I had a great time doing it and all the people I met doing it. I always hear about actors being a bunch of pricks. There weren't though. I mean they didn't treat me like an outsider or anything."
411Mania Did you talk to Dolph about his Kickboxing experiences?
BI "Yeah I talked a lot with Dolph about Kickboxing and he has a lot of respect for what guys and I do in UFC and MMA."
411Mania You are alumni of Missouri Tigers, how do you think this season will go for your football team?
BI "We're going to win the National Championship. In reality I just want to see them beat Kansas. I mean I want them to beat them so bad that the loss is so embarrassing they shut down their program."
411ManiaIf Missouri could only win one game this year would you rather them beat Kansas or Oklahoma?
BI "If we win against Kansas only, I'll be happy and the season won't be lost. I really hate Kansas football can you tell? *laughs*"
411Mania Care to give us your predictions on the Jens Pulver vs. Uriah Faber fight on June 1st?
BI "What it's going to come down to with Jens to defending the takedowns. I don't Uriah can't hang with Jens on his feet. If he tries he will get knocked out. Jens is working on his wrestling as he comes from a wrestling background. I think Jens is more confident than ever and I would see Jens winning by TKO in the second round."
411ManiaBefore I let you get back to sparring and training, what is the one thing you want our readers to know about Brad Imes the fighter and Brad Imes the person?
BI "I don't take myself too seriously I really enjoy fighting. I work hard. You just can't take yourself too seriously in any sport. The things we do really have no bearing on the world. I mean we aren't curing cancer or anything. There are people overseas fighting and dying for us and people over there. I think people should remember them in their prayers as the real heroes."
"I know some guys can out grapple me and out strike me but when I am in peak physical condition I don't think anyone can beat me."
Quick Hits
411ManiaWorst job you ever had?
BI "General manger at landscaping Supply Company in Sacramento" 411Mania Ford or Chevy
BI" Chevy" 411ManiaWhat is something no one would guess about you?
BI"I Collect comics I love the Incredible Hulk. I'm excited about the remake with I wish they made the Abomination more like they did in the comic. "
411ManiaDo you have a guilty pleasure?
BIAlcohol. "Whisky Jack Daniels and Templeton Rye which is only made in Iowa. I drink it straight on the rocks. I mean if it tastes good why cover it up with something else."
411ManiaWho do you look up to and why?
BI"My mother. She was my biggest influence in my life. She and my stepdad raised me as I haven't seen my father since I was 9. I know my mom's watching me still so I try not to do anything to embarrass her."
411ManiaFavorite Singer?
BI "Current: Shooter Jennings big fan of older Danzig when they had Chuck Biscuits and Eerie Von Like old outlaws like Waylon and David Allen Coe. Robert Earle King"
411ManiaFavorite day off activity?
BI "I love going to baseball fan. I'm an Royals fan. They haven't been any good to watch since 1985 but I still watch them…they got beat last night by your Indians"
411ManiaFavorite movie?
BI" The Outlaw Josey Wales."
411Mania Rather have as a drinking buddy, Merle Haggard or Waylon Jennings?
BI "Waylon Jennings. Us big guys have to stick together."
411ManiaMr. Imes I want to thank you for taking time to introduce yourself to our readers and we wish you the best of luck in the future. Before we go is there anyone you want to give a shout out to?
BI "Yeah. I'd like to thank my sponsors Warrior Wear, Shocker Nutrition, Unbreakable mouthpieces. Angus Grill, Chiro Fitness Extreme in Rock Island Illinois, and all of my trainers and coaches."
