Gals Guide Talks To Tuff-N-Uff Fighter Eric Center

One of the great things about Twitter is the chance to connect with people you never, ever would have met otherwise.  Late last year, on the Twitter feed running on the Gals Guide page,  I happened to see a tweet from an amateur fighter complaining about how girls don't like or understand MMA.  Of course, I had to respond, defending us girls who actually know a thing or two about the sport.  The fighter immediately sent me an apology, and we started chatting.  That fighter was Eric Center.

Since then, we've become buddies, and when I found out he was fighting at a Tuff -N-Uff event tomorrow night, I immediately asked if he would answer some questions for me.  He was awesome enough to agree without hesitation.  He's cool like that.  :) 

Eric, first of all, how long have you been fighting?

-I have been fighting for 4 years, I'm still a baby.  

 Are you planning on going pro, and if so, when do you think that will happen?

-Absolutely, my goal is to fight as much as possible this year. Experience is extremely important. I have been fighting in Tuff-N-Uff for 2 years and I don't feel like that's enough. Also when training amateur MMA its very important to enter grappling, jui-jitsu tournaments, to do a few boxing/muay thai fights, etc. All that stuff takes time so for all you guys wanting to get into MMA don't rush turning pro because the worse feeling is that of being unprepared.

(more after the jump) 

You train at Xtreme Couture (you lucky bastard).  What's it like for you, as an amateur fighter, training around and with legends like Randy himself, Ray Sefo, and others?  Is it intimidating, or inspiring? 

-I have been at XC since it opened (4 years ago). In the beginning it was really cool because I got to see all the great fighters in action and not to mention all the MMA superstars who always would pop in. As I grew as a fighter I starting view the guys more a peers. It takes a long time to earn those guys respect but once you do they let you into the family. Now I am at the point where I view them as teammates and to some degree competition. Competition in the sense that we have to spar and roll with each other on a daily basis that is inherently competitive.  That's why we have success, because we push and respect each other.

You're also a single parent, right?  How tough is it to look after your little girl when you have her, and still manage to work and train (and/or date)?

-It can be a challenge but I have been doing it for years now so I have a system. I often take my daughter with me to the gym. She loves it and and all the fighters love her too. I think it's important that she is surrounded by positive male role models. More importantly it's crucial that she sees how real men work hard. I don't want her dating any losers when she grows up. The people I work with love that I fight and come to see me often. As far as the ladies go anybody I am with knows that I spend a lot of time in the gym. Sometimes when people have big life goals you have to stand back and watch them achieve them.

Fighter groupies: love ‘em or hate ‘em?

-I hate fighter groupies, unless they are my groupies then I love ‘em.

Ok, you meet a chick at the supermarket who is absolutely perfect in every way, and who really seems to dig you.  Do you tell her on/before the first date that you spend a great deal of time getting punched in the face?

-You got to tell them before hand because that how you get them. "Yea, I fight" "You do? you must be sore all the time, let me come give you a massage" Works every time lol

What are your views on women's MMA?  

- I have a huge respect for women who fight. True story, some of the worst beatings in the gym that I received were by the hands of women. Its takes a lot of heart and courage to step in the cage and even more so if you are a female.

If you were able to take a year to go train anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

-Thailand for the Muay Thai. I love fighting Muay Thai and it's my strongest attribute. I fought a long time for Master Toddy and loved it. The only reason I stopped was to focus 100% on MMA.

On behalf of the ladies reading this:  boxers or briefs? 

-Boxer-briefs

You were forced to drop out of a fight a couple of months ago due to an injury.  Is everything ok now?

-Everything is 100% now. When training for my current fight I slipped a disc in my neck and it was pinching a nerve in my shoulder. It sucked but it was a blessing in disguise because I was over training and really needed a break to rest my body.

Ok, tell us about your upcoming fight.  Saturday night against Rudy Morales, right?

-YES! For the first time I have a proper nutritionist and strength/conditioning coach. In the past I would spend the majority of my gym time kickboxing because that's what I am best at. For this camp I got out of my comfort zone and work on the areas that needed improvement. I was only losing fights because I never focused on the ground game but believe you me that's not going to be the case on Saturday night.

Here is your chance to directly address female MMA fans.  What would you like to tell them?

-There is a huge misconception about fighters being players and bad boys. I reality a lot of us are down to earth guys. So if you ever meet a fighter give him a chance.

I know you're a kickboxing fan, and obviously you're an MMA fan.  Who are your favorite fighters in each sport, and why?

-Jay Hieron and Ramon Dekkers. Hieron because he is like a big brother to me. We both are from NYC and he is the person who got me fighting. I used to work a blockbuster and Jay would come in and talk to me, show me his championship belts, etc. He made me realize that fighters weren't these crazy guys on the fringe of society. He for sure sparked the fire in my heart. Dekker because not only was he one of the greatest muay thai fighters of all time he did something nobody else had done. He was the first foreigner to win fighter of the year in Thailand. That's huge!

Xtreme Couture has 3 fighters in 3 different Bellator tournaments this season: Michael Chandler (155), Nik Fekete (205), and Jay Hieron (170).   Give us the inside scoop.  Are they going to make it to the finals? 

-Yes, yes, and yes! Chandler is a true specimen, the guy is shredded and nobody is working as hard as this guy is right now. Fekete is an extremely good wrestler who was originally brought in to wrestle with the fighters. Fast forward a few years and his hands are top notch. Jay Hieron is an absolute monster and if I had to place money on anybody to win it all it would be him.

Finally, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to? 

-Shout out to Xtreme Couture, my nutritionist P.R. Cole she has written for TapOut, UFC, and Fight magazine. She also has her own cooking show so Google her. My strength and conditioning coach Kui for getting me into amazing shape, Tim Lane, Ron Faizer, and all my training partners who helped me prepare for battle.

Huge, huge thanks to Eric for taking the time to answer these questions.  He takes on Rudy Morales tomorrow night at Tuff-N-Uff: The Future Stars of MMA.  The event will be on gofightlive.tv, starting at 10pm, cost $9.99.  Best of luck, Eric!!