Yesterday, I presented my chat with Cole Escovedo and discussed his meteoric rise through regional promotions all the way to the WEC to his fall from three losses to Jens Pulver, Antonio Banuelos, and Urijah Faber. In addition, he suffered from a staph infection that required spinal surgery and left him paralyzed for a stretch of time. Finally, we chronicled his triumphant return to action against Michael McDonald.

Today, we take a more humorous look at some of the personal things in "The Apache Kid's" life, in addition to some more thoughts from Cole.

UPDATE: Per Cole's Twitter, he was cut by the UFC today. From all of us at Gals Gude, we wish Cole the best of luck and look forward to seeing him in a ring, cage, or whatever he is interested in pursuing. I am a fan and always will be, Mr. Escovedo. Good luck and sorry for the recent news.

Mountaineer: Fast forward a few years off of your comeback tour, if you will, and you are fighting in the biggest organization (at the time) in Japan at DREAM 13 against Yoshiro Maeda. You always get this sense of awe from fighters in reaction to the fighting culture of Japan. What was it like for you in terms of fanfare and pre-fight experience?

Cole: It was one of the most fun, humbling experiences I've ever had being in MMA. The fans over there are crazy but in a good way. They are extremely respectful and love you being there fighting for them. I had one lady hang her kid, couldn't have been more than 6, over the edge of a railing just so I could take a pic with him. It took me 45 minutes after the Maeda fight just to get from the ring back to the locker rooms. And the people there taking pics would literally beat you back to the hotel with the film developed already waiting for you to sign it! It was awesome.

Mountaineer: After your fight, were there any special moments from the Japanese fans or even the DREAM officials backstage?

Cole: Nothing special from the officials. They just want the same thing Dana and the UFC want. They want good, exciting fights and they express it accordingly backstage. If you do your job well, you'll hear it. If you don't, you'll hear it. Every job has its bosses and your expected to do it accordingly. If not, the boss will not be happy! No different there.

Mountaineer: With all the recent drama regarding pay and the decline of Japanese MMA, do you still have any interest in returning there for a fight?

Cole: I honestly loved fighting there...but the pay problem is a problem. If the UFC put me on the Japan card, I'd love to go back. It was an excellent experience in my life and wouldn't pass up the opportunity as long as I'm guaranteed getting paid.

More talk with Cole Escovedo after the jump!

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MMA is a sport filled with false bravado and superfluous machismo, with many fighters' personalities bordering on professional wrestling-like caricatures. In some cases, it should be lauded and taken with a grain of salt, as it is a technique to sell tickets and buys on pay-per-view. Others, the fighters begin to become polarized figures in the sport. Their persona bleeds over from the arenas to the interviews on television and during training camps.

In a sport filled with braggadocio and hype, it was such a refreshing thing to get to talk to Cole Escovedo. The guy is honest about where he is in the sport and doesn't make ridiculous excuses about fighting with cracked skulls or anything in that realm. Coming off of three tough losses, Cole is looking to make his next fight in the UFC a memorable victory. In the mean time, I caught up with Cole to talk about his career and personal life.

Mountaineer: Cole, how are you doing? How is training and what is new in the world of the Apache Kid?

Cole: I have a crushed septum, so as good as can be. Haven't had too much training lately. Can't have any contact 'till after the surgery is done so gonna go in and keep cardio and technique up. And nothing "new" just spending time with my daughter and at my iPhone shop. Gonna get some christmas shopping done and hope I get a call soon for a fight date.

Mountaineer: Well, there is some good and bad in that. The down time sounds good, but I'm sure you get antsy for a fight. What were some of your initial thoughts after your bout with Alex Caceres? Did you immediately feel like you were going to be sidelined for a bit? And how do you feel about him as a fighter after that fight?

Cole: My thought after the Alex fight...disappointed, very disappointed with my performance. Even had I won, I wouldn't have been happy. I honestly thought I would get cut from the UFC after that performance. I think 135 is a good class for him but wouldn't be against fighting him again! Just sayin'!

More of my chat with Cole Escovedo after the jump!

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Friday was a first for us at Gals Guide, as we got a thank you email from Chael Sonnen for his Pantydropper of the Week mention.  While we have been thanked by honorees in the past, this is our first thank you from someone who earned a 1.   (Perhaps he thought we were working on a backwards scale?)  

Feeling emboldened by Chael's email, we decided to throw the dice and ask him if he'd answer our "silly little questions".  Never one to turn down a chance to talk about himself, he said yes.  Love him or hate him, it's impossible to read the answers to these questions and not realize that Chael Sonnen knows EXACTLY how to cultivate his persona and push people's buttons.  He's gotta be one of the savviest men in MMA, and, while I'm still not a fan, I've got to admit that he's damn entertaining.

1.     When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to stay 10 years old, AND be President. Still want both. Want to play with that pretty red button on my new desk....... 

2.     If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

The ability to make my e-mail address invisible to Hack journalists 

3.     What is the worst way you can think of to have to spend an evening?

Answering inane questions sent to me by strangers

4.     Better for your ego: A big-boobed hot blond on your arm or a Ferrari in the garage?

What is your theoretical Blonde doing "on my arm"? Hanging on it? Biting it? Sleeping under it? Tieing it off, and shooting dope into it? And what model Ferrari? What year? What condition? 

5.     What song is currently playing on your iPod?

 I only listen to vinyl albums. Favorite song is "Cowgirl in the Sand" by Neil Young.

6.     What is your favorite curse word?

"Commissioner"

7.     Why do you thing wrestling is the Achilles heel of so many MMA fighters?

  ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

8.     What is your favorite movie?

"APOCALYPTO". I'm babysitting my two neices, age 5 & 7. We're watching it right now.

9.     Do these jeans make my butt look big?

See answer #7 above

10.  If you could only listen to one band/musician for the rest of your life, who would it be?

Husker Du

11.  Do you ever get in touch with your feminine side?  If so, how?

I've got my "Feminine side" upstairs right now. And my "Feminine Front", and maybe, if I play my cards right, my "Feminine Back". I'll let you know how things turn out.

12.  Which actor would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

Charles Dutton

13.  What would the title of that movie be?

"Inherit the Wind" 

14.  Who would you rather humiliate in the Ocatgon?  Michael Bisping or Anderson Silva?

Not really into the whole humiliation thing. You may need to go get some counseling. You're starting to freak me out. Are you wearing a pink dog-collar right now?

15.  Will you be my boyfriend?         

You’re proving my point. 

16.  What was your first job?

Slaughterhouse work. 14 years old. Blood, filth, fear. Like now.

17.  Would you rather be President of the United States or the lead singer of a rock band?

Your themes are becoming depressingly redundant. If you're out of gas, pull over. Don't wait in the middle lane for me to save you. You're gonna get wrecked.

18.  You just won $50 million in the lottery.  What’s the first thing you buy?

I would buy the website you work for and make you the Janitor for a week, then fire you.

19.  What is your worst habit?

Being patient with unimaginative people 

20.  Before you take us to bed or lose us forever, what would you like to say to the gals who are fans of MMA?

      Hi, Ladies. Enjoy yourselves. Life is short.

Photo Source: Sherdog

Anyone who reads our site regularly remembers our Nick Ring love-fest during TUF 11.  One delightful man managed to turn the MMA world upside down with such classic moments as "Oh no you didn't!" and post-workout massages for his teammates.  Well, let me tell you something guys.  While they were busy being uncomfortable and trying to figure out if he was gay,  the ladies were busy falling in love.

Nick is super busy getting ready for his UFC 127 debut against Riki Fukuda, but he managed to take some time out of his busy day to answer our silly questions.

 
Quit struggling!!!  This will be painful but quick.

Every morning my day starts with a visit to two sites, Bloody Elbow and MiddleEasy.   Zeus, the main man behind Middle Easy has always been really supportive of our site which earns him two Beth and Donna bosom hugs on the spot.  But he's always been super mysterious as well.  For a long time, I believed he was a self aware computer in a bunker in the Arizona desert.  However, his answers to these questions would have me think differently.  I reserve judgment until we meet at the Fan Expo in Boston.

1.       So, what are you wearing?

I'm wearing a red 'Team Korea' shirt some drunk guy gave me at ESPNZone in downtown LA the night KJ Noons' dad nearly choked me out. Shorts, Hurley sandals and years of childhood resentment.

2.       When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A responsible adult so I can watch a rated R movie without my parents telling me to close my eyes when a sex scene would come on.

3.       If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

The power to make any parking attendant immediately explode on contact if they issue a ticket to my vehicle. 

4.       What is the worst way you can think of to have to spend an evening?

Knowing that the following morning, an asteroid will hit earth and make all life on earth extinct and erase all signs of human civilization from the planet. I think that is the absolute worst way to spend an evening.

5.       I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that.  What is that?

I've been in love once and the chick sat me down at her parents' house to tell me she was turning lesbian and then offered me some Korean BBQ afterward. It's a little hard to eat BBQ knowing that a chick you loved has elected to go with the same sex over you.

6.       What song is currently playing on your iPod?

Bjork - Declare Independence solely because I'm blown away that DREAM used that song in conjunction with footage of the bombing of Pearl Harbor to cut a promo for Dream 14.

7.       What is your favorite curse word?

 [expletive] 

8.       What is your favorite movie?

Airheads, since it's impossible not to watch when it comes on television.

9.       Do these jeans make my butt look big?

Only in a good way. The best way, of course.

10.   If you could take two weeks off, where would you go?

I would travel back in time exactly one day before I had this hypothetical two weeks off and forever be caught in a time loop of relaxation.

11.   If you could only listen to one band/musician for the rest of your life, who would it be?

Undoubtedly Wu-Tang Clan. They taught me everything I needed to know about everything I needed to know.

12.   Will you be my boyfriend?

I'm a complete nutcase. Have you actually read MiddleEasy? I reference my ex-girlfriends at least once a week.

13.   Do you ever get in touch with your feminine side?  If so, how?

I cross-dress, occasionally. My attempts to get Ben Fowlkes from MMAFighting to hop on the bandwagon have been futile thus far.

14.   Which actor would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

Any cast member off the movie Gummo would do just fine.

15.   Do you dig chicks with tattoos?

I'm covered with them, so of course. I actually dig chicks without tattoos too. My standards include chicks with or without tattoos. 

16.   Would you rather be President of the United States or the lead singer of a rock band?

President of the United States. Apparently it looks better on your resume. 

17.   What was your first job?

Cart cleaner at a golf course. I worked with an older guy named Otis. He would tell me that the world is hollow and inside the planet is an inner-earth filled with giants and large fruit. Otis said the only way you could enter the hollow earth is from the south pole. A few months later, Otis left the golf course to embark on an expedition to the south pole. He left me his old Ford Mustang which I still have parked in my parent's garage to this day. 

18.   You just won $50 million in the lottery.  What’s the first thing you buy?

I would pay Melvin Manhoef the $700 I owe him. Life is not good when you owe a guy with the highest KO ratio in MMA history money. 

19.   What is your worst habit?

Saying the name 'Sexyama' in a Boston accent. Try it, it's ridiculous.

20.   Before you take us to bed or lose us forever, what would you like to say to the ladies who are fans of MMA?

Continue to watch as much MMA as possible and in the words of Dan Quinn 'Ladies, whoever does date me will be rewarded when the scientific community finally wakes up and validates that I actually have the ability to turn water into fuel'.

If you've spent more than 5 minutes reading our site, then you know how much we love Amir Sadollah.  Not just a "Hey, yeah, he's a great fighter" love.  No, it's more of a "Sweet Jesus, I love him so much.  Do you think he loves me too?" adoration that the Gals haven't possessed since the New Kids on the Block adorned every available space on our bedroom walls.  In case you're interested, Donna was a Jordan girl and I was Donnie super freak.

Now who can think of a better person to answer our 20 questions?  I surely can't.  Which is why we are super duper excited that he took time out from his busy (pantydropping) schedule to play our game. And by super duper excited I mean squeals, hugs, tears (Donna's, not mine), and general revelry.  What more can I say?  Actually, I can say quite a bit more.  However, I will spare you all my rambling and get down to business.

1. When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

11. I did not aim high.

2. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

hmmm... the ability to.... come up... with... snappy answers to.... interview questions.

3. What is the worst way you can think of to have to spend an evening?

Sitting in traffic. Or doing my taxes. Shit what if you were in traffic on the way to do your taxes? Game over, man.

4. Would you rather be the President of the United States or the lead singer of a rock band?

I will aim to do both. Vote Amir in 2012. Because he rocks.

5. Normally we ask if you’d be willing to beat up Donna’s archnemesis, CB Dollaway for us. But since you’ve already done that twice (holla!), tell us, were his tears extra salty?

I would first be interested to hear how that rivalry started.

6. I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that. What is that?

Do her taxes.

7. What is the first thing you check out when you meet a woman? Don’t say personality, it doesn’t count and it would be a lie.

I won't and it would be. Probably long arms. Not like freakishly long, but at least kind of long. My kid's gonna be a striker dang it.

8. What song is currently playing on your iPod?

Meh... Something cool.

9. Do you dig chicks with tattoos?

Sure. Also I like girls with eye patches. Weird, but I needed to get that out.

10. What is your favorite curse word?

I just learned a new one in Dutch. Kut. It's exactly what it sounds like.

11. The Ultimate Fighter house: Monotonous sausage fest or awesome male bonding time?

Definitely a dude ranch, but still fun.

12 What is your favorite movie?

Ghostbusters.

13. Do these jeans make my butt look big?

No, but the bedazzled initials on the butt looks like a balloon you wrote on before you blew it up.

14. What is the first thing you want to eat after cutting weight?

Usually, everything. At once. I continue to make the mistake of trying a pizza, steak, ice cream, and pasta smoothie. Maybe I'll get it right next time.

15. If you could only listen to one band/musician for the rest of your life, who would it be?

Man.... I thought I dodged this subject after the ipod question. Um... Tom Jones?

16. Will you be my boyfriend?

I'll have to ask my girlfriend. She'll probably be down. Or punch me in the mouth. Either way, I get a workout.

17. Do you ever get in touch with your feminine side? If so, how?

My lawyers have advised against any public discussion of that incident.

18. Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

Probably Joe Don Baker, from the 70's.

19. Does our complete adoration for you make you uncomfortable?

Nope, because I didn't read this until the end of the interview.

20. Before you take us to bed or lose us forever, what would you like to say to the gals who are fans of MMA?

I would say I appreciate you so much I'm not even going to make a sexist joke here. I think you know a sport has arrived when girls are fans too. :)

Photo courtesy of Sherdog.

Nate Quarry is a busy man.  So busy, in fact, that he only had time to answer 10 of our questions.  But as a Pantydropper of the Week alumni, he could really get away with anything in our eyes.  We're easy that way.

Be sure to keep up with the splendor that is Nate Quarry by checking out his website.  You can also follow his Twitterings @NateRockQuarry.  Funny stuff, we promise.

1. When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

The leader of the Rebel Alliance

2. What is your favorite curse word?

So many to choose from, I love them all. 

3. Would you rather be the lead singer of a rock band or President of the United States?

Lead singer easy. Get all those women and your job involves sitting around drinking? I chose the wrong career.

4. Jersey Shore. Portrays all Italian Americans in a bad light or a rip-roaring good time?

Never watched it. But I generally laugh at people living up to their stereotypes.

5. Do you ever get in touch with your feminine side? If so, how?

Uh... this is embarrassing but I got caught watching "He's Just Not that into You". I just wanted to know if they'd find true love. Is that so wrong?

6. If you could only listen to one musician/band for the rest of your life, who would it be?

Wow, that's a tough one. Because my musical tastes are all over the place. The last two cds I bought were Jay Z's Black Album and Cat Steven's Greatest Hits. I'm usually listening to real chill stuff. Quiets the voices in my head...

7. If you could have any superpower what would it be?

To control time. Make the good times last forever.

8. Will you be my boyfriend?

Can you cook? Requirements to be my girlfriend, be strong, athletic, quick witted, loving, intelligent and be willing to date a closet nerd. 

9. What actor would you like to play you in the movie about your life?

 Hmm... I've actually been thinking about this as, and no one knows this, I just wrote a short story/movie script with aspects of my life as the lead character. But I just can't think of anyone with my dry sense of humor and intensity... suggestions? (I'd say Andre the Giant if he was still with us)

10. Before you take us to bed or lose us forever, what would you like to say to the gals who are fans of MMA? 

You are my favorite demographic :-)