James TeHuna Latest Interview.

20-Feb-2010 James Te Huna is a very high ranked light heavyweight in Australia preparing for his UFC debut against Igor Pokrajac. With a great arsenal of all round MMA skills, Te Huna will lay it all on the line at UFC 110. We caught up with him to find out his thoughts on his upcoming fight and the controversy that follows him after his last fight.

Elie: Tell our readers a little bit about your background in MMA?
James: I've fought for the past 6 years in the Aussie MMA scene and have racked up 18 fights since. I've won some, lost some, been in the middle of controversial decisions, played with shoulder dislocations and coached other fighters.

Elie: You fight Igor Pokrajac on the UFC 110 card in Australia on February 21, what are your thoughts on your opponent and what do you know about your opponent?
James: Igor Pokrajac was Cro Cop’s training partner. Biggest strength is his wrestling, but he's kinda all rounded, like myself, so it should be an exciting fight. I also know I am the underdog coming into this one too. I found out he's a singer and has a song out on youtube, so he has one up on me already. (laughs).

Elie: And your predictions on the fight?
James: Igor sings his way to the octagon… (laughs) nah.. He really needs that win after coming off a loss in the UFC, so he'll be in form for this one. I'm useless with predictions. I'll tell you one thing and it'll go in the opposite direction. Igor by beatdown.

Elie: Tell us a little about your trainer/s and the team preparing you for this fight?
James: Stevie J's my coach. He's been there since day one and is also one of the closest family friends we have. I work my wrestling with Olympic wrestler Igor Praporschikov, BJJ with Heavyweight Black Belt Fabio Galeb, strength and conditioning with Craig Catterick (trainer for WBA world champ Danny Green), kickboxing with Mark Hunt, and the Mckinnon brothers at Bulldog.

Elie: You trained in the U.S. recently, how did it differ from training here in Australia?
James: You got more fighters in a gym, more quality guys to train with, give you advice on techniques, mental preparation, recovery, the list goes on. The majority of the fighters here do most of the work themselves, search for their own advice, travel to different gyms throughout the week and so on. Give us a good place in the media here in Australia and New Zealand and we'll attract more athletes, trainers, sponsors to the sport. The level will bump up then.

Elie: The UFC Light Heavyweight division is stacked with talent, how do you think you compare and what do you think you bring to the table?
James: I have no idea. You can judge me after this fight I suppose.

Elie: What was going through your head when you first found out you signed a deal with the UFC?
James: I was excited for it, but it took me only a minute before I started to plan out the next few months.

Elie: What do you think this will do for MMA in Australia, having UFC hold an event here?
James: Oh you wait! It's going to explode! More athletes, more sponsors, big fights and big shows sums it all up.

Elie: What about overseas, any interest in fighting in the U.S.?
James: I'd say I would be fighting over there eventually since I have a few fights with the UFC.

Elie: Okay let’s get onto the controversial topic of your last fight with Anthony Perosh. You stomped him after the fight had ended, which shocked me when I saw it, because I’ve known you for a while and can’t picture you doing something like that, what are your thoughts or reasons?
James: I had a whole heap of personal reasons/issues leading into that fight, but what it comes down to is this, I lost it, and everyone's done it at least once in their life time.

Elie: He obviously wasn’t very happy about the situation, do you think he has a right to be upset and what did you do to fix the issue?
James: He would have been upset alright! I knocked him out in the first round in front of his students, family, friends and then threw an illegal stomp.

Elie: Were you fined or anything of that sort? Do you think the punishment was harsh enough? If the tables were turned and you were stomped after the fight had finished, what would you like to see be done by the promoters or officials?
James: I did get punished and I was fined for that action. I got off lightly, but I guess it was judged over my personality and sportsmanship that I have given to the sport prior to this incident since the start of my career. If I had been in that situation I'd be asking for a rematch off the promoter, but that's just me, everyone has there own way of trying to get back at someone.

Elie: What made you want to step into Mixed Martial Arts?
James: It came from watching Kung Fu movies when I was a kid. Bruce Lee was the man. Fighting guys with different styles, this was always going to be fun to watch. So when I came across a couple of the early UFC tapes I had to have a go.

Elie: What’s your MMA record?
James: 14 wins, 3 losses.

Elie: Do you remember the first time you fought in a cage? Tell us about the nerves, your mind, etc.?
James: (laughs), Oh… nervous as hell! The last words you hear before you fight are from the ref 'are you ready' and the first answer that came to my mind was NO, but my head bloody nods (laughs). I hated it, but now it's the stage I love most about fighting. Seeing that person on the other side that wants to take your dreams away from you. That gives me a huge rush and a massive drive to send him back home.

Elie: You had a really bad shoulder injury, you had surgery, how is the shoulder now?
James: All good, no problems and its back to how it was when I first started fighting.

Elie: What is your most memorable fight?
James: The fight against Takahiro Oba from Japan is hard to forget especially, when everyone always asks me how my shoulder is (laughs). I fought this guy, popped my own shoulder out attempting a sweep, corner man popped it back in and won by decision.

Elie: What goes through your mind as you stare at your opponent before the fight?
James: I start counting down from 10 (laughs). I get tunnel vision on the guy standing in front of me. I've already been through this fight before a hundreds times in my head, so it's just a matter of putting everything to play.

Elie: What’s your training schedule like when preparing for a fight?
James: Depending on who I'm fighting and what injuries I'm carrying, it always changes. If I run into a wall 2 days in a row I'll take 2 off.
Monday 6am run, core work, 11am sparring, 5pm Ground and Pound.
Tuesday 6am sprints, core work, 10am strength, 4pm Pad work, 6pm wrestling/BJJ.
Wednesday 9am Sauna, 5pm Sparring.
Thursday 6am run, core work, 10am strength, 6pm wrestling.
Friday 6am sprints, core work, 10am strength, 4pm Padwork, BJJ.
Saturday 10am sparring, 4pm Sauna.

Elie: Is there anyone in particular that you’d like to fight here in Australia?
James: Well after that last interview you done with Anthony, you would think it would be him (laughs). No one here interests me at this time.

Elie: What are your thoughts on people who think the sport of MMA is barbaric?
James: Un-educated.

Elie: What does competing, fighting mean to you?
James: Oh it means a lot, especially with the level I'm at now. Before I started I was the clumsiest Maori boy you would know... well... I'm still clumsy, that probably explains my run with injuries (laughs).

Elie: So what do you do for fun?
James: Just chill out with family, friends. Holiday after fights - I love those!

Elie: What are your goals for the future?
James: To help other athletes achieve their goals.

Elie: Anyone final words?
James: Big thanks to my sponsors Elias at Pain Away, Winga at EFG, Craig & Shivaun Excessive Force, Phils Fitness & Bodyduilding, and Mitch Dezigna Driveways.

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