Quelle: www.BloodyKnux.com
Tim Sylvia is returning to the UFC to fight Tra Telligman at UFC 54 on August 20. This fight has the potential to be a very entertaining battle. I was lucky enough to catch up with Tim Monday night. For a 6' 8" 270 lb bad ass he's a very friendly, smart, easy going guy. We talked a little about his upcoming fight with Tra and about his future in MMA. He shared his thoughts on some of his teammates and he had a few words for a couple other fighters. We also talked about how he's seen by his fellow fighters and by the fans as well as his thoughts on the current UFC Heavyweight Title situation. Once again, I would like to thank Tim for the taking the time to answer a few questions for us.


BM: We're only five days away from UFC 54 and your fight with Tra Telligman. Has training been going good?

TS: Yeah.

BM: So no injuries to be worried about. Are you going to be 100% when you step into the Octagon?

TS: You bet.

BM: Right on. I don't know if you knew this but when Sportsbook.com opened the odds for this fight they had you as the underdog.

TS: Yeah, I did know that actually.

BM: Was that kind of a surprise to you?

TS: It is surpising but I'll just roll with it, you know? My fans and friends and family can make alot of money off this.

BM: Do you think it's because this is expected to be more of a stand up fight and Tra has been focusing more on boxing than MMA lately.

TS: Yeah, you know that would be my guess because I think he's a boxer more now and I'm a stand up fighter and I'm gonna stand up with him and they think he's gonna knock me out or whatever.

BM: You've only been in MMA now for about 4 or 5 years now professionally and you've already won the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Do yu think you've already reached your peak, or have we yet to see the best out of Tim Sylvia?

TS: You haven't seen the best of Tim Sylvia yet, you know. I've got a new personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach, Billy Rush.

on myself and my ability's up so look forward in the next year to see a new Tim Sylvia.

BM: Tra has been in MMA for about twice as long as you. Do youthink his experience will be a factor at all?

TS: No, not all.

BM: If you're successful vs Tra, is there anybody you have your sights set on next?

TS: I definitely have my sights set on Andre Arlovski, you know. I think everybody knows that he's got my belt and I'm coming after it. Once I get a few more wins out of the way, then I wanna get it on with him. I don't know what's going to happen with Mir, but I'd definitely like a rematch with Mir. I think he just got lucky the first time so I'd like to take care of some unfinished business with him.

BM: The UFC just officially stripped Mir of the Heavyweight belt and made Andre the undisputed champ. What do you think about that?

TS: I think that's a good call. I think it was a bad move for Mir to come back and fight Arlovski right away because we don't know how big of an issue his health is gonna be anyway. So you know, it's a smart business move for the UFC to do that. Mir beat me and Arlovski beat me, and I didn't think either one would beat me, they might as well give one of them the belt.

BM: Where do you see yourself five years from now in regards to the sport? Will you still be fighting? Coaching?

TS: I don't think I'll be fighting in five more years. Unless my body holds up really well. Maybe if I'm in Randy Couture condition then maybe so. I'm just hoping this sport grows and I'm able to retire off the sport, you know. Then maybe get into acting or something along those lines that's not so hard on your body.

BM: Tank Abbott is the latest fighter to cross over from the UFC to Pride. Do you have any thoughts on that?

TS: I think he'll do OK over in Pride. It's Tank Abbott and what he does is just go up there and swings for the fences and tries to knock somebody out.

BM: Who has been the biggest influence on your mixed martial arts career?

TS: Probably Jeremy Horn and Pat Miletich.

BM: What fight are you most excited for at UFC 54, your fight versus Tra or Jeremy's fight versus Chuck?

TS: I'd be lying if I said him. I'm ready to fight. I've been training my ass off. Ican't wait. At the same time you know I'm looking forward to Jeremy and Chuck getting it on. I'm also looking forward to St Pierre and Trigg.

BM: Yeah, that should be a war too. Who are you picking in that one?

TS: I'm hoping Trigg takes it.

BM: Your teammate Justin Eilers got banged up pretty good in his fight with Andre. How has he been doing?

TS: I haven't been home. I was out in Vegas for five weeks and went home for a couple days and then I came immediatly right to Utah so I haven't really been home in like two months. But from what I've heard he's doing OK and he's having a good recovery.

BM: We here at BloodyKnux hope to see him back in action soon. Are there any up and coming fighters at Miletich Martial Arts that we should be looking out for in the near future?

TS: Yeah, there's a few. Spencer Fisher, Rory Malcolm, and Ryan McGivern. Those three right off the top of my head.

BM: The internet can be a be a two sided sword. it's certainly helped keep MMA alive and increase its fanbase the last few years. However, internet fans are quick to count out the biggest names in the sport after one loss, but if a guy gets a decent win he becomes the biggest thing since sliced bread. Alot of fans thought you were overrated when you won the UFC heavyweight title. Now it looks like alot of people are underrating you. Having been at both ends of the spectrum, where do you think you belong in the eyes of the fans and in the heavyweight ranks?

TS: I'm definitely in the top ten or top five in the US, or in the world actually I think. I have a pretty good record and none of those guys were bums. To a guy that thinks I suck, at least fight one fight and train for at least three months for a fight to see what it's all about. You just can't get on a computer and judge people. If you get on one of them MMA sites and they're all pros, like highlighted in green at MMAweekly and stuff, if they're the ones saying I suck then that's a different story because and they've been there and they klnow what it's all about. I'm not worried about the average fan. I just care about my true fans. My true fans are the ones that when they first saw me fight they loved me and they've been by my side ever since. There's fans that jump on the bandwagon when you win and jump off the bandwagon when you lose, I don't care about those kind of people.

BM: Alright, well thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for us, man. I know you're busy training. Good luck Saturday night.

TS: No problem, man. Thanks alot.

- Brian Miller (OB Juan)