Brad Doerges: How’s the training going?

Nam Phan: So far so good. With a couple of days till the fight it’s kinda calming down a little bit.

Brad: So who are you training with right now? Are you still with Franco (de Camargo)?

Nam: No me and Franco we had a disagreement, we couldn’t see eye to eye so we split. I stay away from Franco. I train with Marcio Feitosa for Jiu Jitsu with a gi and for no gi I mostly train with Jeremy Williams. For boxing I train with Art James at Westminster Boxing.

Brad: How did you get started in MMA?

Nam: I did Karate since I was a kid for like 8 1/2 years… I also wrestled in high school… I did Jiu Jitsu with Franco for about 5 years… I watched the UFC since I was a kid… I always wanted to do it… So when I started training Jiu Jitsu I told Franco that I wanted to be a fighter because I knew he could get me into some underground fights.

Brad: So who are you fighting this Sunday? I can’t seem to find it anywhere. I have read lots of rumors including San Shou Legend Cung Le.

Nam: (Laughs) That’s Amazing! I saw that. Somebody emailed me that. I was like what are you talking about? I’m not gonna fight my Vietnamese brother.

Brad: Yeah he might be a little big for you too.

Nam: Yeah a little big a little buff you know. Yeah it was a thread on Sherdog. Some of the guys had my back though on the thread so I was pretty happy. I ‘m not challenging any Vietnamese people including Cung Le, he’s a pretty big guy, would probably kick my ass. (Laughs) But at 155 it might be a different story! I probably still wouldn’t fight him. I’m not trying to fight my brothers.

Brad: I heard that you recently grappled with Bill Cooper at Never Tap. How did that go?

Nam: It went very good. Bill Cooper is a very very seasoned grappler. You know I have fought him about 5 times now. The first time I beat him he was only like 16. It was 4-4 in the end but I beat him on an advantage. But the rest of the time he’s has had my number. He’s beat me the other 4 times.

Brad: He’s pretty slick on the ground.

Nam: He’s not bad on the ground. He’s not bad at all. I talked to him he’s telling me he’s gonna do some MMA. Let’s see him pull some half guard shit on me in MMA. (Laughing) I know you are a reporter I just want to let everyone know that me and Bill are friends and I have no animosity towards Bill at all we are buddies. I’m just talking a little trash, nothing personal.

Brad: Did you send the UFC a video for The Ultimate Fighter Season 2?

Nam: You know I was thinking of doing TUF. I think I would do very well but they don’t really have my weight class. All of the guys would be bigger than me. I’m 145 and I have to gain weight to fight at 155. I’m pretty light for my weight class but I train a lot of technique. I think the biggest reason why I didn’t apply for TUF was that I just got accepted to Cal State Fullerton and I just want to finish school. After I graduate I just wan t to really focus on fighting and try to get to Pride and stuff. No distractions.

Brad: Now is a good time to go to Pride with Bushido having that great 155 division…

Nam: I think I would do very well. Get a little more experience and train some more technique. In a couple years I could probably dominate that division.

Brad: Have you ever thought about fighting at 145?

Nam: No no no no no. I fight because I enjoy fighting. Back in high school and college the coach made me cut weight so much that it got to the point that I didn’t enjoy wrestling any more because cutting weight was so serious. I would be torturing myself to get down to 145 and if I was cutting that much weight I wouldn’t enjoy it as much. I like to eat. I like to eat bad un-athletic food. A lot of Tommy’s chili fries and Popeye’s fried chicken.

Brad: Want to thank any of your Sponsors?

Nam: OC Tattoo, NorthStar, Hawaiian Grill, Lake Elsinore Casino, Albaproembroidory.com, Constellation Stereo, cafe’PM/Stars Karaoke Studio, Associated Laboratories , Full Contact Fighter , Sickenlaw , Subfighter.com, Apex Jiu Jitsu, Gracibarrausa.com, Westminster Boxing DG , Bite me mouth guards, and all the guys from Ma Du Entertainment. They have been down with me from day one and they help me out with everything. Oh yeah and MMA-Fighter.com Fo Sure!

Brad: Thanks for the interview see you Sunday.

Nam: You the Man Brad! Have a good one.

Brad Doerges
brad@mma-fighter.com

http://mma-fighter.com/forum/threads/9884-Nam-Phan-Interview-By-Brad-Doerges

Tagged as: KOTC, MMA