Justin “Executioner” Levens is 6-0 going into the WEC’s 205 Tournament this Friday, putting his perfect record on the line for a chance at the vacated WEC Light Heavy Weight belt. Justin will be facing Chute Boxe USA member Jorge “Van Damme” Olivera in the first round of the 4 man tournament. Olivera, a BJJ black belt, is 1-0 and coming off a win over UFC vet Shonie Carter at WEC 13. In the other bracket of the tournament Ceaser Gracie stand out Tim “Wrecking Machine” McKenzie takes on Scott Smith who is making his debut at 205. MMA-Fighter.com caught up with Justin after he finished one of his final training sessions in preparation for the biggest fights of his career.
Brad Doerges – How is the training going?
Justin Levens – It’s going good. I’m ready to fight. I have been training for 2 months already so I’m ready to go.
Brad – Have you been training harder for this fight then for other fights in the past?
Justin – Yeah, because its two fights I’ve been pushing my cardio a lot more. Doing a lot of sprints
Brad – So why did you start training MMA?
Justin – Well I grew up on the bad streets of Philly. Then when I came to California I was always getting into trouble so I had to find something to keep me out of trouble.
Brad – So you started at Marco’s (Ruas) school?
Justin – No I Started at a school called U Extreme in Mission Viejo. I trained there for 2 years then went to the military and when I came back I started training here.
Brad – What has been your toughest fight to date?
Justin – To tell you the truth I haven’t really had a tough fight.
Brad – Yeah I’ve noticed. None of your fights have gone past the first round.
Justin – The longest fight I’ve had was like 4 minutes and the guy didn’t throw a punch or anything. Tony Lopez was the only guy who landed a punch on me but, that fight wasn’t that hard either. I think after my second fight I kinda scared people. Now they hesitate too much against me.
Brad – Where do you feel your strengths are on the ground or…?
Justin – I really don’t think my ground game is that good. My Vale Tudo ground striking and positioning is good but I prefer stand up.
Brad – I heard you trained with Jorge Olivera before?
Justin –I have been to his school a couple times. I went to his school to get ready for a Total Combat fight. I never actually trained with him but I trained at his school and he was there. They have really good training.
Brad – I got to meet Jorge one time he taught a class at my Jiu Jitsu school.
Justin – Really? His ground is really good.
Brad – Yeah. He was wearing a black belt when he taught that class.
Laughs – Yeah I knew he was a black belt or a brown belt.
Brad – Did you see his fight with Shonie (Carter)?
Justin –Yeah I was sitting next to his (Jorge) corner guys talking to them the whole time. I think it’s really good for both of us he won his first fight with a good name in the WEC and I have a good name… It’s real good for both of us.
Brad – Do you know anything about the other guys? Tim McKenzie?
Justin – No not really… I know that most of the Caesar Gracie guys are pretty tough.
Brad – Yeah he took beat Bill Mahood.
Justin – Yeah he is good but I have never seen him fight. I have never seen Scott Smith fight either.
Brad – Yeah he hasn’t fought in a year
Justin – I hope that fight takes a long time.
Brad – Well Smith is coming down from heavy so it should be a good fight. This whole card looks to be good.
Justin – Yeah there are some good fights on this card.
Brad – Vernon Tiger White is fighting (Alex) Stiebling.
Justin – I think Vernon is tough fighter and is underrated as a fighter. Vernon has a lot of heart. Vernon should take that fight.
Brad – Do you still train with Dos Caras?
Justin – No I haven’t trained with him since his fight with Mirko (Filipovic). I don’t know what happened to that guy. He trained with us for that fight and his fight with Nakamura. After he left for Japan he never called us or anything. He’s a nice guy but I think he’s done fighting.
Brad – Yeah I think he’s over it.
Justin –Actually I watching a Mexican channel and I saw him doing some pro wrestling. Lucha Libra.
Brad – He is probably better off doing that then getting his head kicked off by Mirko.
Justin – Yeah I heard he had to get 5 staples in his head from a cut he got in that fight.
Brad – Would you ever consider fighting at 185?
Justin – Yeah I think I’m actually dropping weight for my fights after this. I have been dieting a lot and doing a lot more cardio. I weight 206 right now so 185 in the future shouldn’t be a problem.
Brad – You have fought Total Combat, Gladiators Challenge, and the WEC. Who has the best ring girls?
Justin – Best ring girls? Wow…Total Combat has some really good ones… The WEC has the girl with her back all tatted up…
Brad – Oh yeah. She’s my favorite.
Justin – But Total Combat puts on a good show they have like a dance show with all the girls. I would have to go with Total Combat.
Brad – Yeah I’m going to one on Saturday near San Diego. Are you gonna be there?
Justin – I’m gonna try to make it there with my new belt. So I can show it off.
Brad – So you when you win this Friday do you win THE 205 belt or like a 205 tournament belt?
Justin – Yeah THE 205 belt because I think Jason Lambert vacated it when he went and fought in another organization.
Brad – Want to thank any of your Sponsors?
Justin – Sherdog.com, Hitman Fight Gear, Liquid Graphics, and I also want to Thank Marco.
Brad Doerges
brad@mma-fighter.com
