I had the chance to speak with Abe Alvarado about his upcoming bout Friday at the Rocky Mountain Bad Boys show. Look for him to make waves on the local scene…

FF: Abe I know you’re an amateur and Nick (Buschman) has been speaking highly of you, How long have you been fighting?

AA: I’ve been fighting for a yeah and a half now. I just started in October of 2009.

FF: What’s your record look like?

AA: 6 – 2 now. I fought quite a bit in the last year and a half, but I feel like it’s been a good experience. It’s been the right pace for me…I just fought in New Mexico, I’m  taking fights for the right reasons.

FF: Do you just train all the time to be ready to fight, or do you give yourself a certain amount of time off between fights? What’s your training model like?

AA: You know, I’ve worked hard all my life, being an athlete. I wrestled for eighteen years of my life. I trained every day. That was my model, to train hard, try to be the best. Now that I’m training for MMA, I have been trying to get into that same groove that I used to be in. I train as much as I can and when a fight comes about I am ready for it. I train as much as possible and stay in fighting shape.

FF: You mentioned Wrestling, can you tell me about your strengths as a fighter?

AA: In High School I was a standout prep athlete. I was an All American. I had one of the best records in Colorado I was 148 – 2 as a High School wrestler. I won State three times, and runner up once. I went to UNC on a scholarship. As a wrestler, I accomplished a lot. I would say I worked hard for everything I got. I come from a family of wrestlers and we all worked hard and worked together to make each other good.

FF: What do you know about your opponent? 

AA: Matt Manzanares…I actually fought him in my second fight. I was fresh then and didn’t know a lot and he caught me in an arm bar (first round). I didn’t know much about Jui Jistsu then. I took him down and controlled him made a mistake and he caught me. I know that he’s a tough guy. He’s been fighting much longer than me, and I know that his strengths are on the ground too. This time around I’m going to have better control. My last fight in New Mexico, the guy had me in three separate arm bars and I escaped every one of them. The way I have been training lately, I’ll be ready for it. Matt Manzanares, he’s a good fighter and he has experience. This will be a good fight.

FF: So are you planning on this fight going to the ground regardless?

AA: He’s probably expecting me to take it to the ground, but I’ve been working my hands a lot. We work at a boxing gym. My stand up is getting better, I’m comfortable on my feet. There’s going to be a lot more movement and more aspects to the fight than just ground.

FF: So were you offered your opponent, or did it just work out that you were fighting him again?

AA: Yeah, I just fought three weeks ago in New Mexico and on my way back I was asked if I wanted this rematch…and it’s for the 135 pound title. So I’m looking to come in here and dominate and be the champion.

FF: Didn’t you already take a belt?

AA: Yes. The Bad Boys 125 pound belt. I fought Randall Schuckman for that belt.

FF: 25’s ?

AA: Yeah, it was a light weight, but at that time I was able to make 25’s. Now that I’m bigger, it’s harder to get down to 25’s. When I started fighting, I felt like the 35’s were a little too big for me, but most of my fights have been at 35 and I feel like I’ve been doing pretty good. But if I have to drop to 25, my diets good, my work ethic is good so it wouldn’t be a problem if I needed to.

FF: We touched on your amateur record here a bit. Any planned timeframe for making the jump to pro?

AA: I plan on going pro soon. By this summer.

FF: So do you work as well?

AA: Yes. I’m actually in the refrigeration business. I have been working at an ice plant for the last five years. I do a lot of mechanical work on compressors.

FF: So full time work and training?

AA: Yeah, and the kicker is I have twin boys on the way!

FF: Wow, nice. You’re going to have your hands full.

AA: Laughs..yeah, I’m going to have to mix that all into my life pretty soon here.

So what would you be doing if you weren’t fighting?

AA: I think I would be coaching wrestling. Since I got out of college it’s been a little hard to jump back into it, but I’m starting to settle down more and coaching would be a great way for me to go. Considering I know the sport and I’ve done it for so long. I feel with my success, it would be something good I could give back to the kids and anyone who is trying to become something good in that sport.