Facing tough up and comer Michael Mathews this Friday is one
game Brian Maronek…

FF: Brian, for those that don’t know you, can you give us a
little background on yourself and your record?

BM: Most of my fights have been out of state. My fights here
in Colorado, I have had some drawbacks but they were on some of the bigger
promotions. They still give me motivation, so Im not really looking at the
record but more what its taught me and I keep trucking along. This being a
title fight, the records not going to matter a lot.

FF: So who’s been your toughest opponent so far?

BM: I would say my last fight. I fought Josh Cole out of Ed
Herman’s camp. I fought him In Wyoming…even in the dominant position I had him
in, I lost the position and he basically took my arm with him. Side lined me
for a while. I made me really learn technique over power. I really felt like I
had that and then after losing. Watching him fight again last week…he was
definitely my toughest opponent.

FF: I see your training out of 303, what’s the training like
over there?

BM: Honestly, it’s a family martial arts center, but we have
Duane Ludwig there and its one of the most amazing places you can go. We have
fighters that come through, but for the most part, it’s a family Jiu Jitsu
oriented gym. What I love about the place is the way they don’t care who you
are, whatever your goal is, they are going to help you reach it. A lot of gyms
have hidden agendas and this place isn’t like that. They’re really there to
help you with whatever goal you come in the door with.

FF: Cool man, and did you train at Zingano’s as well?

BM: You know, that place preaches a lot about honor and
respect, but behind closed doors, that’s just not what they’re doing. They
really tried to make me look bad and make up things about me that weren’t true.
I’m guilty of wanting to train with Matt Simms, he taught me Jiu Jitsu. When
Maricio opened up his gym in Brighton we welcomed him with open arms. We had
Strictly Boxing there, gave him numerous amounts of students, we respected him
and over time he started showing his true colors. I just have a problem with
people out to get money. One of my training partners, they lost because he
couldn’t pay them enough money. So yeah, I trained there, I trained in
Brighton. One of the best experiences I ever had was training with Matt Simms
and we became close. When Maricio saw that I didn’t want to train with him
anymore he wasn’t okay with that. I then moved to Wyoming and then things changed
up a lot.

FF: So you’re facing Michael Mathews and as we both know, he
is just working his way through opponents. How are you viewing this fight with
Michael?

BM: For me, when I saw Michael I knew I wanted to fight him.
I asked for this fight and I finally feel like Im fighting another martial
artist. Someone who’s really trying to grow, someone who really loves it. And
someone who will do it for free. Laughs…He’s just awesome at it, and there’s
not a lot of guys like that. A lot of guys come with a lot of hype, a lot of
baggage, this guy is truly a martial artist and he will fight for free.
Tomorrow. No notice, he will do it. That’s who I want to fight, people who are
here for the right reasons.

FF: Cool man, so what do you have to do to win this fight?

BM: …Be patient. Listen to my coaches. If I do those two
things, I don’t think there will be an issue standing or on the ground.

FF: Anything you have been focusing on for this fight?

BM: Just mental. Like when I fought Josh, there was a point
in there that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to fight, but still wanted to fight,
and I remember seeing him in the cage and him being ready with his coaches
yelling at him and I was there alone and scared. Being scared and still able to
do some good things in that fight, telling myself that I had to fight and then
before I knew it, it was over. Just keeping on track, keeping the right focus.

FF: Gotcha, man. OK Brian, any sponsors you would like to
thank?

BM: I would just like to thank 303, Busy BJJ, and Bang.
Those are the guys keeping me afloat, if it wasn’t for them I couldn’t do this.
I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in, I wouldn’t be fighting for the title.
Those guys ARE my sponsors, those guys are my heart, those guys are who I’m
fighting for. I appreciate those guys for sure.

FF: Anything for Michael?

BM: Oh man, what an honor to fight…I got to pick who I
wanted and win lose or draw, I’m glad I picked Michael.