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Interview W/ Vernon 'Tiger' White
Reported By: Boxing Insider - 01.20.2003 02:12 AM
The following interview was conducted by Ryan Bennett of MMAWeekly.com:
Vernon Tiger White is loved by many MMA fans because of his style. It’s that style that has finally landed him in the UFC with a possible match at UFC 42. “Tiger” sat down and talked with MMAWeekly.com about everything, from his possible fight against Vitor Belfort, to Tito Ortiz to Ken Shamrock. It’s Vernon Tiger White as our Interview of the Week.
Ryan Bennett: So you have been fighting your whole career and now I see you dabbling in the promoter game. Tell me about this event going on tonight?
Vernon White: We have fighters coming from all over, including fighters from Javier Vasquez’s camp; we are hoping to have a fighter from Team Punishment, etc. The only tough thing is the fact that this is an amateur event, so we can’t pay the guys as amateurs. A lot of the guys are asking for money to fight, and its tough being in an amateur status, we can’t pay them. I feel bad because professional permits cost us a lot more than amateur permits. It’s not easy, but the bottom line is this gives all the guys the chance to fight on the smaller shows. I would have loved to have an amateur system set up when I was coming up, so I could gain the experience earlier in my career.
Ryan: Tell me why you wanted to try promoting events?
Vernon: This is actually my second event. We had “Mono y Mono Extreme Vale Tudo” as the first event and I’ve seen other fighters like Tito Ortiz doing it and I wanted to give it a try. It’s been nice giving some fighters who don’t have any publicity, the chance to fight in a bigger atmosphere. Some of these guys have never fought and I am giving them a chance to showcase there skills. I actually never had an amateur career. I had to go from no where to fighting in Pancrase and other organizations as a professional. So I thought I would give them a break I never had.
Ryan: So do you enjoy doing it?
Vernon: Yea it’s nice. I want to do professional shows as well, but right now I would be more interested in having a couple more amateur shows under my belt, before I move to that professional level.
Ryan: Speaking of the professional level, everyone wants to know when they will see “the man” back in action?
Vernon: We are hoping to be in the ring against Vitor Belfort on April 25th at the MGM in Las Vegas.
Ryan: Now that was a fight that was supposed to come off before, correct?
Vernon: Yea, actually that was a fight that was supposed to come off back in February, but he said he wanted more time to train. I know he recently hurt his knee, so he is taking some time off to train and rehab it.
Ryan: That should be a great fight and I know many fight fans have called for you to fight in the UFC. Why do you think it’s taken this long for you to fight in the UFC?
Vernon: Certain circumstances have kept me out. Some of it may have been political, but it’s also been bad timing. I had a broken leg when I got hit by a car, so there have been a lot of things that have kept me out. I hope now everything will go as planned and I can get in there.
Ryan: Tell me about that. That was a crazy accident from what I heard. How was it overcome all that?
Vernon: Once again bad circumstances happened. I was walking outside the guard rail of a freeway, because I couldn’t get a ride home. I couldn’t get a taxi because my cell phone was dead. Things being as they were, I had crossed the guard rail to cross over the exit ramp. I looked to make sure no cars were coming. So… as I was crossing, a car comes out of no where, speeds up and hits me. I woke up on the side of the freeway with a broken leg.
Ryan: Wow. Did they ever find out who did it?
Vernon: They have no idea who did it. I just remember waking up and seeing the car…I don’t remember getting hit, I just remember waking up and seeing a car at the last second, then later the car hits reverse and I see the reverse lights on. I was thinking “oh my god, they are coming back to run me over and finish me off.” Luckily it didn’t happen. Some more cars came on the freeway and then they took off. Then later they came back again, but then some more cars came and they took off. It was a scary situation because I couldn’t get up and run away. You take your legs for granted especially when you don’t have them.
Ryan: Scary stuff. I remember you had the match at King of the Cage recently. Was it tough to overcome a broken leg, was that in the back of your mind, or was it just the fact that this was your first fight back; because it wasn’t the same “Tiger” we have seen in the ring.
Vernon: As far as being my first fight back, that wasn’t the problem. The problem was the fact that I didn’t drop as much weight as I should have dropped prior to the fight. So I was stuck the day before trying to drop 8 pounds. I ended up being around 206 and we both agreed that the one pound over wasn’t a big deal, but it still wore me out trying to lose that much weight during the fight. I’ve never tried to lose that much weight a day before the fight and it made me very sluggish in the ring.
Ryan: What weight do you usually walk around at?
Vernon: Usually I walk around at 210. I’m 210 right now, so it’s not very hard to get to 205. I can sit in a hot tub and do that. I was just so much heavier for that fight.
Ryan: You have a very tough fight ahead with Vitor Belfort. Most guys wouldn’t want to take that for their first fight in the UFC. You must feel like you can beat anyone….
Vernon: If I didn’t think that, I wouldn’t be a very good fighter. You have to feel that way or you won’t make it in this business. I think I can beat anyone in that weight class, whether it’s Belfort, Tito Ortiz or Chuck Liddell. Anyone can have a good day, or anyone can have a bad day. Tables can turn at anytime in the fight game.
Ryan: When you look ahead to Vitor, what do you see as the keys to winning the fight?
Vernon: I just hope he comes in healthy. If he doesn’t, it won’t be a good fight for me. I don’t like it when guys aren’t a 100% because then I’m not beating that fighter at 100%. That’s what I want. For him to come in healthy and give me his best and I will give him my best. We will then see what happens. I don’t have any predictions for the fight.
Ryan: We’ve seen a few different Belfort’s over the years. We’ve seen the fast hands in the early years, the jiu-jitsu game in Pride and then some standup and ground game against Chuck Liddell. What are you expecting in your fight with him?
Vernon: To tell you the truth, I’m going to make him take me down. Like I said, I really don’t have any predictions of the fight, but I am going to push the fight, I’m going to work and make him take me down.
Ryan: When you say that you’re going to make him take you down, is it the fact that you feel your stand up game is better than his, or what do you mean?
Vernon: Every fighter that I have ever fought has tried to take me down. Why? It’s hard to say. I’ve fought guys like Marvin Eastman who is the WFA champion. I took it to him standing up, so he had to take it down to the ground. I don’t think my stand up is better than this guy, or that guy, but I’m very aggressive and I have an awkward style so people want to take me down so they don’t catch any lucky blows I guess.
Ryan: If you beat Vitor Belfort, do you feel you are the man to fight Tito Ortiz for the title?
Vernon: I feel I’m ready right now. I’ve been wanting to fight him for awhile. I challenged him to fight in the Octagon awhile back and he said I had to keep winning. I think I’m ready to fight Tito or Chuck or anybody else. I’m coming with my hat in my hand, humble…but I think I can beat anyone at anytime.
Ryan: See this is interesting to me, because you and I are talking for the first time. I’m surprised at how chill you are. You’re very relaxed, but you can turn that switch on and become Tiger. Do you like talking trash to fighter like Tito and those guys?
Vernon: Yea. In the ring is something totally different than outside the ring. I’ve seen Tito at clubs in Southern California or in Las Vegas and we’ve talked.
Ryan: So there isn’t any bad blood between the two of you?
Vernon: I’m a bit upset that he beat Ken, but hopefully I get some retribution for Ken, but I wouldn’t say there is bad blood.
Ryan: Where you surprised at how that fight went down at UFC 40 with Ken and Tito?
Vernon: Yes I was. I’m not going to talk any trash or say anything Ken wouldn’t want me to say, but certain things happened to Ken to keep him from being 100%. I’m not going to elaborate on it, but I think things go a different way if Ken is 100%?
Ryan: I know you don’t want to elaborate but are you talking more physical things or behind the scenes stuff?
Vernon: Both. Ken wasn’t quite as focused as he could have been with all the stuff going on. That’s all I will say about it.
Ryan: In your mind do you think Ken Shamrock has fought his last fight?
Vernon: I know he is still a bit apprehensive on coming back. He knows he isn’t as young as he used to be and probably can’t be in the shape he once was. He still has some years left in him and if he fights some of the guys around his age he won’t have any problems.
Ryan: Some people want to see him fight Tank Abbott. Do you think he would like to fight a guy like that?
Vernon: I don’t think Tank would last 30 seconds in the ring with Ken. I really don’t. NOW, I’m talking shit. Tank is the kind of a guy who is just a slugger. Anytime he has gone against some guys with slight talent he has lost. Anytime he fights guys with a lot of talent like Pedro Rizzo, he folds.
Ryan: So he would have to comeback to fight some of these guys in the earlier UFC’s in his mind?
Vernon: I can’t talk for Ken and I know he wouldn’t say that. It’s just me talking. I’m just guessing so I shouldn’t speculate about his future, but remember Tito is 27 years old in his prime. I don’t think he could hang with Ken in his prime. Basically anyone in there 30’s wouldn’t last with Ken in my opinion. I’m probably making a big deal about his age, but basically if Ken could just get in a bit better physical condition he can fight with anyone, anytime in my opinion.
Ryan: Alright well I appreciate your time. Good luck on the fights tonight… in Tijuana right?
Vernon: Yes, that’s right. It’s at 7pm and the fans can check it out at Tijuana@babyrock.com.
Ryan: Thanks for your time Vernon.
Vernon: Yea good to talk with you Ryan. Take care.
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