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Interview w/ "The Giant" Gan McGee
Reported By: Boxing Insider - 08.18.2003 02:21 AM
Part II - Interview with "The Giant," Gan McGee
By Chris Colderley ©
BoxingInsider.com: Both you and Tim Sylvia have been champions with other organizations, and the fight is going to feature the two biggest fighters in the heavyweight division to ever face off. Do you find it frustrating that your fight is overshadowed by the Couture - Ortiz match?
Gan McGee: No. It doesn't really bother me. I don't care. I like the pure competition of it. I don't get hung up on the politics of those fights getting more attention. I could care less.
BoxingInsider.com: I know that you were negotiating with the UFC to take this fight. Are you happy with the changes that have been made to your contract?
Gan McGee: Not really. Basically, it was just the best deal we could see right now so we took it.
BoxingInsider.com: You are good friends with Chuck Liddell, what are your thoughts about the events of the past year with Chuck, Tito [Ortiz], Randy [Couture], and the holdout situation?
Gan McGee: Where to start? I think it's obvious Tito was ducking him for a long time, just praying that he [Chuck] was going to lose - he was going to screw up and lose . . . Randy did . . . I think Tito's lucky! [Sighs.]
I think Chuck had a bad night when he fought Randy. I think anyone who knows Chuck and has seen him fight, knows he could perform better that that. I am not trying to take anything away from Randy. Randy had a great night. It was a great job. I definitely think Chuck can bring a lot more to the table than he brought that night.
Photo: Joshua Hedges/UFC.tv
BoxingInsider.com: What did you say to Chuck after the fight?
Gan McGee: I didn't know what to say to him. He would be trying to say stuff to me and I would just say, "Hey Bro, I have been there. I know. You don't have to explain anything to me."
BoxingInsider.com: Chuck will be fighting in the Grand Prix in 9 days. How do you think he's going to do? [Note: the interview was conducted on August 1st, 2003.]
Gan McGee: He's going to do great. He's looking sharp. He's in great shape right now. He's ready to go.
BoxingInsider.com: What did you say to him before he left?
Gan McGee: I don't think he's left yet, but he's leaving in the next couple of days.
BoxingInsider.com: When he leaves what advice will you give him?
Gan McGee: The only advice I have for him it just go out and bang out. Just go out and swing. Sometimes, he gets too caught up looking for a knockout - a one-punch knockout. I think he's best when he's throwing flurries. That's when he's going to put people down.
BoxingInsider.com: Let me ask you about the current state of the heavyweight division. You have a few smaller contenders, like Vladimir Matyushenko, Pedro Rizzo (who you have beaten), and even Frank Mir. Because of fighters like yourself, Tim Sylvia, and Wes Sims (who fought in the last UFC), are the smaller heavyweights basically finished?
Gan McGee: The smaller guys?
BoxingInsider.com: Well, it's all relative. Right?
Gan McGee: I have no idea. I think a lot of it is match-ups.
BoxingInsider.com: For example, do you think Matyushenko could compete with you or Tim Sylvia?
Photo: Joshua Hedges/UFC.tv
Gan McGee: I don't know about Tim. I don't know if his takedown defense is quite as good. It really worked well against Ricco [Rodriguez], but Ricco didn't have the greatest takedowns. That's a match-up where, if Matyushenko can get him down, he might be able to finish Tim off. I don't think Matyushenko can take me down. I think he would have trouble with me.
Then, Tim - Pedro Rizzo that's a different match up too. With Rizzo and me, there was, at least, the threat of a takedown. That changes things. It makes him think about me taking him down as well [as striking]. With Tim, I don't know if Rizzo would really have to worry about that. That would be a different match up as well.
BoxingInsider.com: How much does that play into your game plan - the fact that you are a wrestler. When I spoke to Randy Couture that's one of the things he said about the Liddell fight. Because he could use the takedown, it made his striking that much better. How much does your wrestling background help your striking?
Gan McGee: The thing I like about the wrestling background is that it really makes it a lot easier to dictate where you want the fight to be. You can keep on your feet, or you can put it on the ground. As far as your striking, it makes them worry about that. It makes them a little more cautious. If they come in just swinging, maybe, they are going to end up on their back [because] you can drop to a double or do whatever else.
I think it helps a lot. It gives them an extra thing to worry about . . . A reason to hold back a little more.
BoxingInsider.com: Do you think that's going to give you a decisive advantage over Tim Sylvia?
Gan McGee: The possibility of a takedown?
BoxingInsider.com: Yes, along with your wrestling background?
Gan McGee: Yes, I think it will definitely help. Tim does have to think about that. Tim has to think that I might take him down, sit on him, and punch him. But, I'm not afraid to go toe-to-toe and just bang with him.
BoxingInsider.com: That should be interesting!
Let me ask you about the Randy Couture - Tito Ortiz fight. How do you think that fight is going to play out?
Gan McGee: It's an interesting fight. It's hard to say. I can tell you who I want to win. I want Randy to win. I think Randy is a great guy, and I really like him. I think Tito is kind of a little too much of a Prima Donna.
BoxingInsider.com: Thanks Gan, I look forward to seeing you fight in September.
Gan McGee: No problem, thanks.
Chris Colderley is a freelance writer and a boxinginisder.com contributor. Chris Colderley can be reached at Colderley@hotmail.com
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