UFC Veteran Rodney Wallace talks match up with Derrick Mehmen at WMMA on March 31st

By Dustin De La Torre

Former UFC fighter Rodney Wallace looks to showcase his skills versus Derrick Mehmen at Worldwide Mixed Martial Arts’ first show in El Paso, Texas this Saturday, March 31. Wallace took time out of his busy schedule and sat down with Dustin De La Torre to talk about his upcoming fight as well as his experience visiting Russia and fighting three times in one night in Aruba.

FHTV: You have a fight coming up this Saturday, March 31 versus Strikeforce veteran Derrick Mehmen, what do you expect from Derrick?

RW: Derrick is a really tough dude with good wrestling. He is a Strikeforce veteran who always comes to fight.  I know he has a pretty good record and it should be a pretty tough match up. He is pretty athletic but I think I am more athletic and I will show that.

FHTV: Do you see him trying to wrestle you?

RW: He may try and take me down, it is not a big thing to me. I am not trying to go to the ground and I am trying to keep it standing and letting my hands go. But if he does try to take me down it is fine. I see he has a few submission wins and I am ready for that with my submission game. I want to keep it standing and want to knock Derrick out.

FHTV: Your last fight was in April of 2011 versus Cale Yarbrough. Talk about how important it is to have a win coming into your next fight?

RW: Yeah, I have not fought in awhile. I train year round so that should not be an issue. It is always good to know you are coming off a win and coming into a camp for the next fight because it helps you stay motivated.  I feel like every fight is a learning experience for me, I can always look back on a win or loss and see what I can do to help perfect my craft. I feel like I have gotten a lot better since my last fight. I feel like I am well prepared for Derrick and I will show everyone come Friday.

FHTV: Who has helped you train for your fight?

RW: I train with a lot of local guys who have been at my gym since day one. I like to stay local. I am not into the whole traveling around gym to gym thing, it is not me. I have seen video of my opponent so it is not a big thing to me. I have a bunch of good fighters in my gym that are here helping me get ready.

FHTV: You cornered one of your teammates in Russia, what was that like?

RW: Yeah it was great! I cornered one of my teammates in a fight about two hours outside of Moscow. For someone who had never been to Russia it was a great experience. I have a completely different outlook on Russia now, all the people in Russia were really cool.  MMA is big in Russia…the kids out there love MMA and that was cool to see. You see kids training at a young age and walking around with black eyes and stuff. They train and fight really hard in Russia and all those guys have a lot of heart. The sport is not as advanced as it is here in the states but they are learning.

FHTV: Let us know about fighting three fights in one night in Aruba?  Which is what ultimately got you into the UFC?

RW: That was one of the pivotal moments in my career. I went into the tournament 6-0 and came out 9-0 which was great. I was just trying to go in their and end the fights as soon as possible so I could rest up for my next fight. Winning the tournament propelled me in the UFC. I was only two years into fighting and now I was in the UFC. It was somewhat a gift and a curse because I did not have the fight experience to fight in the UFC. I had the good record but was still a little green. I was in the limelight but was put in a tough position fighting an up hill battle.

FHTV: Would you do things differently now and maybe turn down the UFC?

RW: No I would never turn anything down, if the UFC calls again I am ready to fight at 205 or 185. When the UFC call came I did not expect it and people were telling me I was on their radar. I do not have it in me to turn anything down. I just want to fight and keep getting better and want to show everyone. I wish I could have had a couple more fights before the UFC to recognized strategy for a fight and how I need to go about my game plan for a fight.

FHTV: How did the nickname “Sho Nuff The Master” come about?

RW: I think it just my character; I am a talker in and around the game. I talk a lot of trash to my friends in the gym. I do not trash talk about my opponents or anything like that. At that point people just started calling me “Sho Nuff The Master.”

FHTV: Where do you find your motivation to fight?

RW: I like doing this plain and simple. I am not trying to be in the news, I just want to go out and compete and accomplish things for myself and my team. I want to be able to show people anything is possible.

FHTV: Is there anyone you would like to thank?

RW: My family, my gym Team ROC here in Charlotte, North Carolina, Fight Legion for all their help, and you and fighthubtv.com for taking some time to talk to me.

 

Make sure to catch Rodney Wallace and the rest of WMMA fighters this Saturday live from the Don Haskins center in El Paso, Texas.