EXCLUSIVE ChokeHimOut Interview: Mike Ciesnolevicz
Interviews
Interviews
Current IFL fighter Mike Ciesnolevicz took a few minutes away from training for his upcoming fight April 4th to talk with us here at Chokehimout.com. "Mike C" weighs in on the Miletich camp, his opponent on April 4th (UFC veteran) Carmelo Marrero, walking on and making the Lock Haven University wrestling squad and paying the bills by doing what he loves.
C.H.O: You trained in Judo and kickboxing when you were younger. What made you want to get into MMA and into professional fighting?
MC: Actually when I first started watching mixed martial arts I knew if I wanted to be good, I needed to piece everything together. I traveled to a different gym everyday of the week. One day it was kick boxing, one day judo, one day boxing and one day wrestling. You know I did it all so I traveled and trained everything individually.
C.H.O: I checked out our bio and it looks like you also played basketball, baseball, some of the sports most commonly played.
MC: Yeah I played traditional sports growing up for sure.
C.H.O: Is it fair to stay you are the kind of guy that looks for more of a challenge maybe than the traditional sports would give?
MC: You know, actually I had a lot of fun doing traditional sports, but I never of had the passion or desire to do the extra work and be a champion. It's was more like something I did because all my friends were doing it. When I started watching mixed martial arts I thought "This is something I need to do". You know I walked onto a division one wrestling team at college, even though I didn't have any wrestling in high school, because I knew I needed to.
C.H.O: How difficult was the transition walking onto Lockhaven without any wrestling experience?
MC: Lockhaven was actually ranked fourth in the country the year before I got there. I went there for teaching and one day I went up to the wrestling coach and it was like "Hey man how do I try out for the team, or what do I do?" He was like "Show up Wednesday at 4:30" and I said alright. He was like "How did you do in high school?" I said I never wrestled before and he looked at me like I was crazy. He said "Well you look like a big strong kid" so he told me to show up because they could always use an extra body, so I just started showing up. A lot of guys didn't realize I didn't wrestle and they asked "How'd you do in high school", or "How did you do in states". I told them that I worked out with wrestlers a couple of times and they were just like blown away, they were like "Wow you pick it up pretty fast".
C.H.O: So you did pretty well then when you actually got into it?
MC: Yeah, I mean I wasn't a starter in division one level by any means, but I learned a lot of wrestling skills.
C.H.O: Your upcoming opponent, Carmello Marrero, is definitely known for his wrestling ability. He really displayed it in his fight against Cheick Kongo in the UFC. How are you preparing for Marrero?
MC: Usually in the morning I do some boxing and pad work along with take down defense. I go through the regular routines, you know trying to be solid in every area. I definitely want to try and exploit his weaknesses. He is definitely a fighter I want to try and keep standing. I think he is going to want to take me down, but I definitely want to keep the fight standing and test him standing up.
C.H.O: For some of the people that might not be familiar with you, is that what some of the fans can expect? Are you going to push the pace on him like you said, try to keep the fight standing?
MC: Yeah, I want to stay on his feet the whole time and keep him standing. I have a feeling he is going to want to take me down, but if not, I'm willing to stand the whole time. I'm not real worried if I get taken down, you know, I'm pretty solid in my wrestling and jiu jitsu but it's a fight that I would try to keep standing.
C.H.O: I want to talk to you a minute about the Miletich Camp itself. You graduated Lockhaven University. Obviously the trek to Iowa was a big jump. At what point did you decide "Hey this is for me and this is the move I've got to make"?
MC: You know I graduated college in Pennsylvania and I stuck around for an extra year and worked on substitute teaching and things like that. I lived with my roommate Tim Boetsch who is fighting in the UFC now. Tim was a senior and I had just graduated though we still lived together. I trained with the wrestling team still and trained with different guys who boxed. I'd also go to different jiu jitsu clubs in the area. I just traveled a lot and I had a friend out here (Iowa) that I was coming to visit. I came to Miletich with him and spent about five days training with him and I said "Man if I want to be a champion fighter at the next level then I need to be here." So I went home, tied up some loose ends, packed up my car and a drove fifteen hours.
C.H.O: You know that seems to be the story of a lot of guys. I read the first week is just make or break at Miletich.
MC: I put in a lot of hours. I thought about quitting a couple of times and it was like "You know maybe this isn't for me, maybe I should just go home and keep watching it on TV". I was like "Maybe this wasn't for" me because I was getting beat up so bad. Then I'd miss a day of practice because I couldn't walk, my legs were so battered from being kicked. I had a concussion and I was just like "This is ridiculous, what am I doing to myself"? But after a couple of months, you know, I just kept going and sticking it out and I just adapted.
C.H.O: Now you mentioned you were roommates with Tim Boetsch who has a fight coming up with Matt Hamill. How close are you going to be watching that?
MC: I don't know if I'm going to get to see it, I'm going to be traveling that day and getting ready to cut weight. I hope I get to watch him, but if not, you know, I'll definitely catch a replay. I feel pretty good about that fight for Tim. I think Matt Hamill is pretty basic and I think Tim really has the style and tools to beat him. When I found out Tim was fighting Matt, right away I thought Tim was going to win that fight. I've been friends with the guy for the last 8 years, we lived together through college and he's always been a tough rugged wrestler, you know a strong guy and he picked up the striking naturally. He is going to be hard to submit, he's pretty well rounded and I think Matt Hamill is going to have a lot of trouble with him.
C.H.O: You mentioned cutting weight and you fight at 205. What's your walking weight as far as your routine?
MC: You really want to know(laughs)? I've been up there pretty high. I've had almost 7 months off now. There was a period where I hit 245. I was jus lifting weights and eating what I wanted and drinking some beers with my friends. You know 6 or 7 months off is long a time. So I'm about 225 right now. The extra 20 lbs was just kind of being lazy and enjoying life. My normal walking weight on an average basis is about 232.
C.H.O: So where would you say you are at about 2 days before weigh-ins?
MC: I'll probably be 225. Yeah I'll probably cut 20 or 22 pounds in the last 2 days.
C.H.O: Well of course with a wrestling background you are kind of used to it so you don't have much of a fatigue factor?
MC: You know it's been hard sometimes making weight. A couple of times I messed up and cut the wrong way or messed up different things like my carb intakes and sodium intakes and had some trouble. But I've cut 24 pounds in twenty four hours before so it's definitely something that I can do. I know right now I can make weight tomorrow if I needed to. I think I'll be alright. I'm a little lower right now than I normally would be.
C.H.O: So ultimately what are your future plans for MMA? Obviously you are in the IFL right now. Are you looking to stay with the organization, or do you have any endeavors you're looking at? What's the big picture for you?
MC: You know honestly for me I don't really care as much where I fight, as much as I'm just taken care of and I'm fighting for professional organization. You know I want to be living off this sport. I've put a lot of time and effort into it and like I said, coming from Pennsylvania and traveling to here, I've been through a lot with this sport. My main goal is to make a decent living off this sport and not worry about being ripped off. I don't care where I fight. I've pretty much left it up to Monty Cox my manager. I trust him with my career and if you look at his track record I think he has done pretty good with the guys he has managed. So like I said I don't even care where I fight, I just want to make some money and have a good life. I've put so much into the sport, I'm not a greedy guy, I'm not trying to be a millionaire or drive ten different cars. I just want to pay my bills and live a comfortable life and make money off the sport I love.
C.H.O: Anything you want to say to your sponsor or fans?
MC: Yeah as far as my sponsors, I've got Headblade who has supported me and helped me out a lot as well as Muscle Milk and Cytosport. I hope everyone is going to watch the fight on April 4th and I'm definitely looking forward to putting on a show and I am excited to get back into the ring. I hope Carmelo is ready to fight because I'm going to be coming hard for three rounds and looking to finish him.
C.H.O: ChokeHimOut will be at the IFL on April 4th and we wish you luck on your fight.
MC: Thank you very much, I appreciate it.
Article by Dynamite on Mar 21, 2008