Chad George is well known MMA circles for a number of reasons. Many know him for his epic battles in the WEC (and other promotions), others for his gripping documentary “Occupation: Fighter”, and then some know him best as coach and mentor. What only the latter might know though, is that Chad has been fighting for years with an injured back. After receiving treatment, in the form of surgery, for his back Chad is ready to start working his way back to the cage and has declared 2013 “The Year of the Savage”.

We recently sat down with Chad to get his thoughts on his rehab and when we’ll see him next battling for glory…

We all know that you had surgery on your back a few months back. How have you been managing your training since that time?

Actually it has been pretty awesome. We’ve been doing a lot of training for my core. We’ve been doing a lot flexibility training and maintenance on parts of my body that I havent worked for years. Now I’m inching my way back to regular training. I’m feeling great. It’s the first time in years that I havent had pain. It’s almost feeling worng to not be in pain.

Are you doing any contact training yet?

I’m just now getting back into things. So, I’m into about my second week of training. I’m doing a little bit of light stuff on the ground, just kind of movement and stuff like that, and I am boxing now and shadow boxing. I’ve been working on my foot movement. I am already feeling faster and stronger than I did before, and I’m only scratching the surface.

Have you had any personal revelations about your career since the surgery?

Absolutely! It’s been kind of a surreal process since I had the surgery. The whole idea of being faced with this idea of maybe retiring, and now I have this massive career on my shoulders. You know it’s all just a really awesome process and feeling to have, because going from where I was I didn’t know where things would go… now I have second chance to comeback better and stronger than before. I’m not a religious guy, but it’s almost like I’m being given a second chance beyond anything anyone has ever done before… and that’s the way I feel, and it’s great going into it like that.

Has being sidelined for so long given you a chance to really embrace your role as coach/mentor?

Yeah, it has. I’ve always known that the guys kind of look up to me, but I never realized how much of an effect I can have on people. Sometimes we forget to put ourselves outside our comfort zone and see ourselves through other peoples eyes, and I have really had a chance to do that. It’s really helped me to see not only what I’ve lacked in my career, but also something that I can bring to the table and help others with to advance their career. There are some things that I have in my head that I have been able to articulate with others and I can see it translated when I go back in for my next fight.

Do you see coaching/mentoring as somewhere you want to take your career long-term down the road?

I love coaching. I love working with the guys, and for me I don’t need a giant team of one-hundred people; I need one or two guys who are willing to work hard. I’m more excited to work with these select individuals that I want to work with, than one-hundred guys that I have to babysit.

Where do you think you are in terms of a return to the cage?

Well, that’s actually been the topic of conversation for the last couple of weeks… and the verdict is that we’re looking at an October comeback. We haven’t committed to a show or anything yet. There are actually a few who want that (my return) on their show, but we’re not committing anything to anybody until we get the right card and match-ups and find out financially where it falls out. I’m starting my training camp in August.

Is there any promotion that you’d specifically like to make comeback fight in?

I don’t really know, or care. For me it’s just a matter of me getting back in there and doing what I do for the first time at 100%. You know for me it’s just exciting because this is the first time that I will be able to step in there confidently and comfortably.

What kind of a streak do you think you need to put together to get to the UFC?

I don’t know. I’d like to think that I am not far from there now. I had one set back from there in my last fight; I don’t think that’s too much that should hold me underwater – he was a tough opponent and it was actually a good fight. I don’t think I need much of a streak, when it happens it will happen. The main thing is going out there and showing them what I am capable of.

If you could fight anyone today, who would it be?

Anyone who is going to get me closer.

Did you see Chris Weidman as having a good chance to beat Anderson Silva (which he did)?

I think that everyone thought that Weidman had a good chance. Did I think it was going to happen like that? No. That’s the thing about MMA – is that it can happen at anytime. Weidman is a stud, he’s only had a handful of fights, but the dude is a stud. If you go in there, and you don’t respect what your opponent is doing that sort of thing is going to happen.

Do you think it mainly a lack of respect for his opponent on Silva’s part, then?

Absolutely, 100%.

Do you think Cub Swanson looks ready for a shot at Aldo?

Cub is a buddy of mine, and I told him this – I think he has improved with every fight and is getting better and better. You know, I think he’s ready for it. He just got caught in an awkward way the first time around and I definitely think he’s a different fighter than he was then. I would actually like to see that (Aldo vs. Swanson)

We want to thank Chad for sitting down with us, and also thank Jay at Fresh Start Entertainment (@jayfreshstart) for setting this up.

We will be following this interview up with several more to come, as we follow Chad’s way back to the cage!

Follow Chad on Twitter for a chance to win an autographed t-shirt: @savage135

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