The UFC, and MMA in general, have exploded over the last number of years. The sport has entered the mainstream of sports discussions and interest from people of all different types. With the increased visibility achieved by the sport, there has been more curiosity and desire from people wanting to try their hat at it with a desire to make it to the world’s premiere promotion – the UFC. One of those people trying to make their way in is Brian Houston. A recent addition to the UFC middleweight division, Houston is ready to make his mark.

We were given the unique opportunity to focus our lense on Houston and gain a glimpse into a fighter his just making his way into the forefront of the sport. A fighter who has a demenour that would seem completely contradictory to the viciousness possessed by his hands and his will. We asked Brian a couple of questions about his start in the sport, his emergence and thoughts on the best in the sport today…

What drew you to MMA/fighting in the first place?

Well, honestly what drew me and piqued my interest was I saw a long time ago some tapes, some of the old UFC tapes. And honestly what brought me in was that it just gave me something to do in the off-season in football, and I knew it would be something great to keep me in shape. I guess one thing led to another and life pushed me in another direction, and I chose fighting over football.

I understand that you had a promising football career potentially ahead of you, what pushed you from football to fighting?

Well, I was just playing some indoor football and it got to the point where I felt that I was good enough to play a lot – but, you know everyone wants to talk about politics and football is really big into politics… especially indoor. The team I was playing for, you know, we’re trying to get tickets sold; this was a hometown team – so, if you’re their best that doesn’t neccessarily guarentee you’re going to play. If you’re not the best guy, but you’re from around there, people are going to come see you play, so of course they’re (coaching) is going to make sure you play. I got tired of dealing with that, you know? I just got tired of watching guys who weren’t better than me being put before me… I just ended up having to make a decision, so I just said ‘you know I’m just going to fight’. Don’t get me wrong there are politics in fighting – don’t let it go to the judges (laughs) – but, I’d rather deal with that.

How would you characterize your fight-style?

I like being on the feet. It’s just fun. Anything can happen. There are a lot of techniques out there that haven’t been showcased yet. That’s the great thing about stand-up and MMA, is that there are so many variations that can be displayed. It’s not predictable.

I’m not saying that ground (fighting) is predictable, but for the most part you’re really just fighting positions – and there really aren’t that many positions. That said, you have a lot of different ways to get out of those positions, or transition from them. So, there are still a lot of different variations of techniques that haven’t been showcased on the ground… to be honest, stand-up is just more fun! I like ground and pound too, though – that’s fun! I like moving around and trying to open people up to my submissions. I like to submit, but I’d rather be punching.

What’s that most important technique to have honed down?

Wrestling… wrestling, wrestling, wrestling! If you don’t have wrestling, then you don’t decide where the fight goes. If you don’t decide where the fight goes, you’ve just lost one part of the fight right there. It’s just like in football, the coach says ‘win all three phases’ – offense, defense and special teams. So, if you’re losing one of the most important phases already, what are you going to do?

Who has been your biggest inspiration in the fight world?

Oh man (laughs)… I am probably the on-hundred-millionth person to say his name (laughs)… Anderson Silva. Honestly, because our bodies and frames – well, I’m a little thicker than he is – his length, his arms, his height, we’re about the same size. He moves, he kicks, his boxing – his boxing technique is actually the best in MMA. I’ve seen Anderson Silva’s actual boxing films… he murdered this guy, his technique is great. Don’t try to compare his technique to anyone. He studies every part of the game though. I don’t try to model his style… you, know maybe I do… not in terms of his technique, but his style itself – he goes out there any tries to implement something new in his game all the time. Every time you see him, he’ll be different.

You’ve got a couple of fights under your belt, ones that you’ve won in pretty convincing fashion. That being said, there was some real buzz supporting you when you came into the UFC. Unfortunately, Derek Brunson had his way, so where did the game plan go wrong at UFC Fight For The Troops 3?

(Laughs)… I apologize. Every time I think of that fight it makes me mad. To be honest with you, maybe I felt a little rushed – maybe that could’ve led to me being so flat out there. He didn’t flush hit me, I mean I blocked it, but then wrapped around and caught me in the back of my head and that’s what sent me down. It was a really weird angle how it came. I remember just seeing a little flash and thinking: ‘WHOA… what the hell?!’ Then I started to go down and I caught myself and then next thing I knew he jumped on my back and I thought:’Cool’, because I don’t really care about being on my back… but, before I even had a chance to get my hands up to defend anything, before I hit the ground, he had it sunk in deep. I just remember his forearm being stuck right on my Adam’s apple and thinking ‘Oh god!’

As soon as he had it sunk in, I did my best to pull it off. We have about the same length of arms, but what he did is, he reached around and put it under my chin and his arms are so long that he pulled it over my shoulder and held his own shoulder. So, I tried to take it off and I grabbed a deep breath, but he was still holding tight and I didn’t know where he was holding. I watched the tape a few times and I think it took me thirty odd seconds to tap.

I don’t think I can say that being rushed is what did it, but me being rushed is what made me come out a little flat I’d say. It was my first fight out (for the UFC), I mean he had to deal with that too, but that’s the whole thing with experience. Not the experience of fight, I am not worried that, the experience of fighting for the UFC is totally different. It’s time schedules. There’s a schedule for anything. There’s a TV schedule. Even if you’re not on TV you’re on TV. They came out to me and said ‘Brian you got 50 minutes’… I thought: ’50 minutes? I’m going back to sleep’ (laughs) – I sleep before I fight. Then they came back in, not even five minutes later: ‘Alright, Brian! You’ve got 15 minutes!’ So, I only got about ten minutes to warm-up and stretch and then they took me out. After that first hit I was still there, but after he sunk in that choke… I mean that’s how it went. I could sit here and say ‘if he hadn’t done this or that’, but it happened.

Next fight – do you have anything lined-up?

Nothing that I can put on blast just yet. I do have a fight, but it’s stuff in the works. It’s already gone down, but nothing has been signed yet. We have a venue and a guy, but I am just waiting for my contract… once that’s out I can let everyone know. I would say he’s the same type of fighter as Derek Brunson, he’s got more stand-up though. He’s more of a jiu-jitsu guy. He’ll throw if he has chance… That’s the thing about this fight, is I’ll have more respect for his stand-up because he actually has it. Then his ground game is pretty dangerous.

GSP vs. Hendricks – what was your call on that decision?

Oh man, I did not see the fight – I had to work. From what I saw of the highlights, he controlled the fight (Hendricks) – but, here’s the thing, you’re fighting the champ. Unless he’s beating him, like Chael was beating Anderson Silva, that’s the only way you’re going to win.

Was Silva clowning around in their first match, or is Weidman the real deal? Also, Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman – who’s going to win?

Man, Weidman is the real deal, but Anderson Silva was BS-ing him. Anderson Silva has never come out and looked that stupid in a fight. When say ‘stupid’, I mean I was watching that thinking ‘what you doing stop clowning around and fight’. I understand, he (Silva) had no respect for his stand-up, and he doesn’t. Weidman doesn’t have great stand-up, he’s a wrestler, he’s got basic (stand-up) techniques… and I’m not saying they’re not good, but basic techniques aren’t going going to beat Anderson Silva. I don’t know maybe Silva needed some excitement in your life.

This second fight is going to be what’s up. You don’t beat a guy and then don’t have him comeback hard on you. Weidman, he’s got confidence now just by having the belt.

We want to take a moment to thank Brian (@BBHueH55) for taking the time to talk with us, we really look forward to speaking with him again and following his career as it continues to grow.

We also want to thank Jay at Fresh Start Entertainment (@jayfreshstart) for continuing to support Last Word on Sports.

Photo by Kyle Terada of USA TODAY Sports

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