The MMA Q&A: Mike Swick

Written by Brad Rysz

Mike “Quick” Swick began his UFC career on the inaugural season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” losing to Stephan Bonnar the semi-final round. Despite the loss, Swick still joined the UFC, and has gone 8-1 with his only loss coming from Yushin Okami.

Before entering MMA, Swick studied kickboxing in Thailand. Now with the American Kickboxing Academy, he will enter the octagon at UFC 99 to fight Ben Saunders.

Swick took a few minutes out of his time to join MMAMadness.com in an exclusive interview.

Q:  What made you decide to be an MMA fighter?

MS: Well, I’ve been in martial arts since I was eight years old, so I guess it was then that I decided it was martial arts that I wanted to do. I watched the movies and wanted to one day be known for martial arts and be respected as a martial artist.

Back then, Tae Kwon Do was about as big as it got for me, and then kickboxing was obviously the next big step. I was watching K1 and all the big fights in Japan with kickboxing. So I moved to kickboxing and then I went and trained in Thailand. I tried to get better at kickboxing and then progressed into MMA. When I saw my first MMA show, I knew that’s where it is. I knew that’s where I’d get respect.

Q: Do you have any MMA idols?

MS: Yeah, a lot. I find inspiration in a lot of things and a lot of people. I think it’s important. Starting out, Wanderlei Silva was a big inspiration. Probably the biggest was Vitor Belfort. When he came on the scene there had never been anyone I was that excited about.

When he came in and started knocking people out quick like he was, I would dream that one day I would be able to go into the UFC and have hands like that, and speed like that, and be as dominant as that.

Marty Smith as well. He was another striker who had success in the early days. I liked his mentality and demeanor as well as his style. So, all those guys really inspired me when I started out.

Q: You’re fighting Ben Saunders. Why don’t you tell us a little about the fight?

MS: I definitely think it is going to be exciting. He likes to stand and keep on the feet and use his kicks and his knees, so I’m going to want to do the same thing. I think we are just going to go out there and clash and whoever lands that hard shot first is going to win.

Q: What do you think about his previous performance against Brandon Wolff?

MS: Yeah, it was an impressive fight. It didn’t seem like Wolff had too much of a defense for the clinch, plus he didn’t have hype on his side.

He was shorter and clinch works great against guys that are a lot shorter than you, so it was just a bad formula for him to fight. He went after it and took care of business.

Q: After your last fight, you were going to go to Thailand.

MS: After the last fight I went back to Thailand. I was actually there twice in 2008, at the beginning of the year and right at the end, after the fight. The last two years I went to Thailand.

After the last fight, I went back and had a vacation and did a little bit of training. It’s a great place to get away from the norm of America. It’s a very different culture there. It’s peaceful, the beaches are real nice, and there’s a lot to do. It’s really fun.

Q: What kind of training do you get in Thailand?

MS: It’s good training. It’s good because it’s a little different. It’s out of the ordinary. When you live in the gym here in San Jose six or seven days a week it’s the best training in the world, but you run into that same kind of regular pattern all the time. It’s good to get away and change the scenery around you.

The training for MMA isn’t as good in Thailand. You are in a different culture and environment so it’s a vacation and training all wrapped in one. You are on vacation with different cultures to experience, so it’s just kind of cool.

Q: In a previous interview with us you mentioned you love to travel. Where have you been and where do you want to go?

MS: I love traveling. It’s one of my biggest hobbies.  I have everything actually posted on my website: my travels, my photos and videos from all over the world. I’ve been all over.

I’ve been to Russia, Thailand and Cambodia. England. Australia. Mexico. I’ve been to quite a few places, but I want to travel to a lot more. My goal is to see the whole world. After each fight I’ll take a trip and go see something new and blog and photograph it.

Q: If you could fight anybody, who would it be?

MS: My dream opponent would be Georges St. Pierre for the title. That’s what I want. I mean I’m working my way up. I’m getting there. I’m 8-1 in the UFC and I have a big fight coming up with Ben Saunders and I’m hoping to have a great performance there. Hopefully I’ll get a shot and get my chance to hold that gold.

Q: How do you think “The Ultimate Fighter” helped your career?

MS:It definitely helped my career. It basically gave me my career. I was coming off the first loss in my career and if it weren’t for the show…I would have had a chance, but I would have had to win some more fights and things would have had to work out a few more times before I got a shot.

I got the opportunity to go on the show and I took the 205 division. I went in there and gave it my all and they gave me the opportunity to come into the UFC and it’s been all great from there. Its been my dream to be a UFC fighter and to fight on the biggest stage in the world. That show gave me the opportunity and now it’s hard to believe that I’m actually living my dream and fighting in the UFC. I love it.

Q: What kind of music would we find on your ipod?

MS: Oh man. So much. I listen do so many different types of music. Lately I’ve been listening to TI more than anyone. I listen to country, rock, hip-hop, everything. It’s whatever inspires me at the time. As far as inspiration goes I listen to 50 Cent and now TI.

Q: Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.

MS: Oh man. I’ve been asked this question so many times that I’ve told everything that nobody knows. I don’t know what’s left. It’s fairly known to people who know me, but people who don’t know, is that I’m kind of a corny guy.

I’m not as serious as I look in the octagon. It’s a big thing people notice when they meet me and get to know me. I don’t carry the real demeanor I have with me in octagon that I do in real life. I guess I have that switch that I can turn off and on. The only other thing is that I really like ice cream.

Q: Favorite flavor?

MS: Banana Pudding Ice Cream. In the south there’s a factory called Blue Bell Creameries. It’s actually from the town I’m from. They distribute all over the South. It is absolute the best ice cream. I’ll have a gallon or two gallons shipped in for all my fights.

Q: What can we find on mikeswick.com?

MS:We just re-launched mikeswick.com. It’s huge. We have over 1,000 videos, photos, articles, everything. There is so much stuff on there. My blog is integrated into it. All upcoming news as well as appearances, travel, and poker are all there. If there’s anything you need, you can find it there.

You can find more of Brad Rysz's work on MMAMadness.com