Herschel Walker: An Exclusive Interview With the Strikeforce Fighter

With the MMA world buzzing about the upcoming Strike Force Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament beginning February 12, it’s easy to forget that Strikeforce has one last great card to end the first month of what looks to be a great 2011.

This Saturday, the second biggest promotion for Mixed Martial Arts in the US will host Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg on Showtime, and it stands to be a pretty great event.

Recently, I happened to have a quick chat with one of the card's participants, football legend Herschel Walker.

He gives us the inside scoop on what it’s like to be such a novice in the sport at the age of 48, and what motivates him to keep going. 

How is training going now that you are in your last few weeks?

Training is going well you know...I'm at such a great training camp being at AKA with a lot of good fighters there, and they're really getting me prepared. 

After my first fight, I went back to AKA just to train to learn a little bit more and I started learning a lot, and when it came up for me to do a fight I wasn't really sure and I asked the guys in the gym and my trainers and they sure, if you'd like to do one, get ready to do one and I said I'll do one more.

So I've just been training and trying to learn as much as I can.

So you're still training with Bob Cook at American Kickboxing Academy. How's that been going?

That's been going well, you know I think it's been the best I could be at; not putting down any other gym, I think going here first has a great team atmosphere which I'm used to, and it has a lot of good fighters that's been fighting for a while that's got a lot of experience and with the good trainers and stuff, and they're very honest with me.

If I'm not doing something right they're gonna let me know about it, and they also when you're in the ring sparring if you don't do something right you're gonna get hit; you're not just gonna get away with it; they're gonna really make sure that you're prepared when you get into the cage. 

You looked great in your debut against Greg Nagy last January. What did you feel that you learned from that fight?

I think I should relax a little be more. When I see myself, I see that I was very stiff in my movement, my stand up game—I really didn't have any—even though I do have a decent stand up game you didn't really see anything in that debut right there and my wrestling game, all you seen me do was hold him down a little bit, and you really can't do that if you're gonna become a good fighter, and I think that's what Bob Cook, and Javier, and Dave really work on in the gym—to improve the overall game. 

Not too many people are aware of this but you have a background in tae kwon do; do you feel that it’s helped you stay in shape after football and be able to transition into MMA?

Yes, I've been doing tae kwon do for about 30 something years. I started tae kwon do really young. I absolutely loved it. I even fought in tournaments in college. That's why MMA came about I was really, really excited. 

You’ll be 49 in March, and your legacy as one of the best athletes our time has already been cemented. What pushes you to want to get involved with Mixed Martial Arts?

 I think just my love for the Martial Arts, and I've always said that I consider myself a great athlete, not just a great football player, or bobsled or track guy but a great athlete and that's why I like to compete. Also, I wanna inspire people... you can do anything you want to do as long as you're willing to work. 

Where do you see yourself going with this? Do you want to make a run at the title?

Oh no, I know there's no way that I'll make a run at the title. What I'd like to be is a voice for this sport to try to help bring more recognition to it and also help our guys start making more money, maybe get insurance, and be more of an ambassador to it. 

Congratulations on signing with Clinch Gear. What’s it like to be involved with a legend like Dan Henderson?

I've known Dan for a long time and he's one of those Olympic Wrestlers that's got a good voice. To be involved with someone like Dan Henderson is great.  I'm very proud and very happy and I hope I can bring some recognition to Clinch Gear to show how proud I am of it. 

Have you had a chance to go on Clinch Gear Radio yet?  I hear it’s a pretty good time.

Oh I have, I tell ya it is a good time with them. They're a good group of guys. 

What is your game plan for your upcoming fight with Scott Carson?

There's a lot I'm gonna improve from the first time. One thing that Javier Mendez would always talk about is that when you're a young fighter, you have to be on offense, and what I mean by offense is that I have to control the pace.

There is a lot of buzz going on with the Heavyweight Tournament that Strikeforce announced, what do you think about it?

I'm very excited about it, It's gonna be an incredible, incredible tournament. 

Thank you for your time and good luck on the 29^th.

Thank you.