MMAPrimes lead writer Ryan “ThatMMAGuy” Justason recently had a phone interview with Pride, Bodog and UFC veteran Aaron Riley about a great charity to benefit Haiti as well as his past and future fights. Aaron also explains what it’s like to train at the world famous Jacksons Submission Fighting camp.
Ryan: You are currently involved in a great charity event that is happening this Saturday ( 3/13/10) and Sunday (3/14/10), can you tell me about this event?
Aaron Riley: Yeah, the MMA for charity thing is that I was approached by a guy I know named Rick McCoy at the MMA institute gym here in Richmond, Virginia. It’s going to be a situation where we are going to get a bunch of great fighters to do a seminar and all the proceeds are to go straight to a release program for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. So when Rick told me about it, it sounded like a great idea. It’s a good way for me to give back to the sport I love so I was on board about helping out with it.
Ryan: What other fighters can we expect at this event?
Aaron Riley: Let’s see, I know they had some minor changes but I know “The Filthy Mauler” Tom Lawler, Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal, Sam Hoger, ADCC champion Braulio Estima and ADCC competitor Ryan Hall to name a few. You know, a lot of good instruction from everything from grappling to MMA and all the aspects of MMA. So anyone in the area who is interested in MMA should check this place out because it’s going to be great.
Ryan: You train with the famed Jacksons Submission Fighting camp, how is that experience and is it tough fighting at a camp that has so many fighters under contract?
Aaron Riley: The thing about being with Greg is that it’s great. You have a bunch of great training partners and coaches. It’s a really great family atmosphere. We all really support each other so it doesn’t take away from having so many fighters under contract. It’s also great to have so many fighters in established organizations because you have just really top tear training partners.
Ryan: Your most recent fight was in England against British Ross Pearson. That fight ended due to a cut you received from a flying knee. How frustrating is it to lose a fight that way?
Aaron Riley: Well it’s really frustrating because it’s not like it was a decisive finish to the fight. I mean, to me, the fight could have kept going a bit longer. The blood wasn’t interfering with my vision even though that was the fear the doctors where afraid of happening. It wasn’t happening but they decided to stop the fight anyway. You know, it’s over and done with now but I really think that I can give Ross a lot better of a match then I did that fight. So hopefully we do get the chance to fight again but you know, he took the victory that night.
Ryan: Speaking of frustration, how frustrating was it that your first fight with Shane Nelson was stopped early and how good did it feel to defeat Nelson in your rematch?
Aaron Riley: It was great. It was an awesome feeling to get that vindication because I mean, the stoppage the first time was just ridiculous. I would have to say that it was the worst stoppage in the history of the UFC. I mean, I see many and it was just terrible. So it was awesome to get the rematch and to get the victory was all the more satisfying.
Ryan: Knowing your past problems with referees, are there any referees that you would prefer or not prefer to ref your fights?
Aaron Riley: I feel pretty comfortable with most the people that are assigned. Their are always guys with more experience but most the people that the UFC assigns are really good. Every once in a while you will find somebody who makes a mistake. Hopefully your not on deck when that happens.
Ryan: Any word on your next fight?
Aaron Riley: It looks like it may be the end of May. I’m not sure of the number even with the UFC but maybe UFC 113, 114. I’m not sure. That’s what it’s looking like is going to happen which would be great because a lot of other Jackson guys are going to be on the same show. That would be really great to have the training camp with all my brothers out there.
Ryan: So is it fair to say that you will be rooting for GSP in his fight against Dan Hardy at UFC 111?
Aaron Riley: Haha yeah. Georges has been a Jackson fighter for a long time now so I’m definately rooting for Georges in that fight.
Ryan: Being that Shane Carwin is also a Jackson fighter, you must be rooting for him as well. What are your predicitions for his fight against Frank Mir?
Aaron Riley: I’m hoping Shane will be able to deploy Mir by using his heavy hands to deploy his (Mirs) jiu jitsu. Frank Mir also has good stand-up so it’s going to be a really entertaining fight.
MMAPrime.TV would like to thank Aaron Riley for his time.
For more information on the MMA charity benefit for Haiti please visit http://www.MMAforCharity.org
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