Just days before his fight with Kyle Kingsbury at UFN 22, Jared Hamman took some time off from training to chat with MMA Valor. Hamman talked about his UFC debut, going to the judges, how his brother got him into MMA and of course Kyle Kingsbury. Hamman is 1-1 in the UFC and 11-2 overall, he has fought in promotions like Strikeforce,IFC and EliteXC (ShoXC). Hamman has also headlined a few shows while fighting for ShoXC so he’s used to the spotlight, a position he’d like to find himself in at some point with the big show.  

UFC debut was at UFC 105, you hadn’t fought in 15 months. Why the long layoff?

The EliteXC had my contract held under for a long time; I was stuck in the whole bankruptcy thing. That was one of the most frustrating things I’ve ever been though, I was extremely mad to the least. I had fights I could have taken but they just wouldn’t let me.

What was your UFC debut like emotionally?

I’d be lying to say that it wasn’t a big deal; there is something to the UFC jitters but I had the opportunity to fight with the EliteXC and be on showtime so I’d been around the camera’s and production type stuff. So I was kind of us to it but again it was the UFC and there was some anxiety or added anxiety just because of the fact it was the big show. Plus too it was my first fight in 15 months so I was jacked, at the same time I was super happy yet the same time it was the big show.

What part did the fight being in England play?

I had been Europe before when I was in college and I knew I was going to have a problem with the time delay/jet lag. looking back on it now, If I ever in Europe again I’m going to go a month in advance. The Jet lag did affect me; I didn’t well so it did take its toll. That was one of the reasons why I came out like a lightning bolt. I told my instructor that we have a game plan but I don’t know if I’m going to be able to last.

In your last fight you defeated Rodney Wallace by Unanimous Decision. What did it feel like to finally go to the judges’ scorecards, for the first time?

Correct, I absolutely despise decisions. I don’t like them! If you’ve ever gotten into a street fight for some reason, you’re not going to look at your friends and be like did I win the fight. You’re going to know from what happens. I never want to leave that decision in someone else’s hands.

It did win you fight of the night though.

It did, it was good because I had 15 full minutes in the cage where I can look at for video review. It was fantastic, I was able to look at different places I had never been before. For instance I hadn’t been on my back a whole lot in the fight game, so it was able to look at different things and I had 15 minutes of good quality cage time that I can go back and review. See my weakness, what I did good, what I did bad and review from there. It was actually really good.  

You’re facing Kyle Kingsbury on September 15^th at UFN 22. What are your thoughts on him?

I love fighting former football players and I think when you put two gridiron guys in the cage it’s going to be a good battle/fight. I enjoy fighting someone like that and it fires me up to see that so I’m excited to face another guy like that. He’s a big light heavyweight, his got some good tools and he’s also got some weaknesses and me and the coaches have analyzed that and I’ve got some tools in my belt for this next fight and I’m looking forward to this fight.

How do you see this fight going?

I’ll pretty much tell you I’ll do everything in my power to not go to the judges; I do that all the time.

How would you describe your fighting style?

I would say athlete but that’s not a good description. I’d just say I’m a guy who loves to fight. To me it’s not a kickboxing match, it’s not a boxing match, it’s not a BJJ match and it’s not a wrestling match it’s a fight. Now you use all those things, but to me it’s still a fight. I love to watch the Diaz’s brother because they love to scrap and I think that’s my mentality. I had to learn BJJ and kickboxing, wrestling but it’s still just a fight. I’ve been working on my stand up with Hardonk for a while, I’d say I’m more of a striker type guy but if it has to go to the ground then I’ll go to the ground. I love to just hit things!

Kingsbury has a wrestling background and over a third of his wins are by decision. Does that worry you any?

I think if he takes me down it’s going to be hard for him to keep me down. As you saw in the Wallace fight I’ve gotten better, I have obviously worked on my takedown defense but if the fight still goes to ground to me it’s still a fight and I’m still going to fight from there, try and stand up or try and reverse position. So I’m not too worried about him trying to hold me down, shoot my brother use to hold me down all the time like that. I know his big and strong but I’ve got a good game plan going into this fight just based off his video.

What are your thoughts on Dan Hardy rant on Wrestling?

Get your wrestling better instead of trying to change the rules! It’s Mixed Martial arts.

How did you get into MMA?

I have an older brother that us to beat the living crap out of me growing up. I was always that kid and after a while I was like bring it on let’s do this cause I knew it was going to happen anyway. So I always say my brother is the reason for my love of MMA because he used to pick on me all the time. I always like being aggressive which is why I got into football and I wasn’t good at any other sports. I loved the battle and when I got done with football I went into coaching but I still had that desire to do battle. A friend of mine came up to me after my last game coaching and said he was doing this kickboxing thing and wanted me to check it out. Boom I liked it and I went to a gym from there and never looked back.

Where did your nickname “The Messanger” come from?

Vladimir Matyushenko gave that to me because of my Christian faith.

What is you contract status after this fight?

I still have a few more fights, so we’re good to go.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

Antoni Hardonk and Vladimir Matyushenko have been my coaches for a long time. Thanks to god and the fans for watching my big dorky butt.

Jared Hamman can be found on twitter at www.twitter.com/jaredhamman

Check out the article written based off this interview on Bleacher Report

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