Talkin’ MMA with Mike Massenzio
Published by Scoop Malinowski on December 22nd, 2008 in Interviews

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“I just hope he knows I’m going to come straight forward with everything I’ve got.”

A fast-rising prospect climbing the ranks and making some waves in the fight world is Mike Massenzio, also known as the ‘Master of Disaster.’ The 26-year-old middleweight from Bergen County, N.J. has earned a reputation since turning pro in 2005 by fashioning a 10-2 professional fighting record. This year the UFC signed Massenzio to a four-fight contract. In his first UFC assignment, Massenzio prospered in style, by defeating the favored Drew McFedries by first-round submission (kimura) in just 1:28 at a match staged in Omaha, Nebraska this past September.

Massenzio will next be a part of the huge December 27 UFC pay-per-view extravaganza in a fight that does not lack an interesting subplot. Massenzio will seek revenge against old college wrestling nemesis C.B. Dollaway who scored a come-from-behind pin at nationals. Massenzio, who went 81-1 in college wrestling, is not only busy as a pro athlete, he also has endeavors outside of the fighting realm.

A wrestling coach at Paramus Catholic High School, Massenzio also has opened up ‘Iron Horse MMA & Face Off Boxing Academy’ in nearby Garfield, N.J. We spoke with this enterprising athlete about the history of his rivalry with Dollaway, his future, and other topical MMA issues:

MMAMemories: What do you expect will be the key to victory against C.B. Dollaway on December 27?

Mike Massenzio: The key to this – I mean, I prepare for everybody the same way – I know that he’s a great wrestler. It just so happens that I wrestled against him in college and I was winning the match when he caught me on my back and pinned me. And I don’t take nothing away from him, he did what he had to do. That’s what a great athlete does – capitalize on another guy’s mistake. The whole background to this fight is I never got a second chance at him. I had a chance, he beat me in junior college nationals my first year. And I trained, honestly I went home the next day, I trained for him 365 days, every day I got ready for him. I trained as hard as I could. I felt that I was robbed. I felt that I’m better than him. And we both went to nationals the following year. And he ended up losing in the semifinals of the tournament and I ended up advancing to the finals and I actually beat the guy that beat him, 11-3.

So I never had a chance to get him again. He went on to Division I and I didn’t go to Division I. And never got my shot. This is like karma. This is a sweet revenge for me. I never thought I’d get this guy again. And I think the factor in this will be the will, and the will to win. And I just hope he knows I’m going to come straight forward with everything I’ve got. It’s gonna be, Who wants it more? That’s what it’s gonna come down to. He’s a very good athlete. I feel we’re both at the top of our games. But who’s gonna want it more? And I feel like, he’s not gonna…this is finally my time.

MMAMemories: Lesnar vs. Couture, what do you think was the story of what happened in that fight?

Mike Massenzio: I just think Randy, he’s older, he’s out of his prime. And Brock Lesnar is a phenom. He’s a beast. And he’s a great athlete as well. It’s not like he’s just a bum off the street. He’s one of the best wrestlers ever, you know, Division I national champion, no slouch. I just think his youth and his enormous size and power was too much for Randy to handle.

MMAMemories: Which fights are you looking forward to see in 2009, as a fan of the sport?

Mike Massenzio: I would like to see Anderson Silva against Georges St. Pierre. I know Georges St. Pierre is fighting B.J. Penn, it might not happen in ‘09 but that’s one fight I’d like to see. I think Wanderlei is going to beat Rampage and I would like to see Rashad Evans fight Wanderlei Silva. I’m sure that would be an amazing fight.

MMAMemories: If you win on December 27, who would you like to face most of all next year?
Who are you hunting?

Mike Massenzio: It’s hard to say. I take one fight at a time. I don’t look ahead to anything. I never overlook somebody. I think that’s a mistake a lot of people make. I gotta worry about C.B. Dollaway right now. Obviously, my ultimate goal is to be hopefully, someday, UFC world champion. And to get through, to get to that, I’ll have to fight Anderson Silva. But there’s not one person – I stick to one fight at a time – there’s not one person – there’s not one person I’m really looking at right now except for C.B. Dollaway.

MMAMemories: Do you think Fedor is unbeatable?

Mike Massenzio: I don’t think anybody can beat Fedor. I think he’s the man right now, I think he’s gonna stay the man. He’s just too much. I just don’t see anyone beating him.

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