I had the chance to sit down with the TFF middle weight champion.

I learned a lot about Garrett Gross that surprised me. He was a lot of fun to interview.

 

Garrett Gross interview:

 

Dave- What did you want to be growing up ?

 

Garrett- I wanted to be some kind of sport's star. Probably football since football was real big in Duquoin. Growing up that is basically what Duquoin was about.....Football.

 

Dave- You were a football star in Duquoin.

 

Garrett- Yeah

 

Dave- #9 was the number you wore. Did you pick that or was it given to you?

 

Garrett- No, actually #9 was given to me my freshman year and my sophomore year I started varsity. So I asked if I could keep the same number and I end up keeping it all four years.

 

 

Interview With TFF Middleweight Champ Garrett Gross

By Dave Davis

Dave- When you started playing football, did you start out playing running back?

 

Garrett-  I started out playing quarterback my freshman year. Then I started varsity my sophomore year as a cornerback on defense and as a back up quarterback. Then I started gaining a little weight and getting bigger from lifting. That's when they moved me to running back.

 

Dave- What sports did you play before high school football?

 

Garrett- Junior high I played basketball, baseball, and track.

 

Dave- How did you do in track?

 

Garrett- I ran 100m, 200m dash, 4x1, and 4x2. I started off pole vaulting. I actually won state pole vaulting in the 8th grade. I pole vaulted my freshman and sophomore year. My junior year I was up around 185 lbs and the poles were getting to flimsy and I was breaking them.

 

Dave- That seems like it would be a blast.

 

Garrett- Oh yeah it's fun. It's probably one of the hardest things to do in track.

 

Dave- If you were rich would you build your own pole vaulting area at your house?

 

Garrett- yeah just for fun. [laughing] If I was rich I might as well.

 

Dave- That's interesting, I would have never thought that you were a pole vaulter.

 

Garrett- My dad is actually a pole vaulting coach.

 

Dave- Now have you always lived in Duquoin, IL ?

 

Garrett- Yeah

 

Dave- Growing up knowing that you wanted to be an athlete of some sorts. How vigorous was your work out routine?

 

Garrett- My dad always pushed me pretty hard. In junior high he was the basketball coach. He was the 8th grade coach. When I was in the 5th grade I was asked to play on the 7th grade team but my dad wouldn't let me because he was the coach at the time. Since he was the 8th grade coach and they practiced all the time together. He didn't want people to think that I was getting special treatment. The next year he resigned and I started for the 8th grade basketball team in the 6th grade.

 

Dave- Did your dad always have you running sprints and killers ?

 

Garrett- Yeah he pushed me pretty hard.

 

Dave- Did he push you hard into weights and stuff ?

 

Garrett- Well I really didn't start lifting weights until after basketball my 8th grade year.

 

Dave- Now your a fighter, which one is more rewarding? Scoring a touchdown in the big game or knocking someone out in front of a big crowd ?

 

Garrett- Definitely knocking someone out ! There's not another felling like it at least I don't think so.

 

Dave- When you step into the ring are there any butterflies or just anxiety ?

 

Garrett- Actually my very first fight, I thought I was going to be real nervous. I thought that I would be all shaky. When I got in there I was a little nervous, but nothing like I thought I would be. When I'm fighting I'm pretty confident with whom ever I'm fighting. The more I fight, the more relaxed I am. I get in there now and it's just like another fight and I'm ready to go. I'm not really nervous I'm more anxious. I would rather be the first fight of the night than the last.

 

Dave- Knowing that you have the potential to be a UFC star one day. How does that make you feel ?

 

Garrett- It feels awesome !

 

Dave- How does it affect you when the crowd is either with you or against you when you step in the ring?

 

Garrett- I don't really think about it too much. I don't think it's a big factor. You always want the crowd on your side. I'm going out there to win whether the crowd is on my side or not.

 

Dave- So basically you just block them out?

 

Garrett- Yeah.

 

Dave- A lot people get into the sport just because they like to say their a fighter. Your not one of those guy's.

 

Garrett- I love doing it! That's why I'm doing it.

 

Dave- How did you get into MMA?

 

Garrett- A buddy of mine Coltin had talked to me about it a little bit. I was interested in it, but I had so much other stuff going on. I ended up going over and training with him one day. I learned that day how much different it was than street fighting and it made me want to get better.

 

Dave- So far you haven't had a fight go past the first round. Are you curious to what your going be like in the second round?

 

Garrett- Yeah, I kind of want to go to the second round. I do, but I don't, but I do. [laughing]

 

Dave- So you want test yourself?

 

Garrett- Yeah. I thought the last guy was going to at least take it to the second round.

 

Dave- Your the middle weight champ. How hard is it to maintain your weight. [185 lbs]

 

Garrett- It's not to hard. I walk around at about 195 lbs. It doesn't take me to long to get to 185lbs.

 

Dave- Since you won the belt, what's the cheesiest thing that you have done that you wished hadn't? Did you wear it any where?

 

Garrett- [laughing] One night at a party that I don't remember to much about. I had my boxers on walking around with my belt.

 

Dave- After you have cut weight and starved yourself and exercised. After weigh-ins. What's the first food you crave?

 

Garrett- Any kind of meat. [laughing] Ryan's buffet, Golden Corral, etc.

 

Dave- After winning the middle weight title did people around you treat you any different? Do you think it legitimized you any more?

 

Garrett- Yeah, I think so. It's had a lot of people excited about it. That's pretty cool.

 

Dave- What kind of stuff do you like to do when your not fighting or training?

 

Garrett- Party, [laughing] and hanging out with my friend's. My day mainly consist of training right now.

 

Dave- What kind of music do you like?

 

Garrett- Rap.

 

Dave- What's your daily routine?

 

Garrett- Lately I have been getting up around 10a. I eat breakfast and go to the gym until about noon. Come back and rest. I eat lunch. Then I go back to the gym from 2p-4p. I lift weights from 4p-5:30p. I eat dinner and go back to the gym at 7p.

 

Dave- Who do you admire in MMA?

 

Garrett- Matt Hughes

 

Dave- Now you train at the Hit Squad. How did you feel the first time you got to train with Matt Hughes?

 

Garrett- It was pretty crazy getting to see guy's on their level training.

 

Dave- Now getting to grapple and spar with Matt Hughes, does it make you feel better/ more confident?

 

Garrett- Yeah wrestling with Matt Hughes makes me feel more confident. He's one of the best guys to be around to get to that level.

 

Dave- Does Hughes give a lot of pointers to you?

 

Garrett- Yeah, Matt teaches a class and he is always walking around helping everybody out.

 

Dave- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

 

Garrett- Hopefully you will be watching me on the TV at Buffalo Wild Wings or something like that. Hopefully one of the bigger show's, UFC, WEC, etc.

 

Dave- What would you say to any kids out there who want to be a fighter?

 

Garrett- Stay disciplined. I think that's the most important thing.