King of the Cage - James Fanshier Interview

The views and opinions in this write up are those of Krazy Mike

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Interview with James Fanshier
Sabobo Casino September 26, 2005

KOTC and Gladiator Challenge Welterweight Class (170lb) Champion James "The Educator" Fanshier Interview:

KM: You recently won the KOTC Welterweight Title against
Thomas Denny and you have a rematch coming up December 2, 2005 Sabobo Casino. Are you willing to put up your Gladiator Challenge and KOTC Welterweight Title Belts on the line, plus, your fight purse against Denny's Fight Purse?
JF: Absolutely, I thought that was on the contract. Both Belts and my fight purse against Denny's fight purse. That's what I offered in the August 5, 2005 show when Denny grabbed the microphone after his win and called me out saying "I had a hurt hand". My response was to lay both belts in the middle of the cage and grab the microphone and tell the fans and Denny, "both belts and the fight purses winner takes all".

KM: Do you feel your punch that landed at the end of the first round was the difference in the first fight?
JF: I believe at the end of the first round when I landed that punch that it should have been over then as he was down and out, however, Denny was saved by the bell, however the bell is part of the game. When I looked at the first round not including the punch landed at the end of the round that I won the first round. I did not dominate Denny but I was more aggressive and landed more punches and dropping him was the clincher.

KM: How do you see the rematch going? Will it go to the ground or do you want to stand and bang like the first fight?
JF: I hope Denny will stand and trade with me, as that is what I Love to do. I won the fight against Denny the first time around. I do however, see Denny coming out and throwing a flurry of punches and then he will try to take the fight to the ground. I am working on defending takedowns.

KM: Did you train any different for the rematch?
JF: I am at the beginning of my training camp so the only thing I can say that I will be doing different is working on my wrestling as Denny surprised me with his wrestling skills and I will not under estimate his wrestling this next time around. I want to be the one getting the takedowns and not being the one getting taken down.

KM: You and Denny have had a rematch scheduled several times due to injuries, are you healthy now?
JF: Let me set the record straight. Denny Fanshier goes back to September 24, 2004 and Denny had some big bruise on his leg so fight postponed. Then it was scheduled for November 14, 2005 PPV show and it was a split decision and a close fight. I was declared the winner of the KOTC World Championship Belt. Denny came up to me after the fight and ask me how about if we do this again in Sacramento California sometime, I said absolutely just give me some time to get prepared and have some time off and we will do it again next year as this was already September. So Gladiator Challenge promoter and co-promoter of KOTC Ted Williams said he had the fight scheduled for June 1st, 2005 at the Colusa Casino in Northern California. Denny and I were suppose to fight in front of my home town and he does not show up claiming he does not fight for Gladiator Challenge even though Denny's face and my face were on the poster. I am a huge fan favorite at the Colusa Casino, like Denny is at Soboba Casino, this is my hometown. Denny backed out telling me he does not fight for Gladiator Challenge only KOTC?

I go to his hometown were it is tough to fight and take his belt, then he wont show up in my home town, claiming he does not fight for Gladiator Challenge, that's bullshit!

KM: You have a new sponsor up and coming Sponsor Warrior Wear Clothing, tell us about it?
JF: I Love the new Fight shorts and the new jersey. Nathan and his Wife really hooked me up with a lot of gear tonight and have signed to with Warrior Wear to be my sponsor. I am very excited, now I have a great pair of shorts to train and fight in. Warrior Wear products are off the hook!

KM: Is fighting your full time job? Do you have another job?
JF: I am a Middle School Teacher for the last nine years, Heck I won "Teacher of the Year" last year. That is where "The Educator" comes from. Fighting is fun. By the time I fly myself, my corner man, my Wife, my Kids, and pay for the SUV, house, and normal expenses, it adds up quickly! It is tuff training and working a fulltime job. My Wife will sometimes bring my boy down and he will go to training with me.

#1 is My Family # 2 Teaching # 3 Fighting

KM: What are your remaining MMA goals?
JF: People ask me that all the time, they say James you are 34 how much longer will you fight. I am in my fourth year of kickboxing and MMA and I will keep fighting until my body tells me not to do it. I am going to stop when I quit getting better because I am just getting to be at a good level and I am improving daily which is scary. I am learning about my body and my heart and mind and I feel I am just about to reach my prime! Look at Randy Couture, the man is 40! I guess I have at least 6 more years {Laughs} Really only two things will stop me from fighting, spending more time with my Family or an injury.

KM: What is your official MMA record?
JF: Wins 10 Loses 5 (3-Loses to Villasenor, Chris Leben, and James Lee at 185lb) I have won my last seven fights since moving down to the 170lb weight division. I had a hard time fight at 185lb because these guys cut from 200+ to 185lb for weigh in and then shoot to 200 by fight time and I would be 187lb max by fight time. I feel great at a 170lb

KM: Do you have any sponsors?
JF: Warrior Wear Clothing, Ush! Gear, Frank Fernandez Tax Service, and I have more I just can not think of them right now.

KM: Out of your 10 Wins, which fight was the toughest to Win?
JF: Thomas Denny fight was the toughest fight that I have won. It was a split decision that went the distance and we banged for three rounds.

KM: Are you married or single? Any Kids?
JF: Valerie is my beautiful Wife. She has Won some titles in kickboxing, however, gave it up so we could have kids. My Kids are Blake 4 years old and Kaia just had the 1st birthday.

KM: Would you like to own your own school someday?
JF: I would like to consider it someday.

KM: How do you feel about KOTC being on PPV?
JF: Well since I am the Champion it really helps me get exposure as I am always looking for sponsors. I wish it could be on regular T.V. someday.

KM: How did you get into Cage Fighting?
JF: Wrestled in High School and College and was coaching Middle School when Cage Fighting just came out and with the help of Cung Le the rest is history. I now hold to World Titles at 170lb Division. My wrestling was beating kick boxers with wrestling techniques and then my kicks and stand up started to really become good and that is basically how I got stared. I kid in my class ask me if I was a kick boxer and I told him yes and he then told me that is nothing my Dad is a cage fighter, I was like ok, whatever kid, what is your Dad's name, the kid says..

Cal Worsham. So I go home and look him up and sure enough it says Cal Worsham is a great MMA Fighter. I started training with Cal shortly after.

KM: Who is your Favorite Fighter?
JF: Randy Couture because he is always mentally prepared for his training and what it takes to beat an opponent. Not to mention that he is 40 year old. I really did like Chuck as my number 1 fighter, however after losing to Randy the first time he was suppose to do a seminar with Randy and did not show up and he was the original reason I bought my ticket. Anyway I hope I get to attend a Chuck Liddell Seminar someday.

KM: Do you have a manager?
JF: Cal Worsham. We have a training camp, it is not a Karate school everyone pays $50 a month and gets top notch training for kickboxing, MMA, Wrestling, Boxing.

KM: Do you have a trainer?
JF: Cal Worsham, Randy Hickman of 4 years and of course Cung Le.

KM: Does your camp have any up and coming MMA Fighters?
JF: Jason Geris, Jaime Jara Who won the gladiator Challenge Heavyweight Tournament.

KM: I would like to thank you on behalf of KingoftheCage.com and Krazy Mike's Korner for taking the time to do this interview. In closing would you like to add anything?
JF: Krazy Mike for the interview, cool web site bro! My Wife Valerie!
1. Cung Le
2. The Fans
3. Cal Worsham
4. Frank Fernandez
5. Randy Hickman
6. Warrior Wear Clothing and Ush!
7. Jaime Jara and Jason Geris
8. Ted Williams
9. Terry Treblicock "No Hard Feeling about Aug 5 in the Cage"
10. Hunter Worsham

Special Thanks to the following people:

My Dad: Tom Fanshier (He has supported me from day one.)

Mike Hern

Rudi Ott check out www.unlimitedkickboxing.com