Vigilante MMA

What an episode!  Nam delivers the goods as always and gives us a truly behind-the-scenes look at how he and Wilkinson psyched out Stevens before their fight, why he’s NOT the worst cornerman in MMA, why Koscheck really isn’t to blame for the choke saw round the world, and who he wanted to fight next in the quarterfinals.  Best interview yet. 

VigilanteMMA: Last night’s show started by focusing on the latest feud in the house between Alex Caceres (Bruce LeRoy) and Michael Johnson.  Was it the infamous bleach prank back in episode 5 that started it all?

Nam Phan: Yeah, I think it was.  Like I’ve said, no one really cared for Alex before that even, so when his bleach joke backfired and got Michael Johnson, well, Michael didn’t really care for that.

VigilanteMMA: We have some more questions about those two later.  Let’s talk about the wild-card fight featuring two of your teammates; Marc Stevens and Aaron Wilkinson.  Were they as tight as they seemed?

Nam Phan: Yeah, they were really cool with each other on the show.  As you know though, I really didn’t get along with Marc (Stevens).

VigilanteMMA: Alright, I can’t hold it in any longer; let’s talk about the choke saw-round-the-world.  Did they show everything that actually happened?

Nam Phan: Give or take 20 seconds that was about what happened.

VigilanteMMA: When it was happening, did you think it was going to get physical?  (Let’s get physical, physical…sorry, couldn’t help myself)

Nam Phan: Honestly, I didn’t think it was going to get that bad.  When it was just those two (Koscheck and Tate), it was still pretty harmful, but when Tate started calling the Armenians “savages,” that’s when Koscheck started to get pretty heated.

VigilanteMMA: Yeah, I thought that was out of line.  It didn’t take long for you to get into the fray.

Nam Phan: Yeah, I jumped in there and got consequently crushed between Josh Koscheck and a big black version of Jabba the Hutt.  You know, and I’m the tinniest guy in the house.

VigilanteMMA: It was crazy.  One minute you’re there, and then POOF!  You’re gone.  Did that big belly swallow you up?

Nam Phan: Yeah I got inhaled in his belly button like an abyss.

VigilanteMMA: Haha.  Then out of nowhere you pop out like a newborn baby.

Nam Phan: I was like “waah!” (laughs)  It was like Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura 2 when he falls out of the hippo’s butt, but instead I came out of his belly button.

VigilanteMMA: VigilanteMMA: Always keeping it classy.  So was everything squashed after the dust was settled?

Nam Phan: Yeah, everything was cool after that between Team Koscheck and Tate.

VigilanteMMA: Good to know.  I was actually surprised that Koscheck didn’t come off like more a jerk.  I mean, from the previews you just see him choking a guy.  But he actually comes off like a stand-up person.

Nam Phan: I don’t blame anyone for not liking Josh Koscheck, because he plays the “heel card” but in real life he’s a great guy, he’s a great human being.  Once you really get to know him like I’ve gotten to, he’s a very genuine and down-to-earth person.

VigilanteMMA: Back to the Alex and Michael feud.  GSP asked everyone to write down who they wanted to fight on their team.  Were you surprised that Alex actually followed through and wrote Michael’s name down?

Nam Phan: Yeah, I was like “man!”  If it was me I’d put my pride aside.  It’s about the tournament.  But he’s now fighting for his pride now.  He’s letting his emotions get in the way of things.

VigilanteMMA: Alright, let’s get back to the wild card fight.  Were you surprised that Marc Stevens lost again after being so highly touted in the beginning of the show?

Nam Phan: Not really.  I mean, I don’t think Marc Stevens thought he’d even get the wild card. After his first lost (to Cody McKenzie), which was only a few days prior to the wild card fight, he got up to 185 pounds!  He was fat and he was losing it.  And after he got picked for the wild card spot he was like “oh crap.”  I don’t think he even wanted to fight anymore.  I mean, prior to that, he was all like “I miss my girlfriend, I want to have sex with my girlfriend,…”  I mean right there it shows you that his mindset wasn’t right.  He’s not there to win the tournament anymore.

VigilanteMMA: On the other end of the spectrum you have Aaron Wilkinson.  He gets delivered horrible news, and then decides to stay and fight like a champ.  How did you end up cornering Wilkinson?

Nam Phan: I wanted to corner him.  I wanted to make sure that he won since he’s one of my good friends in the house, and I really didn’t think too much of Marc Stevens.

VigilanteMMA: Outside of cornering Wilkinson, did you do anything to help him train for his fight?

Nam Phan: Oh yeah.  Once the fight was announced, Wilkinson and I were trying to get in Marc Stevens’ head.  For instance, you remember the sauna scene?  Aaron said to him, “Just think, if you win, you’ll have to cut all that weight again.”  And Marc was like “Nooooo” and buried his face in his hands.  And then, as I said before, all he (Stevens) talked about was how much he missed his girlfriend, and how much he missed home, and that he can’t wait to get out of this hell hole (TUF house).  So I was like, “I know man, I miss my girlfriend too, this sucks” and I don’t even have a girlfriend.  (laughs)  I just wanted to get his mind off fighting Wilkinson.

VigilanteMMA: Well, good and bad news.  Good news is Dana White said your name on national TV.  Bad news is, he probably won’t hire you as a cornerman any time soon.  You want to give us your side on that?

Nam Phan: Look, I know he was losing, I know that.  I know all the positions, escapes, etc.  But I’ve never cornered Aaron before, so I don’t know what his mentality was like.  So the only thing I could do was to stay positive.  What am I supposed to say?  “Aaron, you sucked that round.”  I just wanted to stay positive for him you know?  You got this, you got this.

VigilanteMMA: Well, the bottom line is your guy won and Steven’s lost again.  Take us through the end.

Nam Phan: Well, in the 2^nd round I told him to keep his stance low, but he got taken down, so I wanted him to get back up.  But he took advantage of his position and slipped in a good guillotine and he got him to tap.

VigilanteMMA: I thought that was great, especially after Stevens saying he wasn’t going to go out like that again.  But per usual, he had a whole laundry list of excuses.

Nam Pham: Yeah, he’s like, I’m a great fighter, I’m one of the most skilled guys.  But I didn’t fight to my potential because of the elevation, I’m out of my comfort zone, my diet, blah, blah.  I mean, there’s 15 other guys here that are doing the exact same thing you are.  And it just comes down to; how bad do you want it?

ViglanteMMA: Well said Nam.  Let’s talk about your quarterfinals.  Who did you want to fight?

Nam Phan: Alex Caceres.

VigilanteMMA: Why?

Nam Phan: Personal reasons and strategic reasons.  Strategically, he’s the best match-up for me; he has the least experience, his stand up, jujistsu and wrestling aren’t as good as mine, so I knew I had him beat in all areas.  And personally, I think he’s annoying and I wanted to beat the crap out of him.

VigilanteMMA: Fair enough.  What are your thoughts regarding your actual matchup with Cody McKenzie?

Nam Phan: He’s a very good fighter, but he was the 2^nd person I wanted to fight.  My list was: Alex Caceres, Cody McKenzie, Kyle Watson, Michael Johnson and Sako Chivitchian.

VigilanteMMA: It’s a big week next week my friend.  You’re fighting again in the quarterfinals.  Anything you want to tell your fans.

Nam Phan: All I can say is, please watch next Wednesday’s Ultimate Fighter.

For all the latest Nam Phan news, become a friend of Nam’s on facebook here and check out Nam’s personal website here.

Also, we want all our Nam Phan fans to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!  Since Nam is a big fan of the site, he has stepped up to help us with a “Phan-tastic” giveaway (see, bad puns are NOT beneath us).  Every month beginning in November we will give away a double-prize package of:

1. Nam Phan t-shirt
2. Nam Phan autographed photo

All you have to do to be eligible for the monthly prize package is follow VigilanteMMA on facebook and/or Twitter. Here’s the best news, we’ll even give you multiple chances to win. You will get one entry ballot for EACH of the following:

1. ‘Like’ VigilanteMMA on facebook
2. Follow VigilanteMMA on Twitter
3. Send us an email to say hi (we’d love to hear your thoughts on the site too) at NamContest@VigilanteMMA.com

Furthermore, if you are already following us, just email and let us know. We’ll still enter you in the drawings.