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10 Quick Questions with Phil Baroni by Tom O'Brien September 9, 2011 
Phil Baroni is one of the most recognized faces in MMA. From his
professional mixed martial arts debut in 2000 through his most recent contest just a
few days ago, "The New York Bad Ass" has entertained fans in the UFC, PRIDE,
Strikeforce and various other organizations. The man with a personality as powerful
as his fists is kind enough to take the time to answer 10 Quick Questions for MMA
Quick Hits.1. You've competed against some of the best in the sport, Evan Tanner, Frank Shamrock, Matt Linland, etc. If you had an opportunity to face anyone in the world who would it be? Evan Tanner because if I could face him again he would have to be alive. He was too young to die. His passing is a tragedy and a sin. I'd gladly lose to him again if it meant he could still be here. 2. Besides being an accomplished MMA fighter, you're also an undefeated kickboxer and an undefeated an amateur boxer. Have you considered going back to kickboxing or trying your hand at professional boxing? Na, I'm too old and I'm committed to MMA. I really love and appreciate high level kickboxing though. 3. Your known as a mixed martial artist that always comes to fight, and is exciting from the time you begin your entrance until the fight ends. How did your crowd-pleasing entrances and fighting style come to be? Were there any boxers, kickboxers or mixed martial artists you patterned yourself after or admired before you began competing? I love to entertain and have fun. I love to fight and appreciate my opportunity to do so for a living. I always loved pro wrestling growing up so you can say I'm a little bit Ravishing Rick Rude a little bit Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff, Macho Man Randy Savage with Rocky Balboa, Vinny Pazienza, and Jake LaMotta thrown in the mix, "Ha Ha." 4. No one can question that you're one of the hardest hitting fighters in MMA. Who is the hardest hitting fighter you've ever gone up against, either in training or in an official bout? That's tough to say. I sparred Chuck Liddell when he was in his prime and it's no secret he can crack. Joey Villasenor has a hard punch; Amar Suloev hit hard. These were some of the bigger punchers I've been in the cage against. 5. In your last bout you dropped to welterweight. How did you feel at that weight and is your future at welterweight or back up to middleweight? Man, I got to give it a minute. I dropped down fast and looked small at the weight which is weird because I was a big middleweight at one time. So I'm not sure? It was a rush job getting down and I'm kinda tiny at 170. I can't figure it out. 6. I know you're not ready to retire any time soon, but do you have any plans on how long you would like to compete? I want to ride this bitch to the wheels fall off. I just wish I was more active through my career and I plan on being more active here on out. 7. You recently stated on Twitter that you thought you were too focused on scoring a knockout in your last bout as opposed to fighting to win. Could we see a "New York Bad Ass" that takes fights to the ground in the future? I've done it a few times and seems how all the top guys win consistently. But I like to fight and believe in my heart "no guts, no glory" and I'm a glory whore. 8. Speaking of the ground game, your wrestling ability is well-documented, but we haven't heard much about your submission ability. Your only two submission victories have come by way of arm bar and kimura. What type of background do you have in jiu-jitsu? I won the North American Grappling Championship (NAGA), all wins by submission. I beat a few BJJ black belts. I won the Open Grapplers Quest Vegas Div Comp before, and I won a big pro invite Grapplers Quest event in NJ before and a few others. In fact, I never lost in grappling competition, so I don't know where you'd rank me. I was probably a better grappler coming from college back then. I got a blue belt from Ricardo Pires back in the day as well. I'd say I'm at least adequate on the ground; better than I'm given credit for. 9. Who are some of today's fighters that you would pay to watch? Nick Diaz, BJ Penn, Kazuo Misaki, Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, Rampage Jackson, Frank Mir, Josh Thomson, Gilbert Melendez, Jon Fitch, Dominick Cruz, Jose Aldo, Urijah Faber, Paul Daley and Uncle Creepy [Ian McCall]; dude is bad ass. I'm a big fan of the sport and I like the guys who bring it. Ben Henderson, my gumbo cowboy, pets. I like a lot of dudes. 10. How different are Phil Baroni the mixed martial artist and Phil Baroni the everyday guy? Depends on the day and on the fight. Feel free to leave comments below or contact us via e-mail at info@mmaquickhits.com MMA Quick Hits is loading comments...
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