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By: Jason Bent, MMATorch Contributor Today I talked with “The King”. No, I didn’t break out the Ouija board and summon Elvis Presley to ask him which David he would have voted for on ‘American Idol’. Personally I think he would have voted for David Cook and then complained that where he is now is not serving up fried chicken in just the way he liked it. I am sure of one thing and that is if the discussion between Elvis and I became one about MMA that Elvis would explain to me how his karate skills would have ranked him near the top of the game and that when it comes to taking care of business, the OTHER King, “King Karl” is doing just that.
T.C.B. is what KJ Noons has been doing in his MMA career and in his last fight he took care of business in short order as he defeated Yves Edwards in just 48 seconds. Defeated isn’t really a strong enough word to use when describing Noons’ victory as it was a masterful performance; and taking out a fighter of Edwards’ status in such a manner is nothing short of impressive.
So I had the opportunity to speak with current Elite XC Lightweight Champion KJ Noons ,and without any further delay, I bring to you my “Conversation with the King”.
Jason Bent: The first thing I want to ask is can I get your brief opinion of Elite XC “Unfinished Business” and to know if anything stood out to you from the show?
KJ Noons: No, nothing in particular stood out for me. I thought it was a great show and I think they got out a lot of kinks from the previous show and that it was a good showing for Elite on CBS.
JB: Is there a possibility that we could see you on CBS when Elite XC returns to primetime in October?
KJ: Are you going to see me? I have no clue. I have no idea and I haven’t heard anything yet so I’m just kind of waiting on the word.
JB: Your victory over Yves Edwards was an awesome performance over a great fighter in Edwards but I want to know if you can still learn something from a fight that is such a decisive win?
KJ: Oh thanks. Yeah, you do learn a lot actually. Every time I fight I get better and better as far as conditioning and becoming better as an all around fighter. Now I know how to take my training to the next level and get myself even more prepared for the next fight.
JB: To my eyes and most of the rest of us it appeared that you were flawless in there; but from your perspective when you watch tape of the fight afterward, do you see things that you feel you could have done even better than you did?
KJ: Actually, no. You know I just thought it was a great fight for me. I trained really hard for it and I think for my next fight that I’m going to be even better.
JB: By now the next subject has been beaten to death but could you give me a brief description from your perspective of what happened in the cage after the Edwards fight as far between yourself, your father and the Diaz Brothers?
KJ: Oh yeah, you know they were just disrespecting us by flipping fingers in the back and talking a lot of smack and I don’t think that’s going to fly. It was pretty stupid.
JB: In my opinion it was out of line that they entered the cage and took away from what should have been your moment; how do you feel?
KJ: Yeah, you know it was. I don’t know if they were pumping it up for the next fight or what but it tells you the type of organization I guess I’m fighting for.
JB: When a fighter acts as disrespectful as Nick Diaz, does it motivate you at all or do you just shut those things out and not even give it a second thought?
KJ: Absolutely it does. It motivates me and it kind of pisses me off. It was stupid. It’s like a cheap way of getting a rematch when he still hasn’t fought anyone of any caliber.
JB: Is Nick Diaz being talked about as far as being your next opponent or further down the line or just not even at all?
KJ: I don’t know. I really haven’t heard anything from Elite XC so I am just continuing to train and focusing on getting better each day.
JB: With Nick’s antics and how he has acted towards you, do you feel that maybe he doesn’t deserve the opportunity to fight you again or does it drive you towards wanting to fight him so you can shut him up?
KJ: You know it’s whatever they are going to bring to the table; you know what I mean? We will see soon if I am going to cross that path or not. I just really don’t know.
JB: Right now in the MMA world there are three major companies doing business and they are UFC, Elite XC and Affliction. In your opinion do you feel there is enough room for three companies to not only survive but to thrive?
KJ: Yeah, I think it brings a lot of opportunities. At the end of the day I want to stay with Elite XC and I am a free agent in November and want to stay with them and they want to keep me but at the end of the day I have to do what is going to be best for me. I’ve got to pay my bills. It’s a lot tougher than people think and some would think I’m the champ so I must be living this high life but it is the complete opposite. I want to do what’s best but I still want to do the sport that I love.
JB: In today’s world when it comes to how fans perceive athletes it seems that because you are a champion who performs on TV that your pay must surely rank up there with other pro athletes in the major sports and boxing. MMA fans are aware of this fact but a casual fan may imagine this is case and it really is not, is it?
KJ: No, it is definitely not the case. You have to not only be the champ but then you have to defend it in order for you to make any money. That’s something that is going to play a factor when I become a free agent in November. Hopefully they’d want to keep me.
JB: As far as your professional boxing career goes, can we look forward to seeing you back in a boxing ring again and possibly in the near future?
KJ: Yes. You know I am kind of just waiting for everything to fall in place with Elite XC and hopefully come the New Year I’ll be able to box a lot more. I do have a true passion for the sport of boxing and that is something I definitely want to continue.
JB: Your being the Elite XC champion in MMA and also a professional boxer got me to thinking that maybe we could see a time where a fighter like yourself could be a champion in MMA and hold a major boxing championship at the same time. Your thoughts on this and is this a possible goal for you?
KJ: Oh man, are you kidding! It’d be crazy. It would be history and I definitely want to work for something like that.
JB: Now as far as the MMA landscape goes we have Elite XC, Affliction and of course UFC, which for the fighters is great as it can provide opportunities as far as places to go and hopefully with it the chance for more money, and at the same time it provides a lot of great fights to watch; but my question is how it may have an effect as far as determining who is considered to be the best. As a champ do the fighters feel incomplete without being able to fight the other organization’s champions and do you see a day where this could become a reality or could we end up with a championship scene that is as fragmented as the one in boxing?
KJ: No, I think it is a reality and a lot more of the champs do want to fight the other champs. It’s only a matter of time. When you’re at the top you want to fight the best fights and to show people that you aren’t dodging people and this or that. It is only a matter of time and I feel it will happen a lot quicker than people think.
JB: That’s what I feel as well and as long as the money is right for all parties involved, it definitely is something I think could end up happening and would be great for fighters and fans alike.
KJ: Definitely and I’m sure that when you are at the very top of the game like someone like a Fedor who is making a lot of money and then someone like Randy and they just want to be able to prove that they are the best by fighting the best fighters and wanting to fight each other.
JB: Did you happen to watch Fedor in his victory over Tim Sylvia and what do you think of him?
KJ: Fedor is a guy that I love to watch. He is just an amazing fighter and any fight he is in also is just super exciting. I just like his whole Russian character in that he doesn’t smile, doesn’t warm up and just beats the crap out of people.
JB: I think Fedor isn’t even human and is just a fighting machine who reminds me of like the character of “Ivan Drago” from ‘Rocky IV’ and you would expect that if he would speak in English that he would say something like, “I will break you” or something to that effect.
KJ: Oh yeah! I love watching that guy.
JB: Are there any other fighters that you would say are the best or are your favorites to watch?
KJ: Fighters to watch? Oh man, I just like watching Anderson Silva. From 185 to 205 I think he could beat a lot of people. I mean obviously he is pound for pound the best at 185 but I think he can beat a lot of people at 205 as well and even a lot of guys at heavyweight to tell you the truth. He is just a huge guy in person.
JB: In my opinion he is to MMA what Roy Jones, Jr. is to boxing in that he is a special fighter who can move up from a lower weight class up to heavyweight and not only compete but contend against possibly the best in that division and is just a blast to watch.
KJ: Oh definitely with Anderson Silva and I just love to watch him fight.
JB: Getting back to yourself; how is your training going right now?
KJ: Oh, it’s just going great. I am getting stronger. In every camp I learn how to just tweak the little things here and there to become a better fighter.
JB: You are the Elite XC Lightweight Champion and fight at the 160lb limit; about where does your weight stay and what do you walk around at when you are between fights?
KJ: It can fluctuate anywhere up to 185. A month ago I was 185 and I just started running and training and I’m under 170 today so my weight can fluctuate pretty hard. Pretty much I just can’t get lazy and sit around. I have to get in the gym and work to get better at wrestling or whatever else I need to do to improve like work on my boxing and kicking.
JB: As you are training right now, is there one particular aspect of your game that you are especially focused on and are trying to really improve on?
KJ: Really I am just trying to get better at everything. Like with the boxing I am still learning stuff and I take in what I can use in the future. I am a student of everything. As far as wrestling, Jiu-jitsu, and kickboxing it is just like with the boxing in that I am still learning stuff. I just take in all that I can and use it for what is going to be best for me.
JB: I definitely have a lot of respect for all the hard work you are putting in as far as your training and you certainly are a fighter who I look forward to watching in the cage.
KJ: Thank you and I really appreciate that. Hey, it’s a lot of hard work and a lot of people don’t know it. It is a lot of sacrifice. At the end of the day though I am going out there to do what I love and I just hope that fans enjoy it and that I give the people what they want to see.
JB: Before we go, is there something you would like to say to your fans as we end this?
KJ: Yes, thank you for all of the support. All of the support from my family, friends and the fans of MMA; it’s a great thing and I’m enjoying this with being the champ. Also if anyone gets a chance be sure to check out www.KJNOONS.com and I’m also down here at City Boxing and you can check them out at www.CITYBOXING.com as well.
JB: Is there hope that we could see you back in the cage before the end of this year?
KJ: Yeah, I do believe and as soon as something gets announced I will let you know what is going on but for right now I am just going to focus on my training and just continue to get better.
JB: Definitely. I would like to thank you for this opportunity and look forward to seeing you back in there and doing what you best. Hopefully we can do this again in the future.
KJ: Anytime, just give me a call.
JB: Thank you KJ. Good luck and for right now just all the best as you continue to work in the gym. Take care and have a good night.
KJ: Thank you and have a good one too.
KJ Noons is one of the rising stars of MMA and I definitely do not think that we have seen the best of what he can do in the cage and that is a scary thought for those who will fight him in the future. He is an excellent striker and overall a very capable fighter who is just getting stronger and more skilled with each fight. KJ is currently signed to two professional fighting contracts-SHOWTIME Boxing and Elite XC in MMA and very well could be the fighter to be able to hold a title belt in both sports at the same time.
Shakespeare once wrote “uneasy lies the head that wears the crown” and in the case of the man who wears the crown as the Elite XC Lightweight Champion, heavy too are his hands.
Certainly we as the fans are more excited about his return to the cage than any of his opponents will be but hopefully it comes sooner rather than later. It has been my absolute pleasure and an honor to speak with a man of royalty and in the words of that other king I say, “Thank you, thank you very much.”
KJ Noons has left the building.
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