Interviews
MMATorch Interview: Undefeated Illinois heavyweight Erick Correa readying for Bellator debut
Feb 5, 2014 - 8:45:47 PM MMATorch Interview: Undefeated Illinois heavyweight Erick Correa readying for Bellator debut

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By: Brad Walker MMATorch Columnist

Illinois heavyweight Erick Correa signed with Bellator this week, and will make his organizational debut on the undercard of Bellator 112 in March. I spoke with him this week on a number of topics, and that conversation is below:

Brad Walker: Erick thanks for taking some time to talk with me, how are you doing on this chilly morning?

Erick Correa: Doing great. It's been a pretty cold winter. Can't wait for spring to hit. Yourself?

Walker: Spring would be a nice change from this polar vortex! It is arguably a fact that after your victory over Wes Anderson that you are the best heavyweight in Illinois - do you agree with that evaluation?

Correa: Well, I can say I appreciate the sentiment. As far as being the best in Illinois, I'm not too sure. It's my goal to be the best in the world. I would definitely say I may be the most unique heavyweight in Illinois considering my boxing pedigree.

Walker: Speaking of your boxing pedigree, you are a golden gloves champion with a decorated career - what made you take the leap into MMA?

Correa: Well, there's a few reasons. First off, I'm a martial artist. I love all contacts sports. And my favorite sport is baseball. But, honestly, if I was five or ten years younger I may have made a run at a boxing title. But the truth is, in boxing, it takes at least six years to make a splash in the scene. In mixed martial arts, if you're successful and special, which I hope to be, you can make it to the top much faster. And considering my age - early thirties - I believe I can do that. And looking at fighters like Cain Velasquez and Chris Weidman who both moved up the ranks so quickly, it gives me hope that I can do the same. I love the sport, but the truth is if I can't make this a career, I wouldn't be doing it. I have a family in need to support them and my wife supports me in making a run at mixed martial arts as a career. And of course I love her and him thankful for that. Now I need to put in the work.

Walker: So I've had the good fortune to see every one of your MMA fights in person - who was your toughest opponent to this point?

Correa: The truth is, Styles make fights. I believe that Wes Anderson was the toughest opponent I've had to face,. I think I usually perform to the level of my competition. However, I believe the toughest opponent that I had was against Eddie Smith considering it was only my second fight and Eddie was very aggressive and experienced. Plus, I was dealing with a pretty serious injury at the time and had to deal with that through the fight. I think the fight against Eddie Smith was the most valuable or my experience because I had to fight through a tough injury the majority of the fight. Thank God I was able to come out on top.

Walker: Wes Anderson was a hell of an opponent for you indeed and you ended the fight quickly - what was it like to come out of that fight with such a devastating win?

Correa: I can say, I feel very blessed. I was going into that fight asking God that His will be done for me in that fight. I always want to do God's will over my own. I can see that winning the fight in that fashion, God made it very clear that this is what I need to be doing in this season of my life. And heading into Christmas that way made the whole day that much sweeter for me and my family. And me and my camp knew that it would open the door for new and better opportunities here in 2014. And here we are now. Made the "holidays" that much sweeter. .. Not "whole day" (Laughs)

Walker: (Laughs) Speaking of new opportunities I understand you have a pretty epic announcement to make - would you like to share?

Correa: Yes. Praise God. I guess you can say I got called up to the majors, the big show. We inked a deal for March 14 it will be my Bellator debut at Bellator 112 on the undercard of my stablemate Pat Curran [as he fights] Daniel Straus featherweight championship. I'm ecstatic about this opportunity to show my skills on a bigger stage.

Walker: Well congratulations are certainly in order! Do you know who your opponent will be at this point?

Correa: Yes. The dangerous fellow former XFO fighter Daniel "The Predator" James.

Walker: Daniel James has an incredible wrestling game - how do you plan to work against that with your base of boxing?

Correa: I can't divulge all our strategy. The way I can say is, we've been working our wrestling quite a bit. I hope he underestimates my wrestling game. Either way I can promise an action packed fight. But don't blink, because it just might be over soon.

Walker: Alrighty then! So being a heavyweight in Team Curran that usually has smaller fighters - how do you properly prepare to fight a man of that size?

Correa: Well, there his a few heavy weights to work with. The reality is I go more often with the light heavies. I still get work in Chicago in sparring in boxing with some of the heavyweights from Sam Colona's like Heavyweight prospect Nick Asbury. We also might be able to get some work with former UFC contender and kickboxing champion Pat Barry. Hopefully we can work it out in our schedules will work together I know because he has a fight coming up March 22.

Walker: That's quite the camp you can be working out with! So what was it like getting the call about Bellator and how did you react?

Correa: I was really excited when I got the call from my manager Brian Butler from SuckerPunch Entertainment. But I knew it was immediately time to get to work. And thats how I feel now just excited and ready to work more than ever before.

Walker: In MMA anything can happen in the blink of an eye - do you ever worry about that in the cage?

Correa: I would definitely say the first few fights I was. Just because I didn't have An amateur mix martial arts career so i was getting adjusted to using the smaller glove than in boxing. However, I am much more confident and ready to go now. Don't worry about that at all anymore. I think my opponent should worry about that. (Laughs)

Walker: (Laughs) I would hope he is prepared, but at the same time can't wait to see the bout! Last question for you Erick - if you could fight any current or past heavyweight MMA fighter, who would you chose and why?

Correa: I would have to say Junior dos Santos. He's a real inspiration for me and I respect the heck out of him, I really do. But in a big way with me I want to represent the boxing world in MMA. So I would want to prove to the world that I have the best hands in the game as the natural boxer.

Can I just add one thing? I want to dedicate this fight my family my wife Yesenia who is pregnant and is due March 13 the day before the fight will be bringing my first born son into the world. She is the real champion in my life. And I thank the Lord for her everyday. And also thank you to my sponsor Submitted to Christ... www.submittedtochrist.com. And thank you to you too bro for believing in me.

Walker: We'll let me be the first to say congrats on the new member of the family, and good luck in Bellator my friend, I've watched you grow as a fighter and I know you are a very gifted man whom I respect greatly!

Make sure you follow Erick on twitter at @ErickTheRam and myself at @BradMMAtorch

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