APSAALOOKE PEOPLE ON THE MOVE AN INTERVIEW WITH AN APSAALOOKE PRO MMA FIGHTER To those of you who may be unfamiliar with the world of Mixed Martial Arts(MMA,) you may better know it as Cage fighting. It has quickly become one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Many people may think that it is too violent, or that boxing reigns supreme, whatever your thoughts on MMA may be, the Apsaalooke people have an enrolled member representing us in this fight world today, in the form of Mr. Bill Smallwood. Who is he you may ask? He is the grandson of Geneva Other Medicine, and he is ready to let you know, HE IS HERE! Recently coming from tryouts for a reality tv fight show, owned by the MMA worlds biggest international organization the “Ultimate Fighting Championship,” “The Ultimate Fighter.” Apsaalooke Nation News(ANN) had a chance to catch up with Bill, and here is what he had to say. ANN: How long have you been a PRO-MMA FIGHTER & what’s your background in MMA? BILL SMALLWOOD: Been Wrestling since the age of 5 my mother coached me. I went to Oldest Oklahoma Indian college Bacone College for 2 years was NJCAA & NAIA National Qualifier & then did my last 2 years at University of Central Oklahoma a NCAA division II POWERHOUSE. King MO Lawal & 4 x NCAA national champion Cole Province went there. I then proceeded further with my Finance & Marketing Background for awhile in 2007 I decided to get the RUST off of me & join a Boxing gym in San Diego CA & started my Pro Career in Tijuana Mexico. The Boxing commissions in California are expensive to get licensed so we said, “SCREW IT…viva Mexico!!!” I even fought C.B. Dollaway & Kelvin Gastelum before they went to THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER. ANN: What are YOUR GOALS in Pursuing MMA? BILL SMALLWOOD: I have many - 1.) is to rebuild my (fight) record. I’ve taken a lot of fights I had NO BUSINESS FIGHTING. I fought top level guys that are UNDEFEATED or NEAR a TITLE SHOT in #1 International Fight Organization UFC aka Ultimate Fighting Championship. 2. I also manage a few FIGHTERS. The reason I do this is because there are a few SCUMBAG guys that want to manage or be a big time Motion Picture agent & they “CUT THEIR TEETH” on MMA FIGHTERS & aren’t focused on their careers or their safety. I gotta big heart I couldn’t stand for people to go towards a goal & realize they could sell Win on a Fight, but they couldn’t sell tickets…you must realize in any good arrangement or relationship it must be a WIN situation for EVERYONE. 3. I would actually like to bring an MMA CARD to Montana. I actually book for C3 Fights…we have had 40 all Profressional MMA events. King Mo Lawal, Johny Hendricks, Daniel Cormier, & Mark Munoz are all near UFC title shots & came from our fights & our Oklahoma program so we could possibly get 1 or 2 FIGHTS set, but I would like to grow the Tribal programs…simple because as my mom once told me guys like Jim Thorpe hold the honor of being ELITE Athletes. She said Natives can fancy dance have footwork & they have great athletic skill you don’t have to explain into GREAT DETAIL how to be a FIGHTER…it’s deep in the heart & how to WIN & LOSE humble. ANN: How does it feel to be NATIVE AMERICAN in the SPORT of MMA? BILL SMALLWOOD: I get people thinking I am Puerto Rican, Mexican, Cuban, Pablo Escobars 2nd cousin & maybe I’m Columbian…I laugh, “but honestly I’ve learned to speak many languages. But as I’ve done this sport for 27 years…the 1st LANGUAGE you speak is the 1 OF RESPECT. Then you proceed with whatever NATIVE TONGUE…I started to learn CROW when I was about 10 years old. I learned religiously for about a year. It was my 1st time I had visited Crow Agency. There are many things I forget I read that the translation doesn’t always go over in ENGLISH that is why our people say stuff like CLOSE THE LIGHT or an instead of an Elephant ‘A long nosed one’ - I believe it is TRUE…You Never know where you are going until…YOU KNOW where you have been. ANN: How was your recent TRYOUT for Reality Show THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER? BILL SMALLWOOD: Best words….HEARTBREAKING!!! I work all the time on image & doing the right thing & I know I must regroup & sit down this next weekend & take OUR team…TEAM NEXT LEVEL MMA - I gotta sit w/ John my Jiu Jitsu trainer, Malik my Boxing Trainer & Nicky my Muay Thai trainer & grab ideas because FIGHTING isn’t a personality contest, but it’s VERY RESULTS BASED. So I must figure out what are the assets & liabilities. However I will say that I really did have a lot of fun. A month ago. CHAEL SONNEN & I had a big problem with each other at the UFC EXPO in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Events Center…I saw him & we mended a fence. & got to speak w/ Joe Silva (UFC upper weight match maker) people were like uhhh…dude you kick that other guys ass & Joe Silva told me simple fix your record & I’ll talk to you soon. ANN: What are your NEXT STEPS in MMA? BILL SMALLWOOD: What I do know is Fighting is extremely political to be able to allow the fighters coming after me a venue . The organization I fight for is C3FIGHTS. The OWNER Dr. Ron Tripp came up much like I did. Blue Collar background he was wrestler in college, he was a college coach at Univ. of Oklahoma. He went on to get a DOCTORATE in Chiropractic as well he also is on Board of Directors of Judo International Olympic Committee as well he is a World champion gold medalist & world Sambo Champion…HONESTLY GOOGLE & WIKIPEDIA search him his is also native. What I do know he is my mentor & allows me to fight with his organization & learn the business side politics & all aspects to take C3fights to the next level. I also & working day & night to get our organization televised w/ Mark Cubans AXS.tv. I plan to have another fight within 45 days. So my days are very hectic, but I give everyone & everything my full attention. ANN: is there anything you would like to say to up & coming NATIVE AMERICAN MMA FIGHTERS/ATHLETES? BILL SMALLWOOD: I always get NERVOUS because NO REAL FIGHTER should ever really act like they know too much…old saying goes how can you FILL A FULL CUP OF WATER….I would just simply say, “if you are a FIGHTER give your full attention to being a FIGHTER…& if you happen to be in a gym & the TEACHER is just like YOU…he/she has 24 HOURS of operating time…well CHEAT…I mean that in a good way…CHEAT & STEAL all 24 hours…because you are supposed to be coacheable & be learning your craft. The goal isn’t to be the BEST FIGHTER, but to be the best student…you may realize you aren’t here to beat up your sparring partners because you will scare them off. You will also learn that NO TRAINER wants to work w/ someone who they have to teach the same thing everyday…you must develop & ALWAYS REMEMBER, The HUNGRY FIGHTERS always get FED…& if you ever have any questions big or small feel free to email me 1948smallwood@gmail or face book/1948smallwood Aho/Thank you for the opportunity & in the future I would love to bring a Pro MMA card to our people on the reservation as well be of service in all areas to help grow & prosper inter-tribal relationships & how we can sustain our economies & help each other in our alikenesses & BUILD our future. Interview by: Cordell Stewart
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 08:46:47 +0000
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