by Ron Merrill

It was Saturday afternoon at about 3:30pm Central Standard Time. The yard had just been mowed and the beer was on ice for later. The only items on my things to do list included starting the grill and seasoning the steaks. At least thats what I thought. However, as an MMA journalist, you never know who will call, or when. In the busy world of mixed martial arts, you the journalist must be flexible or you risk missing the story. So with garlic powder in one hand and tongs in the other, I picked up the ringing phone and cradled it between my cheek and shoulder. Hello? I said. To my pleasant surprise, in a quiet tone I heard, its Phil Baroni.

InsideFighting: We havent heard much from you in awhile and I was kind of concerned. Whats been going on?
Phil Baroni: Doing the D.L., man. Ive been doing rehab three times a day and getting my body back to where it should be.

IF: How is your injury? How are you recovering from your injury?
PB: I think Im stronger. I think my chest might have been slightly torn for a number of years. The doctors told me that when they look at the picturesit was just a matter of time until it completely tore. So now I got the surgery and I think Ill be back 100%, better than I was before.

IF: Now you had been pretty vocal about not lifting weights in your training. Can you explain a little bit how the injury happened from lifting
PB: Yeah, it was funny. I never lift weights in my training. One of my roommates was big into lifting weights and he was talking about how much he lifts and all this and all that. And we have a really nice gym at my apartment complex. Its like a little Golds gym. It has a lot of free-weights and machines and a lot of cardio equipment. Thats one of the reasons why I live there, to use the cardio equipment in the morning. So he was just talking shit about how much he can bench and I told him that I definitely would be able to bench more than he can bench. He was saying that he could bench 405 but I didnt believe him. So we went down to the gym and he actually did it, so I did. Then he tried to do 465 but he couldnt do it, but I did. And on my second rep I tore my pec. I actually tried to do it twice. Just two guys messin around and being stupid. [laughs]

IF: After your most recent fight with Lindland, you had mentioned something about possibly competing in Abu Dhabi?
PB: Yeah, I wanted to do that. I was invited, but then the injury happened.

IF: Are you training in Jiu-Jitsu more? Is that more of a focus for you?
PB: Ive always trained in Jiu-Jitsu. Ive trained in Jiu-Jitsu for a long time since I started fighting, so at least 3 or 4 years. Ive won a lot of Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. Ive beaten a lot of brown belts from respected schools and what not in no gi. I have a good ground game. I havent showed it. I was trying to be a little cute in my last fight. Ive been working on a lot of half-guard stuff with Mark Lehman and I tried to sweep the way Minotauro does to a lot of guys from the half-guard. I was reaching in, trying to split his legs, but hes [Matt Lindland] kind of flexible, you know. He doesnt just look like Gumby, he feels like Gumby out there when youre fighting him, but I just couldnt do it. I should have actually went to my kimura like I did earlier or just got back to my feet. You get caught up in the moment and you dont realize how much time you have or which way the fights going until its too late.

IF: When you came in against Dave Menne, you came out gunning. How come you didnt try that same approach with Matt the second time?
PB: I did come out gunning; he didnt want no part of it. I threw a right hand and he just tackled me up against the fence. I started banging him and I dropped him and he just kept going for the takedown. I mean, he made the fight a boring fight where he just wanted to lay on top and grind out and squeak by a decision but never go for a finish, you know? Thats why hes a prelim fighter. I tell him all the time, no guts, no glory.

IF: I remember watching you back in your Toughman days. Can you tell me a little about your boxing background?
PB: Yeah. Ive boxed and kickboxed sinceI think I was 20-years old. You know, I really committed to it. Thats why right now Im training with my old boxing trainer Keith Trimble over in Long Island, just getting my fundamentals and everything back, staying crisp especially after the injury. And Ive been wrestling with my old college teammate. He started fighting. Hes a National Champion and 2-Time All-American. Ive been wrestling with him. Its a good combination to have so far. Ive been training hard.

IF: Which boxers did you look up to or idolize?
PB: Ah? Theres a lot of them. Roberto Duran was a stud. Who else? Ceasar Chavez is a stud. You know, I like the guys who get in there and mix it up, you know? Warriors. Evander Holyfield was good back in the day. He just came to fight. Everyone loved Mike Tyson when he was knocking everyone out. Roy Jones, back in the day. I used to really like James Toney.

IF: You mentioned Mike Tyson. What do you think about the rumored involvement of Mike Tyson in K-1 or possibly MMA?
PB: I think hell hurt some people. Hes a tough guy. [laughs] He hits harder thanyou know. He hits hard for a boxing heavyweight and with those little gloves on if he cracks you, hell really put a hurt on someone. But, you know. Its not all about boxing. A guy can take you down and then its over.

IF: You said that when you made your way back into a ring or Octagon, that youd be a new man; that you were going to rededicate yourself to your training. What can we expect to see and what efforts have you made?
PB: Man, Ive never been this hungry since I was 20-years old. Ive never been this focused. You dont realize what you have and your opportunity and your God-given gifts until theyre taken away from you. I was told by numerous doctors that Ill never be the same. Other doctors told me maybe your career is over. Then I found one guy who I was comfortable with who said that hed be able to fix me if I go to Salt Lake City to get the surgery done. But, you know. When youre faced with that and such a stupid thing happens first a dumb loss and then an injury like that, your whole world is shattered. You think, man, I really had such an opportunity but I wasted it. So, its just little things that you just dont do. You dont go out, you warm-up real good nowits completely different. Im completely set on winning this belt. Ive been in the UFC since UFC 30; been around for a long time. This is my time, I think. This year, 2004, if theres a title Im going to be wearing it.

IF: You have, on occasion, fired your assistants and trainers and so forth. Have you got a crew now that youre happy with?
PB: Im putting it together. Thats why Im back out here in New York; Im putting it together. I like Mark Lehman as my Jiu-Jitsu coach. I think hes real good. Hes worked with a lot of top athletes. I think in my last fight I was too much Jiu-Jitsu oriented. I didnt fight the takedowns the way I should have. Of course I dont mind being on the ground, Im really gonna shock some people and submit them.

IF: Where are you doing most of your training?
PB: Belmar Kickboxing Academy in Belmar.

(As of Saturday, September 6th, Baroni vs. Tanner had yet not been signed)
IF: If you wont be fighting Sakuraba, is there anyone else looking for a fight?
PB: They were talking about Tony Fryklund. Hes one of those guys whos jumped on the I want to fight Phil Baroni bandwagon lately. And that shit pisses me off, you know? Guys are nice to your face and they want to be your friend and then next thing you know, they want to fight. He was offered the fight before. He was offered the fight by Dana White and he turned it down. He didnt want a part of it, you know? After I beat Dave Menne, no one wanted a part of me.

IF: In fairness, youve been pretty vocal about wanting to fight people too though.
PB: Oh yeah, but not guys that I hang out with and talk to, you know what I mean? [laughs] Its a complete difference, you know?

IF: Thats the difference maker? [laughs]
PB: Yeah, thats the difference maker. And not guys who are just getting off a supposedly career-ending injury. You know what Im saying? [laughter]

IF: Well maybe thats a good time to take you out?
PB: Yeah, thats what they think.

IF: So are you going to give Fryklund a match?
PB: If he wants it. If hell sign it, you know? The problem is, these guys go on forums and they go on little interviews and stupid radio shows and they say, Ill fight Baroni, I want to fight him. Then they come to the UFC and the UFC offers them the introductory rate which is usually around 2 and 2 or 3 and 3 and they go, ah, thats bullshit! Baronis making this and Baronis making that. But Baroni was making bullshit money when he fought Matt Lindland. Baroni was making bullshit money when he fought Amar Suloev. Baroni was making bullshit money when he knocked out Dave Menne. So, you know, Ive earned my money and Im still underpaid. So no one is gonna walk into the UFC to fight me and make what Im making. They cant base it on that. They should look at it as opportunity for themselves. And it is a big opportunity for them because I will make them famous and they will forever live on the highlight clip getting knocked out.

IF: Are you going to be at UFC 44 doing interviews?
PB: Oh yeah. Im gonna do the pre-show again. Id like to do broadcasting again and I dont know why I aint in the booth now that Im down-and-out again. Ive trained with Randy Couture for over a month when he was getting ready for his fight with Josh Barnett. I was on Tito Ortiz team when it was a team and I trained with him for a time. So I know both guys games. I know both their strengths and weaknesses and I think Id be able to analyze it well. So hopefully theyll put me in the booth, but if not Ill definitely do the pre-show.

IF: Who do you see taking that fight and how?
PB: Its a hard fight, man. Its a real hard fight to call. Me and Tito were pretty close, so Titos my boy and I really see a lot of ways that he can win the fight. The only thing Im really concerned about is him saying that fighting is just a career and he has other opportunities and all that shit. Because if someone is pounding on your head and youre thinking, Oh, this is just a career. I have other opportunities then youre more likely to tap then if you were thinking, this is my whole life. I aint gonna let this guy beat me. He aint gonna win. The psychology of it, I see it as a little bit of a weakness. But he could just be saying that. I know that hes confident about fighting Randy Couture. I remember when everyone was busting his balls about going up to heavyweight and stuff like that. He said that he might eventually go up to heavyweight and take out Randy Couture. So hes probably real happy that Randys coming down to 205.

IF: How many more fights on this contract for you?
PB: For me, I have two more.

IF: If Pride FC wont bring a fighter to you, what about you going over there?
PB: Well, if the UFC was to send me over therebut Im loyal to the UFC. The UFC gave me my shot. They gave me my opportunity. Ive done some stupid things and they forgave me and let me back in the show. I had two retarded fights that I should have won but I lost.

IF: When you said stupid things, where you referring to those losses?
PB: No, just stupid things. Like stuff at the parties and stuff. [laughs]

IF: Care to expand on that?
PB: What? Everyone knows. I got into a fight at one of the after-parties one time. Thats the kind of shit Im talking about, you know? You dont realize what youve got and how easily it can be taken away from you.

IF: Well, there are a lot of fans out there that obviously havent forgotten about you or what you bring. Do you want to say something to them?
PB: I wanted to be in NY for 9/11. I want to go to ground zero to dedicate this year to all the people who lost their lives. I wanted to do it the first time I fought Lindland but I lost. Its real important to me to be here this month. 9/11 had a real effect on me. Something Ill never forget. By coming here, Im going back to my roots. Remembering all the personal things Im fighting for; all the past failures and heartbreaks. To prove everyone wrong who never thought Id make anything of myself; to see all those people and let them no Im not done. Ill never quit, Ill never give up, Im just not built that way. Ill die before I quit. Man, Im gonna be back better than ever, nastier than ever. They have no idea. People think Mike Tyson was scary back in the day, they aint seen nothin yet. Im really, really coming to hurt some people and put some people in the hospital. Its serious time. Its all or nothing for me right now. I aint going out like this. Im gonna be the UFC champion before the year is up.

IF: On behalf of InsideFighting.com, Id like to thank you for calling me up today and agreeing to this interview.
PB: No problem man. My pleasure.

Questions or comments about this interview? Reach me at: editor@insidefighting.com

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