Exclusive Interview: Tim 'the Maine-iac' Sylvia - 2/18/2004
by Tony Caiazzo

Tim Sylvia is getting ready to get back into the Octagon to reclaim the UFC heavyweight title that he relinquished due to his suspension for steroid use. Many people have admired the way that Tim handled that whole situation, and he's eager to finally put it all behind him. He's looking at putting his career back on track and getting back to doing what he does best, which is knocking people out.

Tim took some time out of watching his new Soprano's DVD that he got for Valentine's Day to talk to me about his past, his thoughts on a few of the other top heavyweights in the business, as well as a myriad of other things. Tim is definitely the kind of guy who speaks softly and carries a big stick. Suffice it to say, he is a class act who only speaks ill of those who are disrespect him. Sylvia is also the man who wants to put this sport on his broad shoulders and carry it straight into the big time. So without further adieu, let's get down to it.


InsideFightintg: How's life been treating you, Tim?
Tim Sylvia: My suspension is all up and over with, so everything's going fine now.

IF: Now, after the whole ordeal happened, did you keep on training or did you take some time off?
Tim: I kept training like nothing happened.

IF: That's the Maine work ethic coming out, isnt it?
Tim: Yeah, I came from Northern Maine - Ellsworth.

IF: I actually went to summer camp in Ellsworth, Maine. I grew up in southern Maine.
Tim: Oh, okay.

IF: Now, Ellsworth is a pretty rural area. Being from such a rural place, how did you get into Mixed Martial Arts?
Tim: I just kind of really fell into it, you know? I always did karate though high school and wrestled in high school. After I got out of high school, I started grappling just to stay in shape and have fun. I also did some grappling tournaments in Maine - you know, The Maine Skirmish in Waterville.

IF: Of course.
Tim: Then I just got on an email list and got signed to do a NHB fight, amateur rules, down in Rhode Island. I started that way. I got into it. I really enjoyed it, and was successful at it, so they put me on their email list and got me involved with the IFC, which is where I had my first pro fight in a cage.

IF: So you had a few fights under your belt before you started training with Team Miletich?
Tim: Yeah, I had 4 amateur fights and one pro fight.

IF: And how long after you started training with Team Miletich did you get into the UFC?
Tim: About three years, I think? Maybe two, I'm not sure.

IF: Now, in professional boxing, there is an emphasis placed on the heavyweight division. What are your thoughts on the UFC seeming to focus more on the light heavyweight division?
Tim: Yeah, I think that it's just because the marketable guy is Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture and those guys. They're just the names right now, you know? They're more marketable. Give me a year and I'm gonna take that reign over.

IF: That's actually something that I've said before because it's one of those things where people want to see the big guys banging people out.
Tim: Yeah, exactly! All these friggin little guys, all they do is wrestle. I mean, they wrestle and beat each other on the ground. To hell with that! I knock people out!

IF: And that's what I think people want to see.
Tim: Oh, absolutely!

IF: I've noticed for awhile now that unless you are someone who actually trains in grappling, you don't really appreciate what's going on when the fight hits the ground.
Tim: Right, right!

IF: In my case, I've been doing Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu for around ten years, so when the guys are grappling I'm all into, but my friends are not as interested because they don't grapple. But when someone like you gets in there and starts slamming people in the dome, they get all fired up.
Tim: Well exactly, it makes sense. When you see two big guys in a cage wearing little gloves, you know someone's going to get hurt.

IF: Alright, lets jump to some of the obligatory questions that I always ask people.
Tim: Okay [laughs].

IF: If you could fight anyone aside from Arlovski, who would it be?
Tim: I really don't pick and choose anyone. Whenever I get a chance to fight, I fight. I don't care as long as I get a fight.

IF: [Laughs] That's what just about every MMA fighter says when I talk to them. But if we get specific here, is there anyone out there in the world who you'd like to smack around a little bit? They don't even have to be a Mixed Martial Artist.
Tim: Yeah, there's somebody who I can't stand that it's in the sport, and that's Wes Sims.

IF: I actually interviewed Wes Sims before his Frank Mir fight, and I think it's pretty safe to say that the feeling is mutual.
Tim: Yeah, he's just a piece of shit. He sucks. He can't even fight! He just got knocked out by a grappler. I mean, what is that?

IF: It looked like his loss [at UFC 46] sort of derailed any chance of you guys actually fighting each other.
Tim: Yeah, I'd like to [fight Wes Sims] maybe down the road. If I'm the champ again, I'd like to fight him in a non-title bout.

IF: I'm sure that would generate a lot of interest.
Tim: I think it will.

IF: You guys are both pretty big, but you are a bit bigger, right?
Tim: Size-wise, yes. But he's a little taller than me.

IF: You are a lot bulkier than he is.
Tim: Yeah, he's a scrawny little thing.

IF: It's easy for people to not realize how big you really are because your fights in the UFC have been against pretty tall people. Im 62. At the UFC 46 post fight press conference, I practically buried my nose in your chest when I turned around to grab something to drink and you were standing behind me.
Tim: [Laughs]

IF: I looked up and thought, "Holy $@# this guy's huge!" Do you think that adds an intimidation factor for you?
Tim: I mean, it helps with my reach, and I'm a big strong guy. I'm not skinny like Wes. Gan [McGee] wasn't really put together that well either. I work out really hard with the weights and try to keep my physique big and stay strong. I'm walking around at about 285, so I cut about 20, 25 pounds to make weight.

IF: Alright, its time for a little name association. I'm going to give you a few names and you tell me what you think.
Tim: Okay.

IF: Now we've already gone over how you feel about Wes Sims, but how about Frank Mir?
Tim: He's a really talented guy on the ground. But I think he's gun shy and his conditioning is poor.

IF: Emelianenko Fedor.
Tim: That guy's a stud. He's a great wrestler, has a lot of heart, and he likes to hurt people. He swings a little wild though.

IF: And Cabbage has been saying that he wants to get back in there with you.
Tim: Cabbage is the type of guy who likes to take beatings. I think he just hasn't had a beating put on him in awhile, and he's just looking forward to taking another one. If he ever gets in the cage with me, he's gonna get knocked out.

IF: It's a topic of conversation around here that the guys from Hawaii are beating everyone, but the last person to beat one of the dudes from Hawaii is from Maine.
Tim: Yeah.

IF: They're down there in tropical sunshine and we're up here shoveling snow. Tim: Exactly! [Laughs] Not too different in Iowa, bro! It's the same out here!

IF: How about Andrei Arlovski?
Tim: Young, young guy and he's hungry and he's a very good kickboxer. But I think my experience is going to prevail, and I don't think he can handle my power.

IF: And finally, Josh Barnett.
Tim: Barnett is a very good fighter. I actually trained with Barnett for three or four days up at his school. He and I went at it, man, toe to toe! We were banging on each other. I think he's got the edge on me on the ground, but I have an edge on him standing up.

IF: Speaking of that, we haven't really seen much of your ground game. Are you comfortable on the ground?
Tim: I'm very comfortable on the ground. I grapple two or three times a week. Monday nights we do all out sparring. We do takedowns and submissions. Coming from Miletich, you know, we train grappling and we train in it a lot. I enjoy it a lot. It's fun. I'd just rather stand and knock people out. That's what I like to do, and that's what the crowd seems to enjoy more. And I'm a pleaser. I'm a crowd pleaser.

IF: Not to mention that you'll make a lot more money in the long run if you keep knocking people out.
Tim: Exactly. And you comin from Maine, you know it's all about the Benjamins, man.

IF: Oh, yes it is! Maine is a place you come to when you are already rich, it's not a place to come to get rich, so you're on the right track!
Tim: Exactly! [Laughs] That's my full intention. I plan on retiring in Maine. Ill probably get a nice log cabin on Green Lake and enjoy myself.

IF: Nice.
Tim: Right now it's just about saving money. I'm only spending about 40 grand a year staying comfortable. I'm still saving.

IF: What's the living situation like out there for you guys? Is there some place where you all live or do you all have your own places?
Tim: When you first move here, all the fighters kind of get together. But when you've established yourself, you can kindof go out on your own. And right now, I'm probably in the best spot that anyone can be in. The team just built a new gym, and there is an apartment overhead. I'm renting the apartment.

IF: Oh, nice! So you just have to roll out of bed and the gym is right downstairs!
Tim: Yeah dude, I had Tony Fryklund move in with me and my girlfriend is living with me too. It's a two bedroom apartment and it's just phenomenal. You know, I walk down the stairs, turn a corner and I'm in the gym.

IF: That's tight, Tim.
Tim: Yeah, I'm in the gym three times a day. It's great.

IF: That's got to give you an advantage.
Tim: It does. It really does.

IF: Well that's about it for now, Tim. I'll be in touch with you again a couple of weeks before your fight with Arlovski at UFC 47 to talk more about that.
Tim: Alright, that's cool.

IF: Thanks a lot for taking the time to talk to InsideFighting today, Tim. Hopefully I'll see you at UFC 47.
Tim: Thanks man, I appreciate the support.

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