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Mike Ciesnolevicz Interview
by edouble (Admin @ IronLife.com)
Edouble/IronLife.com: Hi Mike thanks for taking some time out and doing this interview for IronLife Online Magazine. Your training background includes various styles. Can you tell us about your training background?
Mike Ciesnolevicz: I started training in karate  when I was 15 years old under a guy who I really respect and look up to, John Korab. He is a black belt in karate, but incorporates basically anything that would work in a real life confrontation. I achieved my brown belt, never got
my black because I left for college. In college I expanded to boxing and wrestling at Lock Haven University. Then I was accepted on to Team Renzo Gracie by my friend pan am gold medallist Danny Ives who is like a brother to me, believes in me and got me where I am today.
Ed/IL: What first attracted you to the no holds barred style of fighting?
MC: I'll never forget watching Royce Gracie in UFC 2 which was the first event I ever saw. I couldn't believe a skinny 175 lb. guy was dominating much bigger and stronger opponents on the ground like he was. I knew i had the physical tools, now I just need to learn how to really fight using technique.
Ed/IL: Who has had the biggest impact on your fighting career?
MC: I'd have to say my family. My family is so supportive and even though my mom doesn't like me fighting, it never stopped her from paying for my karate or boxing lessons. My dad took me to my first karate lesson. My brother is one of my biggest fans. Without the family support, I don't think I'd be fighting professionally right now.
Ed/IL: What club or team do you fight for?
MC: I represent Team Renzo Gracie.
Ed/IL: How did you get your start in the amateur scene?
MC: I started in amateur submission grappling where I have a record of 24-4. From there I got into shoot fighting and was successful. Now I made the next logical step into MMA.
Ed/IL: Do you have any upcoming fights? If so, where and when?
MC: I have a few grappling tournaments coming up. I have a super fight in Philadelphia Nov. 22nd. I am also planning on competing December 6th and 7th in grappling tournaments. Jan 10th I have a shoot fighting bout. March 6th I will be fighting in the Tropicana in Atlantic City, NJ in an event called Reality Fighting 6.
Ed/IL: Can you tell us about your amateur and professional fight records?
MC: Amateur grappling 24-4
Amateur shoot fighting 1-0
Professional MMA 1-0
Also, I didn't get to wrestle much in college due to a few surgeries, but I got good training in.
As you can see I'm still new to the fight game but my record really doesn't indicate my experience. I have been training since I was 15 and around 18 I knew I wanted to make martial arts my life. So I have been training for years to get ready for where I am now. By taking a longer time to start competing than most, I feel I gained a lot of experience and matured.
Ed/IL: What is your fight prep like: diet, training, cardio?
MC: First off, I am always a healthy eater and consistent lifter. I consider myself a bodybuilder also. I only eat lean proteins, complex carbs like, and essential fats. If I have to lose weight, I will just cut back portions and do extra cardio workouts in a.m. on an empty stomach.
Maintenance Training: I drill and work technique mostly and try to improve my fighting skills. I also focus more on lifting and getting bigger, stronger in this time. I don't do much cardio if I don't have a big fight. If I do it all the time I get burnt out.
Prefight: I workout about 4-6 hours a day. My lifting is geared towards muscle endurance and H.I.T type principles. All I do is train, eat, sleep and think about my fight. A typical day would look like this.
8-10 boxing practice
4:00-6:00 grappling, ground fighting and no holds
barred training putting it all together
9:00-10: Lift or cardio depending on the day.
Ed/IL: What organization would you eventually like to fight for?
MC: I am happy fighting for Kipp Kollar and Reality Fighting right now and I'll see what happens from there. He is a great guy and has always been good to me. Eventually I want to get into the UFC as does every fighter. It's every fighters dream to be on the UFC stage. Japan could one day be a possibility too.
Ed/IL: How old were you when you picked up your first weight?
MC: I walked into the weight room to get ready for football season when I was 15. I was INSTANTLY hooked. I couldn't believe how I felt when I left. Ever since that day I have been in the weight room consistently.
Ed/IL: What is your weekly training split?
MC: At this moment:
Monday-Chest, Tri
Tuesday-Legs, Abs
Wednesday-OFF
Thursday-Back, Bi
Friday-Shoulders, neck
I change it about every 3 weeks to keep my body from becoming accustomed to the routine. For instance, next week I'm going a 3 day split.
Ed/IL: What is your favorite body part to train?
MC: I love to lift them all.
Ed/IL: How has bodybuilding had an impact on your mixed martial arts training?
MC: BB has given me a base that I would not otherwise have. Going into the weight room when I was 15 was the best thing I ever did. I know a lot of guys that go to the gym for a month, quit, go back, quit again. I think consistency has been my key. I have developed a good physique, got bigger and stronger. It makes fighting a lot easier for me and helps to prevent injuries also.
Ed/IL: What type of sacrifice is involved in becoming a fighter?
MC: Anyone can fight, but if you want to be successful, you have to make it your life. In this type of fighting you have to train so many different areas to become well rounded. I don't go out and party, I don't eat junk food. Sometimes a lot of people think I'm crazy because I'm not out all night partying with them. My friends used to get on me a lot for it until they realized why I was doing it. I'm a boring person...I usually hang out by myself on weekends and go to bed early.
Ed/IL: Have these sacrifices affected your personal life and education?
MC: Yes, I just graduated with a degree in Health and Physical Education. I had some problems along the way due to trying to do too much at once but I made it.
Ed/IL: Who is you favorite pro fighter and why?
MC: I always looked up to Ken Shamrock. He was tough, intense and had the look of a bodybuilder. I always tried to be like him.
Recently I have really taken a liking to the top Renzo Gracie guys. Matt Serra, Sean Alvarez and Ricardo Almedia. They have helped me tremendously along the way and I owe a lot to them.
Ed/IL: What do you think of the main stream attention K1 has been getting with the talks of a Bob Sapp vs. Mike Tyson fight? Do you feel this is good for the sport?
MC: Well I think any press the sport can get at this time is good. It's reminds me more of a pro wrestling type deal w/ Bob Sapp, but he's making money. People love him! He's a mega star in Japan. Everyone knows Tyson, so this could be the start of bigger and better things. I think more good will come from it, then bad.
Ed/IL: Steroids have also been a topic of discussion in the MMA world with the Tim Sylvia UFC steroid scandal. Any thoughts?
MC: I actually got to hang out w/ Tim when I went to Iowa to train. He's a real likeable guy. I don't look down on him for what he did. Everyone wants to look better, everyone wants that edge. He's at the pinnacle of the sport. Sometimes when you are at his level, you'll do what you have to do to gain the advantage. Do I think he would have won with out the steroids? Yes, he doesn't need them. He claims he took them more for cosmetic purposes.
Ed/IL: Do you feel that steroid abuse is a common thing among fighters?
MC: I think a lot of fighters take steroids. It's only natural. I mean this is a sport where being physical is a major key. All athletes are trying to get to their full potential. You name a sport and I'm sure someone in that sport has been caught with steroids.
Ed/IL: What is your personal view on anabolic steroids and other sports enhancement drugs?
MC: Steroids are not the magic key to being successful. Just because you take steroids doesn't mean you will be a champion. You have to work your ass off. Personally I take lots of supplements. I take everything from glutamine, protein, vitamins, minerals, herbs...whatever I can to gain an advantage. I don't feel I need to take steroids to be successful. The New Jersey Athletic Control Board also takes urine samples; it's not worth the risk. I have good genetics and a hard work ethic. It has worked for me so far.
Ed/IL: Do you have any suggestions for aspiring fighters looking to get into the scene?
MC: When I first started a lot of people thought I was crazy. They laughed when I told them one day I would fight professionally. Athletically, I was never the most gifted person. I was an overweight kid who people used to call fat and make fun of me. Now I'm 225 lbs. w/ 10% body fat. I can honestly say that 95% of who I am today has come through hard work. Consistency is the key to this sport. I recall how bad I was when I first started training. I was horrible. I stuck with it and I'm a totally different person now. I am confident and ready to make a run at the big time.
Ed/IL: Where would you like to see yourself in ten years?
MC: Ten years from now, I will probably be nearing the end of my fighting career. Hopefully I will be a world champion. I will probably teach and coach other fighters. I always wanted to get into the schools and teach elementary children. They are so much fun. I want to have a family and live a peaceful, happy life.
I would like to thank God for keeping me in good health and leading me along his path. I want to thank my family and two of my best friends Danny Ives and Tim Boetsch. I want to thank Lock Haven Wrestling especially coach Mike Rogers. I thank John Korab again and everyone who has made sacrifices for me along the way.
Ed/IL: Best of luck and again thank you for taking time out to speak with us. We wish you the best and make sure you come by and visit us when you get your big break on the main stage.
MC:
It's been my pleasure. Thanks for the interest in me.
* Article by edouble (Admin @ IronLife.com).
* Back to Issue #5 Frontpage
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