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Joe MacFarlane Interview
by Grant Ellis
Between the months of October and November, the mixed martial arts community was in an uproar. With Pride Final Conflict being a huge success and scores of rumors in regards to UFC 45 in the air, much attention was being drawn to the state of the sport. However, on November the 1st, in the north eastern United States, the attention of mixed martial arts enthusiasts was drawn elsewhere; Reality Fighting V.
Reality Fighting V is a smaller-venue show, which held a crowd of 3,000 in awe as they had 19 scheduled fights featuring younger talent from schools such as Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, The American Top Team, and Fight Factory. Among the fights that night featured young talent Joe MacFarlane stepping into the ring for his first official no-holds barred fight against experienced veteran and Flyweight title-holder Nick Cottone.
After two hard fought rounds and storms of actions the judges scored the fight a draw, yet there was no disappointment as both fighters had put on what could have possibly been the fight of the night.
I managed to arrange time with young Ferrara Vale Tudo talent Joe MacFarlane and discuss with him his feelings on the fight, the training, and the sport he loves.
Grant Ellis/IronLife.com: First and foremost, what can you tell me about Joe McFarlane’s upbringing, what led him to become a mixed martial artist?
Joe MacFarlane: I started wrestling when I was in the 8th grade. I was much smaller than the other guys in school, and I thought that joining the wrestling team would be a good way to make friends with some of the "tougher" guys. I grew to love the sport of wrestling, I trained hard in the off season participating mostly in Freestyle and Greco Roman events held all over New York State. I wrestled amongst the best wrestlers in NY, when I worked out at a wrestling club called ATWA. (Adirondack Three-style Wrestling Association). When I finished high school I was very excited to have the opportunity to wrestle on some of the Nation's finest teams in D-3, however my grades in high school did not permit me to enter college immediately after high school graduation. It was during this time I started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with a local club in Schenectady NY. I was a stubborn learner at first. I was "cocky" in my wrestling ways and did not quickly adapt to the common mistakes that a wrestler would make against a submission fighter/Jiu-Jitsu practioner. I participated in my first submission tournament just 3 weeks into my first class of BJJ. I Placed 3rd in the tournament. I hated losing, and if I was losing then that meant I had to learn something. Since then I have embraced the sport of submission grappling and have been committed to succeed at many levels of competition.
GE/IL: What disciplines have you studied?
JM: I practice, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Judo.
GE/IL: What techniques do you find most effective for your fight game plan in the mixed martial arts?
JM: ALL techniques are important! The objective of being a well-rounded fighter should never be overlooked. I want to be able to out-strike; out- wrestle and overall out class my opponent in each category of combat. Being able to fight on your back is just as important as being able to fight standing or even from the mount. What good is a fighter if all he can do is punch or kick? For myself I like to think that all aspects of combat should be weighed evenly and fitted appropriately to create today's most versatile fighter.
GE/IL: What mixed martial arts events have you participated in?
JM: I have competed in countless NAGA (North American Grappling Association) submission tournaments over the past 3 years. NAGA currently has me ranked 8th in the country according to there statistics and point system, in submission fighting.
I have also fought at Reality Fighting 5, which is also a NAGA event, it brought and outstanding crowd of 3000 to the beautiful Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Atlantic City, NJ. A prestigious venue for any level fighter to have competed at, I was thankful to have the opportunity to fight there.
GE/IL: Who are you currently training with?
JM: Ferrara Vale Tudo in Schenectady NY. My Trainers and partners are Charlie Ferrara, Brian Palazzolo, Kostas Sikamiotis, Steven Hollenbeck, Rob Kahn, Coach Joe Demeo, ATWA.
GE/IL: What can you tell me about the preparation for your fight with Nick Cottone; what was the schedule like?
JM: I trained a lot. I focused most of my training on striking. My submission and wrestling skills were strong and I felt as if I should be more concerned about the striking aspect of this fight. I would go to school in the morning, finish my classes by early noon. I would head to the boxing gym to Run, jump rope, shadow box, and do bag drills. Id then head home to eat dinner before id go back out again to train submission at Ferrara's academy. Working out twice a day actually worked well for me. I didn’t have any time to hit the weights because I was generally exhausted after 3 hours of Thai boxing or wrestling. My conditioning was top-notch. Most of my cardio workouts were sharpened at my wrestling club, where I banged heads with upstate NY's finest wrestlers. I knew Nick Cottone had a strong wrestling foundation, and I thought that my wrestling skills would neutralize his in the Oct-a-ring. We had very similar fight styles and I knew it would come down to, who would land more punches.
GE/IL: How do you feel about your performance in the fight?
JM: I felt great! I went into that fight as the underdog. It was my time entering any kind of sanctioned event. Nick had a lot more experience then I did, and he had some really decent credentials as a fighter. Nick and I fought to a draw. Initially I was upset because I thought that I might have edged Nick in the decision. Later on that night I realized that what I had done was beyond what I even dreamed of a year before. I remember watching Nick tear guys up years ago. Before I even thought of fighting. It was an incredible opportunity match for me and I am content with the performance on Nov 1st 2003.
GE/IL: What can you say about Nick Cottone as a fighter?
JM: Nick was solid. I would say his wrestling skills are his primary weapon. I have wrestled with the toughest in NY and I am renowned for my good stand up defense and takedowns. Nick took me down several times during our fight. I was impressed with his speed and his strength. From the Clinch Nick was threatening as well; he had a good flurry as well as a nice knee strike to my head. Nick also has a good chin; he could really take a shot.
GE/IL: I have seen the pictures of the fight, Nick looked like he took quite a bit more damage than you did; do you think your striking technique was better than his?
JM: I do think my striking technique was better. I had been working on striking more than anything in preparation for the fight. I was able to back him up and connect with 2 and 3 punch combos, throughout the bout. Early in the bout I landed a right cross that knocked Nick down. I am not sure but shortly thereafter, Nick was cut just above his left eye, and bleeding a lot. This gave me even more confidence as the fight went on; I knew that he would not be able to weather my punches.
GE/IL: The fight went the distance, and I believe it was your first fight, how do you feel about the bout as a growing experience?
JM: INCREDIBLE! I learned so much from this fight. I remember Nick winning title belts 3 years ago, he was a force to be reckoned with, and I knew how dangerous he was. It was nerve-wrecking thinking about fighting the Champion but actually getting in that oct-a-ring with him was the best thing I could have done for my career. The knock down, the cut, my striking advantage made me more confident and I feel as if I am ready to take on some other potential opponents. IT was a great experience by any means. Not everybody has the chance to fight in a Show as big and prestigious as Reality Fighting and a title bout, nonetheless for their first fight. It was an important chapter in my life and I am ready to build on it.
GE/IL: I heard rumors you might fight on Dec. 13th for Mass Destruction in Taunton or at the Reality Fighting show on March 1st; is there any truth to these rumors?
JM: I like to fight as often as possible. I will be fighting Jay Isip for the Undisputed flyweight title, March 6th 2004 at Reality Fighting 6, Atlantic City NJ. If I can get some bouts between now and then from a smaller organization I'd like to. I feel as if its good to get your hands a bit "dirty" before you embark onto another title bout.
GE/IL: Any advice to other young fighters who are thinking about getting into the sport?
JM: I myself am a young fighter. My advice to anyone would be to work hard, don’t ever give up, Keep your eyes on your dreams, and make it happen. When all else fails God will always be there. Keep your loved ones close and don’t take those that care about you for granted.
GE/IL: Who would you like the thank, any shout outs?
JM: I would like to thank God, if it wasn’t for him, I would not be the competitor I am today. He has blessed me with these gifts and I am grateful. Thank you "Ground n Pound Gear" My sponsors. www.gnpgear.com I'd like to thank Charlie Ferrara for getting me into this sport. Teaching me and supporting me. Thank you Charlie. Thank you Brian Palazzolo for everything. You have believed in me and been so passionate about training. Thank you Brian. Thank you Kosta Sikamiotis, Work out partner and trainer, for being there, when nobody else is. Thank You Steve Hollenbeck, my cut man, it’s an ugly job but someone’s got to do it! Thank you Grant Ellis! Anyone else I may have forgotten I am sorry, you know I love you all. Thank you for believing in me.
* Article by Grant Ellis.
* Back to Issue #5 Frontpage
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