MMASucka: One on One with Mike Dolce
Earlier this week Jeremy Brand of MMASucka had the opportunity to chat with Mike Dolce regarding all things “The Dolce Diet”. Mike talks candidly about Thiago Alves and his last fight. As well as the fact that he would love to get back into the cage in 2012 for a few fights. People with a nutrition degree online will be interested in this interview.
Jeremy Brand (MMASucka.com) – Let’s get started right off the bat with the fighter that’s fought most recently for you, Thiago Alves, obviously you are super proud of Thiago and his last fight. If it were a perfect world right now, who and when would he fight next?
Mike Dolce – I think in an ideal world he would fight somewhere Nov-Dec-Jan… in March… you know, give him some time off during the holidays. He trained really hard for this last fight. We did a 9-week training camp. Actually 12 weeks with a 3 week intro then 9 full weeks of proper periodized training. So give him a little bit of time off right now to see his family. Going to Brazil to see his mom and dad who he hasn’t seen in almost a year. As soon as January 2 comes, it’s right back to work for a fight. Two a days, three a days. I mean, right now he’s doing 1 a days and 2 two a days. He’s training five–ten times a week right now and this is the off season schedule. So we’ll jack it up a little bit more in January. As to who he is gonna fight, whoever Dana and Joe and Lorenzo and Dan Lambert, Thiago’s manager, whoever they feel Thiago is ready for. But I hope it’s more of an exciting fight like he had against Papi, a guy who went straight for him. He was looking to finish Thiago with the first punch…. I’d really like to see Thiago get a few more exciting fights as he makes his way up the welterweight ladder.
Jeremy Brand (MMASucka.com) – It was mentioned that Thiago’s weight was not the issue, but the scale. Can you explain this a little bit.
Mike Dolce – The problem has been in us leaving and going to England. It was really difficult. Tried to have gear shipped over there. Thiago sponsored by a shipping company. Had a difficult time with customs, etc. Everytime he would step on the scale, it would be 0.8 off. Bought a scale, that wasn’t very accurate, used one of the other fighter’s scales, used the scale at the gym… out of the 4 scales we had, it had Thiago weighing in between 169 – 171. We were shocked that he was a pound over on his first try going into weigh ins. He was in great shape, great spirits. Had more to lose if necessary but it wasn’t a problem making the weight. It was unfortunate that the kid who has a bad reputation on the scale had to go through this. Weight cutting wasn’t the issue. There were 5 other guys who were in the same situation as we were.
Jeremy Brand (MMASucka.com) – Have you ever been approached by a fighter and thought to yourself “Oh my gosh, what have i gotten myself into”?
Mike Dolce – Thiago would be the one guy because he had been notorious for having issues with the scale due to improper weight cutting. For me to jump in with a guy like that, it was the worst case scenario.
Jeremy Brand (MMASucka.com) – How much onus is on you as the trainer when it comes to food and weight training and how much onus is on the fighter?
Mike Dolce – I think its shared responsibility. The fighters have to trust in me to know that I know what I’m doing. Have a solid reputation in the industry. The guys do trust me. I do it too. I don’t hold up a clipboard and tell them what to do, I’m doing it with them. I lost 11 pounds that day with Thiago. I lost 17 pounds that week. I’m doing exactly what the athletes are doing and doing the training camp. I’m making sure that I put the same physical demands on my body as the athletes are doing. So I am in tune with them. So I go through what they go through and I can feel what they feel as close as possible. The guys see that and they respect that. They appreciate that. I don’t get a paycheck for weighing in, I don’t get any accolades for standing in the spotlight… to go back and answer your question, it’s completely 50/50 and I have to trust that the athlete is going to do what I ask of them. That’s why I work so well with Thiago.
Jeremy Brand (MMASucka.com) – With you training and eating the same as your clients, can we ever expect to see Mike Dolce back in the cage?
Mike Dolce – Absolutely. Hopefully in 2012 I will be able to sneak 1 or 2 fights in cause I love it. Don’t have any aspirations to be UFC world champion. I love the training. Been training my whole life. Need a goal to train and keep that focus. Love the competitive aspect. Enjoy fighting. Not scared of it. I fought a lot of the best guys in my divison like Mike Pierce… I fought some studs. I enjoy the process and I don’t have the time as a coach to train the way I train my athletes. I was always a part time fighter and a full time coach. Can’t do that. Discredit to the sport and to myself.
Jeremy Brand (MMASucka.com) – Lets move on to the books. Your first book “3 weeks 2 shredded” was an instant hit and you’ve followed it up with the lifestyle manual “Living Lean”. Please explain the books and how much they have affected you as a person.
Mike Dolce – 3 Weeks 2 Shredded is a very specific weight cutting manual. I detailed my process when I fought Antonio McKee. I weighed 212.8, 6 Saturdays before that fight… 42.8 pounds in a month and a half (6 weeks). In 3 weeks to shredded, I focused on the last 3 weeks that I weighed 197.8 when I actually started the weight cutting process. I detailed every single meal, every nutrient I ate and how I walked myself down to weigh in at 170 pounds. Antonio and I had a great fight. It was a 3 round war. I never even started out being tired. I was in absolutely phenomenal great shape. And I think that’s why 3 weeks to shredded has been so successful. It is a personal view of this is exactly what I did, this is why I did it, and this is the end result of this process. It started with fighters. They would see me lose all of this weight constantly. Instead of answering all these questions after every single class, I decided to write a book about it and it spread like wildfire. It is absolutely surreal. We were at UFC 138, sees a Dolce Diet tshirt as they are walking out of the cage after Thiago’s win. In another continent, another country, and this guy is talking about things that we put together, wearing my tshirt, and talking about how its been a life changing experience for him. Give him my cornerman towel to him. Transfer positive energy that I was getting from him. As I’m walking out, I see 2 more Dolce Diet tshirts in the crowd. An honor to have an impact on one person’s life, but it’s starting to have an impact globally.
Jeremy Brand (MMASucka.com) – Finishing things off, you mentioned you not only train the men, but women as well. We are very proud of our local talent Julia Budd who is one of your clients, can you give her a shout out?
Mike Dolce – I Love her and Lance Gibson. Close professional teammates of mine. Excited for them to get here on Wednesday, looking forward to seeing them. Julia is one of the hardest working athletes I’ve ever worked with. First person to wake, first person in the gym, last person to leave, doesn’t complain, a machine. Good to see good things happen to good people. She is constantly working everyday to get better. Can say enough about her. Happy that they are a part of my life.
Listen to the Full Audio Interview Below…
