The Fighter: Brian “Bad Boy” Ebersole
Professional MMA Record: 51-16-1, 1 no contest (give or take a few, according to him)
Upcoming Bout: vs Alan Jouban at UFC Fight Night 68 on June 6, 2015
You’d think that any MMA fighter at 34 years old, with more than 65 professional fights on his record would be nearing the tail end of his career, right? Well not Brian Ebersole. He’s coming off a decision win over John Howard, back in September of 2014, at UFC 178 and is looking forward to a monster year in 2015.
One of the UFC’s most colourful and interesting welterweights was able to sit down with MMASucka for a few minutes. We talked his UFC debut, the upcoming bout, and even doing a little bit of charity work for his opponent (you’ll see what I mean in the last question). Check it out.
Your next fight is just over two months away, against Alan Jouban. How do you feel about the matchup?
I’m glad to have health & opportunity. UFC has plenty of welterweights. Alan seems an exciting fighter, so I sure have some work to do on the night.
Are you the kind of guy who watches a lot of tape on his opponent? We’ve seen some guys who study their opponents religiously and others who don’t see anything until the night of the fight.
I watch just enough. No obsessing, I don’t feel there is anything magical to find. But I can see some guys watching more, looking for habits and such.
Your overall professional MMA record on most forums is listed at 51 wins 16 losses 1 draw and 1 no contest. Now I know sometimes these sites include amateur fights by mistake and anything can happen when a guys fought as many times as you have. How accurate is that record?
Just minus 6-8 fights. Pretty accurate considering my age (or the era I was competing in). All fights listed as pro, as there was no delineation between pro and amateur. I fought amateur rules (defined as no closed fist to face on the ground) and was paid more than other times I competed with pro rules. There weren’t commissions. Guys just fought vs. whomever we were paired with. Weight classes nonexistent. Rule sets negotiable. Pay minimal (travel expenses & enough for Denny’s during the trip). Midwest meat-grinder circuit.
You’re 5-2 in the UFC, but had to fight over 60 times to make it to the biggest stage of them all. Describe the feeling when you first stepped into the octagon, against Chris Lytle of all people.
Euphoric. Emotional. Exciting.
The “Hairrow” on your chest. LOVE IT and think more guys should get into stuff like that. Who gave you the idea and when did you debut it in MMA?
Had a fight in Australia against a kick boxer with a blue belt. Knowing he had to hit me to win, I left a target on my chin and left the hairrow to point at it. I’d shaved up before in 2007, leaving a smiley face on my chest. IFL bout with some damn fine photos still lingering on the interweb (laughs)
You’ve fought the who’s who in MMA in almost every different weight class. From Stephen Bonnar, to Tony Fryklund and even Hector Lombard – who has been your toughest opponent to date and why?
Story and Lombard because they were strong wrestlers and hit hard (I’m told). I covered well, but it was hard to get in solid striking as they both lunge in like Tasmanian Devils. And they had wrestling skills to back that up.
You seem like a very colourful and fun guy- what does “Bad Boy” do for fun when he’s not punching foes or training partners in the face?
Skyrim. Outdoor sports. Reading. Husband-ing. And using my gift of sarcasm to better the world where possible.
You’ve got 24 hours to spend with Kim Kardashian. Do you wine and dine her? Take her to a nascar race? Ditch her and go train? How would you spend your day with such a “famous” individual?
I’d ask for a June 6 “date”. And I’d send her to Jouban’s room at midnight! He can figure out what to do with her. Maybe it’ll ruffle the feathers of his wife? Or maybe she’s not there. Either way, it’ll interrupt his night’s sleep (winks).
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*Brian Ebersole is hardly ever in a boring fight. He takes risks, presses forward and is always looking for a way to entertain the crowd and his fans. As you can tell by his answer to my final question, he’s also quite generous! Be sure to tune in June 6th to watch him climb up the UFC’s 170lb rankings.
You can find MMASucka columnist Nate Grotenhuis on Twitter @BurgersMMA
