Where were you born? - Detroit & Jackson, Michigan

What is your nickname? - The Tomygun

What is your weightclass? - 160-170 lbs.

Where do you train/what city do you represent? - Team Power House in Lake Orion MI, Metamora (greater Detroit Area)

What is your style and what does a normal day of training look like? - I've been training since I was 14. I've trained pretty consistently in everything. I wouldn't say I really have a mother style. But if I had to call one I'd say kickboxing. 3 round run, Couture work out for weights. Hit the mitts/thai pads to get loose. Either spar MMA or roll. Depending on the day. We tend to look for deficiencies. Like say I got hung up in mount the day or so before. We will focus on escaping from mount. Just focusing on weaknesses till they are strengths is the key. If we know my opp. is a stud wrestler we'll focus on my sprawl and my wrestling, working submission from guard and sweeps.

What do you think are your strengths? - I have really worked on tightening my ground game over the last 4 years and I'll hold my own. But I guess if I was going to say I was good at something, it would be my stand up. I have broken arms and knees with kicks and I got quite a few KO's. I seem to have the ability to knock guys out. Or I just get lucky alot. The nice thing about a solid power stand up game, is even if you don't get the KO, the opp. got hit hard and now he respects you and you can start working on more set ups.

What is your current record? - No titles, unfortunately. I am older (39), I am afraid my time has past. I am of the 1st/2nd generation that kept this thing alive during the 'Dark Days'. I remember right after college, I had a 2 year old daughter and I lived in a crappy apartment in a bad neighborhood. I fought two weeks earlier and broke my foot. I think I got paid $300. There was no way I could compete with it, although I have competed with broken knuckles and many injuries as alot of guys have. But I just realized there wasn't any money in the sport. Not enough to support your family at least. So it was a cross road for me. I could be dirt poor and not support my seed or go and join the corporate world and take a big bite out of the American Dream. I got no regrets. But now these guys can get sponsors and make a decent living. But I am proud to have supported the sport and help keep it alive. That's why when at the end of a fight, if I talk to people in the crowd I always thank them for coming out and supporting 'My Sport'. That's all guys like me really have. Proud memories and alot of residual injuries..lol 16-0 kickboxing. 7-1 MMA (the loss was bullshit)

What is your typical game plan when facing an opponent? - You know the one constant, I am going to come out and hit this dude as hard as I can in the face. Straight up. You don't have to look for me and I don't fight scared. Now to do that you have to establish the jab and I prefer to get him moving to my left (which is harder in a cage) I am left handed and fight orthodox so my left hook is my money shot. To do that you have to have a devestating leg kick. After he eats two or three of those he starts to realize that moving to his left is in his best interest. That and just throw with speed and accuracy, power will come and is a function of speed. Focus on keeping my chin tucked and tight. The other thing is try to win every exchange, whether it's the clinch, stand up, fight for position when we hit the ground. If I end up in a negative position, even if I have to eat a few shots to get out of it, doesn't matter, you can't sit there and play defense on your back and let some dude pound on you. I usually look for some submissions if they aren't there I don't try to force it, alot of guys lose sight of the fact they are in a fight not a jj match.

How do you prepare yourself mentally before stepping into the ring? - Just try to stay as calm as possible. Don't get to high or to low. He's going to play his game, I am going to play mine. WHen the bell rings come out banging. You can't be a idiot but stay tight, controlled, set the pace adn be the man. Pre-fight ritual, I always say guys are either pukers, cryers or shitters. I am not going to lie. I have done all three. You just have to accept that that is your sympathetic nervous system getting you ready for battle. I usually say a prayer to the Virgin Mother, "O Mary conceived with out sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." I once went to my priest and asked him to pray for me to have victory and he said that my opponent was one of God's children too, so we he prayed for God to give me strength in battle. And that was cool. I'll take anything I can get. For our fight team, we say a Our Father and ask that everyone come out healthy.

What type of music do you listen to and who is your favorite artist or song when entering the ring? - Whatever is on my ipod. It's funny, just about any fight you go to you will see a couple guys that come out to I stand Alone by Godsmack and Loose Yourself by Eminem. I always like Now You're Messing w/a Son of a Bitch by Nazareth. Old school biker music man.

Do you have any heroes? Who in MMA do you think your style is similar to? - No not really, my Dad. He went to work everyday adn took care of his family as best he could. Those are the real men. Sure he could have done somethings different but it is what it is. If I had to say my fighting style is like anyones, somewhere between a Chuck Liddell or Wanderlai Silva, although I am not as wreckless as Silva and more linear than Liddell. But who am I to critique. Those guys are HOF. I believe in hitting a dude and leaving him hit but you also have to be careful man. Anything can happen in 4 ozers. You don't want to go out there and start winging and loading up for power as your hands drop closer to your hips and this idiot could close his eyes and throw a left hook and have the night of his life. Then you just made some donkey who should taken a beating look like a rockstar.

Who are your favorite fighters and why? - Honestly, I respect anyone who has the discipline and inner strength and drive to take a fight, train, show up at wait and walk down that aisle in front of thousands of screaming people and throw it down with someone. I don't like trash talkers. I don't like guys that don't respect their opponents. I have always been of the opinion this dude put his time in, he showed adn if he gives me a good fight, he's earned my respect. I would say thought that I have always thought Couture was a classy guy. Never talked trash, it was just a competition.

What are your hobbies when you are not training or fighting? - I am a home body. I love my wife and my kids. I ride my motorcycle for 'Me Time'. If you don't own a harley, please do yourself a favor go buy one. Whatever was buggin you, by the time you hit 5th gear its gone. I golf a little, I live on a course, but last year I think I got out maybe 10 times. I was in training camp getting my guys ready all summer.

Where do you see your MMA career in 2 years? - Well seeing as I retired last year. Coaching. I have been doing some work w/Donofrio Entertainment in the recent working on getting sponsors for his promotion. I'd like to make a living somewhere around the sport. Just enjoying everyday life I guess and trying to teach that to my children. Life isn't always going to be birthday cake and happy smiles. You will come across hard times but they don't last and hard people do. I read a ancient toast or prayer once (not really sure what it was) but it went something like "May your back be warm from the sun, may your scars all be on your face and your chest, may you pass in your sleep with your brood being many crying at your bed side, or on the field with your sword drawn and dull, pointed toward your enemy with shattered shield" That kind of taught me to live life to it's fullest and don't look back. Sorry, kind of ranted there.

What is your ultimate goal in MMA? - Keep it moving along. My time is past. Seriously, there is money in it now man. I got one guy I train that could be a world champion. I tell him everyday. Hang in there, I know you are broke, tired, injured, hungry. But soon son, very soon, you will be the best. And many will pay to watch you fihgt. Chicks, sports cars, big houses. It's all there. If a 22 or 23 year old kid can hang in there for the first 3 or 4 years man they can make a damn good living. I'd like to see these guys make what NBA or NFL players make. Shit even baseball. Man, these guys get paid this money for playing basketball. What risk is there in that? Sprained ankle