Recently I got the chance to play catch up with WFA promoter and mixed martial arts veteran John Lewis. You may remember him from the successful career he had. An active John Lewis has been involved with the sport since the beginning and continues to do his part to help get the sport where it belongs. The mainstream.

JB: Whats going on big dog?

JL: Nothing much man. Just hanging in there. Whats up with you?

JB: Chillin. I wanted to ask you a couple questions since you have been in the shadows of MMA lately. Not really in the shadows since you have been training a lot of fighters. Your voice hasn’t been heard since the last WFA show. So whats up with the WFA?

JL: It still exist. Instead of doing shows without TV or without any of that stuff all the way in place I had to take a step back. I just put more time into some deals I am working on right now to make out some more money. Meaning TV shows or whatever. I have all kinds of different projects in the works right now. I just had to do things in the right order. Or else I was going to do a couple of more shows and it might not work out. It is going really well and hope to get all done. I plan on maybe doing another show in the beginning of next year.

JB: Is there any truth to the rumors of John Huntington pulling out of the promotion?

JL: Nah Nah. He is right there with me.

JB: We know Chuck Liddell came up to Vegas to train with you for his last Pride fight.You were in his corner for his fight which he lost to Quentin Jackson. It had to be tough for you because you trained with him. Do you agree with what Dana White said that Chuck didn’t execute the gameplan and thats the reason why he lost?

JL: I don’t think it was the gameplan. I think...um. I think things in the fight didn’t work out the way we thought it would. We needed to mix it up a little more. A more overall game. More wrestling and more jiu jitsu. We trained for it all. Unforunatly the situation we were in it and the circumstances we were under it didn’t work out the we planned it to. We got in a downward spiral and it was hard to come back from it all. I think it is going to take a little bit of time and he should train for fun a little bit. I want Chuck to do some grappling tournaments. Just to get him to compete in more grappling tournaments. He is really, really good on the ground. He just doesn’t get to show it much. I think that would be a good idea as well. It already has a real solid game and to be honest it is just the way things go that way.

Joe "The Hustler" Blaze: You know both fighters pretty well do you think Tito and Chuck will happen? And who do you pick as the winner?

JL: (Laughs) Um...I do think so. It seems like the next fight for Tito. If Tito wants to fight in the UFC I feel thats the next fight for him. Which I am sure he does and I know he deserves to fight in the UFC. It will have to be against Chuck.

JB: John I hate to put you on the spot man. I feel at times like I am the only one that thinks Tito isn’t ducking Chuck. Since you are close to both fighters and know them so well. Do you think Tito is ducking Chuck?

JL: You know I don’t want to touch that question. They are both friends of mine. They both have reasons why that fight hasn’t happened. Whether it is something that satisfying to the audience. I mean Tito has his own reasons. In his own mind they are legitimate and thats all that matters and is the bottom line.

JB: Have you been training any fighters lately that we have not known about you training with?

JL: I am getting Gilbert Yvel ready for a fight in Russia I think it is December 6th. I am not sure. I was working with Marvin Eastman who was supposed to fight in the Shooto show here in Vegas. A lot of guys I am working with.

JB: John anything you want to say to your fans or friends in closing?

JL : Thanks for all the years of support. Without you guys I dont know how I could get through all the down times. Thanks again!-MMARR-

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