Maurice Smith is a very busy man these days with the new appointment of being named coach of the International Fighting Federation’s Tigersharks. Smith had been somewhat out of site for about a year. He was Pete Spratt’s trainer for a period, yielding modest success in Spratt’s career. He most recently took on the position of Frank Shamrock’s head coach for his past bout with Caesar Gracie.  He and Frank have a long and illustrious history from the years that started both MMA and their careers. With the announcement of the IFL and their impressive roster of coaches it becomes immediately obvious to all, that the IFL is by no means taking any of this lightly and have started to climb the mountain occupied by both Pride and the UFC.

 MMARR: How did this opportunity come your way?

 MS: It’s been in the planning stage for sometime. They initially offered the position to Randy (Couture) but he was under contract with the Zuffa and couldn’t do it so they offered to me and here we are.

 MMARR: Is Ivan Salaverry going to be on the team?

 MS: No, there has been more than a little bit of confusion over that. Initially MMA Weekly, I think, posted that Ivan was on the team roster.  Ivan saw that, called me and wanted to know what the hell was going on. Realize that we were only negotiating at that time so Ivan thought I assumed that he was going to agree. I did nothing of the kind; I don’t know where they got that. All in all, the IFL offered Ivan a very lucrative offer. He passed on it. He has a child on the way and is opening his new gym and those are the reasons why he couldn’t accept the offer. Ivan is a good friend of mine and I did my best to persuade him but he is not signed with the team. I don’t understand it.

 MMARR: Not long ago Zuffa wanted him back to fight Evan Tanner.  Evan posted that on a blog on My Space right after he had spoken to Joe Silva.

 MS: That may have been what Zuffa says or Evan says but in any event it wasn’t for that reason. I told Ivan that I didn’t care who he fought for as long as he was getting paid to do it and Zuffa screwed him as they do with all of the fighters when they don’t put on the show they want. Ivan signed a contract for three fights and after he fought Nathan (Marquardt) they dumped him. That was bullshit. Everybody has bad fights, Randy, Chuck, Tito etc.  Get where I’m going?

 MMRR: No, where are you going? Ivan had great fights with Riggs and Frykland, but since he wasn’t a poster boy or a favored son they just tossed him. Dana tossed him.

 MMARR: How are the Tigersharks shaping up?

 MS: Things are coming along pretty well. I  primarily have a team with a collegiate wresting base. So right now we are working on conditioning; conditioning first and some basic boxing and stand up skills. I’m attempting to determine where their strengths and weaknesses lie. I’ve got Dennis Hallman who is the most experienced athlete on the team.

 MMARR: How is that working out for you?

 MS: How is what working out?

 MMARR: How is Dennis working out?

 MS: Honestly, I thought he was going to be a real pain in the butt, but that has not been the case at all. He has been real supportive and very helpful. He does all of my scouting which has proven to be a real asset. Very happy with him. I think he will have to take on the leadership role with the team.

 MMARR: In terms of compensation and benefits for the fighters how does it meter out?

 MS: This is what makes this so good for all of us as employees, that’s what we are. The fighters get a set amount for the first fight and they get a bonus for a KO, TKO, or submission.  If the team wins, they get an additional bonus and they get an amount for training that has an annual cap on it. It all comes out to about $5,000 not including the training money. They receive health insurance which is huge as you can imagine. The money for fighting increases as the IFL grows.

 MMARR: Do you mean that the IFL has to show a period of growth before the athlete is paid more that what you just shared?

 MA: No, there are promises in place that ensure that the pay will increase in the next event and on from there. The IFL is putting out a sizable amount of start up money for just the fighters. That should tell you where their priorities are. They are focused and determined to take care of the athletes so that they don’t have to struggle to make ends meet. The money for them now isn’t great but it’s more than what Zuffa is offering some of “their” experienced fighters and they are not getting any insurance. The potential financial security for the athletes in this organization is very good.

 MMARR: The coaches are being well taken care of?

 MS: Yes, I mean it’s not huge money but I’m very happy with the arrangements.

 MMARR: Do the coaches have ownership in the IFL?

 MS: We are compensated with stock options as part of our salary. The base salary is ok.

 MMARR: Do any other organizations offer this sort of package?

 MS: None that I’m aware of, but that doesn’t mean anything.  I’ve been out of the know for sometime.

 MMARR: What do you mean?

 MS: Listen, before all of this came about I had made my mind up that I was out of this industry. I was just disgusted with it. People would ask me if I saw that fight or knew this person and I didn’t care or didn’t want to know. These fighters that are up and comers now? I don’t know any of them.

 MMARR: So you don’t know who Forrest Griffin is?

 MS: Forrest who?

 MMARR: He’s fighting Tito Ortiz in the next UFC.

 MS: No, I don’t know him, never heard of him and don’t care unless one of my guys has to fight him, which is highly unlikely.

 MMARR: Why were you disgusted with the industry?

 MS: I was involved with SEG and K-1. I fucking hate Zuffa and I fucking hate K-1. I never considered myself a Zuffa champion, I was a SEG champion. Zuffa never gave any of us that respect. I shouldn’t have to call and ask for tickets to an event.  I shouldn’t have to negotiate the best deal for a trip. I’ll bet Michael Jordan doesn’t or John Elway. That’s what I mean; I am a former UFC heavyweight champion and a former K-1 champion. Do I get treated like one? Fuck no. These guys fighting in those organizations now have to sell their souls. One paycheck to the next. They don’t care about these guys. All they care about is how much money they can make off of these athlete’s blood and injury. I’m not saying I want Zuffa to fail because they have done a lot for the sport, but without these athletes they wouldn’t be making all that money. They are not letting most of the fighters see any of it.

 MMARR: They have signed a deal with FSN, what are your thoughts on that?

 MS: <Laughs> The t.v. deal is huge. It will be instant exposure. How long did Pride and Zuffa work on getting a t.v. deal? Ya, well I would think by how this whole thing is coming together that the IFL is putting to rest any talk of whether they are serious or not.

 MMARR: I think so. Are they going to increase the number of teams in the IFL?

 MS: Yes, they are working on that on an international level already. When that happens then you have a valid world championship title.

 MMARR: As opposed to a Pride championship belt or UFC, K-1 etc.?

 MS: Yes, I mean just because you’re a UFC champion, what does that really mean? Nothing, it only means that you are the champion in that organization. There is no world title validity. I think that Pride is a more valid belt because they draw fighters form all over the world. They will not ever unify those belts because someone is going to have to give up a large piece of their pie. Too much money at stake, fuck what’s best for the fighter or the sport.

 MMARR: Can you divulge any prospects on future coaches?

 MS: I think Don Frye would be a great coach.

 MMARR: Are you saying they are talking to Don?

 MS: No, I said I thought he would be a good coach.

 MMARR: Hmmm, he is in the U.S fighting this week. A coincidence.

 MS: Maybe, I don’t know.

 MMARR: How about Frank Shamrock?

 MS: No, he’s busy with other things.

 MMARR: What does Frank think about the IFL?

 MS: We didn’t talk about it much, why don’t you ask him?

 MMARR: Well maybe I will. Frank was quoted as stating that the people at Zuffa are stupid, did he share his opinions further with you?

 MS: If he said that than I would think that pretty much explains it…..don’t you?

 MMARR: You have named Roman Roytberg as an assistant coach.

 MS: Yes, he’s a good friend and he has had success in the industry on a lesser level. He knows his way around and I trust him.

 MMARR: What about his dental practice?

 MS: He’s giving that up to be a thespian.

 MMARR: What is he thinking?

 MS: <Laughing> I don’t know, but he’s serious and if that is what he wants to do then fine.

 MMARR: Geeeeeez, I gotta talk to him.

 MS: Ya, maybe someone else can talk some sense into him.

 MMARR: You said earlier that you were done with the fight game.  What changed?

 MS: When I was down in Australia with Pete (Spratt) one day something happened. I don’t know what to call it, but I don’t want to say it was spiritual or anything. More psychic.  All I know is I came back a different man both internally and on the outside. Male menopause or something. I’m just more emotional and things; people mean more to me now in different ways than they used to. I mean I had my emotional episodes when I won K-1 and I have them now over the most insignificant reasons. Parts of movies, kids, you know stuff like that. I care about these guys I’m coaching and care about their well being. The IFL cares about them too and that is something that I believe in. If they were anyplace else trying to do what they are doing they would just get used, broken up and thrown on the street when their services were no longer valued or needed. I’m confident that won’t happen here. There aren’t a lot of egos around here. It’s a team effort.

 MMARR: That’s probably an appropriate note to conclude this interview on.

 MS: Yes, it would be.

 MMARR: Thanks for talking with me Mo’and glad your back.

 MS: Anytime, and good luck

Maurice Smith has always been a man about taking care of what is best for him and his fighters. He used to say, “This is a business, I gotta get the best deal I can get.” The IFL demonstrates a real interest in improving the quality of the sport and even though they are not avoiding the fact that they have expectations of making a billion dollars, they appear to be keeping in step with what is fair and just, for all involved. When it is all said and done, more is being done than what is said with the IFL. It is usually the other way around in this industry.

Brett Atchley
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