With his impressive win in UFC 37.5 by armbar no less, Pete Spratt emerges as one of today’s rising mixed martial arts all-stars. Spratt boasts a "no joke" mma fight record of 11-4. Not too shabby for a small town collegiate athlete who started it all by kickboxing his way into the octagon just recently. I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Pete after his win in UFC 37.5 and was impressed by his down-to-earth spirit, sense of humor, and all or nothing attitude. It’s hard not to want to know more about this athlete-turned kickboxer-turned mma fighter. Even more so now, as we see Pete facing off one of the toughest competitors of today--Carlos Newton in November’s UFC 40 "Vendetta." With Carlos just coming off a very tough loss in his re-match against Matt Hughes, Carlos is looking to stay strong and victorious.

For many, it’s questionable whether or not Pete has enough mma experience to go up against the likes of Carlos Newton, who’s an all-together well-rounded fighter. People have seen the skills of Newton’s, being tested but have they seen enough on Spratt to feel confident enough in giving Spratt the favor? If anything, Spratt will be looking to put on a good show and to fight his heart out, which is what he does best. This’ll be the true test to see if that’s just what it’s going to take-a lot of heart. Don’t be surprised. After all, Pete pulled one over a lot of people’s eyes with a surprising finish, but you be the judge.

MMARR: Are you currently represented by Sven Bean and his team? If so, what is the name of the team?

PS: Yes, I am represented by Sven Bean but I am not officially part of their team. I am friends with my stablemate Duane "Bang" Ludwig and friends with 3-D trainer Clarence Thatch. They helped me in the past when I didn’t have anyone to corner me! Kinda took me in as family.

MMARR: How is Sven Bean as a manager?

PS: Sven’s a great manager and friend. He’s knows that I am not always politically correct when I speak with promoters and he says what I want to say in a nice way when I feel I am not being treated fairly. I used to get involved in that aspect but I now let him handle all of that stuff. If I did, I would probably never get a fight. Sven and I have a past and I trusted him to do what he said on his word and he came through. When he did that, I asked him to manage me and that was about 2 years ago. There is so much underhandedness and deceit in this business and Sven is a guy that I trust my life with.

MMARR: Are you currently training with Saeksan Janjira? What’s he like as a trained?

PS: At this point I am no longer with Saeksan. The situation between us seems to be very complicated and a case of miscommunication. Hopefully things will workout and we can remain close friends but as of right now we are not on those terms. As a trainer, I feel he is one of the best in the world at Muay Thai. He coached me to a win over 3-time World Champion Manu Ntoh in only 10 months of training with him. Manu has been fighting for many years and I beat him, go figure!

MMARR: (in jest) He’s a BAD teacher isn’t he?

PS: Nah he’s the best! (smiling)

MMARR: Is he teaching you how to drink a beer and smoke some cigarettes, and then go in and finish your opponents like he used to back when he was competing?

PS: Maybe if I drank and smoked he would train me that way but I don’t do either! (laughing)

MMARR: Aside from Thai boxing, what else are you focusing on?

PS: As far as fighting, Thai boxing is not my primary focus. I used to get many opportunities to fight Muay Thai before I started training with Saeksan but now it seem as if nobody wants to give me an opportunity. My main focus is MMA now.

MMARR: Coming off an amazing win in your first UFC, how do you feel about going back out there and challenging one of the toughest MMA competitors to date?

PS: I feel great about being back in the big show. Not only that, but to be the best you have to fight the best and that’s what I have the opportunity to do.

MMARR: Taking into consideration that Carlos Newton is coming off a tough loss, you know he’s looking to annihilate his next opponent, which would be you. What do you think your chances are against Carlos?

PS: I think my chances are good if I don’t play his game. He is one of the best at what he does and I am one of the best at what I do. It’s a matter of who can impose their will that will determine the winner of this fight. As far as being annihilated, I don’t think that will happen. When I hear that word, it makes me think of being beaten up and I have never been beaten up. He may submit me but that is far from being annihilated!

MMARR: You’ve got fans but with this match-up, there are some doubts on whether or not you’ll be able to beat Carlos, do you feel that people are giving you a fair break as far as the odds are concerned?

PS: I don’t make the odds and that’s their business. But these people are not in my training camp and don’t know what type of athlete I am or what type of heart I have. I have competed at a high level in everything I have done. From being a high school All-American in the 400m dash to a collegiate 1st team All-American and conference player of the year in football at wide receiver. So they can make all the odds they want but it’s the intangibles that they can’t take into account. But my fight with Carlos is a great opportunity and if I give a great effort and a good fight, I still win even in defeat!

MMARR: What did you study in College?

PS: I got my Bachelor’s in Occupational Safety and Health and am working on another degree in Criminal Justice. I graduated from S. Eastern Oklahoma State.

MMARR: Why Criminal Justice?

PS: I got accepted to take the test for Deputy U.S. Marshalls. I just haven’t completed the degree yet.

MMARR: What do you feel you need to do (game plan) in order to get through Carlos’ strong points?

PS: The thing I need to do is what I have always done, stick to my strengths! If I can defend his shot and keep it standing, I can beat Carlos. If I he gets me down and I can defend his sub attempts and get back to my feet, I can beat Carlos. The game plan is simple and if done it’s an easy fight. If I can’t do those things, then it’s an easy win for Carlos. It’s also very simple for him as well, get the takedown and the sub!

MMARR: There were some rumors going around saying that you were looking for a new team to represent. Is this true or false?

PS: That is true. I want to be in an environment that will allow me to do my job and feel that I am part of a close knit family. Like the guys at Miletich Fighting Systems. That’s what a "Team" is all about. You got Jens, Matt, Pat all big names and there seems to be no animosity, jealousy or envy among them. Then there’s the young superstar Robbie Lawler those guys have it all under control and know their roles. That’s the type of atmosphere I want to be a part of. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that I want to be on their team but they epitomize what a "Team" should be.

MMARR: If it’s true, is there any animosity between you and your current teammates? If so, why?

PS: There is no animosity just miscommunication. I still talk to the guys that train there I just haven’t talked to Saeksan.

MMARR: I heard that you were in a rap group? What’s the name of your group and is this something you plan to pursue when you’re done with fighting?

PS: Yes I’m in a rap group and the name is the 903 Playas. This is something I am doing while I am fighting. I was doing the rap thing long before I started fighting. I have been doing it since about 1985.

MMARR: What does "903 Playas" stand for?

PS: 903 is my area code and "playas"--well--you’re either currently one or was one in the past. (laughing)

MMARR: Is your being a rapper your real dream?

PS: It is a dream of mine but I don’t wanna just rap I wanna be an entertainer. I wanna put it down like P. Diddy. That man puts together a show that knocks your socks off. That’s how I wanna represent and that’s the vision I want my boys to see us doing. Going beyond the basics and just fitting in. I want the clothing lines, the small businesses, the sneakers, the whole nine!

MMARR: Have you recorded anything yet?

PS: Right now we are recording our 3rd album (my second with the group) which is untitled. If you wanna check out a sample you can visit my site at www.petespratt.vze.com and listen to our new song Shertown Anthem Part II. This is a song that lets us express where we come from in our own little country way.

MMARR: Does your group go head-to-head with Din Thomas’ group? Did you know he had a rap group as well?

PS: Didn’t know Din had a group but I would love to hear some of their stuff. Gotta help each other out, ya know!

MMARR: In all your training, what would you say is your strongest--stand-up/striking, or your ground game? And why?

PS: My game is striking without a doubt. I boxed as a kid and kickboxed as I got older. I want to give the fans something to see and what they understand and that’s fighting on your feet, especially for our sport to go mainstream. Until the mainstream people get more educated to out sport they will never understand the ground aspect of it. I just wanna provide excitement and that’s what is expected of me--plain and simple. Pete Spratt is put on a card for something exciting, like a surprise armbar!

MMARR: Where are you from originally and how old are you now?

PS: I am from Sherman, TX. a small town about 45 minutes north of Dallas and I am 31 years old.

MMARR: How long are you giving yourself as your window of opportunity in the MMA game?

PS: I plan on fighting another 4 to 5 years but at the rate that I am going and the way my body feels I may fight another 8 years. Who knows? I will fight as long as I am healthy and as long as it is still fun for me.

MMARR: What are you trying to achieve in this sport?

PS: I want to be the best welterweight in the world. I want what everyone else wants.... To be the best! If you don’t want that then you don’t need to be fighting or doing anything. If I was a trash man, I would want to be the best trash man I could be ya know?

MMARR: Do you care to comment on anything that’s been said in the past about you that you’ve either disagreed or agreed to?

PS: Nah, doesn’t really matter people are going to have comments and opinions about you either way and nothing you can say will change what they feel, I learned that from the underground forum!

MMARR: Who is the one opponent you’d really truly like to face and why?

PS: Steve Berger because that asshole thinks that he is a better fighter than me and he isn’t. We fought, he landed a knee and the fight was stopped by the doctor due to a severe cut. Until that point, many people felt I had an early lead in the fight. He extended the offer of a rematch but when it was offered they didn’t accept. Don’t say that you’re going to do something if your not a man of your word. All I know is that people are saying that he shouldn’t fight me and I should feel privileged if he gave me a chance but I am the one that has a win in the UFC and he struck out 4 times in the big show. Now he wants to fight cuz I am where he wants to be, "Well Steve, sorry buddy but you gotta wait your turn! I may give you the pleasure of fighting me again but then again, maybe not!"

"Hey, thanks for your time guys. I have really enjoyed this interview. See ya soon!"

Pete "Secret Weapon" Spratt

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