IS: Absolutely, can you tell? I got to give them credit where credit is due. I thank the UFC for what they have created throughout the years. I mean fighting for them is really cool and interesting, but at the same time, their number one goal is to create, it is not to enhance the fighter, it is to enhance the UFC. So their main goal is to push the UFC. If that means to undercut the fighter then they will do that. They have no problems doing all kinds of bait and switch situations, telling these kids that these are six figure contracts, for ten fights, you know what I mean? Obviously all of a sudden they fight four five times, they can’t go in there and say listen I fought four of five world class fighters, you can’t renegotiate my contract? They will still get paid X amount of dollars and not even close to being my worth. If you really calculate that out, if you really calculate that out…it goes out to be something to be, about ten thousand dollars per fight. They fight you every three months, something to that effect, so you get paid about 3300 dollars a month. If you get paid 3300 dollars a month, and try your best to train and fight, you are going to be a broke mother fucker. Excuse my language.

MMARR: That’s alright, I remember Tito(Ortiz) and Ricco (Rodriguez) , talking about training and you have to pay your training partners too, because they have to help you out. The money has to go around, if you don’t have the money to train hard and have good quality training partners then you are never going to be a top fighter.

IS: Here is the deal, you don’t understand. There are a lot of costs to it. Never mind, you got to keep up with your mortgage, your car payment your insurance, bills, then there is food bill, supplement bill, I mean there is all kinds of training fee’s. If you go to a place, you know what I mean, you have to pay a certain percentage to the gym, I mean there are a lot of costs that people don’t even realize. “Oh yeah we are out there fighting just because we like to fight”. No, no, no, no, no, no. It is completely different, we as athletes we have to think about all these different costs, and also maintain a world class athleticism. It takes a lot. And when people are like “Ahh Dana White out of the charity of his heart, he gives these fighters money”, No. Bullshit. Bull, these guys deserve it. These are world class athletes.

MMARR: In your opinion, what is the toughest fight of your career?

IS: Well it really is a different type of situation, the ones that I have enjoyed, obviously my Seminov fight, just because the fact that it was, God…that guy…. he was just a monster and he never quit. I was like “what the fuck”, it was like fighting a robot it was really weird. I did everything, I crackled his arm, I punched him multiple times. I put him in all kinds of submissions, he got out of shit and I was like “what the hell”. And not one glimpse of expression on his face, that was the scariest part of it all. You know he was just very Russian to tell you the truth.

MMARR: I saw the video several times, the armbar was super tight.

IS: The one that was super tight and he got out of it was the triangle.

Dude I was amazed that he got out of it. And he just kept on jerking, jerking, jerking, and got out of there, I was like “what the fuck!” It was crazy.

MMARR: So that was the funnest toughest fight of your career you think?

IS: I would think so yeah. It was definitely very emotional afterwards, I was like “wow”, it was an incredible transformation of my game I think, of being with him in that fight.

MMARR: Do you have any heroes or idols you look up to in MMA?

IS: I have many, I have many, I am an avid fight watcher and I definitely have my favorites right now, I mean there are a lot of new guys that are coming though that are just amazing. Of course I have my classics, I still watch my old Sakuraba tapes, a little bit of Royce here and there and I look at the new guys that are coming through Pride and the UFC, and I am like “Wow” it is fascinating to see what the sport is going to be like in ten years.

MMARR: Where would do you rank yourself on the Top ten middleweight 185 lbs ranks?

IS: Oh brother, I don’t even think like that I really don’t. I wish I could tell you I am number one but I don’t think like that, I really put myself back and I look at it fight per fight, I enjoy the sport in general. That needs me to be in a place where I am top ten you know, if people think I am top ten, superb, but I don’t even think like that and I don’t want to think like that. One fight at a time, and I am just happy that I am fighting, you know what I mean?

MMARR: What are your ultimate goals in MMA?

IS:My ultimate goal is to evolve with the sport. I want to be a trainer, I am opening my gym here soon, and I want to have my stable of guys, well trained and well rounded fighters, and be able to contribute to the sport.

MMARR: What fight on the WFA card that you are going to be competing on, are you most looking forward to watching aside from your own?

IS: I am really interested in seeing these fighters you know, I enjoy watching, Jason “Mayhem” is coming though a streak of good stuff, I hope his court stuff hasn’t effected him too much, he is just an exciting fighter to watch. Jorge, the guy from Chute boxe what is his name?

MMARR: Oliviera,

IS: Jorge, very interesting fighter to watch, love to see him. Quinton Jackson, come on, love that brother, he is just all around an exciting fighter to watch. The WFA is putting out some good stuff. I hope that it is equivalent to the expectations that they people out there are looking for.

MMARR: You mentioned that you have a business coming up, tell us what kind of business it is and what you are going to be doing?

IS: A gym, it is going to be in downtown Seattle, on eighth and Thomas and it is going to be basically a gym that really focuses on the fundamentals of kick boxing and submission grappling, and obviously transitioning to mixed martial arts.

MMARR: What is the gym going to be called and when it is opening up?

IS: Ivan Salaverry’s MMA gym.

MMARR: Wow that was original

Both Laughs

MMARR: Would you like to say anything to the MMA fans out there watching you fight in the WFA?

IS: Keep your eyes open, obviously to enjoy the fights, to really, really enjoy the fights. I hope there is more to come to tell you the truth.