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May 17, 2011

Featured Fighter: Tyler King

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Name: Tyler King
Height: 6’5
Fight Weight: heavyweight (between 250-260)
School: Connors MMA
City/State Born: Pawtucket, RI


1. When and Why did you get into MMA??
I first got into MMA when I was still playing for the Cardinals, I was home over a bye week or holiday and one night my friends were watching TUF season 3 marathon leading into the Tito-Shamrock fight. I sat there for hours watching the show, then the entire fight card. After that I was hooked. After I was done playing, I trained here and there at a couple small gyms when I wasn’t playing arena football or working, but after I was completely done with football, I missed competing and Connor’s MMA was right down the street from the job I was working at the time. The rest is history.

2. Do you have a background in martial arts, boxing, wrestling etc?
Nope. In high school I played football, basketball and lacrosse. I continued playing football at the college and professional level after that. I did train as a boxer under Pepe’ Correra in 2007 for a pilot paid for by the producers of “The Contender”. I left after a couple months to continue playing arena football

3. What's you nickname, how did you get it?
Don’t have one, and don’t plan on giving myself one. If one ever comes along, it will have to be given to me by my coaches and/or teammates. And it will have to come around at the right time and be the right fit.

4. What are your ultimate goals in the sport?
To keep winning and see how far I can take it.

5. What do you think about your next opponent?
Big tough dude. Is a highly touted kick boxer, but showed good ground skills in his last fight. I will have my hands full.

6. How do you see the fight going/being finished?
It’s gonna be a savage, violent fight… Don’t blink..

7. What weight do you walk at/how much do you cut to fight?
I don’t cut anything. My weight usually stays in the 250-260 range depending on my training camp and diet.

8. What's your favorite part about fighting?
Besides the camaraderie I have with my teammates and coaches, the rush I get when the ref yes “STOP STOP STOP!” and pulls me off of a guy!

9. What's the worst part about fighting?
Not necessarily the worst part, but the toughest part is having the discipline to train hard and train correctly and balance that with the other aspects of life (job, rest and recovery, time with loved ones, etc.)

10. Anyone locally or in the big's that you really would love to fight, and why?
Locally Josh Diekman in CFX just because he has the belt and I think it would be a great fight, and Lee Beane for the same reason, just think it would be an exciting entertaining fight. In the bigs… Bobby Lashley. I hate all of his excuses for his poor performances and how he feeds off his WWE fame to keep getting paydays for what should be easy fights for someone of his “status”, then when he gets beat or is given a run for his money, he just makes excuses as to why he performed poorly and doesn’t give the fighters who just gave him the business the credit they deserve.

11. What do you feel is your best weapon in your fights?
My strength, speed and athletism, as well as the great techniques I’ve learned from my coach.

12. What is your favorite foods that you miss while cutting weight??
As I stated above I don’t cut, I do diet and eat clean when I'm in training camp. And I by far miss fast food the most. There’s a 5 Guys right by my house they I drive by every time I go to the grocery store. It’s painful to never go in.

13. What is your most memorable moment to date in MMA??
In my pro Debut vs. James Quelle. He’s a tough guy who gave my training partner Cody Lightfoot a straight up war. To take it to him and get the finish in the first round was an incredible feeling. Also earning my blue belt in BJJ from my Coach, John Connors. The compliment he paid me on that day is something that sticks with me, and it was a memorable milestone in my development as a fighter.
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14. How else do you spend your time when you are not training??
Do the usual stuff, hang out with my friends, and spend time with my family and my girlfriend. I go to a lot of Patriots games in the fall and I love other risky ventures like paintballing and I will be trying white water rafting this summer as well.

15. What do you do for a living besides fighting??
When I started fighting I worked a mortgage loan modification negotiator. I have since moved on from that job and work as a Personal Trainer at Equinox Fitness on Franklin Street in Boston. I also occasionally work as a bouncer on the weekend (big stretch for me)

Just want to give a huge thank you to my coach John Connors and all my teammates at Connor’s MMA (Brett Oteri, Matty Tullos, Javier Velasquez, Jesse Mcelligot, Jessie Guiterrez, Billy Giniovella, Mike Camponella, George Lynch, Mark Vogel, Chad and Chad and Cody Lightfoot, Jacob Kiley, Mark Willlis, James Boran, Jamel Roy, Pedro Millet, and Jeff Powers) My dad Steve, my mom Cathy and my sister Angelee for all their support, and my girlfriend Crystal whom I could not make it through each day without (especially during training camp). Big shout out to my sponsors Wireless Zone- authorized Verizon Retailer, Safari Model and Talent, Code Blue Recover drink, Mix-1 Protein Shakes and of course Sucker Punch Athletics TALK SHIT, GET HIT!!!!!!
We at WesternMassMMA.com would like to thank Tyler King for his time.  We will be rooting for you this weekend at CFX against Wade Therrien.  Please leave him some comments below.