Ben Johnston interview

Ringkasan

Ben Johnston returns to the cage for the first time since February, we talk about the time out and the plans going forward

Transkrip (youtube_captions)

[Music] okay so I'm here with Benny The Butcher who's going to be fighting this weekend for another title against a very good competitor I must say it was a fight that was supposed to happen at Cas conflict it's got pushed back onto this show so um how are you feeling how are you it's fight week not long to go um how have you been since the last time i' I spoke to yes I'm feeling good feeling probably the Fest I've ever been I'd say I'm probably the strongest I've ever been everything's going well with it everything's going perfect it's probably this probably been the best fight we it's probably been one of the best comps I've have I've had for not getting see these stupid injuries you know I just I've always picked up the injuries here and there and I think i' haven't had one really so I think this is been my best fight camp and the fight week because weight not an issue I'm not even really cut with at all still be this week's been a gift I us hit fight week I I'm in the depths of the spur come fight week one of the that hard CAU a lot of words now I'm just like that's gey you know yeah and one of the fights that I seen you in where you didn't have to cut much white was obviously your last fight and yeah I thought and I'm gonna be honest with you I thought that the difference because he fought of two different weight classes that he might be stronger than you but that proved not to be the case do you feel not cutting the way actually you're stronger you perform better I don't know if it's to do I I always find H the way it just does my cardio a bit I don't know about my strength I think I used to be because I used to be I used to be a big fat sh like to be honest with you so I think I've just kept a lot of strength from carrying about all that weight and then I used to I used to do like a lot of deadlifts and squats all the time and I was lifting heavy like I would have been lifting you know like 240 kilog and all wouldn't have that now like but I think I've kept a lot of strength from that so I think just even the way just up a we class I think it just gives me that way bit extra yeah no 100 because that was a fantastic fight and like that that's the last time I've seen you fight and you have fought obviously in between that we're just going to touch on this slightly you had an issue with a we cut because I think it's important for for people who are doing weight cuts that if there's anything that they can gain from this um or any experience or if they take anything away from this uh beneficial and you change maybe someone's thinking on it or whatever but you went into I remember obviously you were going to fight Sean Kelly on chaos you had a bad wake up it was very concerning for for everybody at at the time talk to us about that you don't have to go you can go into as much or as little detail as you like so basically I was I had a we bit the cut like but it's not I'd cut I've caught more weight before than what I was cutting that time um so anyway I ended up cutting the we well trying to cut the we anyway anyway so don't I was doing the bath with the Ws and I felt terrible but if I had agreed that we so I was making that we or I was going to end up near D trying to make it which ended up happening so I remember getting into the bath for the last time I ended up I was out of the time limit and I only had like a kg too and I got in or Steven got in contact with uh Jason and says listen if he he has an R still cuz it was out of the time limit but you know he have that way extra R after the weigh so I was trying my hardest to make it and then I was with a guy I work with and training with Kai he's only young to he's only 18 he was helping me do it and he says I got in the bath and said it was being weird I can't remember any of it I got out of the bath uh apparently B naked and stepen and came around started trying to wrestle both him like apparently I just went weird like I think I dropped first I think I dropped to the ground and then bounced up and started basically attacking them you know what I mean I can't remember any of it uh and then I think K says he was trying to stop me from swallowing my tongue he says I tried to bite his finger off and all I think I just R into full survival mode and then I woke up I think I woke up three days later in the hospital and intensive care and then I ended up having to stay there for I think it was about two weeks in total I was in the hospital I had I think it was like my liver and my kidneys both started to shutdown I think I was whatever way to scale works I was one from having the have one bags for the rest of my life you know the is it a I don't know you know what I'm talking about yeah so it was a mad enough time I can't remember it to be honest I actually woke up and said the nurse did I get knocked out and she went no no I had thought Sean knocked me out or something in chaos because I genuinely couldn't remember it and then that's why I said to my man when my mom was up I says I says tag Sean and make sure or see how he got or make sure he got a fight because I was I was raging about that the fact that I thought he wouldn't had a fight there do you know what I mean cuz it was on the day it would have been hard to get a replacement but lucky enough he did and then so after that was just two in hospital it was a bit of a melt to be honest because because it was in ICU for a full week um you can't get out there anything so you're just stuck in the same same four walls whereas it got moved the hospital then my mates and all and coaches and teammates were coming up and then I was able to go outside and I was sitting outside for like four hours a day my mates were coming up and we were just talking [ __ ] it was all right but apart from that it was it was traumatized from my mom and dad now like I think they f was going to there my girlfriend they W in bit like was I can't even remember any of it so it doesn't really like people have said to me like you know after after being like that and I I just I can't remember so it don't really affect me that way you know CU obviously I can't I can't physically remember any of it happening so it's not affecting me mentally or anything like that yeah 100% like that like that for your family more so because they would have been there through the days you were unconscious and stuff like that yeah but like waking up though like said and you're thinking it just shows that it sounds like he did go into survival mode did they say yeah did they say any re particular reason because like you said you've cut the weight before was it was it just like a freak thing that happened that just happens every once in a while or was there the they didn't really say anything about it they just says uh what did they say they just says it's it can happen from cuton we because you're so dehydrated and all but I think see CU I had a bit to cut I done know we small cut the day before and I never ever do that I usually just cut it all in the once and have a fun Steven even says he thinks it was because of that so he does but the same time it could have had a way colder anything you know there could have been anything just a way that way actually to push you over the edge yeah 100% And I just want to say we were all glad obviously when we found out you were okay it was for not obviously just your your family and your partner more so but all of kind of in the MMA because I would have been talk talking that's another thing was going to say see the am the people that you know way everyone the MMA Community you usually kind of you have each other on Instagram even if you don't know really know each other same amount of people taxed me making sure I was all right it was we bit overwhelmed by it you know people have never spoke to before my life were txting me making sure it was all right and I thought of myself at that time it's a good Community to be a part of even if we do go on try Rey to H off like yeah 100% but like that you go in you do that you know it's the sport it's all about respect and like those people the fighters know they probably know it could easy just as happened to them it's scary scary for them as well to to see that happening within in the community but like I said I'm glad you're okay I'm glad you're back fighting because me and you obviously have met up at shows theuma was the first time I think I seen you in person since then and it was a pleasure we had a good chat there and I was looking forward to to this week cuz I knew this well it was originally supposed to be the first time so once that once that happened like was there a thought that you you wouldn't fight again but from talking to you I don't believe that was ever the case once you knew you were fit and healthy the one of the first things whenever cuz obviously the H me you know was on like doped up I didn't really know what was going on as much but as soon as it was back to normal that's a first thing I asked I was like am I going to be able to fight again and they went yeah yeah you just have to leave it for a we while I says get K long and it says a couple months and you should be all right just need to be careful with it but I don't think I think my my mom didn't really want me to fight again I says to I says there's no chance I'm not fighting again like I love it she would just be she's obviously he just worried about it like but cuz I had to get I had to go for a few brain scans and stuff but the all came back fine so I'm good to go like a new man good to go and and it's good to see you back and and this fight is one that was exciting 4ks conflict like unfortunately it didn't happen it's been pushed back it is you're kind of two of the top guys around there uh yeah way class because um a lot of people have kind of exited it gone on to Pro from like the likes of Jess Paulo Brian Manning kind of at that one I'd say that that would have been a fun fight now that I would have liked maybe yourself and Manning uh been a good one but you've got Matthew who he had a loss and he came back very very well in his last fight what you make of him as opponent and and what are you making how how how excited are you for this fight to happen on this weekend I think he looks he looks good he looks like he has good power behind him he looks he looks like the type of fighter I want to fight he's not really he just wants to get in there and scrub you know throws a bit wild like and that's what I like but because I can throw a bit wild too and I think it'll make for like a quite exciting fight you know but but he does he seems good enough I haven't I never really watched people fight when I find out I'm fighting someone I'll watch one of their fights I'll go on and see like what fight they've won most recently and watch it but he seems seems to be good enough like you know seems to be like he he wants to stand and bang too yeah and that is an exciting style but like there is other ways like the slams i' seen you do when you fought Garrett that time as well was were unbelievable the wrestling as well and I think the the ground game is is very underrated I think a lot of people want to stand but I love it when it goes everywhere but you you talked about just watching the last fight is that because Fighters changed so much especially at amateur like if you look at three fights ago yourself to now you're probably not completely different fighter but there's bounds of of improvement there is that why you just look at the last one that's why I just look at the last one I because C if you say you have your first fight after a year the amount of improvement you make after one year even an amateur scurry it's bit different when you go on the pro and you're you've been doing it a while you know you will be improving but it's going to kind of lavel out a bit but so I always just look at the last fight because what's the point of me watching him fight say two years ago when he's like fresh on the amateur scene it's not really the stuff he's going to be doing and that he might not be doing it anymore so you know like the mistakes he'd be making he probably wouldn't make the same mistakes exactly and like that even even to his last fight he could be a completely different fight or do different things um you're better off just like that obviously I presume you just you've just been focusing on yourself and improving kind your game I obviously I'm not going to ask you what your game plan would be but I I would assume you're going in with a game plan or do you just like to feel it out and you fight IQ while you're in there I never I've never won a we game plan um I just like to I just want to see what happens you can't you kind of just know where it's going you know with GF I didn't if I wasn't even going to try and take him down I was planning on St with him and then I realized how big he was in know he was tall like but when I was in there he was touching me I was I was trying to touch him couldn't and he was still able to catch me so I thought I needed to you know I needed to take it there so every time I go in I just as you say figure out and see what happens yeah because like that people it's like what my Ty says you go in you get punched in the face and it changes completely if you go with a plan and just say You're Expecting Garrett to do X Y or Z and they don't do that then I would presume you might freeze in your brain and go well what do I do whereas you have your own style you feel it out and you take it from you take it from there but what's the excitement levels like to get back in the cage after the year you've had oh I can't wait I'm actually buzzing I've been I I wanted to actually fight I was hoping to try and get on uh K's Gladiator too as well I was just trying I just wanted to get as much fights as I could because I'm back fit and healthy so I just can't wait to get in it was a bit of a bit of a kick in the teeth you know obviously not being able to fighting cage conflict because I love fighting on cage conflict it's nice and handy for me it's in Bast it's 10 minutes up a road and I just wanted to fight and then when that happened I was oh God [ __ ] like and then stepen had being trying to get me fights he tried to get me a fight on Kier Danny cor I don't think anyone could get any W and then um he said to me about you and then so I got on it and then I found out it was against M Mary and then I was happy enough it so was yeah it was when I seen the fight M I was like this is a gray scrap and then I was like why do I said why is this so familiar and then I went back and looked and I was like this is supposed to and then I think I text you and said is this like is this happening twice or what and then obviously I I'd realized what happen but um I think your champ Fighting Championship is a fantastic promotion and obviously a chance to get another belt um does the belt mean as much you or as if just fighting the the the best guys and this has not been disrespectful to any belt because Dei says himself he doesn't think the amateur belts mean much but it's more about the opponents it brings I the way I look at it is I think a lot of like you can hide a bit more if you're not fighting for belts you know you can fight people who maybe if they aren't at that level on the amateur scene you can get away with fighting people who aren't on your level whereas if you're fighting for belts you're having to fight the top guys that are in the amateur scene you know that way so I just look at up it's nice to get the belt you I mean one that the first one I won you know if I felt on top of the world but then after then when I won the second one it was just obviously you're buzzing about it you know it's you want to about you're happy but it's the see it's like amateur record I don't think an amateur record really matters it's Pro because at the end of the day if you're a pro fighter and you have a terrible record you're not going to say to someone oh I know but it was undefeated at amateur do you know what I mean that way I'd rather say amateur aord was in shape but same I'm like five and one at Pro here it sounds better exactly he's if he ever sees me he's probably gonna kill me but Kevin Clark is an example I always give he was he was 13 and 10 so he was nearly 5050 what's he now talk 10 and know n it shows those 10 losses he had um benefited him going forward and like that when you're fight like yourself when you're fighting the best guys and you might win you might lose but if you're picking up something from every fight whether you win or you lose ultimately that's going to help Go Pro and and like I like what you're saying is there's nowhere to hide fighting for bels you're always going to get because if they put you against someone who's a z00 let's say if you won the belt everyone's going to scream bloody murder do you know there it's it's not going to be let happen that sort of way but no it's going to be good to see this weekend I know you're not obviously looking past your opponent this this weekend but going forward next year what kind of activity levels you like or or would you like or you just looking to just just put this to bed enjoy Christmas and decide that next year no I always like to have a like a bit of a plan you know I never like to plan plan ahead too far but I want to obviously I want to win this belt and then I'll have a we I have a wake or too off for Christmas i' never like taking too much time off I'll enjoy Christmas with my family and my girlfriend stuff and then I want to get straight back at it but um I think um maybe G to go pro next year I think that's a plan yeah I was to Sean Kelly actually and he said he' agreed to fight at professional because it didn't happen yeah thing and would that hinge on not the outcome of this fight but the performance in this fight that's see because of been been out I just wanted to get another amateur fight out of the way that's why I wanted as much as possible because I usually am quite active like I think it wouldn't have been that long ago I had my first fight maybe two years ago uh in November I think that's when I had my first fight so and I've always been quite active if it's not if I haven't been doing MMA I've had a boxing fight or a kickboxing fight so just this is the longest I've ever went me out a fight since I've started fighting so I just wanted to get back in there because I think it does make a difference taking the time off as much as you sping and all it's it's not the same as being in there you're not hitting people 100% yeah I I wouldn't know obiously because I don't fight but I'm assuming people say ring rust isn't real ring rust is real I think it depends on the person but like that that live you I could train with you all day every day but if I never have a fight and you've had T like when I go into that experience like there's so many different factors in it when we're SP obviously we go hard but I'm not going to try to kill you you're not going to try to kill me whereas you're in that position in a fight there this different emotions adrenaline levels different things that is and I think ring Russ would be a thing so obviously I think you need to get in see how this fight then after that you and obviously Stephen uh are the best people to decide what happens going forward but I forward I I'm so glad that you are back you are fit and healthy and and I'm looking forward to seeing you again in person and seeing you fight in person this weekend yeah thank you I appreciate that why are you gonna be there yes I am GNA be there I sorted out so it does that makes it even better so I've got um I'm not sure I've been talking to a guy I just I double check and make sure I'll text him today but uh some guy reached out to me because people wanted me to do post fight interviews I said it's too hard we're trying to go back and forward I put the Yoke up someone actually reached out to me they in uni doing uh journalism and and and kind of videography and stuff so we might have post fight interviews there as well so um that but um we we might do but is there anything you want to say before you go I want to thank you so much especially because it's so close to the fight day yeah H just shout out to my coaches and all my teammates and shout out to Sigma Fitness for my strength and conditioning keep me a big strong boy so he is um and thank you for what you're doing D with our community that's it really oh I appreciate the work from you much you you've had great things to say to me and about me so I appreciate you you appreciate me and I will see you on Sunday thank you so much for your time yes D I'll see you there