Billy Sutherland interview

Summary

Billy Sutherland joined me to talk about his upcoming professional debut on Clanwars this weekend, his previous fight falling through and taking an amateur fight to stay active plus more

Transcript (youtube_captions)

Okay, so I'm here with Billy Sutherland who's going to be making his long awaited pro debut because uh it fell out the last time as well. It's going to be on Clan Wars this weekend. Um thank you very much for your time. It's a pleasure to have you back. It's been a while since we have a chat. How are you feeling going into a pro like you've had a pro camp, a pro fight. Does it feel much different from amateur or like tell us what the differences have been for you? That's good to be back. Um the difference uh do you know what like I think I think we spoke something similar last time like I think amateur train like pros now especially guys that are coming top end of amateur the only difference for me now is I'm drilling more of the elbows more of the knees um finding things that I'm good at and uh outside of that nothing's really changed like my I've always train for five minute rounds like I've never let off or give myself an easy time like my cardio condition and stuff like that has always been kind of elite, especially for my age compared to other guys. Yeah, I like that. It's mad cuz you have that conditioning, but we rarely see it cuz you usually are finishing people and and like that with the count you were putting in for the last fight and we'll talk about it. You ended up taking an amateur fight in the end. There's a lot of fighters wouldn't do that. They'd be like, "No, I want to take pro, but you wanted just to stay active and say like how did it feel when the fight fell out? Like what was that feeling?" but then going to an amateur. Was it an easy decision or were you thinking you were going to wait or or talk to us about just how it developed last time with the fight falling out? So after that fell out, it was more who can we get next? Um that fishing around who who can we who can we get? Uh it was a struggle especially with the timelines and stuff like that because it was getting closer. I think we were three weeks out uh originally when we had the fill out and then um we weighed up some options. were waiting to hear back from some people and there's a bit of him and on and it got to the stage where one of the auctions was obviously he McCartney for the flyweight title I can defend the title in my mind I'm ready to fight regardless of amateur or pro. I I really put the work in. I was ready to go and I was happy to take that fight as well because I I know of Kian as well and uh I was actually offer Kian um a year or two ago from another show. I got a message on Instagram. Um, it was just not doable at the time. Uh, so I it was it was still it was still a good fight. It was still a beneficial fight uh for myself. Uh, and I was happy to take it. It didn't really, don't get me wrong, I wanted to get that pro kicked off earlier because like I've said before, I'm [ __ ] getting old compared to the rest of the guys that are on the circuit. I'm 31, but I've still got that [ __ ] bloodlasting dog. It's like I love this [ __ ] Yeah. Know and I know it's like that. And Ake is a very good fighter. He's got like I'd say a 50/50 record, but he's been he goes to nearly every IMAF. He's I want to say European. Is he a world as well? He he has medals. He's got gold medals from those competitions. Um so European and there world. Yeah. Yeah. And then like that he's tricky on the ground. I' I've seen him. He was getting cornered I think by Shay Cleland and he just threw a flying triangle out of nowhere and I was like how did this happen? So that was a beneficial fight. the way you finished the fight. I see notice you put up a post after cuz there seemed to be a bit of controversy when you watch it at like you watch it back there is no controversy. You used a Khalil round tree kick which is legal. What was the fuss about and why did you feel like you had to address it? So when I blast the first kicks, so I'll go right back to the start. So the first what actually causes the damage or a bit of the rumble is as he throws his head kick I catch him with quite a solid right hand and it does wobble and that's when we kind of both lose our balance as well. Um when I bring him to the cage I actually I drill that all the time like guys hate when I drill it because I'm happy to I look for the head or I look for the body. Um the body is always going to be there before the head. Uh and even if it doesn't put them down it's going to take a good bit of wind out of you. So, it's someone like that's someone I've always had in the arsenal. It's just having the opportunity to use it. Uh, the first kick lands perfect. There's no argument about that first kick that ripped. I knew that hurt like I heard it and I felt [ __ ] life sucked from me. Uh, the second kick. So, what what makes it look is uh look off is the different angles that other people see it at. When I throw the kick, it actually catches his leg, which kind of deflects it first. The toes come up and hit him in the top of the chest. I remember it hitting him my toes actually stabbing him in the chest when it comes up just below his arms. His corner at the time was saying I kicked him in the head and then I think they tried to say I hit him in the back of the head and I was following up with the strikes. Uh and that that's like that's what it was for me. It was it was just because there was it was a little bit tarnished for that last kind of victory. So I just wanted to clear up because some in case people did think oh he even gifted that there should have been a DQ or no contest. I just want to show people that it wasn't it was within the rules. Just I'm happy to be that bit more violent sometimes. Yeah. And like that you broke it down perfectly at the time and and the kick is well I I've talked about this to Paul Brown is very underutilized and and Khalil used it as well before like that's a devastating kick like to use and and that's something you've been drilling that's something you've wanted to do and that's obviously going to be part of your game plan going pro as well. What made you drill it? Is did you see Khalil do it and go, "Why is no one else using this?" No, don't get me wrong. I've seen Khil use it a few times, but uh it's it's always been an option. It's always there. It's just people don't understand the rules or how to utilize certain weapons. Like that's one of the if you have somebody curled up against the cage, blast the [ __ ] kick. Don't punch them in the head and or tippy tap and let them build up. blast the kick and take some life out of them cuz on the liver across the body or full pelt shin when they're not expecting it that's game changing like every time. Yeah. Cuz if you go in and try and start striking they they can uh get you in the clinch work their way back up. Whereas if they're trying to get back up and you hit them with that kick, that's going to have such impact. Like I said, it's going to catch them by surprise and it's going to completely knock the wind out of them and it's going to be like the pain and everything is and then they're not expecting it's going to be like what do I do from here? How do I protect it? Like Joe, it's going to it's just it's so smart because it's not used enough and hopefully we see it used more cuz I thought it was a fantastic kick. But you got to defend your belt. You got to win. And you're moving on to the pro one now. Now that it's so close, how does it feel like? Like are you nervous, excited or I actually have a real same as last time a real like excitement every fight like all my amateur fights I got really like um nervous or like the normal pre pre-fight nerve type things like oh the what if and things like that but I've made the walking enough times now that I don't know it's just I feel I just feel like it's I'm I'm ready for it. It's it's the right move. Uh it's a bucket list thing for me because I never actually tended in fighting at all. I started MMA to get fit. Um, and that was it. So now it's kind of that full circle moment. Pro debut on Clan Wars where I made my amateur debut, held multiple titles, had a good run of things, made a lot of mates and memories, just that full circle moment now. So I'm I'm actually really excited for it and uh just that different feel. I feel like I've been ready for pro for a little while. I feel like now is the time where I can start building on that and then see how far we go. Yeah. you know, and like you kind of answered the question I haven't hadn't even asked yet. Uh what did it mean to you for clan was and you talked about being full circle and all and that's where you started and you've held belts, but obviously this weekend is so important for you because it's the pro debut and and you're not looking past I'm not looking past your opponent, but do you want to stay active this year cuz you were very active and then there was bouts of inactivity uh due to multiple different reasons. Um do you want to stay like you said earlier, you're not getting any younger, you're getting older by the day as we all are. Do you want to try and be as active as possible after this weekend? Yeah, 100%. Um, I've got some after this one, I do have some things I need to sort out like personal life wise. Uh, but outside of that, if I can get another one in by the end of the year, I'll I'll push for it. I'll I'll definitely push for it. Um, if not, I'll be good to go for the start of next year. Uh, all well, yeah, I I want to I want to stay active. um fight a minimum twice a year, maximum four times a year if I can uh anywhere like just like I I actually do have a genuine love. It's not a I'm fighting because I'm putting the train in and I don't feel like I can walk away. It's I have a genuine love and like just for being there, just for just for for the sport itself, just making the walk. I do. I [ __ ] love being there. Like I live for the chaos. I really do enjoy it. And and I like that as well that you're there for the cash, you're not there for the pay, you're not there for this or the uh like anything else. Obviously, there is an expiry on that. So, do you think you'll always be involved? Would like will you go into coaching that or is that just so far from your mind or do you always want to be involved in the sport and help and improve and evolve it? I I feel like uh I don't think I'll walk away from the sport. Uh I'm obviously stop fighting at some point, but I don't think I can I'll be able to walk away. Uh I even now I enjoy teaching and um coaching the classes and helping the next generation whether it be through drills, training, being a good training partner, nutrition and things like that. So I yeah I can see myself having still being a part of it even when I'm done fighting. I don't think I'll be able to walk away afterwards too I've got too much I've invested too much recently in the last few years and I haven't been at it long. five years old in I think from competing but in that time I've invested a lot into it and I don't think I could walk away even if I wanted to and try to. Yeah. And what it's done for you and your life and and the things that you never thought you do like what you're achieving this weekend you would have never dreamt that was going to happen like 10 years ago. Like not not a chance. Not a chance. I literally I got into IFS who's I stopped bodybuilding, felt like I got fat. I had to do something. I remember as a kid wanting to do MMA after watching Never Back Down [ __ ] a million times. And then uh finally, we're living in a place where you know what, there's MMA gyms all over within short driving distances. I know I was a bit I'm a bit older, but let's go there just to get fit and learn something. And then before I knew it is like a white color boxing fight, novice fights. And then it's just that like it's like an addiction. That's the only way I can describe it. It's like I I've been in cuts before. I've been in fights before and I've said to myself, you know what? I'm I'm getting old. Maybe this is the last one. And then like win or lose or draw, it's it's not the last one. It's never going to be the [ __ ] last one. Yeah. No, I like what it's done for your life and how you want to give back and um how it's changed. But this weekend is so important for you. I'm going to let you go. I want to thank you so much for joining me, especially this close to the fight. Is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone you want to shout out? Oh yeah. Uh big shout out to all my sponsors. Um I'll tag them in afterwards as well. Uh and obviously my wife Amber like uh dealing with the kids helping me out especially this week. This week can be a stressful week sometimes. It's actually been very good. Uh I want actually give a you had him on earlier a shout out to Yanick. Yanick's actually done my uh nutrition this time round and um for the education stuff and everything else he's he's put out and given um and he actually contacts me more and I I contact him uh to make sure I'm on track and stuff like that. You know, I'm a busy guy as well. Uh so a big shout out and thank you to Yanek as well because he's made this cut uh a lot easier. Like I don't do big cuts normally, but I had my holiday and everything on the buildup to this fight. And I wasn't spending that money all year to not enjoy myself on holiday. So he's he's got me on the straight and narrow and I'm coming in [ __ ] strong and shredded for this. Yeah. Know he's like like I said, I had Janick on earlier and he he's really really good and like he was saying he will and like with Nathan, he'll be like, I'm not doing enough. What's he doing? was and he'll contact you. And it's good to take that kind of weight off yourself as well so you can just focus on especially at pro golden having the easier cut and having someone to ask questions if you're not sure because when you're doing it by yourself you just kind of like the scales you haven't gone down but that that's that's the thing that happens and and then he can talk you through it. It's a nice you know it is for me. So I've actually this is something I have got good at doing it. I've got my own kind of regimental way of doing this. Um, it was more that warm fuzzy feeling of being able to ask the questions, have the accountability, and then somebody just to if if I was unsure, if something wasn't right, they can give you that warm fuzzy feeling like, "No, this is fine. We're on track. This is how it's going." And it's just good to have that for a change. Like, he's he's helped us out a lot this time around. Yeah. Yeah, and like you said, he's got up to 85 fighters at the minute, whether they're pro, they're they're out of country. And it just shows obviously if he's getting that many, he's do doing something right. So yeah, no, I'm glad that that's I I didn't realize he was doing your one, but I'm going to let you go. Thank you so much for joining me. I can't wait to see I'm going to be watching on pay-per-view. I won't be there, but I can't wait to see you. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you, mate. See you soon.