[Reza Nasri]

As someone who had a close relative fight competitively, I have a lot of respect for GrandMaster Sensei Fred Ettish. Anyway here is the interview below:

Fred Ettis became infamous after being destroyed by Johnny Rhodes in UFC 2, a symbol for everything that was wrong with traditional martial arts training. In fact, for many years he was the subject of ridicule on such sites as The Fred Ettish Fetal Fighting Online Dojo.

But, over the years the feelings about Ettish mellowed, and it turned out that he had actually become a member of MMA onlineforums. A few days ago, someone on the forum asked Ettish to describe his experience in UFC 2 and Fred replied with a remarkable series of posts. Ettish is a humble man who was haunted by his performance in the UFC for many years. His posts tell a story of a man who has come to grips with his past and has rebuilt himself for the ground up:


Thanks for your interest. I have told the story before, sometimes it has been chopped up and edited into bits and pieces, sometimes told almost in it's entirety. It is a very long story, so hard to post it, here, but I will try. I would also refer you to Cylde Gentry III's book, "Ultimate Fighter, Evolution", his article in "Ultimate Athlete", Jim Genia's article in "Full Contact Fighter", Nov 03 edition, and recently in "Real Fighter". Apologies to anyone else I am forgetting who did an authorized version.

1. How did you find out about the event?

I found out about the event by being shown an article about UFC 1 in "Black Belt" magazine. I did not see the event, just read about it and it sounded like something new, challenging, and that would suit me and my philosophies about real fighting. I always hated "point fighting" because it was such bs, and often got disqualified for "hitting too hard", throwing people down, knocking people out of the ring area, etc. I thought an event like the UFC would let me fight without being encumbered by stupid rules and politics.

2. Who did you contact or who contacted you about it?

I wrote a letter to Art Davie asking to be included in the card for UFC 2. He called me and let me know that they had a full card for UFC 2, but that they would consider me for a later UFC. About 10 - 12 days prior to the event, Art called and told me that Ken Shamrock had broken his hand and could not participate. He had moved an alternate (Johnny Rhodes, ironically) up to take Shamrock's place, and wondered if I would agree to come in as an alternate to replace Johnny Rhodes. I agreed right away, and asked if I could fight the other alternate like they did in UFC 1. He said no, that since this was a 16 man tournament that there was no time for that. The only way I would get to fight is if someone did not show up to fight, or got sick or injured PRIOR TO fighting. Remember, in UFC 1 they did not use any alternates in the main tournament, so there was no precedent for an alternate to fight in the main draw. By fight time, all fighers were present and ready to go.

3. Were you paid an appearance fee or just travel and hotel expenses?



I was paid $1000 in addition to travel, hotel, and $50 per day for food.

4. Did SEG agree to cover medical expenses for the fighters?

I am not sure. They offered to take me to the ER after my fight, but I refused.

5. Was there a rules meeting?

Yes, there was a rules meeting the night before the event. As I remember it, the rules were simply; 1. No biting; 2. No eye gouging; and 3. No fish hooking. Groin shots, small joint manipulations, everything else was legal. THe only thing they said they would do if you violated the three rules would be to fine you, as I recall. I have the paperwork stashed somewhere that spells it all out.

6. Did you have doubts after seeing monsters like Shamrock and Tuli before the event?

I was in UFC 2, so the guys you mentioned weren't fighting, but Shamrock was there. He was not a monster. He was a lot smaller back then, but still obviously very strong. The fighters I did see all looked like they would be tough and I respected them all. Of course, I (like probably everyone else there at the time), wanted to fight Royce, because he was the champ. Why go if you don't want ot fight the best? I wanted to fight him BECAUSE he was the best and I respected him and his abilities.

7. Did you have any idea you would be making history and that martial arts would be redefined forever because of it?

No, I had no idea the scope and magnitude of what the UFC would turn into, nor the long - term ramifications of my participation in it.

I have said for a long time that I was going to write a book, one day, my life's story. My life as basically been in and out of the shitter ever since I was a kid. Rest assured, my UFC experience and the fallout from that would take a large portion of that book. I suppose now what few people would have bought the book would no longer do so, since the story has been told so many times.

To complete the story a little bit, I was 38 years old at the time of my participation in UFC 2. After it was all over, I felt awful. I did a shit job, and despite all the bullshit from others that I have endured from then until now, no one could ever be harder on me than I have been on myself. I had my one shot, a shot that a lot of people would have loved to have had. I had a chance to be a productive part of something I believed in and I blew it. Not because TMA sucks, my training sucks, etc., because I sucked on that night. I did, and still do, work my ass off to be a better person in every way, as a martial artist, a fighter, and as a man. I could fight much better back then, and I could damn sure fight a whole lot better now. I completely froze up mentally and psychologically. It was like a nightmare. Nothing worked, I got hit, completely lost my vision in one eye (temporarily), and couldn't shake it off. I came to fight. I had been in fights before, but never in front of so many people, never with a TV camera in my face, with smoke, loud music, a hundreds (maybe thousands, I am not sure), of screaming fans all around. This was not a self - defense situation where you just reacted immediately without thinking, there was so much swirling around, so many distractions, so many things I was just not used to and that were out of character for me, I just plain froze up.

After all the fighters showed up at the arena and were ready to go, Art Davie asked me to help him run the show. He said that he was sorry I would not get to fight, but that he would bring me back on a later show. He asked me to help him behind the scenes to run the show. My job was to go find the fighters and get them up to the staging area in time to walk to the Octagon for their fights. I had just brought Minoki Ichihara up and got him on his way to the Octagon to fight Royce, and was going downstairs to find the next fighter. Rorion Gracie was coming up the stairs. He grabbed me by the arm and asked me if I was ready to fight. I said something like "Huh? Right now?" He said, "Yes, Hammaker hurt his hand and can not fight his next fight. I need you to fight." I had to run around the arena, find my corner people, gather up my gear, find a place to change, try to warm up, strectch, and get myself in a fighting frame of mind. Didn't work so well.

For just a bit over 3 minutes out of my life, I put up with over a decade's worth of shit. All my training, the thousands of hours of blood, sweat, and tears I'd invested were distilled down to those few minutes. That is all anyone ever saw of me and I was judged and labeled because of it. There was no redemption, the UFC did not respond to my request to bring me back, although they had promised me they would (SEG, not ZUFFA). There were no other shows at the time. After a while other shows started coming and going, but for a variety of reasons, I was never able to make a come back.

As a participant in the cage or the ring, the sport passed me by. I was born at the wrong time. Now, I try to train, work with others, and be involved in the sport as a ref, a judge, a cornerman, however anyone needs me. I love this sport, and am happy if I can contribute in any small way to it.

That's the best I can give you on this forum. Hope I answered everything in amongst all my ramblings. There is more to tell, but that will have to wait for the book.

Respectfully:

Fred



Fred Ettish in UFC 2