http://maxfighting.com/index.cfm?ac=...etail&nid=1628
Interview with UFC 63 Fighter: Mike "Quick" Swick
By Sean McClure
Sunday, September 3, 2006
MaxFighting:At UFC 63 David Loiseau will be looking at you from across the Octagon. Do you feel this is the biggest test yet for you in the UFC? Or is this just another fight?
Mike Swick: Definitely my biggest test and I am excited beyond words at the opportunity.
MaxFighting: I know it is just a rumor right now, but have you heard or can you confirm that the winner of this fight will get a title shot in the near future?
Mike Swick: No there is nothing for sure, but you never know. I am focused on this fight only right now.
MaxFighting: With TUF 4 going on, how do you feel about the winners of that show getting title shots possibly ahead of the number 1 contenders?
Mike Swick: I dont know all the details but from what I do know it seems unfair. I don't discredit the fighters though. They are all tough guys.
MaxFighting: If this fight was/is for a title shot, would that place any added pressure on you? Would it even infiltrate in to your daily thought processes?
Mike Swick: No not really. I never look past the fight at hand. Even if I knew the winner got a title shot, I would only focus on this fight. If the question is "Would I fight harder knowing this?", then the answer would be no. I fight every fight like its life or death. Losing is not an option for me and is far worse than anything I can imagine. Thats how I think going in to every fight.
MaxFighting: Chris Leben lost to Anderson Silva. Josh Koscheck was visibly Smiling at his demise...were you smiling on the inside because of all of the talking he has done?
Mike Swick: I can't say I am "Happy" to see anyone lose this way. HOWEVER, if anyone deserved it, it would be him. He is very dissrespectful at times and this is how Karma works. If you are going to talk about breaking a dudes jaw and sending him back to Brazil, you better back it up. He didn't.
MaxFighting: Can you give the casual fans some insight on the bad blood between you and Leben?
Mike Swick: Its weird. I mean obviously I want to beat him more than any other fighter but it's not like we cant hold conversations in public. He hates me because I am on the Pay-Per-Views and am so close to the belt. He feels I have had an easier road somehow and he always likes to state that he beat me.
I see right through it and see how weak and insecure he is inside. He can say he beat me all he wants and enjoy every second of our last fight because one day we will meet again. I wont make the same mistakes I made the first time.
MaxFighting: How bad do you want to face him again?
Mike Swick: I am more concerned with Loiseau and moving up the ranks for now but I know we will meet one day so I dont worry about it. As I stated before, I will be very happy when I look across the octagon and see him.
MaxFighting: Switching lanes here, Anderson Silva vs. Franklin...who takes this and who would you probably match up with best?
Mike Swick: Man, this is a tough call. I haven't seen much on Silva but he has beaten a whos who of fighters. I am very excited about this fight. I think it will be very exciting. Its hard to say who I would match up better with because I haven't seen but one recent fight of Silva's and it only lasted 49 seconds.
MaxFighting: The main event on the card for UFC 63 is BJ Penn vs. Matt Hughes as you well know. Who is going to walk away with the belt?
Mike Swick: Another tough one to call. I dont think Matt will make the same mistake he made in their first fight though. Another factor is how good of shape BJ is in considering he took the fight with only 4 weeks notice. I am excited about this one as well.
MaxFighting: Mike thanks for the time and good luck at UFC 63.
Mike Swick: Thanks! I would like to thank my sponsor Xyience and all the ones listed on my webpage at mikeswick.com. I am also on myspace (myspace.com/mikeswick) so check me out there as well.
