Lots of great stuff in this interview.
Link:
http://www.ultimefanatic.com/modules....php?itemid=68
Text is below.
UF : You took the reins from Bas Rutten as head coach of the Los Angeles IFL Anacondas team. How did it happen and how does it feel?
ST : Bas was given the opportunity that he came to the USA for to work in the entertainment side of the industry. With this new position, it would have been a conflict of interest for him to coach a Team in the IFL, yet be the face of the IFL. The fact that I had already been in charge of the Team and training them since the first day, plus the great relationship that Bas and I have, he asked me to take the position and I accepted.
UF : What about your relation with Bas Rutten? In a way, you are currently working together. Can we expect sort of partnership between Team Tompkins and Legends?
ST : Bas is my mentor in MMA and in life, he has always been like a father to me. As far as us working together at Legends, I believe that my schedule is much too busy for another gym to be added. We will always work together however, we are actually both headlining the Paradise Retreat Seminar weekend in Simi Valley, California in July.
UF : Won’t this nomination affect your availability to direct and coach at Team Tompkin’s gym in London, Ontario? Who is running the gym while you are traveling to Portland and LA?
ST : Obviously the busier I am, the less time that is available for my home gym in London, Ontario. I do however have some of the greatest instructors in fighters taking care of it. I will be continuing to travel there and make sure the quality is the best as well as be using the gym to find and create new Canadian talent.
UF : It seems that some Team Tompkins athletes also joined Team Quest for their training. Is that right and who are theses guys? Are they also following you to LA Anaconda’s headquarters?
ST : All of my Team is part of the Team Quest gym as long as I am part of the Team Quest gym. Dan Henderson, Matt Lindland and myself all have a great working relationship. In fact, I believe the fighters that we are putting out are second to none in the sport. We have the best of all the worlds. My Team Tompkins fighters have already been traveling back and forth from London to Temecula on a regular basis to prepare for upcoming fights. The Anaconda's headquarters is Team Quest Temecula.
UF : Are you now living permanently in Portland or LA with some of your guys to train or are your traveling all the way down from London to Portland and LA regularly?
ST : I now permanently reside in sunny Temecula, California.
UF : Considering your proximity with Rutten and the fact you now reside in California, are you sometimes also training and/or giving courses at Legends?
ST : I have trained at Legends and done publicity events there with Bas Rutten and the Anaconda's. It is not the gym I choose to work out of however. But it’s a great place with excellent training.
UF : Team Tomkins is known as one of the best gym and team in Canada. Which benefits your pupils can earn from training at Team Quest, I mean benefits they don’t already have at the London’s gym?
ST : Obviously having my Canadian fighters training with us in Team Quest helps complete their ability to become well rounded fighters. The fact that the wrestling calibre out here is so high is one of the reasons I choose to make this move. It truly is a great marriage of our 2 Teams.
UF : You recently helped out Hendo at training to prepare for the Wanderlei Silva fight where he upset the world with a brutal KO win. Henderson has given to you a great deal of credit to his improved stand-up game against Wanderlai Silva. How did it went and does it feel to train Dan, a Pride’s champ?
ST : Dan and I have actually been training for about 1 year now. I worked with him for his fight with Misaki and his fight with Belfort. This moment that we recently had though had to be one of the greatest of my life and opened a lot of opportunities for both of our careers.
UF : You are also currently involved in the June’s Shamrock vs Baroni fight. It was reported you would be Baroni’s trainer. Baroni almost said he considered you as the “Canadian Greg Jackson”. Did he went at London or joined you at Team Quest?
ST : Phil Baroni and I will be working together for his Frank Shamrock fight as well as many in the future. I truly have never been so excited to train someone for a fight as I have been for Phil. We work very well together and I think that I can really bring out a better Phil Baroni that we have ever seen. He has so much talent, that people are gonna be amazed at our success together. I will be preparing with for his fight in Las Vegas.
UF : Your reputation is preceding you. Many well known professional fighters said you are the newest “great deal” for muay thaï training. What other professional fighters are you currently work with?
ST : I am currently working with 30 professional MMA fighters, some being Gray Maynard (TUF 5 lightweight), Mayhem Miller, Soukudjou, Forrest Griffin, Matt Lindland, Jay Hieron, Benji Radach and many many more. It has been a trip.
UF : The young phenomenon, Chris Horodecki, made an incredible impression in the IFL. What are his short and long term objectives regarding his career with the IFL and other major international organizations?
ST : Chris Horodecki is a wanted man right now, every major organization wants him. I do believe however he is very happy with the IFL and they have treated him great. He will definetly have a very interesting upcoming year. He is so talented and only ever gets better!
UF : Krzyzstof Soszynski always had a lot of talent, but we noticed big changes concerning his confidence recently and he improved his skill dramatically in 2006. Which changes did you brought to his training to make such a big difference?
ST : Soszynski is definetly the IFL's most improved fighter. This past year has been amazing for him, lots of big wins and a new confidence. I always believed in Krzysztof and knew that there was a warrior within him. All he needed was a little time to develop. Bas and I really made him our student and that has been an honour.
UF : Mark Hominick lost twice to Hatsu Hioki’s hands, and the last time, it was a cruel loss by majority decision which many fans contested. Even Mark protested to the athletic commission. What did you think about this decision? Did you think Hominick deserved the win?
ST : Hominick vs Hioki 2 I feel was a bad decision, to which Hominick was the more aggressive fighter, made much more damage and technically should have scored higher, had the judges known more about MMA. I believe the fight was fairly close but definetly Hominick deserved the win.
