Rob Emerson Predicts 2nd Round KO of Phillipe Nover at UFC 109!

Fight Trader: You’re living in California now, is that where you do you’re training as well?

Rob Emerson: Yeah, for the most part down here in Orange County; I kind of just bounce around.   I hit up like four, five gyms through out the day, and then when B.J. (Penn) is in town for his fights, we train at this gym right by my house.

FT: That’s amazing.  So, he was your coach on the Ultimate Fighter (reality) show, right?

Emerson: Yeah, that’s where I met him at. 

 FT: And you’ve stayed close ever since and you train with him?

Emerson: Yeah, we did.  I have really good chemistry with him.  All those guys.  I mean, him and Gray, Gray Maynard, are probably the only two guys I’m really good friends with in my division.  BJ believes in me, and he sees so much potential in me.  Even just the stuff he tells me is just, you know, he tells me I could be the next world champion, I’m the strongest pound-for-pound fighter he’s ever been with.  I flew out with him his last few fights, like his last fight with Diego Sanchez, I’m the guy he used to warm up with in the back and everything, and he says there’s a reason he takes me with him out to his fights and stuff.  You know, stuff like that is inspiring, and keeps me motivated.

 FT: So, you’re the guy warming him up for these fights?

Emerson: Yeah, chemistry is just huge, you know, when you’re surrounded by (the right people), especially when you’re on fights at that level, the energy and the people you surround yourself with is super important. 

FT: That’s a great opportunity for you.  Gosh, a lot of people would be really thrilled to have that opportunity.  What’s the biggest thing you’ve taken away, or what has he instilled in you?

Emerson: The main thing with me is just the confidence that these guys give me.  The stuff that these guys tell me is the stuff that my friends and the people I’ve surrounded myself with my whole life have been telling me, but I’ve never believed it.  Now that I hear BJ and all these guys telling me that I’m the next greatest thing, and he tells me that he wouldn’t trade anyone’s athleticism, speed, and strength for me (mine) . . . Just hearing stuff like that from a guy at his level, I mean, let’s face it, he’s the best in the world right now, especially in my division . . . I have to start believing in myself; That’s the one thing I needed to change up . . . and it’s definitely showing in my practices.

FT: I would imagine the kind of sport you guys do, it does demand a lot of confidence.  You walk into that octagon in front of tons of people, and it’s all about you, right?

Emerson: Yeah, there’s a lot of things that get in your head: the lights, the fans, the people, and all the training you do boils down to that one fight, that one moment in time, and if you lose, how are you going to provide financially?  All this other stuff you can’t think about.  You just got to’ think about that scrap right then and there and perform the best you can.

FT: Tell me about Season 5 of the Ultimate Fighter.  What was that experience like for you?

Emerson: It was awesome, man.  I mean, what better way to get in the UFC?  Our season was when they were reestablishing the lightweight division. .  . Most guys from my show (season), they’re all doing pretty good, you know, Nate (Diaz) and Gray (Manard) . . . We have like five guys who are still currently fighting in the UFC and doing pretty well.

FT: Actually, I just saw Nate and Gray go at it last week, did you see the fight?

Emerson: Yeah, it was a great fight. 

FT: What were your thoughts on that?  Some people, myself included, kind of thought Nate won the fight.  I mean, I’m not an expert, I admit it.  I’m a writer . . .

Emerson: No, I agree.  I’m good friends with Gray, and I actually fought both those guys, so I kind of know style-wise how they feel, and I thought Gray was going to finish that fight.  I think Gray has it in him to do a lot better than he did with Nate . . . They’ve both come a long way . . . They’re both doing good.

FT: I didn’t realize you fought both of them.  I just watched the video of your fight with Gray, and he knocked himself out (just as Emerson tapped).  What a goofy way to end a fight!  Have you ever seen anything like that, and what did you come away with from that fight?

Emerson: That was a huge life lesson for me.  There’s no way I should have tapped.  That injury, it hurt, but I should have fought to the death on that . . . That was a very tough fight, actually.  I forgot my mouthpiece, actually.  I had one of those flimsy, like, boil in water mouth pieces you pick up from the store, and that’s like the only safety you get in there – your mouth piece is super important – and Gray is a hard-hitter.  He punches super hard.  I remember a couple times he cracked me with that little piece of shit mouth piece in my mouth, and I was thinking, “Shit, I do not want to get hit by this guy anymore!”

FT: I don’t blame you.  A lot of people agree with you, that Gray should have finished Nate, and there were people who were saying he should get the next shot at Penn.  Who do you think is the #1 contender right now?

Emerson: I do, yeah; I think Gray deserves a shot.  I think more so than Frankie Edgar because, I mean, Gray beat Frankie, and Gray still hasn’t lost.  The only other blemish on his record is with me, and that was that “no contest,” and he was obviously winning that fight up until then . . . But they want BJ to fight in March or April, and after that, Gray will (get his shot).  But that’s just the thing with our division is that there’s no one else.  BJ beat Diego, he beat Florian, I think he’s going to walk through Edgar, and there’s Gray.  It gives guys like me, personally, it gives me a lot of hope and drive that I can have a title shot in the near future . . . BJ’s so good, and that gap between BJ and the rest of the guys in the division is just so huge . . .

FT: I tend to agree with you.  I don’t know what his weakness is, but what does someone have to do to beat this guy, as someone who works closely with him?

Emerson: . . . Joe Rogan said it best when he said that last fight, that it’s going to have to be a guy who can stand up really well, who has great stand-up, but he’s really good head on.  I don’t think a straight boxer is going to beat him.  It’s going to have to be a guy who can kick well, a kick boxer who can move and defend the takedowns . . . I don’t think anyone fighting him in the near future is going to come close to beating him.

FT: I’m afraid you’re right.  You said you’re close with Penn, you’re close with Gray, but is there anyone in the house (on the reality show) who drove you nuts, or anything?

Emerson: Um, Manny fuckin’ drove us nuts.  Manny (Manvel Gamburyan) drove all of us nuts, dude . . . That little guy, I actually fought him a while back, but he was just annoying.  He would sing these fuckin’ songs in the house all the time. . . we were just so annoyed with him.  We’re cool now, we talk now, but that’s the one I wanted to fight on the show.

Fight Trader: Your nickname, The Saint, where does that come from?

Emerson: I didn’t really have one (a nickname).  I didn’t really want one.  My friend just gave it to me.  I wasn’t the best kid growing up.  I was kind of the opposite of a saint, but for me, I’m pretty religious, and it just reminds me that there’s something bigger and better than me out there.  I didn’t want a tough guy nickname – I wanted something a little bit different.

FT: You alluded to your past and getting in trouble and things – you were involved in an arrest (and a jail sentence)?

Emerson: Yeah, it’s crazy how that stuff still haunts me.  That was back in ’99.  The incident that I actually went to jail for, there’s a video on the Internet.  Clearly in the video, you can see me in the upper left hand corner, the only reason I’m on that video (is) I got out of the car to stop a fight.  One of the guys was unconscious, and he was getting kicked in the head by some guy who had steel toes on, and I got out of the car and pushed that guy off him.  I tried to wake the kid up – I tried to help him, you know?  I was just kind of’ guilty by association with that whole thing . . . It just sucks that there’s all these people talking’ shit about me on the Internet. 

FT: You did say that you got in a lot of fights as a kid.  What drew you to fighting?  Did you have a lot of anger or a tough life . . ?

Emerson: I’ve never gotten in a fight out of anger.  If I fought, it was always protecting someone else, or I saw someone else getting jumped.  I hate bullies, and I got picked on a lot in grade school.  I had a bunch of learning disabilities and all that stuff, and I was diagnosed with AD/HD and Tourette’s syndrome.  And I was a small kid; I was a little guy.  I think my freshman/sophomore year I was a “buck twenty five.”  I was like the little guy that got picked on all the time.  I still did martial arts growing up, and I got sick of that (bullying), and I said, “I’m going to start getting respect from some people,” and I ended up getting in some fights and beating these guys up.  Sooner or later I was like the tough kid at my high school . . . And I welcomed any challenges.

Fight Trader: And tell us about your next opponent Phillipe Nover.  What do you know about this guy, and how are you preparing for him?

Emerson: I’ve been watching his footage, and he’s good.  Since he’s more of a martial arts guy, he’ll stand up, which I welcome.  I’m a stand-up guy myself.  And he’s a Gracie black belt, and I think his wrestling is his weakest point.  I think he’s going to try to take me to the ground – I’ve been watching the footage and everything.  I think it’s a great fight for me at a great time.

FT: Last but not least, what can we expect to see on February 6^th?

Emerson: You’re going to see a knockout.  You’re going to see a knockout – hands down.  It’s not going to go past the 2^nd round . . . I promise you: I’m going to knock this kid out. 

FT: Thanks so much for the time.  It was a pleasure chatting with you, and we’ll make sure we don’t miss your upcoming fight!

Emerson: I fuckin’ promise you: You will not be disappointed. 

By Matthew J. Swanson

Matthew J. Swanson is a playwright, fighting enthusiast, and author of all sorts of other “stuff.” Get a look at his writing with links to other publications to which he contributes at his blog page updated every day (mostly) at www.thegancer.blogspot.com.