Interview with UFC’s TUF 11 cast member Joseph “Leonidas” Henle

On the night of March 29th, 2010 our interviewer Ryan Knowles had the pleasure to conduct an interview with the always entertaining Joseph “Leonidas” Henle who is a new cast member on the UFC’s TUF 11 that starts on March 31st on Spike. Here is that interview:

Fight Trader: How did you get started in MMA?

Joseph “Leonidas” Henle: I was doing jits at a gym by my house and some guys were sparring. I was a big dude so they asked me if I wanted to step in. I remember my buddies saw me later with bumps and bruises all over my face and asked what the hell happened. I told them what I was doing and started training right after that.

Fight Trader: What was the process like for getting on the show?

Joseph “Leonidas” Henle: Well the only reason I even went was because it was in LA. I didn’t have any kind of connection or anything, just figured what the hell. So I get there and there are all kinds of people. They broke us up into groups of forty, and we rolled. I was waiting and waiting and Dana [White] stands up and says “okay, we need someone to go again.” I’m thinking “I haven’t even gone yet and they’re asking people to go again?” But then they called me up to go. I was walking up and a few of my buddies started calling me “Jesus” like “let’s go Jesus” and stuff like that. I got the submission in like a minute and they said that was enough. Then we had to do some mit work. I’m a southpaw, so I really wanted my own coach here with me. I was texting him trying to get him here. He walked in literally right as I was called to go. I threw like 7 combinations and that was it. I got asked for an interview and tried to let my personality shine. They really let you do all the talking, and try to see who you are. I am a quiet dude, but I definitely have that wild side, so I just had to know when to show that part of me.

Fight Trader: Tell me a little bit about where you train and your fighting style?

Joseph “Leonidas” Henle: We I mean I train at everything, wrestling, jits, boxing, muay thai. But I guess my wrestling and jits are sort of my best skills.

Fight Trader: Does your hair ever get in the way or annoy you?

Joseph “Leonidas” Henle: No, I don’t even notice it. It’s in a nice pony tail for the first few minutes, er, uh, seconds of the fight. But when it all comes out I don’t even notice.

Fight Trader: Did your football and wrestling experience help you at all in your transition to MMA?

Joseph “Leonidas” Henle: I think that it depends on what kind of athlete you are. I mean if you’re a really good football player but can only play football, then I don’t think that will do you much good. But if you can play football, wrestling, basketball, and you’re just a good all around athlete, then I think you may tend to pick things up faster then other guys.

Fight Trader: What was your response when you got chosen for the show? Did you do anything different in preparation for that?

Joseph “Leonidas” Henle: Well we didn’t really know if we would have to fight or if it was just a second interview or what. I just knew I had to be in Vegas in six weeks. So my boxing coach and I just set up a six week training camp and we prepped like we would for any fight.

Fight Trader: What weight do you walk around at? Is cutting something that you struggle with?

Joseph “Leonidas” Henle: I walk around between 205 and 210. Cutting is never an issue. I used to be a lot bigger, and when I started fighting, I fought at 205. People would tell me I could get to 185 and I thought they were crazy. My second pro fight was my first fight at 185. I didn’t feel slow or tired or anything like that, I just felt way bigger than the other guy.

Fight Trader: What is one piece of advice you might give a young fighter starting out in MMA?

Joseph “Leonidas” Henle: Wrestle, wrestle, wrestle. No other skill can help you as much as wrestling. It is the one thing that can save you in a fight. When you fight a guy with good stand up, he worries the whole time about being taken down. It is such a big advantage to be able to decide where the fight takes place. Jits is important too, but wrestling and takedowns are the most important.

By: Ryan Knowles
Ryan Knowles Fighter Profile
Ryan is a fighter himself as he is a 6-1 amateur heavy weight fighter. Ryan is a part of the Team Immortal organization (Immortal Apparel Website) that has some of the best and brightest amateur MMA fighters in the Chicago land area.