Interview with TUF 11’s Chris Camozzi! Nothing like 5 weeks of a liquid diet!

Fight Trader: How is the jaw? What was the process to get it back to normal?
How do you feel now?

Chris Camozzi: My jaw is all healed up now. It feels better than ever and I can’t wait to get back in the octagon. Once I got back home I saw the oral surgeon and he told me to go on a liquid diet for 5 weeks. I couldn’t chew anything at all. It really sucked but its better than getting my jaw wired shut.
 
Fight Trader: Tell us about your fight with Victor O’Donnell? What a great fight!

Chris Camozzi: My fight with O’Donnell was a war. He is a tough kid and a lot stronger than I expected. I had heard about Victor a little bit in the past and I knew it would be a tough fight. To make it worse we actually became friends during the interview process. I knew I would have the advantage in reach and I really worked my stand up before I left for the show. Things don’t always work out the way you plan and I let the pressure get to me a little. All the technique and footwork I practiced before I left went out the door and we ended up with a slugfest. His takedowns were good and I tried to knee him ever chance I had. Once it went to the third round I knew I would have the advantage. I train in Denver where the air is a lot thinner and I do tons of cardio. I feel energized when I see my opponent getting tired so that’s when I knew I had to turn it on. I feel like it was extremely close but I finished the third round hard and it got me the win.
 
Fight Trader: For new fans tell us about you! Where do you train at? What is your
fighting style?

Chris Camozzi: I was born and raised in Northern California. I moved to Denver in 1996 and started playing sports at a very young age. I’ve competed in everything you can think of and that’s exactly what I love, competition. In high school I took up wrestling and I did ok at it. I also played rugby which I excelled in. I just love contact sports. After high school I played a brief stint of college rugby at Fort Lewis College in Colorado. I returned home and took up MMA at Gumm MMA in Lakewood Colorado. After about 9 months of training I had my first amateur fight, which I lost a decision. Following that loss Colorado banned amateur fighting so I turned pro. After that I went 7-0 as a pro before suffering my first loss to Jesse Forbes in Canada. Thanks to MTX Audio MMA became a full time job for me and I took my career to a new level.
 
Fight Trader: A lot of guys from TUF 11 have some interesting day jobs! Do/did you have a day job and if so what is it?

Chris Camozzi: I didn’t have a day job. I had a night job as a bouncer at the Diamond Cabaret in downtown Denver.
 
Fight Trader: So you have signed with big time MMA manager Jason Genet (who is also
a friend of mine)! Is this a sign of great things to come for you?

Chris Camozzi: Don’t tell Jason he’s big time or it might go to his head. Jason is a great person and a great manager. Without him I would still be struggling to make it. I know he looks out for my best interest and will take my career to the top. Jason along with Magnetic Marketing are some of the best people I have ever met. This sport needs more people like them.
 
Fight Trader: When did you get into MMA and tell us why you decided to get into MMA?

Chris Camozzi: I got into MMA when I was 18 years old. I have always enjoyed contact sports and I grew up watching the UFC. I went to a local gym (gummbjj.com) and started training muay thai and bjj. I was at the gym every day until my trainer Brad Gumm approached me and asked me if I was interested in fighting. Obviously I was and it’s all history from there.

Fight Trader: Do you have any fighters/mentors in the MMA game? Like fighters/people
that you look up to in MMA?

Chris Camozzi: My coach Brad Gumm has always been my mentor. He was in the early UFC’s and he just has a lot of love for the sport. He is a great trainer and friend. I can honestly say I look up to Tito Ortiz a lot more now that I had the opportunity to meet him. I’ve been a long time fan of his and meeting him made me like him even more. He was a great coach and very supportive and positive.
 
Fight Trader: Did you play any sports growing up?

Chris Camozzi: I played probably every sport you can think of, baseball, soccer, basketball, swimming, football, hockey, rugby, wrestling, boxing you name it. I loved them all. I’m very competitive.
 
Fight Trader: What’s next for Chris Camozzi?

Chris Camozzi: I hope the next time you see me it will be in the UFC Octagon. The UFC is the greatest organization in the world and I hope I proved myself worthy to step foot in the cage again.

Fight Trader: Any last words for your fans or plugs that you would like to make?
 
Chris Camozzi: Thank you to MTX Audio, Magnetic Marketing, Jason Genet and my family, friends and fans. Without you I wouldn’t be where I am today. Follow me on twitter @chriscamozzi and sign up on my website http://www.camozzimma.com Thank you!

By: Kyle Stoltz