This is number ninety-seven in Jack’s series of interviews with MMA fighters and personalities, and for this particular interview, we’re pleased to feature former UFC fighter and longtime MMA veteran, Drew Fickett. With wins over fighters like Kenny Florian, Dennis Hallman, and Carlo Prater, Fickett has fought around the world and across weight classes. Though he has had his ups and downs, Fickett has continued to fight. His next fight is in two weeks, when he will be headlining Rage in The Cage’s 15th year anniversary event. Please enjoy the conversation below.
Jack Brown: What was your first experience with martial arts/combat sports, and how did it become more than just a hobby for you?
Drew Fickett: When I was six years old, I walked onto the soccer field and started kicking other kids’ legs. My grin lit up from ear to ear and I was like, This is really fun! I always loved contact, and I took that into Karate at age ten. Then once I got to wrestling in high school, it was all over. I did nothing else. Wrestling, wrestling, and wrestling, and now I am back coaching and training everyday with the best high school wrestling team in Arizona, Sunnyside High in Tucson. Still to this day, I say that wrestling is the toughest, most brutal sport on earth. Fighting is very easy compared to the physical rigors and the abuse wrestlers distribute to one another day-in and day-out, from competition to competition.
JB: What do you recall about your first professional MMA fight, a victory back in 1999, and how prepared do you feel you were at the time?
DF: I trained Karate and wrestling with a dear friend, Walid Zarifi, who was 8-1 as a mixed martial artist before retiring to become an attorney. Sucker! I just had a special intangible called intensity, and in all my successful performances, win or lose, I was able to dig down and harness that intensity to excel.
JB: You were undefeated until your 13th professional fight, a split decision loss to Edwin Dewees that you later avenged. By the time you eventually entered the UFC, you were 24-2, with wins over some very notable fighters like Kenny Florian, Dennis Hallman, and Carlo Prater. How did that early part of your career help you to evolve as a fighter?
DF: I just fought everyone. I didn’t care about records or who was who. I just fought, just as I am once again doing, reinvigorated and very dangerous. You’ll see. The world will see the old Drew Fickett and then some. God is my buddy.
JB: You debuted in the UFC, at UFC 51 in 2005, and lost via TKO to Nick Diaz. Why had it taken until then for the UFC to sign you, and how did the UFC compare to all the other organizations that you had previously fought in?
DF: I don’t know. I don’t get into politics. I just fight, and I was on a great streak, and they saw that special intensity. I wanted to see how I could compete at the next level. That referee’s decision was garbage in the Diaz fight. They would have never stopped the fight nowadays, but you can’t leave anything up to the refs. And I was on my back where you can’t be these days so whatever. I would love to avenge that one.
JB: After two more fights outside of the promotion, both wins, you returned to the UFC and went 4-2. Your wins were against tough competition – Josh Neer, Josh Koscheck, Kurt Pellegrino, and Keita Nakamura. And your losses were no less tough – Josh Burkman and Karo Parisyan. What was your most satisfying performance in the UFC, and why was your victory in April of 2007 the last time that you fought for the promotion?
DF: I’d say my victory over Josh Koscheck was the most satisfying. It wasn’t because of his name in fighting, but because of his accolades as an NCAA wrestling champion and because of my own wrestling roots that I hold that one high.
I had just started a very bleak time in my life with addiction and alcohol. Not long after that last victory in the UFC, I got kicked out of a night club at the Palms for wearing a tank top. Dana said, Enough is enough. We don’t want that kind of unprofessionalism associated with our organization. So he made a professional decision and I respected it. I don’t think it was very fair considering some of the other antics from other guys compared to me not wearing a collared shirt, but I never compare my rights or wrongs to others so it is what it is. I would love to be back in there fighting guys like Dennis Bermudez, who I choked out in less than a minute about ten fights ago, and others.
JB: In the past six years you have fought all over the world, in many different promotions, and at several different weights. Though you’ve lost more than you won, you had some big wins and some big fights. What was winning the single night, Shine Lightweight Grand Prix like for you, and what have been the other highlights of these latter years in your career?
DF: Winning that night in the 8-man tournament against Krazy horse, Dennis Bermudez, and black belt, Carlo Prater, is what happens when I truly focus and put my whole heart into something. It was a magical and highlight performance, and it helps motivate me when times are tough. I know that I can focus day-in and day-out, and dig down and find the passion that is within my heart. God has created me to fight, and I am capable of all his greatness and the glory that rests for those that walk in the Kingdom.
JB: You last fought in June. What’s next for you?
DF: I fought Andre Winner in June, and I stubbornly kept it on my feet the whole time. I wanted to prove to myself that I could stand up with a world-class striker and not get knocked out because I was high, or just coming out of rehab, or whatever of the million excuses. The point is that I trained my butt off with one arm because I had a torn labrum. I fought a hell of a fight and was very satisfied with my performance. Now I have the confidence to stand with anyone. Thus I will take everyone down and choke them out, and if I can’t do that, I’ll stand with them until I can choke them out.
JB: Of all the opponents that you’ve faced, who are the ones that you respect the most?
DF: I most respect Dennis Hallman. He’s a dear friend and a mentor of mine. He has been there for me and my family through some very bleak times, and I owe him my loyalty and love of the sport.
JB: What else do you enjoy outside of training and fighting, and who are the individuals who have supported you most in life?
DF: I love my girlfriend, soon to be wife, Anna Caffarel. She is a therapist, of course, and soon to be a doctor, but besides all that social nonsense jargon she’s the most genuine, thoughtful, intelligent, transcendental, best friend I’ve ever had and I am blessed to soon call her my wife. I also appreciate everyone in this sport that is humble and has something special to share with the world. I really enjoy the camaraderie among fighters, including past and future opponents. This is the sport of the gladiator. It’s not just a fight. It’s a brotherhood. I thank God every day for giving me the opportunity to better myself and those around me with this art and my love.
JB: Last question, Drew, and thanks for taking the time to do this. What does it mean to you to be a fighter and how much do you enjoy it?
DF: Being a fighter means nothing to me. Being a father, a mentor, a leader, and a role model, that is something special. This is a position I’ve been given because of the fight world and the profession that I sacrificed everything to remain a part of through thick and thin. I am truly grateful to the Lord, Our God, that he has given me this opportunity and talent to lift up those that need me and steady my sometimes stormy ship with this fighting as you call it. Thank you and God bless you.
I would like to thank all those that have stuck with me this far and were there for me during all those times. I would like everyone to know that I am healthy, inspired, and always looking to give anyone a hand that might be slipping into that slippery slope of addiction and dependency. Please feel free to look me up and message me on Facebook, Andrew Fickett, and I will do my best to give you my testimony and some things that worked for me. God is the answer. Without him all this craziness is impossible.
I would like to thank Rian Williams and mobilereadymedia.com, Brad Carlton and Neutral Corner Gym, Anthony Leon and the Sunnyside Wrestling Program, and my church, Covenant Generations.
We are currently doing a fundraiser, for my next fight in Rage in The Cage, for Touch: For more information about this non-profit charity dedicated to building and facilitating third-world orphanages for kids. Check out the link and please come check out my fight, for Touch and Covenant Generations Church, along with my up-and-coming fighters, Joe Youngberg (my pastor), Craig Chiles (an assistant coach at Sunnyside High School), and my protégé and teammate, David Contreras. Without you guys and God I would be lost. I love you all and God bless.
RITC 169 – 15 Year Anniversary Event
Main Event: Fickett (42-19) vs. Dietmeyer (8-2)
Saturday Nov 23, 2013
Wild Horse Pass Casino*
Chandler, AZ
Doors Open: 7PM, Fight Time 8PM
Tickets: $35, $75 and $100. $5 higher on fight day. $5 discounts available. Plenty of free parking. All guests must be 18+ to attend.
Tickets now on sale at http://wingilariver.ticketforce.com/ or call 1-877-840-0457.
One of the BEST RITC cards ever has been developed for our 15 year anniversary event. With approximately 2,000 fights already logged please turn out to show your support.
In the Main Event, 7X UFC veteran and winner of Shine 3’s eight man one-night tournament Drew Fickett (42-19) takes on WFF Welterweight Champion Chad Dietmeyer (8-2).
In the Co-Main Event, Bellator veteran and current RITC Heavyweight Champion Dan Charles (8-2) battles heavy-handed Dale Sopi (5-1).
In a Featured Fight, the vacant RITC Light Heavyweight Champion will be contested between expert grappler Dan Huber (2-0) and ex-military Californian Sean Davis (3-1).
In another Featured Bout, Louis Harvey (4-1), recent winner in the Las Vegas KOTC World Championship, faces Tucson Pastor Joe Youngberg (2-1).
There is a very strong supporting card for the great matchups listed above.
Thank you so much for reading and please follow Drew Fickett and Jack Brown on Twitter. Previous interviews include: Dan Hardy, Rose Namajunas, Joe Lauzon, War Machine, Tom Lawlor, Bas Rutten, Chris Leben, Phil Baroni, Julie Kedzie, Michael Bisping, Duane Ludwig, Sara McMann, Matt Lindland, Duke Roufus, Pat Miletich, Jens Pulver, Dan Severn, Nate Quarry, Ken Shamrock, Matt Serra, Jeremy Horn, Ray Longo, Kevin Randleman, Dennis Hallman, Daniel Cormier, Shonie Carter, Renzo Gracie, and dozens more.
Visit JackJohnBrownMMA on Facebook for links to all of Jack’s past interviews.
Thank you to @KirikJenness for @theUG.
