Nam Phan: ‘Steven Seagal is a fraud’
The opinionated Phan spoke with MMAmania.com earlier this week during a guest appearance on The Verbal Submission, explaining the reasons…
The opinionated Phan spoke with MMAmania.com earlier this week during a guest appearance on The Verbal Submission, explaining the reasons fighting “Bad Boy” is like defusing a time bomb, fighting with your back against the wall. And he has some very harsh words for “The Lawman,” Steven Seagal.
Brian Hemminger: You were originally on the undercard and then the Mike Russow / Dave Herman fight gets scrapped then Bam! you’re on the main card of a big UFC pay-per-view (in a remaqtch vs Leonard Garcia at UFC 138). How does that feel to get that big bump to such an important slot?
Nam Phan: Yeah it feels pretty good. I did an interview with someone else earlier this week and they asked me, “What do I do before a fight?” and I just tell them I try to relax when I can because I’m not a main event type fighter, I’m not gonna be a part of the main event. I was on the Facebook fights and now I’m on that main card which is pretty cool.
BH: I know you mentioned one of your favorite fighters right now is Chael Sonnen so how cool is it that you’re on the main card with a guy you really look up to?
NP: Oh yeah, it’s definitely a very awesome experience. I get to meet him in person and from my experience when I got to meet him, he seemed like a very down to Earth guy, a gentleman and with the media or in front of the camera, he does a good job, puts on a show just like Koscheck. You guys need to meet Koscheck or Chael Sonnen in person, they’re totally different guys. They’re very down to Earth guys so I’m very excited to be on the same card as Chael Sonnen.
BH: What is your opinion on Stevan Seagal? I’ve seen you’ve got some pretty strong feelings on him.
NP: Great question, that’s an awesome question. I think that guy’s a freaking fraud man. What the heck is that? Oh God that guy pisses me off! That’s my opinion. Did he teach martial arts at all? Even if he weight lifts or does sports, plays football or something, if a guy comes in a couple hours before your game or your match, you know it doesn’t make a difference. This guy is saying, “I came into the back room and I taught him to kick and that made all the difference,” as if Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva didn’t know how to do a front kick before meeting him. I remember watching Lyoto fighting Randy Couture and he knocks Randy Couture out with a front kick and he goes, “I’d like to thank Steven Seagal and my dad.” I was like, if I was Lyoto dad, I’d freakin slap him. Like, what the heck dude, “I taught you karate since you were a little freakin’ kid. I raised you, I fed you, I gave you clothes on your back and you thank this guy before me?!?! I should disown you!” Oh my God!
BH: In a perfect world, how would you like the fight to finish against Leonard Garcia?
NP: Oh man. Either a submission or a knockout, the sooner the better. Just get in, get out and go home. Please, please, if we go to the judges, I might just pull out a grenade and kill myself. That’s it, I lost. (laughs).