Wes Sims: Only difference between Evan Tanner and me was that he died
Heavy.com: Someone was telling me you had run into some tough times recently. Have you had some lean years? Sims:…
Heavy.com: Someone was telling me you had run into some tough times recently. Have you had some lean years?
Sims: Lean years? Lean years. Yeah, I guess you could say they were some pretty lean years. After I had surgery on my elbow, I had some really hard times. I was living homeless. I actually enjoyed being on the Ultimate Fighter. At least I was in out of the rain. The house in Vegas was great for me. I was living in a sleeping bag.
Heavy.com: Man.
Sims: Yeah. The only difference between me and Evan Tanner was he died.
Heavy.com: I don’t even know how to ask about this. You can’t say ‘Tell me how it feels.’ But obviously your life was pretty comfortable and it all got turned upside down.
Sims: I made a lot of money in 2005-2006. And in 2007-2008, I lost a lot. You don’t really appreciate things for what they are worth until you’re at the bottom of the barrel. Until you hit ground zero. Then you’re looking up.
Heavy.com: What’s it mean to you to be able to give something back like this? To a group of people that counted you as one of their own not long ago?
Sims: People have no idea. Honestly, I go on the Underground. I go on all those message boards. I read some of the shit people say about me. If I didn’t have tough skin I’d take it personal. It would be a really long day and I’d be a real emotional mess. I understand. People don’t know me. They know Wes Sims the character. I turned down $30,000 one time. I hate bringing it up. And you don’t need to call me hero my friend. But I turned down $30,000 to fight Bas Rutten to raise money for (former UFC announcer) Ryan Bennett’s family after he died in a car accident. And I’ve started a non-profit organization in my hometown. Because I have a lot to give back.
Heavy.com: It sounds like things are going well. How did you get your life back together?
