Tom Atencio interview
By Jim Murphy June 27th, 2009Via Cage Potato:
One of the more intriguing matchups on the Ultimate Chaos card features a 41 year old fighter with an 1-0 pro record named Tom Atencio. That would be Affliction VP Tom Atencio who is the company’s frontman for their MMA promotional effort. Here’s a recent interview:
On why he’s fighting a twenty-something card dealer in Mississippi:
“For no reason. For me. Why do other guys go out and play sports on the weekend? It’s the same thing.”
On why there are so many Affliction fighters on this “Ultimate Chaos” card:
“The promoter said he needed fighters. I don’t want to keep these guys from making money. With [Affliction] not holding fights all that often, these guys still need to get paid. If I can help them do that I’m happy to.”
On what he thinks of the UFC’s decision to ban more fighter sponsors unless they cough up some cash directly to the UFC first:
“It’s their company and that’s their decision. I’m against it. It’s taking the opportunity to make money away from their fighters. I think it’s wrong, but they can do what they want to do. That’s how they do things. They like to control everything. Would I ever do something like that? No. But I’m not the UFC.”On when a VP of a clothing and entertainment company finds time to train MMA:
“I train every day, usually at 2 pm. I always try to train every day even if I don’t have a fight. The kid I’m fighting, he works and still trains. I’m no different, except maybe I work longer hours.”
On what kind of fighter he is:
“I like to think that I’m well-rounded. I came from Marco Ruas originally and he’s one of the first well-rounded Vale Tudo fighters. Before that I trained with Joe Morreira.” [Ed. note: but watch out for his head kick.]
On what his critics will say about this fight, especially if he loses:
“I’m never concerned with what people think. Once I started being in the public eye I stopped caring about that. You just can’t. There are always going to be those people. They say my next [Affliction] event will be my last event. They said that about the first one. But if you’re going to be out there you can’t listen to any of that.”
On his age and the youth of his opponent:
“That’s the least of my worries. I’m in the best shape of my life right now. My cardio is good. My weight is perfect. I don’t look my age and I sure don’t act my age.”
