BAMMA champ: Tom 'Kong' Watson
Thanks to that marvellous idea – Facebook, I was fortunate enough to ask Tom ‘Kong’ Watson a few questions, gaining an incite into the world of the BAMMA Middleweight Champion.
What’s your current favourite song?
Cloudburst by Eric Whitacre.
How do you relax between training?
I relax eating flavoured cheese.. French is the best.. Roquefort, and sitting in the hot tub smoking a Cuaba figurado. Magnifique.
Tabloid rumours circulating at the moment are of your BAMMA 4 opponent and challenger to your middleweight crown, Alex Reid having done a deal to appear on Ultimate Big Brother for large sum of money. How do you feel about him doing it, considering the timing?
The Reidenator should and will go into the house for around 2 weeks. Most of his sparring will already be complete. With the media attention on him presently I actually believe he can get in great shape (cardio wise) being in the house. What else is there to do when your locked in a house. Unless it is the Foursome House on Playboy.
What impact do you feel being booked to fight Celebrity Big Brother 7 winner and husband of Katie Price has on your career?
It has given me the chance to defend my belt at BAMMA.
In the previous Bravo programme following Alex in training, he tried martial arts not specific to an MMA contest. Do you think he’ll be more focussed training-wise this time around? He’s been pictured with Chuck Liddell…
Who have you been training with? Where?
What does a picture mean? I’ve been pictured with Tamara Witmer, does that mean I’m sleeping with her… I’m training in Montreal with my coaches here Eric O’Keefe, Firass Zahabi, Bruno Fernandes, Howard Grant, Mr Chaimberg and the squad at Bikram yoga. The previous Bravo filming was done much earlier than people realise. Alex wasnt rolling around trying new styles the month before he was due to fight, the show was filmed at the beginning of the year. He’ll be at London Shoot as usual training hard.
You have a fight booked for MFC in Canada, September 10, against TUF veteran Jesse Taylor. Is it wise to fight so close to your BAMMA middleweight title defence? Or do you feel keeping active in MMA competition gives you an edge over Alex?
No my wish is to eradicate poverty and suffering worldwide, fighting Jesse taylor is a chance for me to test my skills up against one of the top guys in the world. BAMMA isnt even relevant until after that fight.
Are there any specific areas you have trained in preparation for the September 25 showdown at the NIA, Birmingham? Which areas do you feel Reid’s a threat?
I train the same for every fight, I just simply try to improve in every area and make sure I am ready for whatever happens in the fight.
What is your prediction for the fight?
I will leave the cage BAMMA champion.
Where do you see yourself ranking internationally?
Maybe top 50. There are still many guys in the middleweight division who are rightly above me.
A-Team or The Expendables?
Expendable as the A-Team would have been better with Rashad as BA.
Couture or Toney?
James Toney… Come on this isnt UFC 1?? Really…
Penn or Edgar?
Baby Jay, but I think the fights the same as last time just this time Penn gets the nod from the judges.
Do you have any websites you recommend the fans visit?
Check out www.tomkongwatson.com and from there you can follow me on twitter and Facebook. Check out Vas.tv for innovative footwear, Headrush for the latest styles in MMA, Tapout because its Tapout baby and go gamble at Full Tilt Poker for the chance to become a legend.
Watch Alex Reid: Fights Back, coming soon on Bravo, for all the build up to Tom’s highly anticipated cage clash with Alex on September 25.
Interview by Duane Farr
duane@bluraymma.com
