On July 26, 2013 nak muay Matt Embree will step into the ring with Kevin Ross in their highly anticipated Muay Thai match at Lion Fight 10 in Las Vegas. I caught up with Matt at Siam No. 1 in Toronto to discuss.
Transcript
Laura Dal Farra: Alright, I’m here at Siam No.1 with Matt Embree discussing his upcoming fight on July 26 with in Vegas at the Hard Rock Cafe on Lion Fight 10. He’s fighting Kevin Ross. The fight’s at what? 142?
Matt Embree: 142.
Laura Dal Farra: Alright, so how’s training going?
Matt Embree: Fucking amazing.
Laura Dal Farra: Are you amping up…or…
Matt Embree: I’m pretty excited; I’ve been training hard for a long time, so I’m looking forward to it.
Laura Dal Farra: How do you prepare for fights?
Matt Embree: Pretty much the same more or less as I do in Thailand. You know…lots of running, pad work, bag work, clinching and sparring.
Laura Dal Farra: Are you preparing differently for Kevin?
Matt Embree: Like stylistically. Kind of more sparring…a lot of good sparring lately. I have a lot of people helping me out. A lot of good boxers, a lot of…just good work, you know?
Laura Dal Farra: Yeah, because the gym here is a bit different than most gyms in Toronto, isn’t it?
Matt Embree: Yeah.
Laura Dal Farra: They’ve got some high level fighters…
Matt Embree: Yeah, we’ve got lots of high level fighters luckily and…so I’m never really short on training partners which is a big plus.
Laura Dal Farra: So…what do you…how do you think of Kevin as a fighter?
Matt Embree: Kevin’s a good fighter. He’s solid; he likes to pressure a lot and…breaks down a lot of opponents with his pressure and he’s fought a lot of good guys so he’d definitely a good opponent for me. I look forward to it.
Laura Dal Farra: Yeah, I think a lot of people are. I think it’s going to be a really good fight…
Matt Embree: Yeah…
Laura Dal Farra: …and with both your styles, right?
Matt Embree: Yeah…
Laura Dal Farra: Like it’s gonna…
Matt Embree: Good styles…it’s like a good match up stylistically.
Laura Dal Farra: Yeah, it’s going to be really exciting. So you’re going down on Tuesday?
Matt Embree: I leave Tuesday.
Laura Dal Farra: And is there a whole crew from Toronto coming in or…
Matt Embree: I’m not even sure to be honest. I’m going by myself and then Ajahn (Suchart) is coming in the next day…
Laura Dal Farra: Okay…
Matt Embree: And…it’s just us two I guess.
Laura Dal Farra: Yeah, everyone will be watching…
Matt Embree: Yeah…everyone will be watching. It’s all good.
Laura Dal Farra: Yeah, there’s a lot of love for Matt in Toronto so…
Matt Embree: Yeah…
Laura Dal Farra: And…do you have anything, like, people kind of have their…rituals before a fight. You know, before or after…do you have anything like that?
Matt Embree: Not really. Fighting is my ritual.
(Laughter)
Matt Embree: That’s what’s natural to me, that’s all. I don’t really…it’s the same more or less….
Laura Dal Farra: Yeah….
Matt Embree: Train. Fight.
Laura Dal Farra: No specific pre-fight meal? Nothing like that?
Matt Embree: Nah, I eat healthy…
(Laughter)
Matt Embree: That’s it, you know? Relax. No problem.
Laura Dal Farra: What do you love most about stepping in that ring?
Matt Embree: (sighs) The feeling, that…that…I like fighting. I like competing…I like laying it out there. I like…fighting. I just like the fact that you’re testing yourself against another man you know, with what you have… your weapons and…just use your best one at the end. It’s my goal, right. To be the best and that’s the only way you can really do it is test it by fighting.
Laura Dal Farra: It’s beautiful. Thank-you.
Matt Embree: Thank-you.
Laura Dal Farra: So we’ll see you on the 26.
Matt Embree: Thank-you very much guys.
Laura Dal Farra: Thanks.
Check out MMA Fight Corner’s interview with Kevin Ross on the fight here.
More On Matt Embree:
Record: 25-4
Fight Weight: 140 lbs
DOB: January 19, 1989
Titles:
2012 North American WBC Champion 140 lbs
2011 North American WMC Champion 140 lbs
2010 Northern Thailand Champion 125 lbs
2008 Northern Thailand Champion 125 lbs
2008 WKA North American Amateur Muay Thai Champion 125 lbs
2007 World Amateur Muay Thai – Thailand – Gold
Lion Fight 10
Date: Friday, July 26, 2013
Venue: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Tickets: Purchase through the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box office, at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000) and online at Ticketmaster.com.
Watch It Live: AXS TV at 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT. AXS TV can be found on DirecTV channel 340 and Dish Network channel 362.
Watthanaya says
Great work ldf! It is great to see Canadians showcasing Canadians at such a high level!