[smoogy]

As the rumors circulate about the impending match up between Cung Le and Frank Shamrock, Mr. Le took time out of his training schedule to sit down with StrictlyMMA and discuss his upcoming fight with Tony Fryklund and his career up to this point.

William Davis: Thank you for the interview. Talk a little about how you got your start in Martial Arts.

Cung Le: My parents put me in martial arts when I was 10 because I was getting picked on in school. It didn’t last very long because they couldn’t drive me to practice. They both worked two jobs. Went I got to high school, I started wrestling and continued to wrestle in college. I was a High School All American and Junior College All American. After college I wanted to continue in Martial Arts and I got into San Shou.

I started competing on the San Shou circuit in 1994. I pretty much won all the tournaments and made the USA team in 1995. I won 3 bronze medals in the World Championships. I turned professional in 1998. I started fighting in a professional circuit. I fought all the way until 2004, when I got injured. At that time, Javier Mendez, who runs the AKA (American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose) with Jon Fitch, Mike Swick, and Josh Koscheck, told me I should fight in MMA. I told him I would in 2006 and I went 3-0.

William Davis: What’s the biggest difference you have experienced in your transition from Shan Shou to MMA?

Cung Le: MMA is a lot more intense but I think the pace is a little bit slower because when the fight hits the ground, you have a chance to work for the ground and pound or a submission. San Shou only has two or three minute rounds. Every time you take the guy down, you can’t just hold him down. You’re stood right back up again. He can come back and try to neutralize the points you just scored. There are a lot more dangers in Mixed Martial Arts. The gloves are smaller in MMA which makes things more challenging.

San Shou definitely helped me in the transition where I’m able to sprawl and defend against my opponents striking while defending against the takedowns.

William Davis: You have an upcoming fight with Tony Fryklund in Strikeforce. Who have you been training with for the fight?

Cung Le: My usual training camp is AKA with Javier Mendez. I train year round and spar with all the guys like Mike Swick, Josh Koscheck, Josh Thomson, Jon Fitch and Bobby Southworth.

William Davis: What do you know about Tony and what are you preparing for?

Cung Le: I got a chance to watch a few of his fights. I know he’s a strong competitor. He’s good with the guillotine. I saw him choke out Eugene Jackson but I also saw him take a weird angle elbow from Anderson Silva.

I’m just going to go in there and try to work my game. I’m trying not to worry about what he’s going to attempt to do to me because then it’s going to have me on the defensive the whole time. I like to be on the offensive. I’m just going to do what I do best which is work my strikes and my takedowns. If I do get my takedowns, I’m not going to stay on the ground and play around down there.

I’m getting mixed reviews right now. Some people are saying I’m over matched. Some people say I’m going to walk through him. There’s a mixture of different opinions. But I go in there and I don’t really care about what people say or think. I just got to go in there and be sharp, pick my shots, and be patient.

William Davis: Since you mentioned fighting on the ground, how far along has your Jiu Jitsu come since you started training in it?

Cung Le: My Jiu Jitsu has come a long way since I actually started. But I’m still a student in the martial arts and of the ground game but I enjoy it. If it goes to the ground, I’m confident that I’ll be able to stand back up.

William Davis: Also, that night, Joey Villasenor takes on Murillo "Ninja" Rua for the Elite XC Middleweight title. How long until a title shot is something you’d be ready for?

Cung Le: Actually, I think I’ll be matched up against Frank Shamrock next.

William Davis: Is that a match up you’re looking forward to?

Cung Le: Right now, Shamrock is not even in the picture. The only one I’m thinking about is Tony. If I can’t get through Tony, how am I going to get through Shamrock? Tony is the most important fighter to me right now and after that fight, I hope to have competed to the best of my abilities. Then, I get to enjoy the Shamrock vs. Baroni fight later that night.

William Davis: Do you have any favorite fighters to watch besides yourself?

Cung Le: I love to watch Randy Couture. He’s able to do amazing things at his age. Pretty much any fighter who goes out there and likes to give it their all, that’s who I like to watch.

William Davis: Thank you for the interview and good luck in your upcoming fight. Do you have any sponsors you’d like to thank?

Cung Le: I’d like to like my sponsors Throwdown, mygride.com, onthecreek.com, and Xyience.

Look for Cung Le on the June 22nd Elite XC/Strikeforce event presented on Showtime PPV

http://www.strictlymma.com/cung-le.htm

Le vs. Shamrock would be kind of interesting, but I'd prefer to see him vs. the winner of Ninja vs. Villasenor so we can guage his ability vs. a legitimate MW fringe contender.