Tim Sylvia Talks Affliction, Adrenaline MMA, UFC, Fedor Fight

[hunterkiller]

Tim Sylvia on a quest to fight the best | MMAjunkie.com

Over the past four years, few heavyweight fighters can stake a claim to fighting more top-10 opponents than Tim Sylvia.

The 32-year-old "Maine-iac" has fought most of the sport's best heavyweights, and in two weeks, he'll add an opponent that many consider the division's top fighter.

Sylvia, a longtime former UFC heavyweight champion, was recently granted his release from the organization. However, he's preparing for a challenging future outside the UFC, where the majority of the top 10 heavyweight fighters in the world now compete.

MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) spoke to Sylvia (24-4) as he prepares for his July 19 fight with Russian heavyweight sensation Fedor Emelianenko (27-1). The bout headlines "Affliction: Banned," which takes place at Honda Arena in Anaheim, Calif.

A portion of the undercard airs on FSN, and the main card -- featuring the Sylvia vs. Emelianenko title-fight main event -- airs on pay per view.

Sylvia discussed a number of topics, including his preparations for the biggest fight of his career, his relationship with the fans and the media, and why his split with the UFC was the best move for both him and the promotion. Will Sylvia fight for Affliction or Adrenaline MMA in the future? Does the WAMMA heavyweight belt mean anything to him? And could Sylvia someday return to the UFC?

Affliction's first-ever headliner discusses those topics and more in this exclusive interview.

MMAjunkie.com: We're about two weeks away from your fight with Fedor Emelianenko. How is your back feeling? Will it be a concern going into this fight?

Tim Sylvia: I feel great. No problems at all. My back surgery was a while ago, and I no longer have problems with my back. Honestly, it feels so good that I don't even think about it anymore.

MMAjunkie.com: Going into this fight, did you have to change your training much? Are there things you are doing differently as you ready for this bout?

Tim Sylvia: Well, sure there are some things you do differently as you get ready for specific opponents, but I'm sure you understand if I don't go into details at this time.

MMAjunkie.com: You have spent the majority of your pro career fighting in a cage, though Affliction will use a ring. Have you been training at all with a ring for the fight?

Tim Sylvia: No, I haven't been training with a ring. Actually I don't train with either. That isn't how my training works. I don't use a cage or a ring, but I do think I have the advantage in a ring. With my reach and the ability to cut off angles, this should be good for me. With my, umm, center of gravity , I don't think I'll be stuck against the ropes. With my size, part of my body would likely go though the ropes.

MMAjunkie.com: Have you been watching a lot of tape and reviewing Emelianenko's old fights?

Tim Sylvia: I've been reviewing a little bit, but I've seen most of his fights already. I watched them when they first took place.

MMAjunkie.com: If you are victorious, will that lock you into additional fights with Affliction? Will that affect your deal with Adrenaline MMA?

Tim Sylvia: Well, I will be fighting for Affliction three times and also fighting for Adrenaline MMA. That is fine by me. The money with Affliction is great, and I'd fight once a month if the situation was right. I will be fighting for Adrenaline MMA in September. There are just so many good fights and some rematches available for me now.

MMAjunkie.com: Your fight on July 19 is for the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) heavyweight title. I'm assuming that it will be a five-round fight.

Tim Sylvia: Absolutely. The fight is for the WAMMA belt and will be five rounds.

MMAjunkie.com: How else does the WAMMA title factor into the equation with your future fights?

Tim Sylvia: If I win the WAMMA title, those (future) fights will most likely take place under the Affliction promotion at this time. Affliction has seven of the top 10 heavyweights in the world, so I think the Adrenaline MMA fights would probably be non-title fights.

MMAjunkie.com: How do you think this fight affects your legacy? If you beat Emelianenko, would you consider yourself the No. 1 heavyweight fighter in the world?

Tim Sylvia: Well, you know ... I don't know. That is really hard to say. I think I can say I've fought more top-10 guys than most people lately, and what I can tell you is everyone in the top five is so close. The top-five heavyweights are honestly so even that on any given night, any one of us could beat the other. There is a bit of a difference from six to 10, but the top five is just even.

MMAjunkie.com: You enter this fight as the underdog, which isn't something you've experienced much in your career. Does that put you in a different place mentally when you prepare for a fight? Does it take any pressure off you?

Tim Sylvia: Absolutely. It takes a ton of pressure off. If I lose, everyone thinks, "He was supposed to lose that fight." And if I win, it's a great story about me winning a fight I wasn't supposed to win.

MMAjunkie.com: Affliction recently did a very aggressive media tour with you and most of the fighters from the main card. I know you have had an interesting relationship with some of the fans and media in the past, to say the least. How were you received on the tour?

Tim Sylvia: It was good. I think things have been getting better since my back surgery, and I have a new boxing coach now. He has been with me for my last few fights. Before, my old boxing coach was focused on the win at any cost -- win even if it was a boring performance. I was fighting not to lose. My new coach has a much more aggressive style for me. It's no longer just about the "W." The fans want to be entertained, and I want to go out there and entertain them and fight the best I can.

MMAjunkie.com: By all accounts, you left the UFC on good terms. Do you have any aspirations of returning to the UFC in the future?

Tim Sylvia: I'd love to. When I left the UFC, it was an interesting situation for both parties. I had fought for the title something like eight times. What were they going to do with me? What was I going to do in the UFC? It was time for a change. Now, I'm with Adrenaline MMA and Affliction. Affliction has seven of the top 10 heavyweights in the world. I think there are some interesting match-ups for me there. I want to fight the best fighters. It was a natural place for me to fight. Things could change down the line, and under the right circumstances, I would love to return to the UFC in the future.

MMAjunkie.com: To wrap up, who's to thank for what seems like a new, positive outlook on life? Any customary shout-outs?

Tim Sylvia: First off, I have to give a big thank you to Affliction. I'd like to thank the Miletich Fighting Systems Elite, Warrior Wear, my manager Monte Cox, and the guys at Denaro Sports Marketing for everything they do for me. And finally, thank you to the fans.

Very interesting read. To me Sylvia is vastly underrated.

[dbader08]

Originally Posted by thecoylewis

Tim Sylvia on a quest to fight the best | MMAjunkie.com



Very interesting read. To me Sylvia is vastly underrated.

agreed, but he is still getting destroyed july 19th.

[rugoatee]

Originally Posted by thecoylewis

Tim Sylvia on a quest to fight the best | MMAjunkie.com



Very interesting read. To me Sylvia is vastly underrated.

I agree. He is usually not aestetically pleasing but his style is usually very effective. He gets underrated because typically people don't like him or his style. And making excuses after the Couture fight didn't help his cause. Even if his back was jacked up, it just sounds like sour grapes when you say it right after the fight. But I think Tim has a shot in this fight. I wouldn't say a great shot, but he does present some problems that Fedor has not seen yet. it will be interesting to see how Fedor tries to solve them.

[Squeako]

I've grown to like Tim, since the fight with Nog.

I would really like to see him fight Aleks next depending on how the other fights shake out. Barnett would be interesting.

[prophet665]

Originally Posted by Tim Sylvia

Before, my old boxing coach was focused on the win at any cost -- win even if it was a boring performance. I was fighting not to lose.

No kidding? Really? I didn't notice.

Damn...I just broke the sarcasm meter.

Didn't he deny that was the case for the longest time? Going so far as to get pissed off when someone brought it to his attention?

[SHUA]

I dont know why but i got a feeling that timmay is gonna shock the world and throw the rankings for a big time loop just a feeling tho

[pa99ortiz]

I disagree, I see Fedor ending this fight rather quickly with some type of submission.

[Bran]

i don't know if i could say they have 7 of the top ten. they have 4 clear top 10 in Fedor, Barnett, Sylvia and Arlovski. 5 if you count Aleks. i think he might be counting Rothwell and Rizzo, both of which i don't count. if they win against Arlovski and Barnett, respectively, then i'd definitely count them, but as it stands they're both fringers for the top 15. though Affliction definitely has a sick heavyweight roster right now.

[Oats420]

Originally Posted by thecoylewis

To me Sylvia is vastly underrated.

I agree. I think people justify his skills because of the way he fights or looks... or something. Either way, he can win on any given night, but I don't know about him beating Fedor.

It'll be a good fight I bet.

[POINDEXTER]

It's interesting he isn't really disgruntled with the UFC.