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As we all knew would happen, Joe defeated Gleison Tibau on July 5th at Mandalay Bay. In fact, this was the first time that Tibau has lost by submission. On his way home from Las Vegas, Joe had a few minutes to discuss the fight with me.

Q: How were you feeling going into the fight?
A: I was actually feeling a little nervous. I was pretty drained from all the training I had been doing and I was still recovering from a few injuries.

Q: Well you definitely looked good out there. Let’s talk about the omaplata near the end of the first round. You looked very relaxed.
A: I was just holding out, waiting for the referee to stand us up. I knew that I could have been in a compromising position if I moved, so I just held what I had and made the best of it. Tibau had me in the second round with side control, but I knew if I got to the cage I could work my way out of it.

Q: How did it feel when you got him in the guillotine?
A: It was an awesome feeling. Once I had it I knew I just had to apply pressure and hold him there.

Q: This was the first fight your son Joey attended. Did he enjoy it?
A: He definitely had a great time; though my wife and I decided next time we’re not taking him to the pool before the fight. He was pretty tired!

Q: Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
A: There’s always room for improvement and I think I can always be better. I plan on watching the tapes and looking for areas to work on.

Q: Any final words?
A: I’d like to say that Gleison is a terrific opponent, and he has nothing but talent. I’d also like to give a shout out to Robert Drysdale and Dr. Jon Petrick who helped me prepare for this fight.

Robert Drysdale took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk to me last night. Robert holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and just recently signed with Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. He trains with many MMA fighters, including Joe Stevenson.

Q: Before we discuss Joe, tell me a little about why you decided to transition to MMA.
A: I felt like I had done all I could in Jiu-Jitsu. I know I can always do better, and there are guys out there that are better than me, but it just wasn’t as challenging as it had been and I didn’t feel as involved. Also, there’s not much exposure or money, so at the end of a fight you walk away the same person, only you’re holding a medal.

Q: So now you’re with Xtreme, training with Joe. Tell me a little about what you’re doing with him.
A: Well Joe and I trained hard for his fight with Gleison. We studied Gleison’s fighting and just tried to work with that. Gleison likes the half guard, so I worked with Joe on that and some sweeps. Joe learns really quickly so training him makes it easy for me. I think he looked great during the fight with Gleison. I was really happy about everything.

Q: What do you think makes Joe a good fighter?
A: Joe has a really good top game. He also has a really solid guillotine. I’m actually surprised that Gleison didn’t study that and wasn’t prepared for that. And that fact that Joe learns quick when we train makes him good. Some guys take forever to learn new stuff and they can’t get it together.

Q: I know Joe is taking some vacation time with his family now. Have you still been training as much with him?
A: Well he has been going to the beach, but I’m still seeing him often. We’re getting ready for a tournament on August 9th in Carson, California, so we’ve been working on his Jiu-Jitsu game mostly.

Q: That’s great! Any word on when you’ll be making your MMA debut?
A: I’m not sure yet. I’m talking to an organization, but I don’t want to say anything until it’s final. Maybe September or October. I’d like to do two or three fights before the year is over. Until then I’ve just been training at the gym, getting myself prepared, working on my stand up and wrestling.

Looks like Joe’s got a good trainer and friend in Robert. As they continue to train, we’ll be watching for Joe’s upcoming fights and for Robert’s MMA debut!

Joe was able to spare a few minutes to talk with me last night about his upcoming fight, his family, and his plans for after the fight.

Q: How are you feeling about your upcoming fight against Gleison Tibau? What have your trainings been like?
A: I’m really excited and definitely looking for a victory. I’ve been training hard for this fight, working with Robert Drysdale, George Burton, and sparring with a few boxers. I’ve been spending a lot of time training at my new school to prepare. I plan on giving everything I have and not holding back at all. I’m also really excited because this is the first fight that my son Joey will be attending.

Q: How is your school doing?
A: It’s great! I have some good instructors in there, and I also teach a few classes each week. It’s more than just having my name on the school, I’m actually really involved with everything.

Q: Are your boys interested in fighting?
A: Actually, no. They’re into baseball. But as long as they are doing something they enjoy, I’m happy. I just support them and help them to be the best they can be.

Q: So the family is doing well?
A: Yes, everyone is really great! I just turned 26 on June 15th, which was also Father’s Day, so it was really special for me. My son Max is already two a half months and is getting so big! We have a lot of fun things planned with the boys this summer.

Q: What are your plans for after the fight?
A: Well, there’s an after party at Mandalay Bay. But really, just getting back into the gym and training some more. I’d like to bulk up some, maintain 170 pounds. And of course, hanging out with my family. Spoiling my boys!

Such a family man Joe is! I’m looking forward to speaking with him again after the fight, discussing his victory! Remember to tune in on June 5th to watch Joe “Daddy” Stevenson take on Gleison Tibau in Las Vegas, Nevada.