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Cung Le Talks With HACNews
By: Luis Cruz
I recently had an opportunity to catch up with the newest MMA Middleweight sensation, Cung Le. He spoke to me about everything from family to his next fight. A classy and humble fighter, Cung Le fills us in on what got him into mixed martial arts and why he made the transition from K-1, plus much more.
HACNews.com: This is Luis Cruz with an exclusive HACNews interview with the fast rising MMA middleweight star, Cung Le. How are you?
Cung Le: I'm doing good.
HACNews.com: How's your health right now, staying injury free?
Cung Le: I'm good, no injuries.
HACNews.com: Before I get into any of your fights or anything, can you tell people your background, where you started in martial arts?
Cung Le: I come from the traditional martial arts background. I started out in Tae Kwan Do, Vietnamese traditional Kung Fu, and then I started up in Sandshells which is a Chinese form of full contact fighting. It includes boxing, kicking low and high, sweeping, and throwing.
HACNews.com: What age were you when you started that?
Cung Le: I started Tae Kwan Do when I was 10. I did it fast, no more than a year because both my mom and dad were working two jobs that they couldn't get me to practice consistently. I lost interest, but I started again after my second year in college, and that was at the end of '92.
HACNews.com: Did your parents get you into it, or was it you doing your own thing?
Cung Le: My mom got me into martial arts when I was younger. That's because I was getting picked on a lot in school.
HACNews.com: Lets go back to your fight real quick, the Fryklund fight. Did you gain any experience from that fight? It was a pretty dominating performance on your part, but did you take anything out of that fight compared to your previous fights?
Cung Le: Everytime you step in the cage, well everytime I step in the cage, I gain a lot of experience. I got a lot of experience in that fight.
HACNews.com: I mean, as far as the caliber of opponents you've faced, is he a lot better than those opponents?
Cung Le: I think I just came in with a better game plan. I know Tony is of higher caliber than a lot of the other opponents, and they all came to fight, but I just neutralized Tony's game. I was pretty much dominant in that fight.
HACNews.com: Has there been any word on when your next fight's going to be?
Cung Le: I believe it's going to be November 9th. It won't be against Frank Shamrock. The fight between me and Frank will happen next year. I don't know who my opponent is because Strikeforce is working on their Playboy Mansion card. I think as soon as they lock that up, they'll lock my opponent.
HACNews.com: Is Frank Shamrock somebody you're really eyeing, or is it something they're trying to put together?
Cung Le: Frank had a wish list of who he wanted to fight. I guess he talked a little smack on Cageside Live and I think the fight started out that way.
HACNews.com: What do you think of Frank as a fighter?
Cung Le: I think he's a good fighter. He's definitely gotten more cocky and arrogant over the year. Frank is Frank.
HACNews.com: Besides Frank, who would you pick as your next opponent for November? Who would you throw out there?
Cung Le: You know what, right now I don't know. I'm just starting up slowly in my training, maintaining my ground game. I'll let them decide.
HACNews.com: How many fights are left on your contract?
Cung Le: I actually just signed an extension so there's six more fights on my contract.
HACNews.com: So you're Strikeforce for the long term, or are you interested in testing other waters in the future?
Cung Le: Right now it's just one fight at a time. I take it one day at a time.
HACNews.com: Where would you rank yourself amongst the current middleweight division in MMA as a whole.
Cung Le: I'll rank myself up in time.
HACNews.com: Top five? Top ten?
Cung Le: Nah, I think I need a little more work. I think my stand up is in the top tier of fighters out there. If me and Anderson had a stand-up fight, that would be an awesome fight. I've still got a lot to learn in the MMA game. I'm only 4-0. I've still got to improve everyday and just take it one day at a time.
HACNews.com: That would be a hell of a fight with you and Anderson Silva. Same question actually, just in StrikeForce, EliteXC and Icon, the promotions that are working together now, where do you rank yourself there? Do you think you're top 5 there?
Cung Le: Yeah, definitely.
HACNews.com: Now if they offered you a title shot now, would you take it?
Cung Le: I was hoping to get a title shot against Frank, but that didn't happen.
HACNews.com: You're actually ready?
Cung Le: Yeah. I just have to be patient. I have to wait until they're ready or when Frank's ready?
HACNews.com: Who's your main training team? Who works on you with your boxing, jiu jitsu, etc.?
Cung Le: Well Javier Mendez is my MMA coach. He's really solid with working my stand-up game. My ground game, I was training with Garth and Paul over at AKA. It's been awhile since I was able to get over to AKA. Those guys are my normal training partners, but I've been going through an ugly divorce. So, I've just been staying home, being closer to the kids, and working my schedule around my kids. It should be finalized by the end of this year?
HACNews.com: How many kids do you have?
Cung Le: Two boys.
HACNews.com: And you have custody of both of them?
Cung Le: Yep. Full 100% custody of both of them.
HACNews.com: This is a side question, how hard is that for your career being a single father?
Cung Le: If there was two parents involved, it'd be a lot easier, but since it's me and my girlfiend... if it wasn't for her, it'd be almost impossible to get the training that I'm getting now.
HACNews.com: I didn't know if anybody was helping you.
Cung Le: Yeah, I've definitely got to give credit to my girlfriend. She totally put her life on hold and helped me push forward in my career. (Sounds of his kids in the background.) That's why I'm going forward with MMA.
HACNews.com: That's awesome. Now, is there anybody in MMA that inspired you or that you look up to?
Cung Le: I look up to all the veterans. I definitely look up to Randy Couture, beating up on those young guys. I think he's going to surprise people when he fights Gonzaga.
HACNews.com: You think he's going to win that fight?
Cung Le: Yeah. I think he can win that fight. Just depends on what shape and injury free he comes into that fight.
HACNews.com: I actually predicted him to win. I think it's going to be a lot easier than people are making it out to be. That was just my take.
Cung Le: I think it's going to be a barn burner, but I think he has more heart than Gonzaga. It'll come down to the wire.
HACNews.com: What made you switch to MMA? Why'd you go from K1 to...
Cung Le: My trainer now, Javier Mendez talked me into it. I had a hamstring injury then an elbow injury. He said MMA would probably suit me better, less injuries. I have to agree with him. It does suit me better, but it's a lot harder on the body.
HACNews.com: What has changed for you the most as a fighter since you came into MMA?
Cung Le: You know what, I still do almost everything the same. But I just add the ground game, wall drills, getting off my back. If I get on top, I do ground and pound. You're still in danger when you're in someone's guard pounding them. They can have submissions from their back. So I prefer to keep the action going on the feet.
HACNews.com: How far along do you think you are in your ground game?
Cung Le: I understand it a lot better, but it's still so new to me. I enjoy doing it though. It's not like I go in there "I have to do jiu jitsu." I go in there because I enjoy it. I'm a student of the game. (Kids in the background.)
HACNews.com: Awesome. Now I'm going to do a little word association with you. I'll throw out a name and you just give me the first thing that comes to your mind...
HACNews.com: Phil Baroni.
Cung Le: Crazy
HACNews.com: Robbie Lawler
Cung Le: Big puncher
HACNews.com: Murilo "Ninja" Rua
Cung Le: Good submissions
HACNews.com: Frank Shamrock
Cung Le: Cocky
HACNews.com: Anderson Silva
Cung Le: Good stand-up
HACNews.com: Rich Franklin
Cung Le: Well rounded
HACNews.com: UFC
Cung Le: Flagship
HACNews.com: What is your thoughts on the rematch with Franklin and Silva?
Cung Le: If Franklin comes in ready to bang and leaves it all in the cage, I think he can pull it off. But he's got to look for the takedowns and be aggressive or he's going to get another couple knees and another round kick to the head and go to sleep again.
HACNews.com: This last segment I do is a "Get2Know Cung Le." It's just a series of four questions unrelated to the sport.
HACNews.com: When's the last time you got into a street fight?
Cung Le: Hm... About eight years ago.
HACNews.com: How did it end?
Cung Le: Took the guy down and held him down until he calmed down.
HACNews.com: (Laughs) So you're not about beating on people?
Cung Le: No.
HACNews.com: What's the most surprising thing that people would find out about you after meeting you that they probably wouldn't guess about you?
Cung Le: (Pauses) Sorry, my kids are acting up. What was that question?
HACNews.com: The most surprising thing that people would find out about you after meeting you that they probably wouldn't guess after seeing you on TV.
Cung Le: I'm easy to approach and I'm a nice guy.
HACNews.com: (Laughs) I think everybody thinks that about you now. Tell me something you can't live without... I think I know the answer to this.
Cung Le: (Brief pause) My kids.
HACNews.com: That's what I thought you'd say. Without MMA involved, what's your ideal day?
Cung Le: My ideal day?
HACNews.com: Yep. Nothing MMA involved.
Cung Le: Waking up real early in the morning. Making breakfast for my kids. If it's not a school day, then I'd take them out to the swimming pool and wearing them out so they can take that afternoon nap. If they have school, getting them ready for school and making sure they behaved. That's the ideal day.
HACNews.com: Alright, before I let you go, any sponsors you want to mention, anything you want to say to your fans?
Cung Le: Yeah, first I want to thank God everything he's given me and blessed me with. I want to thank the fans for accepting me and embracing me. I thank you for the interview. Also, my sponsors Throwdown, Knoxx Gear, Sprawl Shorts, Toe to Toe, and MyGRide.com.
HACNews.com: I want to thank you a lot for taking this time out to talk to me. I want to wish you a lot of luck in the future of MMA, your divorce, your family. Stay healthy and we'll talk to you again in the future.
Cung Le: Definitely. Thank you very much.
HACNews.com: Take care.
Cung Le: You too.
You can check out updates and all the latest happening with Cung Le at his official website CungLe.com.
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*Thanks to Brandon of the HACNews staff for transcribing this interview*
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