Nizzi's Training Blog

If you haven’t heard of Chad Freeman you will. He is the King of the Cage Champion of the lightweight division in Canada and is making his debut in the states at San Manuel Casino for King of the Cage on February 2nd. I have had the opportunity to sit down and catch up with Chad. Here is my interview with the Champ:

Q.Where are you from?

A.I grew up in “redneck” Prince George and currently live in Kamloops, B.C. Where I’ve been living for the past 11 years.

Q.Who the hell lives in Kamloops? I’ve never heard of such a place.

A.It’s a small town with a population of about 80,000. It’s more like a retirement town full of “old bettys” but also lots of good looking women.

Q.So anyway…How long have you been training and in what disciplines?

A.I started in 2003 and had my first fight in 2005. I had a karate background. My father was a 5th degree blackbelt in Ryu Wado style karate. I reached a green belt level in karate and then met a guy a dog park that owned a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/MMA club in Kamloops and started training there. Came from a lot of street fights as well in the rough town that I lived in so I loved to fight.

Q.How many fights have you had?

A.Currently, I’ve had 3 amateur fights (3-0) and 10 professional fights with a 7-3 record. I currently hold the Canadian King of the Cage strap.

Q.How’d it feel to win that belt?

A.Best feeling in my life. I grew up playing hockey and played minor pro. I always wanted to get to the pro level and unfortunately I quit hockey to be with a girlfriend so it was quite an accomplishment to have the shot at the title. To win that belt was probably the next best thing to my daughter being born to happen in my life. It was so surreal. It didn’t really hit me until I was walking out of the arena with the belt around my waist. It happened so fast.

Q.Do you have one of those fancy nicknames?

A.They call me the Diamond.

Q.Why?

A.Everybody knows my favorite fighter was Raymond “the Diamond” Decker so they all started calling me the Diamond and stuck plus I’m as hard and good looking as a diamond so….

Q.So tell me about this fight of yours coming up…

A.I don’t know much about the guy other than he’s 6 feet tall and he’s an up and coming top American fighter in the 155 lb division. He’s a young guy full of piss and vinegar. I believe he has a wrestling background cuz he trains at Joe Stevenson’s gym. I don’t think he’s great at any one area and think that I should be able to handle him in all areas of the fight. You never know in MMA though…it’s a combat sport so anything can happen.

Q.What’s this guy’s name?

A.Joe Condon

Q.So this is your first fight in good ol’ America?

A.Yep. First fight in the US and it’s going to be a great fight because I have my De La O family walking me out to the cage. I do all my fight training at De La O Jiu Jitsu in Stanton, CA.

Q.How did you find a US instructor when you live all the way in a small town in Canada?

A.John De La O came up to Kamloops to do a seminar and grading at a local MMA gym and I got to know him and really liked his style of Jiu Jitsu and I stuck with him. He had a lot to offer and he’s a world class MMA fighter with a 5th degree black belt and he’s fought the top guys in the world. I have mad respect for the man and want one day to be as good as him.

Q. What are your plans after this fight?

A.I’m following my dream right now. If I win, Terry from King of the Cage promised me a world title shot in the 155 division in May. Ty Brown and Tim Means are currently fighting for the vacatted World KOTC title and I get winner. I want to fight the best of world here on in. There’s no going backwards for me. I consider myself one of the best 155-ers outside the UFC and I’m gonna prove that February 2nd.

Q.What would you call your fighting style?

A.Pretty all well rounded. I like to go for the knockouts but I would consider myself all rounded. I also hold a purple belt in jiu jitsu. I don’t really have one specific style I excel at over the other…which is how you have to be to be the best.

Q.Any sponsors or people you’d like to thank?

A.I have a bunch of local sponsors: Great Canadian Oil Change, Duffy’s Pub, Trauma Fight Wear, Sullen Fight Wear, 5th Avenue Jewelers, etc. I’d like to thank everyone at De La O Jiu Jitsu: Frank Park, Thomas Kenney and John De La O to name 3 who have helped me elevate my game where it is today. My wonderful girlfriend, Lorraine, who has supported me through leaving town to train here in California and for putting up with my shit at home with all the ups and downs of the fight game.

Q.Any final thoughts?

A.Can’t wait to get in the cage and be able to show my skills and show the American world that I am ready for the 155 title. Hopefully I come out with a knockout or submission in the first round. I’m hoping if I get a submission that John De La O will give me a brown belt. I feel I’m at that level.

Today definitely didn’t start off on the right foot. Tito decided to run away and I could not find him. I keep checking the Orange County Animal Shelter to see if he’s there but so far nothing. I hope to God he’s in the backyard safe and sound. That dog is my world and I don’t know what I’d do without him. :\

Other than that, things seem to be on the up and up. I was able to register for my classes so I’m officially working on my fire certifications! I’m really excited about that. I can’t wait to learn about all this stuff. It’s going to be awesome!

I have an interview tomorrow in Rancho Cucamonga for San Bernardino County Probation Officer. I’m not too stoked on the drive out there but I do hope I nail that interview. It’s another career option for me at this point.

My body is pretty beat up from training right now. It’s covered in bruises and my bad knee has a really weird bruise on it that has me worried. It doesn’t hurt though so I’m going to keep training as usual. In regards to training, I competed in our in house grappling tournament. No other girls showed up so I was given the Women’s division winner medal. LOL! I didn’t do too well in the tournament against the guys but it was a cool learning experience. I am determined to get better.

The weekend was pretty awesome. Got to spend a lot of quality time with the Canadian KOTC champ, Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad. We drove to Indio to pick up his adorable English Bull Terrier puppy and then I got to spend some quality time with my main hoe! Saturday, I attended the belt test, participated in the grappling tourney, went to grub at Fish Grill with my De La O family, and then Randy, Krista, Frank and Chaaaaaaaaaaaad came over and caught up on Friday night’s UFC fights, met the puppy and visited with Tito, and then we got dinner. On Sunday, Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad and I got breakfast, went shopping for our doggies, went to Korean BBQ with Frank and Chaaaaaaaaaad, and then they  both chilled at my house. It was a pretty cool weekend with my De La O Family. Love them very much!

I have an interview with Chaaaaaaaaaad that I’ll be posting up in the near future so look for that. I also have lots of stuff I want to write about so hopefully I have time this week to get on that. It’s a crazy busy week and I have officially started school and I’m still working, tutoring, and training so you know my plate is pretty full.

I also want to give a shout out to my buddy Brandon from Subfighter for winning his kickboxing fight on Saturday! Congrats to him!!!! yay!!

So I finally have some awesome news in the training world. I don’t even know where to begin. Let’s see here…I lost 5 lbs over the past couple of weeks. I’ve been training like a mad woman. Every inch of my body is sore and I just keep going. Our pro female fighter is getting into pre fight shape and it has me pushing her and her pushing me to limits that I don’t think we even knew existed. We have an in-house grappling tournament on Saturday that I will be competing in.  I haven’t really prepped for it nor do I think I have any females to roll against but it’ll be good practice I think.  My knee is getting stronger every day and my grappling is slowly but surely coming back.  Classes have been crazy at night. It’s just a whole different environment at the dojo right now. I’m loving it.

In other news, the man I almost married hit me up to go to lunch today. That was kind of random but when isn’t my life random?

Pretty excited for the weekend of March 2-4^th! The De La O crew is heading to Vegas for Spencer’s ammy fight. I seriously can’t wait! It’s gonna be an awesome weekend.

Life is awesome. Had an amazing weekend and have another amazing weekend coming up. Going on the Price is Right tomorrow. No complaints!!

You know my heart has been through some shit. I’ve been abused emotionally and physically. I had been controlled in every aspect of my life. I have been raped. I’ve been cheated on. I’ve been played. I’ve been lied to. I’ve been manipulated. I’ve been mindfucked. I’ve been an option. I’ve been taken for granted. I’ve been threatened. I lost all my friends for fear of repercussions of an ex. I’ve had to start my life over because of an ex. I’ve had some pretty bad reputations and rumors spread about me. I’ve even been subjected to some really horrible and unmentionable stuff.

I survived. There were times my heart was shattered and in pieces on the floor. Where I became so apathetic and emotionless that you never would’ve thought I had a heart. I cheated, lied and played dudes because I felt like they deserved it. I hated men for a very long time. It was hard to trust. It was impossible to love. I couldn’t be affectionate. It all became so unnatural and forced. It was awkward. I was a functioning zombie. I worked, trained, and just dated because to me investing in someone would never be worth it. They’d just hurt me. Could you blame me? Seriously.

Every date I’d go on I’d just get discouraged. I felt flawed. I always felt like there was something wrong with me. Like I didn’t deserve a good thing and if it did, I’d run from it because I felt I didn’t deserve it. Then someone on twitter said something to me that made so much sense, “Once we’ve had love we want it again and that’s reason enough not to give up.” I didn’t give up. I kept putting myself out there. I found someone and I thought it was it for me. I gave it my all. I would stay home and nap so I’d be ready for when he’d arrive. I researched ways to cook a steak for him so he could have a good dinner when he got off work. I’d surprise him with red velvet cupcakes or donuts because he liked those very much. I made a care package for him so he’d have stuff at my place when he’d sleep over. I gave him a bunch of sweet MMA shirts and some MMA shorts. I got him the most thoughtful Christmas present you could ever imagine: a grappling dummy and a rare and really freaking expensive rash guard that he wanted. I texted him the sweetest quotes every day. Sent him pictures. Told him I loved him as often as I possibly could. Gave him affection and attention. Went to therapy and even got on medication so I could get through the shit 2011 had put me through. I gave it my all regardless of the outcome because I knew that I never wanted him to ever doubt my feelings for him. That I was in it 100% and I wasn’t going to do anything to fuck it up…and he left me.

 I have had my time of sadness and depression. I had my time of questioning what went wrong and what I could’ve done differently. I couldn’t come up with anything solid. Still can’t. I’m constantly trying to make myself the best person I can be so I reflect on everything. I’ll be the first to own up to fucking up…and I have been horrible to men in my past and I’ve apologized when I should have. Believe that. I can honestly say I was faithful, loving, considerate and thoughtful…at points crazy…but what girl isn’t? Let’s be honest here! Lol! So how is my heart? It’s sad but it’s working. I haven’t given up my quest for love but I’m definitely going to take any sort of relationship I get into at a snail’s pace. I’ve got a lot going on and I just want someone to add to my life and not stress me out or cause me unnecessary anxiety. I want to be included in their life and they be included in mine. I want affection, attention and to not have to fight to be a priority in their life. I know I’m not asking much and I know I will find it. I have faith. Until then, I will keep bettering myself and staying busy with all the awesome things going on in my life.

So there you have it. My heart is still beating and I will love again. I will put myself out there. I will give it my all. I won’t let the past hurt the next relationship. And hey…I might even get married someday!! Lol

Here I am. Wearing my heart on my sleeve. Keeping you all up to date on what’s going on with me. Sometimes I think I share too much but I need to get it out. By sharing I get it out of my head and it also gives me incite from others which is usually quite helpful in dealing with whatever my current situation is.

Like I had written about previously, 2011 has been extremely difficult. Between my cousin’s death, my health problems and knee surgeries, relationship problems, pay cuts and financial struggles I’m just struggling to keep a positive outlook. No. I’m not suicidal but I’m definitely just down. All of my current problems are meshing with things from the past that I guess I’ve never really dealt with and it’s causing me to have a lot of anxiety. I’ve had a couple anxiety attacks lately and even one last night for such a stupid reason I was so mad at myself.

I’ve had it. I’m tired of being down. I’m tired of being insecure. I’m tired of being crazy. I just need to make myself better. I really do. So I took the first step. I inquired about therapy. Waiting for a reply e-mail but it’s a start. Finally. A step in the right direction. I’ll get there. I’m a lot better than I once was but not as good as I can be.

Wish me luck. Support me. Whatever. I know I can’t do this alone.