Pat "Bam Bam" Healy, MMA veteran fighting out of Gresham's Team Quest, takes on Bryan Travers (13-1) on the televised portion of the Strikeforce Challengers happening this Friday May 21st at Portland's Rose Garden Arena. Healy who has 37 professional bouts under his belt, has fought for the UFC, the WEC, the IFL, the MFC, and Sportfight, with this being his Strikeforce debut (as it is for Travers).

NW Fightscene had a chance to speak with Pat in the week leading up to the fight about his opponent, training at Team Quest, fighting in front of a hometown crowd, and much more...

NW Fightscene: Give us your thoughts about your opponent, Bryan Travers.
Pat Healy: Its been pretty hard to find any video on him. He did fight John Gunderson who's a good friend of mine so he gave me a pretty good lowdown. He's definitely a real strong tough wrestler, real solid. You know, kind of likes to get in there and get you down and not make any mistakes. I think I got a pretty good game plan going into it on how to stop that.

NWFS: So what is your game plan going in without giving away too much?

Healy: I'm just going to move a lot. You know my style, push the pace and really get after people. So I'm just going to stay in his face, move a lot, and if he does take me down I'm going to be looking to one of my strongest areas which is getting off of bottom. So I think the way I match up with him, it's a good fight for me.

NWFS: Tell us about your training camp and some of your training partners.

Healy: Its been great. Nathan Quarry is a really good friend of mine and a good training partner of mine so its really nice having him preparing for a fight at the same time, as well as [Matt] Lindland too. Its just been great. It always a great atmosphere, I love Team Quest. All our practices are competitively a lot of fun. Everybody really gets after it. So I feel as prepared as I can be.

NWFS: You talk about Matt Lindland who is on this card (as well as Nathan Coy). What's that like when you have other guys on the card that you get to train with?

Healy: You know its great to not only to have those guys fighting with me, but to be in my hometown. The Rose Garden, I fought a lot there. I know what to expect. Its kind of like when we have Sportfight there. Its kind of like Team Quest home turf so its pretty relaxing... I'm just happy to be in town.

Pat enroute to beating Brandon Melendez

Sportfight 15 - 4/8/2006

NWFS: It doesn't add any more pressure that its actually your home town, and all your friends and family are there?

Healy: Nah. To me its more relaxing because I know I'll be in my own bed... I don't feel as much pressure because I'm not thinking as a fighter as much because you know I'm with my friends and its more like my day to day activity. You don't have the big trip or your stuff on the plane and have to just, to keep your mind occupied, you have to be playing the fight over and over again. For me this is a lot easier.

NWFS: You've been fighting for a long time and you've fought for a lot of different shows, and now you're fighting for Strikeforce. What's that feel like?

Healy: Strikeforce is the 2nd biggest behind the UFC right now I'd say, so its kind of exciting to be back fighting for a big organization in the States. I've been over in Canada a lot with the MFC and W-1. But definitely being in the States is a lot nicer. Like I said they're a big organization with ties with Showtime and CBS, so it makes it that much all the worth while where I know how important this fight is.

NWFS: You're coming off a TKO win in Montreal. What's that like, flying out of the country and being away and that whole deal?

Healy: Its always different. You never know what you're going to have to deal with the travel. But you just kind of hope it goes smooth and like I said, when you're away you kind of have to think about the fight more. It makes the pressure a little bit more because you have all that down time where you're either killing time or stuck in a hotel. And just do nothing but think.

NWFS: So now you're back in Portland, fighting with Strikeforce. Are you ready to stay in Strikeforce or are you kind of wanting to get back into the UFC?

Healy: Well, I got a three fight deal with Strikeforce right now, so I'm just gonna  focus on that. Take these three fights, make sure I win them, and see what happens after that.

NWFS: Your twin brother, Ryan Healy, also fights and trains with Team Quest. What's that like? Is there a rivalry there where you guys get at it in the gym?

Healy: Oh yeah. Me and my brother are best friends, but we sure like to beat on each other too. Its definitely a rivalry. Neither of us like losing to each other, ever. But I think its a good healthy rivalry where we take it and end up pushing each other to be the best that we can be.

Ryan Healy in action

NWFS: For being someone who's been in the sport for nine years, what would you tell an amateur fighter who's coming up in the ranks & trying to be a professional?

Healy: You got to be focused and be willing to make the sacrifices. Earlier in my career I didn't make as many sacrifices as now... Live the right lifestyle, stay focused and stay in the gym.

NWFS: Any sponsors you'd like to thank?

Healy: Full Tilt Poker, Elite Athletics World, and MaxGXLMMA.com.