Home      Fight Schedule     On the Record     Links

NW Fightscene Interview with Rick Story - June 4th, 2009

Interview by Steve "Spaniard" Valentine, Photos by NW Fightscene


On June 13th in Cologne, Germany, Rick "The Horror" Story (7-2) makes his UFC debut at UFC 99: The Comeback, taking on undefeated British Fighter, John "The Hitman" Hathaway (11-0) in a battle at 170 pounds.

 

A quick history regarding Rick is in order as he may have seemingly come out of nowhere for many fight fans... A graduate of Bethel High in Spanaway, WA, Rick attended Southern Oregon University in Ashland, OR where he wrestled (taking 2nd at Nationals in 2006 at 184 lbs). He picked up MMA as way to compete in the off season, fell in love with it, and in November of 2007, Rick debuted as a pro against the highly regarded Mario Miranda. Although he lost that fight by decision, a week later he won his first fight over Julio Paulino in Alaska (AFC 41). A month later he lost to another highly regarded fighter, Nathan Coy, again via decision at Sportfight 21 in December. But then the year 2008 came and Rick never looked back by going on a 6 fight win streak and getting dominating victories over Jake Paul, James Dodge, Ryan Healy, Jake Ellenberger, Wesley Welch, and Brandon Melendez. None of those names are slouches by any means and with the help of coach Pat White, he got the attention of Joe Silva and the UFC who subsequently signed him to a contract...

 

 NW Fightscene correspondent, Steve "Spaniard" Valentine spoke with Rick Story 9 days before his UFC debut fight as Story trained inside the Braveheart Fight Club in Vancouver, Washington...


NW Fightscene: Tell us Northwest fans on how you became an MMA fighter.
Rick Story: For the most part, its pretty simple. I just tried to keep myself busy through my collegiate wrestling in college. So I ran into a guy who offered me training.. or so-called jiu-jitsu training for shot defense, and I agreed to it. And that kind of turned my head in that direction.

 

Now your collegiate career, tell us about that with your wrestling.
Story: I wrestled ever since I was 12. I went through high school, never did anything in high school. Never made it to the state tournament. continued on and wrestled in college and then wound up taking 2nd in the nation for Southern Oregon University in 2006.

 

 

Ricky Story def Wesley Welch by Knockout - Carnage at the Creek 3 (8/22/08)

 

Your amateur fighting career, what was that like?
Story: That was when I wasn't taking it seriously. I wasn't really. Like I said it was something I was doing to keep myself busy in the off-season. But when I did do it, it was fun. I didn't have any official training like any good stand up or anything when I went in. I think I got shown the concept of an armbar, a triangle, and a kimura and that was it.

 

So what in your head flipped a switch to where you thought this is what I want to do and turn pro and make it my career?
Story: Well, my final year in school I was coaching wrestling and I started picking up MMA more and more because obviously the Ultimate Fighter sparked the interest in the ability to make money in the sport really quick and it became an option. My other option was either to go active duty and try to wrestle for the Army, or just go active duty and get deployed and not even pursue athletics. And I went through... I'm in the National Guard right now, the Army National Guard. And I took the Combatives Course. You probably know Dave Hagen. He's the head instructor for Oregon for the Combatives Program. And when I took his course, he told me about Pat [White] opening a new gym and he would let him know about me. Because I told him I would take it serious if I had the opportunity to train full-time. So about a week before I graduated from college, I got a call from Pat and asked me if I wanted to come try out to be on his fight team [Braveheart MMA]. So I did that.

 

 

What got you into the UFC? Tell us about your road to get in.
Story: Pretty much the concept to get us there was always stay in shape, take fights on short notice no matter what, be ready to fight at any time because when you have to turn it down you won't be reputable or anything. Like they wont come back and they wont ask you again. So I had about 9 fights in 9 months as a professional and I was planning on continuing on until something big happened. It was kind of nice being busy consistently when it came to fighting because I obviously love fighting and its fun. And then I started getting a lot more offers but the guys wouldn't follow through on it. I think I had like five fights back out on me. So then Pat took the steps necessary to start taking it up a notch and getting bigger fight promotions involved or looking our way. And trying to get us the opportunity to fight on a bigger card because nobody else would fight me. So Pat laid down the footwork to get me into the UFC.

 

So now you're debuting in Germany UFC 99 Franklin vs Silva next week. How are you feeling today? How do you feel after your camp?
Story: I feel like a wrecking machine. (laughs)

 

 

Ricky Story def Jake Ellenberger by Unanimous Decision - Sportfight 23 (6/20/08)

 

Well stated. You're fighting undefeated fighter John Hathaway. What are your thought about him?
Story: I mean I've seen him fight. I watched him fight on his debut in the UFC. He obviously likes to rely on his wrestling skill but again over in England there isn't really very good wrestling so even if you have sub-par wrestling skill, you're going to take people down and beat them. So if he tries to wrestle me he is going to be SOL, but if he tries to keep it standing he's going to be SOL anyways.

 

What was your camp like leading up this, who'd you train with, what was it like?
Story: Well, we didn't really start going hard... we always go hard but we really didn't start turning up the intensity for us until the last three weeks. I had Stryder Davis and I also had Matt Horwich training with me. Then in like the last week and a half, I've gone up and sparred with Brad Blackburn, Dennis Hallman, Lyle Beerbohm, Jake Paul, and Mike Hanks.

 

Sounds like you got a lot of guys and have been preparing pretty well.
Story: And I got one more guy, sorry. George Stroponopoulos. I sparred a lot with him

 

So you feel great, you feel on top. Do you think you're going to have any nerves debuting in the UFC, the big show?
Story: I'm sure there's gonna be some. But I'm taking the steps necessary in visualization, just trying to completely put myself in the situation before I get there. That way I can just go out and do what I do. I mean constantly I'm thinking about what its going to smell like, what its going to sound like. What I'm going to feel. What the temperature's going to be. I mean the walk out there. What it's going to be like in the back. The flight. When I step into the Octagon. I mean like every little detail, that way I don't have to pay attention to it when I'm there. I already know what its going to be like. That way I can just step in and fight my heart out.

 

Rick Story def Brandon Melendez - EWC Van Cage Fights (9-6-08)

 

So is that how The Horror Story as they call you prepares for fights? Consistently going over it and over it until its time to fight. So when its finally time to fight, what do you go through?
Story: When I go out, I go out confident because I already know that I've trained as hard as I can, as hard as I physically can. And I've prepared myself as mentally as possible before the fight. That way I just go out and perform. That's what I try to do every time.

 

What kind of music do you pump through your headphones before you fight?
Story: (Laughs) Metal.

 

Any certain bands in particular... your faves?
Story: Killswitch Engage is my favorite.

 

What about your spare time? What do you do besides fighting?
Story: For the most part, my biggest hobby in my off time is playing video games. The first person shooter games.

 

What game you playing right now?
Story: Halo 3

 

One last question and we'll wrap it up. Who are you picking for the main event [Rick Franklin vs Wandelei Silva]?
Story: If it becomes a brawl, I'm going to say Wanderlei. If it becomes a technical battle its going to be Rich Franklin all the way. They both have great cardio but if Rich stays on the outside he's going to pick Wanderlei apart through his striking's better. But if it gets in close like dirty boxing or on the ground, I think Wandelei's got the edge. So I don't know, I would go with Rich Franklin.

 

On behalf of NW Fightscene, thank you. We know all your fans are rooting for you. Are there any sponsors or anyone you'd like to thank?
Story: Cagefighter,
Braveheart Fight Club, and Dropsquad.


Much thanks to Rick for talking with NW Fightscene.

Visit him online at myspace.com/rickystory


All Photos, Design, and Content © 2006-2017 NW Fightscene™, unless otherwise noted.

Any usage of content on this site is strictly prohibited without the express written consent of NW FightScene™.

Report any errors to webmaster@nwfightscene.com