Elie: Thank you for taking the time out to do the interview, you must be excited that you are back on a UFC card?
Elvis: Who wouldn’t be? It’s a dream come true for any MMA fighter. I am fighting in the biggest show (UFC) which is the pinnacle of the sport; I am fighting in my home town in my own country in front of my family, friends & fans. It doesn’t get any better.

Elie: You have fought the most times in the UFC more than any other Australian, why do you think they keep calling you back?
Elvis: Well from my part it is all conjecture. I think it is because I always come to fight. I fight to win I don’t fight not to lose. I also have a strong well rounded skill set with high level striking and grappling. And let’s not forget that I am also a fan favourite. I also take any fight that is offered to me. I guess a combination of all of that keeps me turning up in the UFC.

Elie: Your next fight is Chris Haseman at UFC 110 in Australia on February 21, what are your thoughts of Chris as a fighter and the actual fight?
Elvis: It is just another fight. I treat every fight as the most important fight of my career. Both of us are very different fighters from when we first fought back in 1997. Regardless of the history I will come 100% prepared and ready to win. This is a fight I plan to win in my home town. Chris is a strong grappler and I would be foolish to think he’s not going to try and take me down. Even though he’s evolved as a fighter, his strength is still his grappling.

Elie: We interviewed Chris Haseman and he thinks he’s going to knock you out in the first round, what are your thoughts on that?
Elvis: It’s just talk. If he wants to stand and trade with me, he will be the one going to sleep. Bisping said the same thing and took me down after I landed a couple of shots. In the 2nd round when he thought he had me hurt, he tried to stand with me again and ended up on his ass. Chris just wants me to think he’s going to stand and trade so he can shoot in and take me down. It is what it is.

Elie: What are your predictions on the fight?
Elvis: The fight may be fought standing, the fight may be fought on the ground. I can win anywhere, with strikes or with submission. My prediction is that I will have my hand raised at the end of the match.

Elie: Will you be training any differently for this fight?
Elvis: I train differently for every fight. We learn new things about training, conditioning, about skills and much more. So every fight we’re improving what we do. The one consistent thing we do is ensure we work on all aspects of the fight, striking, wrestling, grappling and conditioning. I also plan to head overseas and do a camp to help prepare for this match. I want to get away so I can focus solely on being the best fighter I can when I step into the Octagon.

Elie: Who are the trainer/s and some of the team that will help you prepare for this next fight?
Elvis: My usual team will be helping me here in Sydney, Anthony Perosh and Gary Edwards. Overseas I will be heading over to Tiger Muay Thai (where many top MMA guys now head to work on their striking) to hone my standup, then over to Dallas to tighten up my grappling and then finish of the camp in Las Vegas with some of the top teams to put everything together.

Elie: This is a rematch fight for you guys, the first fight back in 1997 ended in a submission with a chin to the eye; he said it was within the rules, what are your thoughts?
Elvis: What can I say, it is what it is. I have no issue with Chris; he did what he thought he needed to do to win. My issue was with the officials who I believe did not uphold what I thought were the rules. Eye Gouging was not allowed. It didn’t state it had to be with the fingers or that a chin was legal. They were just caught off guard. It was the first time the event was held in Australia, so it was new to everyone here. In the end they allowed it for my match and it is a loss, that’s it.

Elie: Are you looking forward to this fight?
Elvis: I look forward to every fight. But even more so this one because it is in the UFC in my hometown – Sydney.

Elie: How have you changed as a fighter since the first fight?
Elvis: I am not even close to the same fighter I was back then. When I stepped into the cage back then I was a novice in the sport. It was my first event. It was a learning experience. I have 13 years of experience under my belt, in that time I have fought numerous world champions in the biggest events on the planet. I’ve improved all areas of my skills. I have a greater understanding of the sport, of fighting and preparation. I know more about everything. In that time I have been a fighter, commentator and coach. It all adds up and in the end, I am the sum of all my experience.

Elie: Your last UFC fight was in 2007 against TUF season 3 winner Michael Bisping, you had almost finished that fight, what were your thoughts on that fight?
Elvis: So close yet so far. What can I say? The first round was a tough one. I got sucked into his hype and thought he would stand and trade with me and got taken down. The 2nd round I came out, dropped him and popped some ligaments with my Kimura. He held off and was able to turn it around and win with a Ref Stoppage. It got fight of the night but alas didn’t get me the victory. You win some you lose some.

Elie: You’ve been in there with the best in the world including a shot at the UFC title, what is your most memorable fight?
Elvis: Honestly I don’t have any one most memorable. I’ve been lucky; I’ve got lots of memorable fights. The first time I stepped into the cage is hard to forget on March 22nd 1997. My first World Title fight against Dave Beneteau in UCC. Fighting in the K1 GP and standing across from Frank Shamrock in front of over 70k people and going the distance with him. The first time in the UFC against Jeremy Horn and winning. Getting a title shot against Tito Ortiz for the UFC LHW World title. Fighting in the UK for the first time against Renato Sobral. Fighting TUF Champions Forrest Griffin and Michael Bisping. And now a new one when I fight in UFC 110 in Australia in front of my home town crowd. I’ve been very lucky to have an amazing MMA career. Thankfully it is not over yet.

Elie: What goes through your mind as you stare at your opponent before the fight?
Elvis: Pretty much “Let’s do this”.

Elie: If the UFC gave you an option of someone to fight, which UFC fighter would you have selected?
Elvis: I love facing the best guys in the division. The guys who I know will push me to my limit. I would have loved to have faced Lyoto Machida, the current LHW Champion. Of course Shogun as well who many believe won the match against Lyoto. Then any of the big names like Liddell, Rampage and so on. I love a challenge and the best guys give the greatest challenges.

Elie: What do you think this will do for MMA in Australia, having UFC hold an event here?
Elvis: I think it will propel the sport of MMA forward. It will give MMA much needed exposure to the general public. It will give opportunities for more sponsors and fans to come aboard. You can already see the results with the show selling out so fast. We now have MMA on free to air TV and that is crazy. A few years ago we were struggling to even get it on PPV. The Australian promoters just need to make sure they stay on top of it and continue to push it forward after the UFC leaves.

Elie: Is there anyone in particular that you’d like to fight here in Australia?
Elvis: Not particularly. I’d rather fight international opponents. I’d rather fly the Aussie flag against the best of the world then face any of the local fighters. Not because they’re not good enough but I would rather fight the best guys from the rest of the world.

Elie: What are your thoughts on people who think the sport of MMA is barbaric?
Elvis: They just don’t know about the sport. They haven’t been educated. They are playing off old mis-beliefs. If you take your time to look at the sport and break it down we’re not barbaric. Don’t get me wrong we are a combat sport. But we’re regulated, we have rules and we have lots of people looking out for each other. It is a Sport. To me barbaric is attacking someone who doesn’t want to fight. War is barbaric. Torturing animals is barbaric. MMA is a sport. Both fighters are in there to compete against each other under a set of rules. To me it’s about being the best I can be.

Elie: How did you get the nickname ‘The King of Rock n Rumble’?
Elvis: It was given to me in my first event that I fought in here in Australia. It has stuck with me since then. It’s pretty obvious where it came from when your name is Elvis.

Elie: So what do you do for fun?
Elvis: Thankfully competing is fun for me. I love teaching at my school SPMA. At home I like to do gardening to relax. I spend time with my pets. I like to watch movies with my
partner and curl up on the couch. I like to spend time with my family. Outside of fighting, training and teaching I like to take things pretty easy.

Elie: Anyone final words?
Elvis: Thank you for the opportunity to have my say and let my fans and the readers know what is going on with me. Thank you to my trainers Anthony Perosh and Gary Edwards, thank you to all my students at SPMA. Thank you to all my fans for continuing to cheer me on. Thank you to my family and friends for their love and support. Thank you to all my sponsors for their continued support and belief, Lojak Fightwear, Fairtex, Fightwear International, Australian Cage fighter and Bray Digital. Finally keep an eye out for UFC 110, if you thought Sydney had the best fireworks in the world this New Years eve, you haven’t seen anything yet!