Mike: Let’s start out with the typical, how did you get started in MMA?
Serra: My father was a life long martial artist, he showed me a video of the Gracie’s when I was 17 and I was really interested after seeing that. I ended up training under Renzo Gracie in Manhatten, and he just kind of took me under his wing. I started competing in Grappling Tournaments and was doing well in that circuit. I won gold in the PanAms, and did really well in Abu Dhabi in 2001 beating some big names there… and while all that was going on I had like maybe 8 MMA fights... and it got the attention of the UFC.

Mike: I wanted to congratulate you quickly to, on becoming a father.
Serra: Being a father is exciting man, thanks.

Mike: What’s tougher, a day in the gym or a day on diaper duty?
Serra: Ya know, my wife is real old school when it comes to things like that... and I will probably get murdered for saying this... but I haven’t changed a diaper yet. Its not that I wouldn’t do it, or anything… I just haven’t done it yet. She probably knows I would mess it up and put it on backwards or something... or maybe I would do it on purpose to not have to do it again... haha… no, but she gets to do the stay at home mom thing… which definitely isn’t an easy job… but it works out well… cause she's already like super-mom!

Mike: What has The Ultimate Fighter done for your career?
Serra: Spike TV's Ultimate Fighter is awesome. At first when it came out you thought you missed your boat, cause its all guys trying to get into the UFC and I already was... but then season 4, the comeback season came out and I wanted to do it. I liked the show and had already been watching the other seasons. I thought it would be a unique experience and also I own 2 BJJ schools in NY and figured… looking back I never really had a "bad" fight win or lose, so even if I don’t win the whole show, maybe I will get some more exposure and get people interested in the school… and get some more students. So I was glad I got he opportunity, it couldn’t have been better.

Mike: I think I know the answer to this one already, but what has been your most memorable fight?
Serra: I've got to say winning the title. Yeah. I am a big movie buff and movies like Rocky and Cinderella Man with Russel Crowe. I kind of feel like I lived out one of those movies… playing the underdog role and coming out on top. I still think that was probably the biggest upset in MMA history and will probably be for a while still.

Mike: Let’s talk about Matt Hughes… how do you feel you match up with him?
Serra: I think I match-up with him very well. I've said it before that I think he's a one trick pony... but he is very good at that one trick. He likes to bully you down and keep you there for three rounds while using his wrestling and control. I have seen his jiu-jitsu game improve a little over the years with his passing the guard and everything… and his ground and pound is pretty dangerous. On the feet, I don’t think there are many people who go out and spar the way I do. So I don’t think that will be an issue. He's had problems with some of the athletics and strong guys here recently, and athleticism is one of the first things that go as you get older. So now he's gotta rely on technique more then his strength, and I think I am more technical on the ground and feet. It will be an interesting fight for everybody, especially with the bad blood between us.

Mike: It's gonna be a fun one for sure! Have a prediction on how it’s gonna end?
Serra: Ya know, as long as I am winning the fight and win in the end... that’s all I care.

Mike: How about Thiago Alves vs St. Pierre, do you have one for that fight?
Serra: Alves has been looking like a beast! But St.Pierre is so explosive. I think he is gonna look for the take down and try to work him over on the ground. I think until St.Pierre fights someone who can outwrestle him, then he is gonna take people down and outwork them. Alves is tough to take down though and is a pretty explosive guy, so it wont be real easy for Georges... its MMA, anything can happen and that’s why we watch… but I gotta say at least on paper, that St.Pierre should win this fight.

Mike: Lets say that you beat Hughes and get another big win after that, if it made sense would you take a 3rd fight with GSP?
Serra: I would definitely take a 3rd fight with St. Pierre. I always have a little role where you don’t wanna look past your next opponent, and Matt Hughes is still a dangerous guy no matter what people say about him now. I am up at 8:30 am right now talking to you and about to go on my first run of the day and after that get in one of my 3 daily workouts. I am gonna be 110% for this fight, and after that we will see what’s next.

Mike: How did you get the nickname the Terror?
Serra: I got that in high school, one of my buddies came up with it cause it rhymes with Serra. Guy was a real genius, I guess… haha. But its cool, its a little bit different then some of the other ones a lot of people use… not too many Terrors out there.

Mike: Out of everyone you have fought/sparred with etc... who hits the hardest?
Serra: Pete "Drago" Sell probably has hit me the hardest... that guys got some heavy hands on him.

Mike: If they brought a tag-team title to MMA and you were in the first tourny… who would you want as our tag team partner?
Serra: Oh my God... haha… ya know, I would probably want someone who is better then me. In case I am getting my butt kicked I could tag them in to help.

Mike: If you got to play matchmaker for a day, what’s one fight you would love to set up and watch go down?
Serra: Wow...I am gonna go old school. I think Joe Silva is doing a good job with fights now, but I don’t think this one will ever happen. Couture vs Rickson Gracie. I think that would be a good fight, and the grappling between the two would be interesting to see… both guys are phenomenal.

Mike: If they made a movie about your life, who should they get to play Matt Serra?
Serra: Joe Pesci!! But they would probably have to CGI him to make him look a little younger... and they better not do to me what they did to Wolverine! Don’t get me wrong Hugh Jackman is a cool actor... but in the comics, Wolverine was only 5'3! Don’t take away the short hero's anymore, or I will be the only one left! Haha.

Mike: Haha nice! Anything you wanna close with?
Serra: I just wanted to say thanks to the fans and if you want to find out more about me check out www.serrajitsu.com.

Mike: Alright man good luck.
Serra: Thanks man, nice talking to you.