I got the pleasure of meeting Caleb at The Ultimate Fighter viewing party last week at Primetime.  Just talking to him for a few minutes and you can instantly tell he has a passion for this sport and is in it for all the right reasons.  Caleb manages himself at the moment and has made his schedule full for the next few months chalked full of fights and rigorous training.  There won’t be a dull moment in Caleb’s Summer, but Caleb isn’t worried about missing out on beach trips or other things of that sort, he is busy making a name for himself and climbing to the top.  He has the ultimate goal of landing a fight in Strikeforce and he isn’t letting go of that dream.  I hope you all enjoy the interview as much as I did and mark my words, you will see him on Strikeforce, maybe even in the UFC very soon Great things are in store for Caleb and I can’t wait to see him fight! As always, leave feedback and let me know if you have any other questions for him!!

1. How did you get your start in MMA?

I wrestled for 12 years growing up, so I always enjoyed the competition aspect of sports. Then, I was in the Army for five years and deployed to Iraq twice. It was there that I fell in love with excitement and the adrenaline rushes. When I got out of the military, I felt like there was a big hole inside me where the competition, adrenaline, and excitement used to be. So I started fighting and bought a motorcycle. it seems to be working so far, hahaha.

2. Who do you look up to and why?

I look up to any fighter that has the courage to step into the cage, amateur or professional. It’s definitely not something just anyone can do. We’re a special breed…

3. What is your first thought when you are getting rocked early on in a fight?

My first thought is that I’d better keep my hands up, haha.
4. What do you do to gain control back of the fight?

To gain back control, I usually calm myself down and look for the openings. No matter how good someone’s form and technique are, there is always SOMETHING they give you that you can take advantage of. You just have to look for it and take it.
5. What is your diet like before and after a fight?

Dieting SUCKS for me because I love junk food so much. Ice cream is the hardest thing in the world for me to give up. But, about a month out from the fight, I cut back on the junk and try to eat mostly protein and greens. Depending on my weight, I might cut down to eating only once a day two weeks out from the fight. That, combined with the water weight loss the last few days, usually puts me right where I need to be. After the fight, I tend to misbehave and go back to the ice cream diet, haha.

6. What makes you different than other fighters?

I think what makes me different from other fighters is my will and determination. I really find it disgracing for myself to give up, even when I am tired and hurting. Somehow, I find a drive from deep inside that pushed me through.

7. Who is your favorite sparring partner and why?

My favorite sparring partner…. hmmm…. My boys at LA Boxing in Arlington go pretty hard with me when i’m boxing, and I appreciate that. If I want good Muay Thai sparring, One Spirit is the place to be. The takedowns and grappling is great at Gold Medal Grappling. If I want an all around ass-whooping, I can always go to MASE. Those guys spar harder than any gym I’ve been to. I have separated ribs to prove it! Hahahaha. I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to cross-train at all these great gyms.

8. Tell me about the gym you train at and why you love it

Lately, I have been doing a great deal of cross-training. I think it has really benefitted me. If you train with the same people day in and day out, you’re eventually going to plateau and stop improving. Going to different gyms is definitely making me a more well-rounded fighter.

9. What is your strength and conditioning routine?

I’ve always said that wrestling/grappling is the best conditioning you can ever do. But it’s also good to mix in the road work, sparring, etc. Starting out with a 3-5 mile run, moving to jumping rope for 10 minutes, then shadowboxing for 10 minutes, three rounds of mitt work, five rounds of sparring, and three rounds of grappling… that’s always a good workout.

10. What do you do for recovery?

I eat ice cream. Hahaha. It always heals my wounds.

11. Where do you see yourself in one year?

One year…. I am trying to rack up as many fights as I can between now and the end of next year. Throughout the rest of this year, I have fights May 30th in Pittsburgh, June 18th in the Dominican Republic, August 14th in Pittsburgh, September in Atlanta, October 8th in Panama, end of October in the Dominican Republic, and December in Brazil. I would love to keep fighting an average of once a month. If I keep doing well, my goal is to have a fight in a big show such as Strikeforce by the end of 2011.

12. Who is your favorite fighter and why?

My favorite fighter would have to be Forrest Griffin. I know he is not technically the best fighter in the world, but he works so damn hard. If I were to emulate any fighter, I would want it to be him.

13. Tell the readers something about you that not a lot of people know about

I have a six year old son! His name is Ethan. He lives with his mom in Texas, but hopefully I’ll be able to get down there in July to see the little monster! Hahaha. He’s a great kid, and I’m really excited to see him.

14. What do you do before a fight? How do you size up your opponent? Do you do any research?

I do as much research as I can on my opponent to know what to expect for my fight. I figure out a game plan, and train according to that plan. Sizing up an opponent is difficult, because we all know that being absolutely ripped means absolutely nothing in this sport. That’s one of the things I love about MMA… anything can happen!

Here is info on Caleb’s next fight this weekend:

On May 30th, I’ll be fighting in the Kumite Classic in Monroeville, PA. My opponent is Andy Cooper. He is 6′ 1″, and very strong. I have something in mind as far as how I’d like the fight to go, but game plans are almost never accomplished, so I just hope to fight the best fight that I can, and put on the best show that I can.

It will be good to fight in Monroeville because it is 40 minutes from where I was born and raised. Having friends and family there to support me will be amazing, and I’m really looking forward to it.

If anyone wants information on the event, it can be found at www.pittsburghmma.com