1 ON 1 WITH TIM SYLVIA

[Johnny Toetags]

1 ON 1 WITH TIM SYLVIA

Tim talks UFC heavyweights, TUF 3 & Jerome Le Banner.

Big Tim Sylvia is on top of the world these days. As the champ, he's sitting pretty on top of the Heavyweight mountain in the UFC. A perennial top 10 heavyweight, Tim's record is much better than most cynics give him credit for. He's on an impressive 4 fight win streak. On the way avenging his last loss and regaining a title that, apparently, never leaves his waist unless he's training or in the ring.

A class act outside the ring, Tim recently took some time to talk to us again while he was waiting for his steak at the restaurant - not many high-level athletes would bother with media at a time like this. Our own Brian Miller brings us this following interview:

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BK: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us at BloodyKnux.Com. Congratulations on getting your belt back. Did you do anything special to celebrate afterwards?

Tim Sylvia: Not really. Just hung out with some close friends and had a little after fight party in California but it actually sucked so I just went back to the hotel and hung out with my Dad and some close friends and family members. The funnest thing I did was the following day I went to a Dodger and San Francisco Giants game and I threw the first pitch.

BK: Wow. That's pretty cool.

TS: Yeah, it felt good.

BK: So now that you're champ again does that mean you can't ride your motorcycle?

TS: I'm still riding my motorcycle. I rode it today.

BK: Does Dana know?

TS: [Laughs] Probably not. Hey, if he wants to buy me that Hummer I'll get rid of the motorcycle.

BK: Yeah, I would too. What kind of bike do you ride?

TS: I've got a GSXR 1300 Hayabusa.

BK: It's pretty fast, huh?

TS: Oh yeah.

BK: In your last few fights you've seemed lighter on your feet, more flexible, and haven't had any problems making the weight limit. Have you made any significant changes in your diet or training to accomplish this?

TS: I changed my diet dramatically with the help of Billy Rush. Pat's actually training me now again. He's around more in the gym and stuff so I'm able to stay at home and stop traveling to get training elsewhere.

BK: There's a rumor that you and Andre will have your rubber match at UFC 61 in July. Is that a done deal?

TS: You'll have to tune in to the UFC or my news site and see when it's going to be on.

BK: Are you going to do anything differently if there's a third fight with Andre?

TS: If I fight Andre again I'm gonna fight him the same way I did last time and knock his ass out.

BK: We all know you wanted a rematch with Mir. Are you disappointed Pe de Pano beat him before you got that fight?

TS: Oh, of course. I think Mir is a much better fighter than Pe de Pano. He just wasn't ready to come back as soon as he did and it showed.

BK: So does that make you want to beat up on Pe de Pano now?

TS: [Laughs] Jeff Monson made him look like a retard. I don't think I need to. It would be disgusting if I fought him.

BK: Coming up at UFC 60 there's a heavyweight fight between Assuerio Silva and Brandon Vera. Do you have any predictions on that one?

TS: I think Assuerio is going to beat his ass. Show Vera why he needs to be fighting at 205.

BK: Let's talk about The Ultimate Fighter for a second. What do you think of the show?

TS: I think Ken's an idiot. He's got horrible coaching aspects. I'm just not really happy with this season. I don't think the guys are that tough. There's just not really any reason for me to watch it. The first season I watched it because it was new and I had a teammate on it. The second season I was involved and Matt was the coach and I had some friends on it. I don't sit home to watch it anymore. I just Tivo it and watch it when I get the chance. How are the ratings? Are the ratings actually lower this time?

BK: I think they might be a little bit, actually. But they're also not on Monday nights after wrestling anymore so that might have something to do with it.

TS: Right.

BK: Do you think any of the guys from the second season have the potential to make waves in the UFC's heavyweight division?

TS: Not at the moment. Brad's working on it. Medium rare. [to waiter] He's still got a long ways to go.

BK: Hypothetically speaking, if you were asked, would you take on the role of a coach in a future season of The Ultimate Fighter?

TS: Yeah. Absolutely.

BK: What color would your team be?

TS: Pink! Nobody'd expect guys in pink to win.

BK: [Laughs] Right on. If you had a dream fight against any one person in the world, who would it be and why?

TS: I REALLY want to avenge my loss against Frank Mir. I really have my heart set on fighting him again someday.

BK: So there's been some rumors that the UFC and K1 are going to be swapping some fighters...

TS: Cool.

BK: There's also been some rumors about you and Jerome Le Banner doing some trash talking on the internet.

TS: Jerome Le Banner hasn't been talking to me. There's some guy going around with a fake myspace and account and he says he's me. That's who he's been talking trash with is him, not me. It's kind of funny . Both of them are being idiots really if you ask me. I don't talk a lot of trash. I think everyone knows that. People accuse me of a lot of things. Would I fight him? Oh, absolutely. I fight anybody they put in front of me. Whoever the UFC says, I'll do it. If he wants to get in the ring with me then I'll knock his ass out in the UFC.

BK: I'd like to see that fight. Alright man, let's finish up with a few questions to get to know you a little bit better. What's your favorite kind of car?

TS: My favorite kind of car is definitely my brand new F250 Super Duty quad cab diesel.

BK: Sounds tough. What's your favorite kind of dog?

TS: The dog I have is a chocolate lab.

BK: What's your favorite food?

TS: My favorite food is probably Maine seafood.

BK: That makes sense.

TS: I love sushi.

BK: Do you have a favorite movie?

TS: That's a good question. I'm a huge movie buff but I can't pick just one. Gladiator, Braveheart, Scarface. I don't know, all kinds.

BK: Yeah those are all classics there.

TS: Yeah. I love movies.

BK: Well alright, man. That's all I have for you. Do you want to thank anybody or give any shout outs before we go?

TS: I'd love to thank all my sponsors. There's too many to list but they know who they are. It wouldn't happen if it weren't for them.

BK: Thanks once again for taking time out of your dinner to speak with us at BloodyKnux.Com.

TS: No problem, buddy.

BK: Good luck in your next fight.

TS: Thanks man. Bye.

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A big thanks to Tim Sylvia for taking some time to speak with us, we here at BloodyKnux.Com wish him all the best in his future fights.

Be sure to check out Tim's site at: http://www.themaineiac.com/

Feel free to register and discuss this interview and the UFC heavyweight division HERE.

Photos c/o UFC.com and themaineiac.com.