One of the sturdiest and toughest challengers in the sport of mixed martial arts, middleweight Matt Lindland (Pictures) fights this weekend in the UK’s Cage Rage. Taking on Antonio Schembri (Pictures), Lindland will then make the jump over to the newly revamped World Fighting Alliance in February.
Sherdog.com: What are your thoughts on Schembri, Matt? He’s a tough, tricky fighter, but he’s lost three in a row.
Matt Lindland (Pictures): Has he just lost three in a row?
Sherdog.com: Yeah, he’s lost to (Kazushi) Sakuraba.
Lindland: Really?
Sherdog.com: He won three in a row and he lost three in a row. He lost to Ryo Chonan (Pictures), Sakuraba, and Kazuhiro Hamanaka (Pictures). Yeah, he lost three in a row. He’s been decisioned three times in a row.
Lindland: I was unaware of his losing streak. He’s a tricky guy; I know that. He likes to fight on his back and I like to fight on top of guys, so I think it’s a good fight.
Sherdog.com: Do you know a lot about the guy, besides him just liking to fight on his back?
Lindland: You know, I’ve seen him fight live one time, when he knocked out Sakuraba, and I think … I know I saw his loss against Chonan live, or on Pay-Per-View. One of the two.
Sherdog.com: OK, with those fights what have you learned from him, besides his tricky style?
Lindland: I thought it was odd that he jumped to his back, for sure. He just wanted to fight down there and I mean it looks like he wants to try and submit a guy off his back. I was thinking with training with the Chute Boxe guys he would definitely be working on his stand up.
Sherdog.com: You figure he would. With him fighting you in his style, and you’re known for your wrestling and of course your ground-and-pound, do you think he would be willing to jump on his back with you probably being on top of him? Do you think he would be that gutsy, I guess you’d say?
Lindland: I think it’s a bad strategy. Because, you know, I’m not gonna get submitted by a guy on his back. I think he’s gonna be better off trying to take me down or trying to stand up. I think that guard hop is a bad strategy, but that seems to be where he feels his strength is.
Sherdog.com: Well, it couldn’t be that much of strength as of late, though, because he’s lost three in a row.
Lindland: That’s true (laughs).
Sherdog.com: He started off his career on a hot streak winning three in a row and then he lost his last three.
Lindland: OK, so he’s not on a good streak right now. He’s looking to make a come back.
Sherdog.com: Exactly. Do you think he’ll be twice as hungry now to get on a winning streak and to beat a named fighter like you?
Lindland: Oh, I’m sure that he’s gonna be hungry and ready for this fight. I mean especially, like you said, coming off of three losses, and you know, fighting somebody that you know he’s gonna consider a named fighter.
Sherdog.com: Many fighters seem too leery to give a lot of info on their pre-fight strategies. Do you see this as fear because of what their opponent might learn? Do you like to speak openly about your game plan because or do usually shy away from that?
Lindland: Yeah, I think that’s a guy who’s kinda worried about he’s gonna do. I don’t think there’s any surprise what I’m gonna go in there and do to this guy. I’m gonna go in there and I’m gonna put him in a clinch and I’m gonna beat him up from the clinch. If he jumps to his back and he’s laying on his back, I’m gonna pin him and hit him on the ground. You know, I’m not so concerned about him defending the takedown since he’s so willing to go to his back. I’m gonna put him in a clinch where I’m also good at. I’m gonna try and beat him up in that clinch and then if he does jump to his back, the takedown’s easy, I don’t even have to work for it. So, I don’t mind discussing my plans; I am confident.
Sherdog.com: Your fight with Schembri is in Cage Rage, of course. Win, lose or draw you are still committed to the WFA, Correct?
Lindland: Yeah, I’m fighting in the WFA no matter what.
Sherdog.com: How did that deal come about? Were you talked to before the UFC basically booted you out or did it happen afterwards?
Lindland: No, I didn’t even hear about them starting back up ‘til after UFC let me go.
Sherdog.com: How did they contact you? Did they say, “Listen we’re trying to get a bunch of named fighters and we need you”?
Lindland: They contacted me through e-mail and said we’re interested in bringing you on to this organization. I called them back and we had some talks and they sent me home with an agreement.
Sherdog.com: Was it difficult to get an agreement with them or was it pretty easy?
Lindland: No it wasn’t. They’re really easy guys to work with.
Sherdog.com: All right, now I heard rumors that they’re paying you more than you have ever made in the UFC. Is that true or are you not allowed to say?
Lindland: That is definitely true.
Sherdog.com: All right, so that’s obviously a plus for you to fight in the WFA.
Lindland: Yes. Exactly.