Joe Doerksen Interview
Interview
Rob King Apr 23, 2004
26-year-old Joe Doerksen from Winnipeg, Manitoba recently took the
time to talk to Rob King about his recent fights, his upcoming
fight with Chris Leben, and the UFC.
Rob King: Congradulations on your most recent win Joe a victory this past weekend over Riki Fukuda out in Hawaii. Briefly take me through the fight. You went up in weight for this fight correct?
Joe Doerksen: Yes this fight was at 205. I
did not cut any weight for this fight, I just basically fought at
my walk around weight.
Rob King: Going back a couple weeks, talk about your victory in Extreme Challenge over Danny Anderson.
Rob King: You have fought twice within the past month after a 9 month layoff after your huge Superbrawl tournament victory. What was the reason for such a long break between fights?
Joe Doerksen: I took a few months off after the SuperBrawl tournament, and just as I was getting back into the gym I got sick and had to take another 2 or 3 months off. I was not in shape to fight until January this year.
Rob King: What is your martial arts backgrounds?
Joe Doerksen: Eight years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, about three years of boxing and kickboxing, and I have been working on my wrestling on and off for a little while now.
Rob King: You have done some pro boxing too correct?
Joe Doerksen: I have done one pro boxing match. I may do another in the future, as long as it does not conflict with my mma career. (Note: Doerksen won his pro boxing match on March 6, 2003 against Mathias Hughes)
Rob King: Who do you train with in Winnipeg?
Joe Doerksen: I train grappling at International Martial Arts. There's some strong talent there. I do my standup at Canadian Kickboxing and Muay Thai Centre. The coaches there are Giuseppe DeNatale and David Horvath. Both very accompished fighters. I feel fortunate to be training there. I have also spent some time training with other team Extreme fighters, and I plan to travel to the United States to train with some more of them very soon.
Rob King: You got a fight coming up on May 14 in FFC 9. Your opponent is undefeated Team Quest fighter Chris Leben. What are your thoughts on Chris Leben?
Joe Doerksen: No thoughts. Never seen him fight. I will fight him the same way I fight everyone else.
Rob King: How are you going to approach this fight?
Joe Doerksen: Train like a nut. Get in the ring. Punch him in the face as many times as I possibly can in the time that they give us.
Rob King: There has been a lot of support on message boards and in chat rooms for you fighting in the UFC. Do you know of any reason why your not in the UFC? What would it mean to you to get a shot in the UFC?
Joe Doerksen: I really don't know why I haven't fought there. Dana White told me he was going to put me in, but I have waited almost a full year since then. Perhaps he can better answer that question. For me, my focus is on training and making sure that I'm ready when the time comes.
Rob King: What fight is your biggest win?
Joe Doerksen: Denis Kang (Note: UCC 11 on 10/11/2002)
Rob King: Which of your losses would you like to try and have a chance to avenge the most?
Joe Doerksen: Stephan Potvin, Egan Inoue, and David Loiseau.
Rob King: Okay, in Spetember 2001 you fought Robbie Newman down in Louisiana in Extreme Challenge 44. I heard that because of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, you had to drive 40 hours more or less straight through, and then fight Robbie the day after you arrived. Is this true?
Joe Doerksen: It was actually only 26 hours each way. Going home was easier because I had another fighter go with me. He drove the first 12 hours to Illinois, and then I dropped him off and went the last 14 alone. That was not as bad.
Rob King: What does the future hold for Joe Doerksen in terms of your everyday life as well as your fighting career.
Joe Doerksen: Hopefully lots and lots of training, and hopefully lots of big fights in big shows. I am having a good time, and as long as that continues I will keep fighting.
Rob King: Thanks for the interview Joe and best of luck in all your future matches.
Joe Doerksen: Thank you.
Rob King: Congradulations on your most recent win Joe a victory this past weekend over Riki Fukuda out in Hawaii. Briefly take me through the fight. You went up in weight for this fight correct?
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Rob King: Going back a couple weeks, talk about your victory in Extreme Challenge over Danny Anderson.
Joe Doerksen: That was my first fight in
almost a year, so I was anxious to get back in the ring. I think it
was a pretty good fight. I didn't know much about him, but he
turned out to be a pretty solid opponent.
Rob King: You have fought twice within the past month after a 9 month layoff after your huge Superbrawl tournament victory. What was the reason for such a long break between fights?
Joe Doerksen: I took a few months off after the SuperBrawl tournament, and just as I was getting back into the gym I got sick and had to take another 2 or 3 months off. I was not in shape to fight until January this year.
Rob King: What is your martial arts backgrounds?
Joe Doerksen: Eight years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, about three years of boxing and kickboxing, and I have been working on my wrestling on and off for a little while now.
Rob King: You have done some pro boxing too correct?
Joe Doerksen: I have done one pro boxing match. I may do another in the future, as long as it does not conflict with my mma career. (Note: Doerksen won his pro boxing match on March 6, 2003 against Mathias Hughes)
Rob King: Who do you train with in Winnipeg?
Joe Doerksen: I train grappling at International Martial Arts. There's some strong talent there. I do my standup at Canadian Kickboxing and Muay Thai Centre. The coaches there are Giuseppe DeNatale and David Horvath. Both very accompished fighters. I feel fortunate to be training there. I have also spent some time training with other team Extreme fighters, and I plan to travel to the United States to train with some more of them very soon.
Rob King: You got a fight coming up on May 14 in FFC 9. Your opponent is undefeated Team Quest fighter Chris Leben. What are your thoughts on Chris Leben?
Joe Doerksen: No thoughts. Never seen him fight. I will fight him the same way I fight everyone else.
Rob King: How are you going to approach this fight?
Joe Doerksen: Train like a nut. Get in the ring. Punch him in the face as many times as I possibly can in the time that they give us.
Rob King: There has been a lot of support on message boards and in chat rooms for you fighting in the UFC. Do you know of any reason why your not in the UFC? What would it mean to you to get a shot in the UFC?
Joe Doerksen: I really don't know why I haven't fought there. Dana White told me he was going to put me in, but I have waited almost a full year since then. Perhaps he can better answer that question. For me, my focus is on training and making sure that I'm ready when the time comes.
Rob King: What fight is your biggest win?
Joe Doerksen: Denis Kang (Note: UCC 11 on 10/11/2002)
Rob King: Which of your losses would you like to try and have a chance to avenge the most?
Joe Doerksen: Stephan Potvin, Egan Inoue, and David Loiseau.
Rob King: Okay, in Spetember 2001 you fought Robbie Newman down in Louisiana in Extreme Challenge 44. I heard that because of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, you had to drive 40 hours more or less straight through, and then fight Robbie the day after you arrived. Is this true?
Joe Doerksen: It was actually only 26 hours each way. Going home was easier because I had another fighter go with me. He drove the first 12 hours to Illinois, and then I dropped him off and went the last 14 alone. That was not as bad.
Rob King: What does the future hold for Joe Doerksen in terms of your everyday life as well as your fighting career.
Joe Doerksen: Hopefully lots and lots of training, and hopefully lots of big fights in big shows. I am having a good time, and as long as that continues I will keep fighting.
Rob King: Thanks for the interview Joe and best of luck in all your future matches.
Joe Doerksen: Thank you.
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