Josh Grispi Interview: I Can Hang With Anybody

Before making his WEC debut against one of the most experienced and respected featherweights in the world in Mark Hominick, Boston’s own Josh Grispi was just another 20 year old prospect in the midst of a solid winning streak. After compiling an easy 3-0 mark in the world’s thickest 145lb division, Grispi has been relegated to the sidelines throughout most of 2009 while recovering from an extensive surgery on a nagging ankle injury. Having finished 12 of his 13 professional victims thus far in his budding career, including Jens Pulver last June, Grispi is looking to make a run for the title when he returns to action sometime in 2010.

Tapology’s Steven Kelliher recently caught up with Grispi to discuss his three WEC wins, fighting on short notice on the local scene, and his future in the WEC’s stacked 145lb division.

Tapology: I wanted to start by asking about your training schedule as of late. Have you been staying at South Shore Sport Fighting or have you been moving around a lot?

Grispi: I mainly train at South Shore and at Lauzon MMA, but I just got surgery on my ankle so I haven’t been doing much. It was a long-time injury from the time of my second fight. It started to act up really bad when I fought Jens. I couldn’t even walk before I fought him. I have not been 100% for all of my fights in the WEC so far.

Tapology: How is the recovery process going?

Grispi: I got my surgery in September, so I am still in a cast. I get the cast off mid-December, then I’ll get into some physical therapy and we’ll see how well I can do from then on.

Tapology: You are 13-1 right now, and you’re only 21 years old. Did you know you had it in you from the beginning to compile that kind of a record so early on?

Grispi: I didn’t expect to go that far this early, but I knew I was always in shape and ready to fight. I didn’t think I was, but my friends and family kept telling me I was good, but once I started getting on a roll I figured I could compete at the highest level.

Tapology: You have had three big wins since joining the WEC, over Mark Hominick, Micah Miller, and Jens Pulver. Can you talk about those three wins and whether or not you were nervous going into the WEC?

Grispi: Hominick was probably the most nerve-wracking and scary fight for me, but I knew if I kept him backing up I could eventually get him down and submit him, and it worked out pretty well even though it looked sloppy. I knew Micah was tall and lanky, but I knew he didn’t have the strength to compete with me. Fighting Jens was crazy—it was like fighting Randy Couture in my division—even when we had to do the face-offs I was asking for his autograph. I love that guy.

Tapology: How much has that win over Pulver done for you in terms of sponsorships and other opportunities?

Grispi: Before the fight, I got some decent sponsors, and they have really upped everything at this point. When we fought, I didn’t expect him to shoot on me at all. I thought he was going to stand and bang so it caught me off guard, but Jiu-Jitsu is my biggest strength so I just sunk the guillotine in when he shot.

Tapology: You mentioned that the ground game is your biggest attribute, but you also have serious power in your punches. Do you feel confident trading with a top-level striker in the WEC at this point?

Grispi: I am comfortable anywhere. I like to stand and trade until I hurt the guy and he shoots on me. I have been training in MMA since I was 13, so I’m comfortable anywhere honestly.

Tapology: Obviously you are injured right now, but the WEC is typically slower about giving you fights compared with when you fought locally. Did you enjoy fighting often locally more than fighting a few times per year?

Grispi: It gets you more comfortable, getting in the cage every month or every few weeks. Sometimes it was only on three days notice. It gives you more experience, but when you fight in the WEC you are automatically going to be nervous walking down to that cage.

Tapology: When you make your return to the WEC, would you like to compete as often as they will allow you to or are you willing to go at their pace?

Grispi: I would love to fight as often as I can, but recently I haven’t been doing too well with injuries. I had torn cartilage in my ribs, a bulged disc in my neck and in my back from sparring with Danny Lauzon, so I needed the time off.

Tapology: Do you think that is a result of training too hard or not training smart enough?

Grispi: That is exactly what happened. I was late for training with Danny, and I just jumped in without stretching or warming up, and I heard my neck snap when I landed the wrong way. If I’m going to be fighting guys in the WEC, I can’t be training like that.

Tapology: How do you see yourself matching up with the top names in your division—such as Jose Aldo, Mike Thomas Brown, and Urijah Faber—at this point in your career?

Grispi: I think I can hang with anybody. Like I said, no matter what they throw at me I will have an answer for it. I have never said no to a fight, so no matter who my next opponent is, I’ll fight him.

Tapology: You seem like you are a little large for 145lbs.

Grispi: Yeah, everyone says I should be at 155lbs. I walk around at about 170lbs and I’m usually cutting water and muscle. The last couple of times were pretty tough.

Tapology: Do you see yourself going up a division or two within the next couple of years as you grow or have you not thought about that yet?

Grispi: I haven’t thought about it too much. I am pretty good at cutting weight right now, but if I have to I will go up eventually.

Tapology: I wanted to get your thoughts both short-term and long-term about your ideal goals in this sport. Is this something you want to make a living out of or are you just doing it right now?

Grispi: I am kind of on the fence about that. I love fighting, it’s what I’m good at, so if I can make money and retire that would be great, but they don’t pay you in MMA like they do in boxing. I love doing it, but I don’t want to end up like a cripple. I have to be more careful in the training, but if I can I will continue to fight for as long as I can.

Tapology: I talked to Mike Thomas Brown before his fight against Aldo, and he really makes peanuts compared with champions in the higher weight classes, which he was obviously unhappy with. If it came down to it, would you move to the UFC’s lightweight division if it meant significantly more money?

Grispi: To make money, yes. I like fighting, but I also like money. Hopefully something changes and we start getting paid more. Taxes kill us.

Tapology: Before I let you go, do you have plans to work on any specific weaknesses when you do get back into the gym?

Grispi: Probably just everything. I always go to different gyms to work on my game and to get better at every single aspect of the game. I don’t feel like I have many weaknesses, maybe I’ll just tighten everything up. Overall I feel pretty good.

Tapology: Do you have any sponsors you need to thank?

Grispi: Ecko, Muscle Farm, South Shore Sport Fighting and Lauzon MMA.

Tapology: Thanks for the time, Josh.

Grispi: Thanks. Take it easy.