I did an interview for Cageside MMA with with North Carolina fighter, Steven Thigpen (4-1) who represents Triangle Jiu-Jitsu at the BullCity Brawl 13, on October 12th, 2013.
Steven Thigpen fights out of Triangle Jiu-Jitsu and trains
with Royce Gracie black belt/faixa preta, Jacob Whitfield. Thigpen returns to
action since last winning by a quick triangle (1:49 of the first round) at Bull
City Brawl 12 back in July of this year. Prior to that Thigpen racked up 3 wins
(2 by submission, 1 by TKO) and lost a very close split decision to Lucas
Burwell but was sidelined by ACL surgery.
Thigpen has never been finished or submitted.
How long have you
been training and under whom?
I’ve been training for 5 years, started fighting in 2010, so
about 3 years. Jake Whitfield has been my head instructor the whole time
How did you get
started in MMA/what made you want to start fighting specifically?
I started with Jiu-Jitsu, after a month of just jiu-jitsu,
doing some kickboxing with Jake, hitting the pads, a progression began where I
became interested in competing. I’ve always liked competing, what better way to
see if what I was doing actually worked, and what better way to see if that was
the case other than step in the cage
Any thoughts going
into this fight, expectations of your opponent ?
I’m expecting a tough fight. I know he’s good, know he has
good jiu-jitsu so I’m training for a good, hard fight. I never take anyone lightly.
I feel that I train hard and I’m prepared for whatever happens in the fight,
and of course I feel like I will come out on top. I’m looking to finish, if you
look at his fight and my fights, most of our wins come from a finish. I’m
expecting to win the fight with a finish. I respect CJ, I respect his skills
like I respect all my opponents.
Thoughts on fighting 5
rounds as opposed to 3 rounds:
Of course, I had to train and prepare to go the 5 rounds, to
the distance, so we’ve done the conditioning differently to adjust for the
length of time, more rounds of sparring. Overall, especially with the type of
game that I like to play, the more classic style, the more time I have, the
better it will go for me. I don’t have to rush, I got time to work.
Favorite cheat meal?
For the most part, I keep it pretty clean, lean meats,
vegetables, fruits, once in a while I like to switch it up and I’ll get chicken
sausage and grill it. The main thing that keeps me going as far as food in
training camp is peanut butter. Granola Bars also make it easier.
How do you divide
your time up in training?
I have a lot of faith in my coach, Jake Whitfield, he’s
fought amateur and professionally. He’s been training for a long time; he comes
from a good line of people who know what they’re doing.
3 days a week, I’m in the gi for jiu-jitsu. Then we have 2
days at least that we’ll have kickboxing or mma sparring. I usually try to get
in a day on the weekends depending on who’s available on the weekend. Our main
focus is Jiu-Jitsu but we work everything else: conditioning 3 days a week, but
situational rolling, working from bad spots and drilling.
Favorite part about
fighting ?
I fight to represent
my team, triangle jiu-jitsu and Royce gracie jiu-jitsu which I take very
seriously. I enjoy it b/c I get to go out there and show that this works and
that we’re serious. We like to put it on the line, win lose or draw. For two
months for a fight, I’ve been training, win lose or draw I feel like during
that time I’m testing myself, and do what a lot of people aren’t willing to do.
It motivates me to get out there and do what I do.
Least favorite part
about fighting ?
Of course, it’s going to be the weight. Getting down,
changing my eating habits, clean it up. I’m a pizza chicken wings, rib type of
guy normally. Going from that to steamed vegetables and then the worst part
would be going without my craft beer, to cut out those extra calories.
Favorite piece of
training gear?
Towel: if I don’t have a towel, I just have to have it.
There’s no special equipment , I always have a towel.
Favorite
position/technique?
Whatever gets me the submission or gives me the win.
Any superstitions?
Two: one is whenever it is, I start training for my fight,
when camp starts, I don’t shave my beard until after the fight. Another is:
black underwear, shorts underneath my shorts have to black. 
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