James Thompson Interview

[Mulla]

James Thompson Interview

He's 6'5 265lbs of pure muscle. If you ever seen the X-Men character Colossus you can see a resemblance here minus the silver armor. James Thompson is one of the most intimidating looking fighters around and he fights only one way, straight forward and swinging. "The Colossus" took some time out to talk to HACNews' JR about numerous topics including his dream of fighting in the UFC and much much more. As always, he faced our popular Word Association, True or False, and Get2Know segments to shed a little more light on the man also known as "Megapunk" outside of the ring or cage.

JR: This is JR with an exclusive HACnews.com interview with EXC heavyweight and Cage Rage veteran James “The Colossal Mega Punk” Thompson. How are you James?

MEGAPUNK: I’m doing fine mate. How about you?

JR: I’m great. Whose DVDs have you advanced to watching now?

MEGAPUNK: The mistakes I was making was watching a lot of romantic comedies and now I’ve advanced more into MMA and Jiu-Jitsu DVD’s so be watching out for my flying armbars.

JR: Who are your primary training partners at Xtreme Couture?

MEGAPUNK: I’ve got Jay White, Soa Palelei, Mike Whitehead a big Light Heavyweight, Stephan Bonnar, Forrest, and obviously Randy. I’ve got some really good guys who come down in and out and help me out.

JR: What’s it like training with Randy a guy who will go down as one of the greatest fighters of all time.

MEGAPUNK: It’s great! I mean there’s no way to say. I really do like it, everyone gets something from him, he’s going to help you improve. Randy has done it all and all you can do is take what he says and do it…I mean he’s done so much.

JR: Where do you see yourself two years from now?

MEGAPUNK: I would love to be in the UFC. In two years I will be ready.

JR: I thought I would have seen you over there for a while now.

MEGAPUNK: You know I love all the promotions and everything but UFC is the big dogs and I want to be there.

JR: Is it "Mega Punk" or "Colossus"? Which nickname do you prefer?

MEGAPUNK: I prefer Colossus. But when I went over to Japan they had a hard time saying Colossus so they ended up calling me the Megapunk. When I go to Japan it’s Megapunk, in the states it’s Colossus. But I love Megapunk because the fans gave it to me.

JR: Who would you like to fight next?

MEGAPUNK: I want Kimbo. Everyone is interested and I really want to fight him. Bo did not test him like I would have. We’re both characters and it would be a good buildup and everything.

JR: How would the fight most likely play out in your opinion?

MEGAPUNK: I think it would end first round.

JR: Would you GONG AND DASH him?

MEGAPUNK: Oh yeah you know I stopped doing that because it was pressured on me to do it in every fight and I began to believe it was causing me some losses so I kind of slowed off of it. The Gong and Dash usually works but sometimes it fails miserably. I started second guessing myself eventually.

JR: I remember the first fight I ever saw when you knocked Aleksander down, I watched and thought it was fixing to go down and he stood up and I was like oh boy.

MEGAPUNK: Yeah the thing about that fight is I was in over my head so much. I was nervous. I knew I was in over my head and Rampage told me to go out there and give it my all. He told me to put on a show and give it my all. The first five seconds was good but the next six hurt like hell. I think it was stopped early but the outcome would have still been the same he was looking to eat and I was the main course. The fans appreciated it and I gave it my all.

JR: That fight was the most exciting 11 seconds ever.

MEGAPUNK: [Laughs]

JR: It was awesome.

MEGAPUNK: No man back then my training was so bogus. I was like going around to different little clubs like one for kickboxing, one for Japanese jiu-jitsu, and so forth. I put everything together with my handsome looks and impressive physique and you got the Gong and Dashing war wagon leading James Thompson.

JR: Tell us a story about your debt collecting days.

MEGAPUNK: I got a few of those. Once I got offered a job where the people had been ripped off by some kind of builder. They asked me to get the money back because he did a botched job. I was knocking on a door for some time and a lady popped her head around. I asked if he was in and she was kind of shifty and I walked past her and she was in a leather bikini type thing. I was like okay however you like to dress thinking nothing strange was going on.

JR: Don’t tell me.

MEGAPUNK: Oh yes I walked in on this guy butt-naked chained to the bed with a leash with a [stutters to try to say it right] oh what is it called?

JR: S&M?

MEGAPUNK: There it is, thanks man. Anyway he was in no position to fight me but he still tried. I kind of growled and barked at him and he changed his tune. He folded quick and paid it back the next day. So that was a good one.

JR: Yeah that’s interesting in fact I don’t think interesting describes that one.

MEGAPUNK: [Laughs]

JR: So what's the worst job you've ever had? You’ve removed gypsies and collected debts from naked guys. But what was your worst job experience.

MEGAPUNK: Well kind of done security jobs for a long time and I was in a car warehouse with alarms and stacking and stuff and it was so boring, no work but you had to find stuff to do anyways. I ended up getting fired, I only lasted two weeks.

JR: How many gypsies have you removed in your day?

MEGAPUNK: Oh so many, so very many. Sometimes they would turn up all over the country and just ask them to leave and sometimes they would leave without any hassle and sometimes it was fight time.

JR: Do you have any phobias?

MEGAPUNK: I DESPISE BEANS!!!!!!

JR: Beans?

MEGAPUNK: Yeah beans, I don’t know what it is but I don’t like them at all. Maybe I got dropped in a vat as a child. You like beans John?

JR: Not at all.

MEGAPUNK: I think we’re on the same wavelength there my friend you know the whole great minds think alike thing.

JR: [Laughs] Definitely man. What do you feel has stopped you from reaching that next level in MMA? It seems as if every time you get good momentum going your way, you run into a setback.

MEGAPUNK: That does seem to happen a lot. I think it was just the lack of training partners. I had no one to spar with. I was doing good technical stuff but nobody to execute on. I would get on a confidence high and then get knocked off by being too cocky. I need to build some consistency. I got a new gym with new managers, new place to live, and I’ve made the sacrifices I needed to get things right.

JR: How would you describe your 2007? What do you see for yourself in 2008?

MEGAPUNK: Inconsistent in 2007 with great wins and terrible losses. I’m going to be on good wins this year and leave the losses behind.

JR: Who gave you the name 'The Colossus'? Is it based off the comic book character since you do resemble him?

MEGAPUNK: I seen it in a review of my second or third fight, some journalist said "The Colossus of Old James Thompson runs through his opponent." The promoter offered me the name and thus the Colossus was born.

JR: Would you ever consider being on TUF?

MEGAPUNK: Yeah I think I would, it’s a chance to get in the UFC. Would I like to be locked up in the house, no, but I think it would be great to do. I would consider it.

JR: Many fans felt the stoppage in your fight against Butterbean was premature. What are your thoughts on that fight and would you like to fight Butterbean in a rematch?

MEGAPUNK: Butterbean is a great guy first of all but it’s a loss on my record. I don’t consider that a fight because it was only one good shot and then I had a single leg and I was working a takedown and he stopped it. I was driving forward and he stopped it. It’s the first time I ever really hated a decision. As soon as I went down the ref ran in and stopped it which was stupid.

JR: What loss in MMA would you most like to avenge?

MEGAPUNK: No doubt my first loss to Tengiz Tedoradze. He’s a very good fighter, he’s a good wrestler, and when I fought him he just owned me for ten minutes. I think he got bored of punching me at one point. I offered to fight him on two hours notice. I was supposed to fight him in December and it got cancelled. I was supposed to fight him in Cage Rage and he pulled out.

JR: I would love to see part two.

MEGAPUNK: I would too. Just so I would be able to see how far I’ve come, you know? I’ve got a lot better on the ground and I wouldn’t just be a sitting duck.

JR: You’d like to debut the flying armbar on him huh?

MEGAPUNK: There you go now we’re speaking the same language.

JR: What are your opinions on the Lee Murray bank heist?

MEGAPUNK: I thought about it, I mean I know nothing about it and I hate it happened to him. He’s a good fighter and if he’s guilty then he should serve his time and if he’s not guilty I hope he gets out and fights again.

JR: What's your ultimate goal in MMA, what are you trying to ultimately achieve?

MEGAPUNK: I want to be the UFC heavyweight champion. Any title would do, Elite or anything else, but the UFC is the one I really want. I beat people in Pride like Yoshida and I think I’ve achieved some good things but I still want to do more and be the champion.

[Mulla]

Continued....

JR: Did you catch UFC 80?

MEGAPUNK: Yeah I did, I enjoyed it.

JR: Were you upset that you weren't contacted to be a part of the Yarennoka New Years Eve show given your decent popularity with the Japanese fans?

MEGAPUNK: I was disappointed. I want to fight in front of my Japanese fans. I love the fans and I really want to fight there but right now I got to focus on here in the Elite show. But I’m sure I’ll get to fight there again.

JR: What are your opinions on the way the Chuck/Wanderlei fight went?

MEGAPUNK: Bad style match-up for Wanderlei. It was a good fight but Wandy likes to come forward and Chuck has the reach to back up. I think it was a split though, for sure not a unanimous.

JR: Randy vs. Fedor?

MEGAPUNK: I mean that’s massive, there are a lot of legal issues. I think it can be bypassed because no matter what anybody says they really want to see that fight. Randy’s use of wrestling in MMA is the best and I think he can do it.

JR: Are you happy with your EliteXC deal?

MEGAPUNK: I am very happy, a lot of the deal depends on me winning. They want to build me up and I have to be consistent so I’m going to be. I’ve got an open contract so I can fight in Japan.

JR: Were you contacted by the UFC?

MEGAPUNK: Yeah they contacted me to release me from my contract when they bought PRIDE. I wasn’t ready anyway, I want to go in with a few solid wins over good competition.

JR: What do you think of Brett Rogers and how are you preparing for him?

MEGAPUNK: Brett is a big powerful guy and I think his hands are good and he’s got knockout power. He’s a danger and I’m looking forward to it. I feel strong and my weight is good. I’m doing everything to prepare.

JR: Most defining moment in your career?

MEGAPUNK: The Aleksander fight. I was in over my head so much and I still came through it even though I lost I think that fight defined me…all or nothing.

JR: One question going back a few months. Did you see the Bisping vs. Hamill fight...

MEGAPUNK: Before you say anything else, Hamill won it. I mean Mike got the win but Matt should have got it. I caught the fight the other day and I saw that Mike was coming back but I did not think it was enough.

JR: Yeah, do you know Mike?

MEGAPUNK: I met him a few times but it’s not a friend thing, he’s seems nice though.

JR: You’re a rather intimidating character, you might have scared him.

MEGAPUNK: Nah, I’m only intimidating across the cage from you. I’m a big softy in person unless you’re a gypsy or you owe someone money.

JR: I owe people money, better stay away.

MEGAPUNK: If you’re a gypsy and you owe someone money and you also fight against me…you're in for a hurting.

Predictions

JR: Tank Abbott vs.. Kimbo
MEGAPUNK: Kimbo. Tank’s been training and he’s a tough guy but Kimbo no doubt.

JR: The Colossus vs. The Incredible Hulk
MEGAPUNK: The Colossus is a beautiful man and I think he would beat the Hulk. Probably by attractiveness. Intimidation by good looks.

JR: Killing them with a smile huh?

MEGAPUNK: Oh yes big smile and they fall over.

JR: James Thompson vs. Antonio “Big Foot” Silva

MEGAPUNK: I got offered this fight and I turned it down because I did not feel I was ready and I want my confidence to be ready and I want to be coming off of a win. I will fight him but I want some solid wins first.

Word Association

-Fedor Emelianenko

MEGAPUNK: Legend

-Randy Couture

MEGAPUNK: Legend times two.

-Butterbean

MEGAPUNK: Bad decision, bad day for me.

-Kimbo Slice

MEGAPUNK: Next victim.

True or False

JR: James Thompson would like to be in the WWE.

MEGAPUNK: I would actually love to be there when I’m done fighting. I had a pro wrestling match but I did not like it because it was fake. But I was and still am a fan of the WWE. But when I wrestled I did not get the rush I got when I did MMA.

JR: Did you catch Mirko doing the Hustle?

MEGAPUNK: You mean the Head kick on that guy?

JR: Yeah.

MEGAPUNK: That poor guy got murdered. The look on Mirko’s face was like, WHOOPS!!!!!

JR: James Thompson experimented with steroids when he was younger.

MEGAPUNK: Yeah I did. The thing was I was trying to be like a body builder type of guy and I was walking around at 22-23 stone at one point. I nearly had a heart attack and I thought that I had to get rid of it and I let it go. I had to change everything in my life and at the end of the day I decided to be an MMA fighter and not a bodybuilder.

JR: Pride Fighters roided.

MEGAPUNK: What do you mean?

JR: When the most recent fighters have come over they have been losing and now people are beginning to wonder if they were juicing. What are your thoughts on those accusations?

MEGAPUNK: I don’t think it’s true. The testing would have caught most of them but at the same time it’s possible to get around if you know what I mean. It’s the cold hard facts. I think it comes down to the ring and the cage being different. I haven’t fought in the states but the atmosphere is different from the crowd.

Get2Know James

JR: What's the most annoying question you get asked, not fight related if possible?

MEGAPUNK: If I am a rugby player.

JR: ARE you a rugby player?

MEGAPUNK: No I’m not a rugby player ya *******. [Laughs]

JR: [Laughs]

MEGAPUNK: I also hate being called a cage fighter because that’s all people think this sport is. I try to educate everyone on the difference between toughman cage fighting and the awesomeness of Mixed Martial Arts.

JR: What’s the worst moment of your life?

MEGAPUNK: When my daughter was taken away from me by my wife, she just left and went to Spain and I had to raise my daughter for a year. When my Ex came back and pulled my daughter off of me it was the worst moment ever. The father has no rights here so I could do nothing.

JR: Do you get to see her?

MEGAPUNK: Yes, there was a time when she wouldn’t let me but now everything is good.

JR: What's the scariest dream or nightmare you've ever had?

MEGAPUNK: I had a nightmare one time where I was in bed and this guy came in with a cloak and a top hat and he chased me and began spinning me around and I was trying not to look up and finally I started looking up and then I woke up.

JR: That is creepy.

MEGAPUNK: I’ve scared you didn’t I John?

JR: I’m shaking man.

MEGAPUNK: I can physically hear you shaking in your boots through the phone. [Laughs] I hope you don’t have that dream tonight.

JR: I hope not either because if I do, when I wake up, I’m going to call and wake you up as well just to thank you.

MEGAPUNK: [Laughs]

JR: You got any sponsors or anything to shout out before I let you go?

MEGAPUNK: I’ve got the guys at Xtreme Couture and that’s about it at the moment. It’s been great talking to you.

JR: Thanks for your time big guy and best of luck to you man.

MEGAPUNK: You’re a good guy and cheers mate.

JR: Thanks James.

[T-Bone]

Thanks, Mulla. Funny interview.

"Megapunk, "Colossus"... I know him as "The Debt Collector".

Hah, can you imagine this guy on TUF?


But when I went over to Japan they had a hard time saying Colossus so they ended up calling me the Megapunk. OK, that's funny!


Before you say anything else, Hamill won it. Truth!


The best part...
JR: What's the most annoying question you get asked, not fight related if possible?

MEGAPUNK: If I am a rugby player.

JR: ARE you a rugby player?

MEGAPUNK: No I’m not a rugby player ya *******. [Laughs]

[mxfuel]

Good interview. I wouldn't mind seeing him in the UFC. The fight against Alek was exciting to say the least.

[Xenofreak]

I really can't see why the UFC is not putting him under contract. He is a great guy and would sell very good!!

Anyway, i love the interview, it is good and has some funny stuff in it to!
And there is nothing wrong with Rugbyplayers! (Just a personal thing here lol.)

I hope James reaches the UFC! Great heart for the sport. And for what i can see, he really really is a big guy with a small heart.

Thank god i am not a gypsy tough.. lol.

Good read! Thanks!

[fullonshred]

Thanks,he's a likable guy, and it was a great interview. Hope he makes it to the ufc.