For those that missed the first part of the interview with WEC lightweight contender, Anthony Njokuani, you can read all about his breakdancing bad-assery here.
Zak Woods: Obviously you have three knockout bonuses in a row. I don't think that has ever been accomplished in any Zuffa promotion and I am 99% sure that hasn't been accomplished in the WEC. With that kind of success, there will be a certain degree of hype. I know there is this problem in the media where we compare white athletes to white athletes and black athletes to black athletes but for better or worse, a lot of people are pointing to you as the WEC version of Jon Jones. How does it feel to be labeled as the rising star of a promotion? Is that a great honor or a great burden?
Anthony Njokuani: Oh no, it's a great honor. When I first fought Ben Henderson, I thought things were going to go my way but I wasn't ready. Then once I talked to Nick and he told me don't let that loss get to you, use bad loses as something that is going to push you to become better. After speaking with Nick, my whole mindset changed. That's why I was able to come out and perform like I did against Bart Palaszewski and he's also a tough, tough opponent. I was able to go out there and do the same thing like with Chris [Horodecki]. So, I am very honored that they have labeled me in that way and I do thank them for that.
Woods: I know in an interview with Fightbook.com a question came up about the UFC. Obviously the UFC and WEC share the 155 division and there's a little more UFC flavor with this card -- Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg announcing, 'presented' by the UFC, etc. You said at the time that you would be more than willing to jump to the UFC and that was a goal of yours. Do you still want to compete in the UFC.
Njokuani: If they are willing or wanting to give me an opportunity to fight for the UFC, I would be down, but if WEC wants to keep me I'll stay in the WEC. I mean, they've been really good to me and I would never leave that home. But if the UFC does call for me I'd go for it.
Woods: You've talked a lot about your childhood being a motivating factor for you as a fighter and you have made references to a rough childhood. Just for my reference was this in Garland, Texas?
Njokuani: Actually, this was all around Dallas, Texas. We moved around a lot. Pretty much it was really something that happened in school not outside of school, because I did have friends outside of school but in school kids were kind of tough.
Woods: So would you describe yourself as a loner?
Njokuani: No. During that time I wouldn't call myself a loner. I did have friends outside of school but not many friends inside of school.
Woods: Were you Judd Nelson from The Breakfast Club? That character, Bender?
Njokuani: Yeah, the crazy thing is now that the people who picked on me in high school are now trying to be my friends. I mean, they hit me up on Facebook, on Myspace, they even ask me for my number because they see the progress I am making and they didn't think I'd be this type of person now.
Woods: How do you respond to that? I mean, to a degree you kind of want to have this base human instinct of 'hey you weren't nice to me back then, tough luck!' But at the same time, do you take the high road? Do you say, 'oh okay. Yeah, I remember you, you weren't really nice to me but I am not going hold that against you?''
Njokuani: No, I wouldn't hold it against someone at all. I would let them know, 'you being that way towards me helped me become the person I am now.' I would continue to be their friend but I wouldn't be their friend all the way.
Woods: I understand. High school friends--uh, relationships from high school are always awkward, aren't they?
Njokuani: Uh-huh
Woods: [laughs] With regards to your father, I know that you have brought up his death as a motivating factory and to a degree it sounds almost, I don't want to say cliche, but this is a common story with fighters: relationships with the father, trouble in school, fighting as a kid and then blossoming into an extremely talented fighter. I mean, what are your thoughts about that, fitting into that cliche?
Njokuani: That's kind of crazy because I do actually fit in there. It's kind of rare that it happened, it really did happen, I did lose my father and I was treated poorly in school. But it actually helped me to become a better person; a better person towards my family 'cause losing my father actually opened up my eyes a lot. I was kind of rough towards my family members. I didn't always have a great attitude towards them. I didn't show them that love as much I should have and I never got the opportunity to show that to my father and it was already too late. Life is too short and you never know when someone is going to pass or what's going to happen. So, dealing with that happening actually opened up my eyes and that's why I did a full circle. Now I am treating my mom better, we have a great relationship. I have a better relationship with my family and we talk all the time. My little brother is actually living out here with me now and we hang out all the time.
Woods: That is certainly admirable that you can take those incidents in your life and learn from them and grow from them. Your honesty about it is refreshing. A lot of people tend to hide certain incidents in their past and that ability to reflect and see how it shaped you into a person, is something that is admirable and I think a lot of fans gravitate to that besides the ass kicking you can provide inside the cage. Thanks for your time.
Njokuani: Oh, you're welcome and I would like to thank all of my sponsors for the great support -Jaco Clothing, Fight2train.com, PerformanceMMA, GammaO, Gun Store Las Vegas, Hayabusa, TCB and www.KOreps.com.
