Edwin DeWees: “I really hope Frank Trigg doesn’t underestimate me!”
 INTERVIEW By Benny Henderson Jr (Dec 11, 2007) Doghouse Boxing
Former “The Ultimate Fighter 4” contestant Edwin “Babyface” DeWees (34-10) is set to return to the cage this Saturday night (December 15th) as he takes on ten year MMA veteran Frank Trigg (15-6) in a middleweight showdown at the Dallas’ American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX to be televised live on HDNet Fights 7:00 PM C. in what has been billed as “Reckless Abandon”.
All though best known for his action packed presence on the UFC’s reality show “The Ultimate Fighter 4”, DeWees has
been laying down the leather since late 2000. DeWees who is known for his excellent submissions has battled it out in Rage in the Cage, King of the Cage, Gladiator Challenge, Total Combat and most notably the UFC. The Arizona native has faced some of the toughest combatants in the no holds barred sports and in what could be his toughest challenge yet in Trigg, the 6’1” bad boy is ready for war.
In this exclusive interview Edwin speaks out on this weekend’s clash, he gets into his time on the fight series and gets candid on the whole debate of boxing versus MMA, enjoy.
Benny Henderson Jr.
Hey brother, first off thanks for taking the time out to speak to Doghouse Boxing, great having on yah on the site. Well, you are just days away before you come to my neck of the woods (Dallas, TX) and face Frank Trigg, the readers your thoughts on the fight.
Edwin DeWees
I think it is a good fight for me, obviously he is a big name, I think style wise I
have a good style to beat him so I really think this is a good fight for me.
BH
Trigg is a strong wrestler, you have a strong ground game as well, do you feel this will more of a tactical fight than a brawl?
ED
Yes I think so, I am not sure to what his game plan is, but I know that I want to be aggressive on my feet and if he is going to be aggressive to it might turn into a little bit of a brawl, but on the ground there is no way around being very technical because that is what I do on the ground. If it hits the ground it is going to be technical coming out of me at least.
BH
We all see what the series “The Ultimate Fighter” shows the world, I imagine there is a lot of editing done to make it more of an interesting show. How different was it from what we see on TV and behind the scenes.
ED
What they showed was pretty actual, hey did not show that I was sick and in the hospital for two weeks, I wish they would have showed it, my last fight I was actually twelve pounds from what I usually weigh. They made a big deal about in interviews but they never did show it. That was the only thing that happen to me that was not shown.
BH
How important is this fight for you and your career?
ED
I think it is a really important fight because Frank is such a big name, this will kind of solidify me in the top, it would completely move me into another bracket by beating Frank.
BH
I have watched the Ultimate Fighter, they show a lot of the guys partying and acting out fighting and tearing stuff up, to me I guess that would appeal to some of the younger generation. The MMA, specifically the UFC has gotten really popular. I think it is due to the marketing, and the series, do you feel that is the success, the fact that it appeals to a younger crowd with the music, the selling of sex and to the party crowd.
ED
The thing with the guys that are tearing up the houses and stuff, mostly aren’t established UFC fighters, I don’t think most of the UFC guys are like that. I found with the people who like MMA that I associate with, they like it just because there is so many different things that is why it appeals to them. It is not just stand up and grappling, it is everything, obviously the violence that people like. I think the appeal is the wide variety of everything, the UFC has done a good job of getting it publicized and getting it out there, just letting more people be able to see it.
BH
There has been this big debate about MMA versus boxing, a lot of media and such are calling boxing a dying sport, which I disagree, I think there are a lot of great fights in boxing, as the MMA, specifically the UFC. What are your thoughts on this debate of the popularity and taking over of boxing and so on?
ED
I think boxing is boxing and MMA is MMA, they should be two sports. Boxing still has its place, people like to watch boxing, I like to watch boxing. People have their pick. I think it has been over done like MMA versus boxing, it should be looked at as two completely different sports because they are. Boxing does not have that many well known faces at the moment and that is why I think they are taking such a hit now. You have your De La Hoya, Mayweather and a few other guys that the general public knows. I don’t really think it is MMA that is hurting boxing, I mean the MMA does have a lot of fans, and I actually think the two sports fan bases can combine and help each other out.
BH
Myself, I think a lot of the problem lies with the fact of all the commissions and titles in boxing, yeah it does bring in more revenue with more fights etc. but you have all these titles and you don’t know who the champion is because you have some many of them. To where the UFC has one champion.
ED
That does make a big difference when everybody knows how the champion of the world is and there isn’t four of them in every weight class. I think maybe boxing should have one big title.
BH
How has your training been for this fight?
ED
It has been phenomenal, this has been the best training camp I have ever gone through. I have been out herein Reno with the Lion’s Den, all the guys here are so tough and have been pushing me so everything has been going great.
BH
What impact of being with the Lion’s Den will have on your career?
ED
The wholes that has been in my game prior, are no longer going to be there, I am going to be more of a complete well rounded fighter. Just being with a team with such a great tradition and so much pride I am glad to be part of.
BH
If you could send out a message to Frank before the fight, using Doghouse as a platform, what would you tell him?
ED
I really hope he doesn’t underestimate me, I want him to train hard, I know there is not much time left so I hope he has trained hard, I want to make it a good entertaining fight, that is always my goal. I just want him to be prepared.
BH
Anything in closing?
ED
I would just like to thank everybody here at the Lion’s Den, Lance and Heather for letting me stay with them, my wife and family.
I would like to thank Lance Foreman for setting up this interview, and a thanks goes out to Edwin for his time and thoughts.
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