Phil Baroni has never been known to hide his emotions, and when MMA Fighting contacted "The New York Bad Ass" to discuss his recent collarbone injury, which forced him to pull out of his UFC 118 fight against John Salter, Baroni provided one of his more heartfelt interviews to date.Like many other fighters in a similar position, Baroni clearly recognizes that he is at a crossroads in his career. But his brutal honesty concerning his current status in the sport and what he needs to survive in the UFC is something you don't often hear from professional fighters.
The 13-12 veteran has experienced his fair share of highs and lows, and it seemed he viewed this August fight as the beginning of his final run in the UFC. Unfortunately, a freak injury got in the way, and as he explains in the interview below, the 33-year-old has been forced to take a deep look within himself to see if he still has what it takes to hang with the best middleweights in the world.
Check out the interview below.
Ariel Helwani : What exactly happened?
Phil Baroni: I felt my ground game was not as sharp as it needed to be and I was behind in my prep. So I went to [Robert] Drysdale's to get some extra ground and train pure jits. I wanted to see if I could pull off some of the new sh** I had been training. On my fourth round, I was tired and let a guy lock up an anaconda choke. When I tried to power out of it, I felt a bad pain in my collarbone joint in the front of my chest. I tried to keep rolling another round, but I felt my chest and felt it poking out. I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, and saw I had a major problem. I was really pissed and just went home.
Did you try to fight through the pain so you wouldn't have to pull out of the fight?
Yeah. I think I hurt it on Wednesday morning, so I took the rest of the week off and got it shot with cortisone. I ran over the weekend and started regular training on Monday. It was grinding and hurting when I wrestled and I was very uncomfortable training. I felt I had to protect it. I needed to push hard that last month. I couldn't have an another injury holding me back. I've been pretty banged up last few years. My left shoulder is dead. [It's] been dead since before [Frank] Shamrock fight. I can't jab fast or hard with it, and it's killing my stand up. It's really slow too. Fast hands have always been an advantage for me, and I have not had fast hands since.
Now with collarbone joint half dislocated, I can't punch at all with my left arm. It sucks and it's is very frustrating. But I need to win this next fight. I mean, really, it's no secret the position I'm in. It sucks and it's scary. I don't like it. I hate it. It's hard to deal with. It's always on the back of your mind. I need this. My family needs this. I want to be at my best; give it my all and be 100 percent, and if it doesn't work, at least I can say, 'F**k, I lost,' but not, 'I should have, could have or would have.' And if I lost and got cut, I would still be fighting, trying to earn my way back into a big show.
I want to be a contender -- I want to matter again. I want to be the biggest comeback story ever -- a Cinderella Man.
-- Phil Baroni
Considering how important this fight was, how difficult was it for you to pull out of it?
Very difficult. First off, I really want to fight. It's a big show -- first one in Boston. It would have been great. The card is huge, and maybe I could have a good fight and get on TV. Get some exposure. I need it now badly. I'm left out of a lot of sh** nowadays. I'm forgotten at the expos and appearances. Just everything with the UFC. I wanted to win a big fight, look impressive and get considered again. I wanted to say, 'Hey Dana, I'm still f**king here. I still can fight.' I wanted to say it to everyone: the fans, the media. I'm still Phil f**king Baroni. That used to mean something. I want it to mean something again. I want to say, 'Hey Strikeforce, you made a big mistake letting me go. You f**ked up. You blew it. I'm still somebody, and I still bring things to the table that not many fighters do.'
I just want to be a contender. I want respect from my peers, the fans, media and the promotions. I wanted to say, 'I'm still here, don't f**king forget about me. I'm not dead yet. I want to be a contender -- I want to matter again. I want to be the biggest comeback story ever -- a Cinderella Man. It's not depression, but I'm going through my share of problems like a lot of people in Vegas and across the country with foreclosure, money ... everything. I'm almost in the same position I was 10 years ago, but now the window of opportunity is closing. I don't want to be here when it shuts with none of my goals accomplished and all my dreams dead. I still have a little time, and I want to shove them all through the window with me. It's a million-to-one shot, but, hey, Rocky did it.
How did the UFC respond when you officially pulled out of the fight?
I called Joe Silva, and asked him to push my fight back to another card. He said he couldn't. I said give me a few days to see if I can get through it. He said I'm pulling you out. I need this fight and can't afford to fight hurt. So he gave me time to get healthy and have a good preparation.
When do you think you will be able to return to action?
Man, I'm already doing rehab on my shoulder, hip and back. The collarbone needs time heal -- maybe a month. I'm running and keeping my weight around 200. I'm going to lift and just do everything I can to stay in shape, get stronger and heal up. It's going to be difficult, but I got to do it. I'm working again, so I can afford to get healthy. My wife works a lot and hard also. She always does, but she really stepped up and got a second job. It sucks, man. I feel bad, but I'm lucky, and when I win my next fight, she won't have to work so hard. I'll be able to stay afloat and get healed and be ready in, I hope, a month. Then, I'll probably need at least to be peaked for my fight. It's hard. I want to back in there, but I'm not going to rush. I have a lot riding on this fight. I really want to look good and win.
Where are you working?
I would rather keep that private.
Will your next fight be in the UFC?
Yeah, I'm pretty sure. I think about a tune-up [fight], but there are no safe tune-ups. I got to just train and spar hard. It's too risky to fight outside the UFC. I need to train, fight, win, and fight often. Get my rhythm going; make noise. I'm still here; I'm still tough; I'm still relevant. Look, it's Phil f**king Baroni, 'The New York Bad Ass' is the real deal. I'm back, and in the immortal words of my boy Kevin Randleman, 'Lets trade b***h!'
What did you mean when you tweeted: "I cant take it anymore. Im freaking out. anxiety im shot. beaten. [sic]"
Yeah, I'm pretty sure. I think about a tune-up [fight], but there are no safe tune-ups. I got to just train and spar hard. It's too risky to fight outside the UFC. I need to train, fight, win, and fight often. Get my rhythm going; make noise. I'm still here; I'm still tough; I'm still relevant. Look, it's Phil f**king Baroni, 'The New York Bad Ass' is the real deal. I'm back, and in the immortal words of my boy Kevin Randleman, 'Lets trade b***h!'
What did you mean when you tweeted: "I cant take it anymore. Im freaking out. anxiety im shot. beaten. [sic]"
The stress and the pressure; fight hurt or not; take time, pull out or f**k it, fight. I've been fighting hurt for a while now. It is what it is. I don't know what to do. I want to make the right move. I have nobody to ask. I just feel beaten, down, nobody to turn to for answers. Just thinking out loud. I cant help it -- I wear my heart on my sleeve. I've always been that way. No fakes, no front; what you see is what you get.
Are you going to travel elsewhere to prepare for this fight now that you have more time?
I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I just don't know. I don't have a winning formula, which is my biggest problem and concern. It sucks, it's frustrating, it's hard to deal with. I don't know exactly what to do. What's best, how or where. It's nuts, I've been at this so long and don't have at least that. Nowhere to turn or go back to. It's hard, but it's my problem that I have to deal with -- my issue.
Most important to me is finding someone to believe in me; someone who thinks I can still do this and that I'm worth training; someone who cares and can put time in. I need someone to believe in me even when I don't and push me and help me; someone who can get me to the fight with a healthy mind. That's most important. I need that. Once I'm in the ring, everyone knows this, and I've shown it time and time again: I will not quit. I will fight to the very end. But finding that somebody is the challenge. Mark Coleman has always been there for me, and helped me, but he is in Ohio now raising his daughters. Maybe it's time to find it in myself?
Is there anything else you want to say to those who have supported you through this time?
Are you going to travel elsewhere to prepare for this fight now that you have more time?
I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I just don't know. I don't have a winning formula, which is my biggest problem and concern. It sucks, it's frustrating, it's hard to deal with. I don't know exactly what to do. What's best, how or where. It's nuts, I've been at this so long and don't have at least that. Nowhere to turn or go back to. It's hard, but it's my problem that I have to deal with -- my issue.
Most important to me is finding someone to believe in me; someone who thinks I can still do this and that I'm worth training; someone who cares and can put time in. I need someone to believe in me even when I don't and push me and help me; someone who can get me to the fight with a healthy mind. That's most important. I need that. Once I'm in the ring, everyone knows this, and I've shown it time and time again: I will not quit. I will fight to the very end. But finding that somebody is the challenge. Mark Coleman has always been there for me, and helped me, but he is in Ohio now raising his daughters. Maybe it's time to find it in myself?
Is there anything else you want to say to those who have supported you through this time?
I'm sorry I pulled out and I'm sorry I let you down, but I owe it to myself, my wife and family to be at my best. I owe it to my fans to go out there, not take a beating and show heart but to bring home a win for them and for me. I need to win. I deserve it. I'm better than I've been fighting. I can still compete and improve. I want to show everyone and myself that I can do this; that I still got it. I'm thankful for the support. I know my mistakes; same ones I always made. Now I need to fix them, come out guns blazing -- the way I came in. It's better to burn out than fade away. Now I'm fading away; an afterthought, if a thought at all.
I need some big middleweight fights, ones I know I can win and show my best: Bisping, Akiyama, Wanderlei Silva, Leben, Gerald Harris. Those are the good guys; guys I like and respect a lot. But they are also guys who are in my spot that have passed me by. It's time to put it into overdrive and beat the best. I just need to win and put myself in position to get the big fights again ... and win them this time. Win those fights, beat that caliber opponent, or die trying.
I need some big middleweight fights, ones I know I can win and show my best: Bisping, Akiyama, Wanderlei Silva, Leben, Gerald Harris. Those are the good guys; guys I like and respect a lot. But they are also guys who are in my spot that have passed me by. It's time to put it into overdrive and beat the best. I just need to win and put myself in position to get the big fights again ... and win them this time. Win those fights, beat that caliber opponent, or die trying.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
win or lose, UFC or no UFC always loved this guy!
the best evvvva!!
WAR BARONI
HOW CAN YOU HAVE THAT MANY FIGHTS AND THAT MANY CARDS IN THAT MANY COUNTRIES AND BE BROKE TO WHERE YOUR WIFE HAS TO GET A SECOND JOB??? WHERE HAS ALL THE MONEY GONE?? YOU WERE PAID WELL BY PRIDE AND STRIKEFORCE AND NOW ITS ALL GONE???
These guys don't make any money to begin with. a measly 7-12 grand a fight if they are a draw, and they fight twice a year. There is a small hand full of guys that make decent money like Chuck,Wand,Brock,Randy,Cro Cop.
For example everybody is making a big deal about Cris Leben making 200,000+ this year. The guy has fought 3 times already in 2010 and one two extra bonuses. It is just pathetic to call him a well payed athlete. the last fight he had was his 16th fight in the UFC and he was payed 40,000 to show up. 16 fights in the organization and they give him less than 50k thats just wrong when you have Boxers making millions of dollars to show up to fights. The lowest payed pro athlete that sits on the bench in Baseball,Football,Basketball makes 250,000+ base salary. When the UFC started it was to prove your fighting style was the best or to prove you where the best fighter.It was about honor and the challenge of defeating your opponent, not about money.To get sanctioned they had to push it as a sport and it is now established as a sport, SO why the heck are they not getting payed like other pro athletes? Zuffa makes millions of dollars profit every show.If they want people to commit there lives to training fighting and bleeding for them they need to stop being so ridiculously greedy and pay the fighters fairly.
For every boxer that makes bank there's a thousand that make jack. I agree the UFC doesn't pay as much as these guys are worth but boxing isn't any better, unless your that top 1%.
His personality is not everyone's cup of tea, but you can't question this guys heart or passion. I hope he gets in there healthy soon and we get to see if Phil can still compete at a high level. Although when he says he needs to come out guns blazing I think that is not fixing his mistakes.
You know Phil should really try showing people more of his humble side more often.. I've never really liked Baroni because of his antics & cocky persona.. but I think this shows that crap is really just an act (which is a good thing)... People are really starting to get to "know" the fighters now-a-days with all the articles, video blogs, & tweets, ect... so having a personality people back, will get you twice the fame/fan base verse a flashy guy W/ a pink robe who's not backing his trash talk.
I totally feel for the guy, and it's sad that so many fighters end up in these situations when the organizations are banking so much (especially in the case of the UFC when they make tens of millions per PPV card). The least they could do is take care of the medical expenses of their active roster (not just after a fight). And yes I know, it's also the responsibility of the fighter to manage their financials.. but I still feel they're grossly under paid. -- Not trying to start an argument on the subject, just providing my opinion..
In any case, for the first time... I will back Baroni in hopes that he finds his success. This article changed my opinion on the guy, so count that as a win..
He hasn't beaten anyone good in what? 5 years? All the guys he mentions that fight in the UFC would absolutely dominate him at every part of the game. No offense- this is a sport- he's absolutely irrelevant while he's in the UFC there are no fights for him to win certainly not on a contender level, but that story might be different in Australia or Japan.
Great article and one of the better interviews I've read from an MMA fighter. Talk bout candid. Good job. And yes, my mind was changed bout Baroni after reading this article too. I was never the biggest NYBA fan (although I love to watch that KO of Dave Menne) but now, I gotta root for the guy just a lil. Good luck Phil, get healthy and let it all hang out in the cage.
now im curious as to where he's working...
this dude is 13-12 and is a joke. he is nothing but a brawler with no real skill or any cardio. he runs out of energy by the end of the first round. he says he wants a tune up fight but what he doesn't realize is that he is actually the tune up fight for alot of other fighters.
Two options that might be good for you Phil
1) open up a gym, MMA/Conditiong center (before people forget about you)
2) Juice up a little more and go into WWE sort of a little big man theme you've got the personality and energy dude. ya could be a champion?
I remember seeing him in the Tough Man Competition many years ago and he was the same fighter then as he is now. Big mouth with no real skill to back it up. He lost in the finals to a nobody. One thing I must say is that he is very entertaining to watch but just does not have what it takes to be a champion.
well Phil, Nick still has your picture up in the gym, have you talked to nick about training you?
Phil Baroni: "I want to matter again."
I'm afraid this statement is based on a false premise.
-- MrJM