TUF Talk: Nam Phan Discusses his Impressive Win over Spencer Paige with The Garv

If you hadn't noticed the polite, black-spectacled and unassuming TUF competitor in the first few episodes of this season's show, his calculated dismantling of tough striker Spencer Paige surely caught your attention.

Wading through a hail of stinging kicks, scrappy veteran Nam Phan showed courage and composure under fire to weather the early storm and pull out a gutsy win last week.  After tasting an assortment of Paige's crisp striking arsenal, the BJJ black belt continued to patiently stalk until he cornered Paige, caught one of his kicks, and planted him on his back to the tune of explosive ground-n-pound. Quickly diving into side-control, Phan secured an arm and wrenched a wicked kimura with 10 seconds left, but Paige was able to grit his teeth through it and survive the round.  The second frame was all Nam Phan, who punished his injured opponent with pro-level boxing en route to a commanding decision victory.

In the Q&A below, Nam Phan lends his thoughts on the fight, what his biggest key to victory was, and surmounting his self-applied pressure to represent his heritage with pride.

Congratulations on a hard-nosed performance in the most exciting battle so far.  Describe your feelings after the fight.

Nam Phan:  I was very excited and very happy about the win; the first for Team Koscheck.  I’m the only Asian-American in the house, so there’s a lot of pressure to win, and I wanted to represent my gene pool in a very good light.

He came out with aggressively with sharp stand-up and strong kicks.  Did that surprise you?

Nam Phan:  It didn’t surprise me, because back home I train with better kickboxers.  I was comfortable because I know how to fight against southpaws.  The leg kicks and kicks to the body were tough, but I didn’t eat too many because I started to block and counter.  I started checking his leg kicks and blocking his body kicks with my elbow.

When he was landing strikes to open the first round, it looked like your straight right was the equalizer.  Knowing it’s advantages against a southpaw, was that your strategy going in, or just how you countered instinctually?

Nam Phan:  When you’re fighting a southpaw, you want to do a lot of right crosses, because a southpaw is susceptible to the right.  I just tried to cut him off to the left and right and work my angles.

You swarmed him as soon as the fight hit the ground.  When you passed guard, your corner was screaming for elbows, but you were fixated on fishing for the sub.  Did you hear your corner, and if so, what made you trust your instincts and stick with the submission?

Nam Phan:  I was in the full guard and throwing punches, and I did throw a couple of elbows -- very feint, just one or two.  You really have to slow down the tape to see the elbows; they’re not that clear.

But … I was in the guard and I wanted to finish him as soon as possible, but to my surprise, Spencer Paige is very flexible!  I heard some pops and cranks when I had the submission, but he took it like a man.

What do you think was your most important advantage that got you the win?

Nam Phan:  Experience, for sure.  My experience kept me calm.  I’ve been there before and I knew what to do.  I didn’t do much preparation for the fight -- I just knew what to do.  I wasn’t too worried.

When did you realize he was hurt, and how could you tell?

Nam Phan:  During the fight, I never thought that he was hurt.  I just thought he was tired, and I wasn’t (that’s why I run).  I wanted to keep pushing the pace to get him more tired, and that was the plan:  to finish him, to get my hands on him and go for the KO.

Though you engaged him actively, you stayed composed when you smelled blood.  Were you purposely trying to stay composed and not overcommit?

Nam Phan:  I always try to stay calm and continue to push the pace.  That’s how I do it.  I don’t get too over-anxious or too excited.  I don’t want to get too excited and rush in and get KO’d or submitted.

What did you do after the fight to celebrate?

Nam Phan:  I’m not a wild guy.  I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I don’t party.  On the weekends, I go and drink tea with some of my guys.  That’s it.  I ate pizza and drank soda for my celebration.

Was that a special meal for your victory, or available whenever you wanted it?

Nam Phan:  We had a request sheet and we could order anything.  That wasn’t special or anything, just what I ordered on the request sheet.

I appreciate your time, Nam.  Any final comments?

Nam Phan:  Oh man ... no, that’s about it.  Thanks for the support.

Visit Nam's website and watch his fight with Spencer Paige at:  IamNam.com