Interview with Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko
By Dan "The Wolfman" Theodore.
To get the fans some latest news and views of another top fighter, I traveled to Vladimir Matyushenko's VMAT Training Facility in El Segundo, California. Vladimir has had the facility located at 321 Richmond Street for about a year now. This powerful built 6 foot tall IFL Light Heavyweight Champion has a very impressive record of 21-3 and wins over the likes of Pedro Rizzo, Travis Wiuff, Tim Boetsch, Aaron Stark, Vernon White, Carlos Barreto, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and a man I once lost to, Pancrase superstar Yuki Kondo.
His only 3 losses are to Tito Ortiz, Andre Arlovski, and a decision to Vernon White. He has split his wins evenly between 7 TKO's, 7 Submissions, and 7 Decisions according to useful source Sherdog.com (though I wish they would one day finally correct my record, 2 of my 3 MMA wins by first round submission are missing).
Anyway, I walked in the door yesterday to find Vladimir and guess what he was doing? You guessed it, mopping the mats just like the story of how he got his nickname "The Janitor"! We both had a laugh at that right away.
The facility had a nice matted area including matted walls which is very useful for safe MMA training. There were plenty of bags to bang on. He also had a Combat Sports International grappling ground and pound bang I found to be a very useful tool during an awesome MMA circuit he pushed us through. There are areas with plenty of personal training equipment and training is available at his facility. After the interview I spent the next 2 1/2 hours doing MMA circuits, learning takedowns for MMA fine points, grappling, and puking! It's a personal setting and I saw Vladimir take a very personal approach to teaching in the fighter training and half a wrestling class that I participated in. If you live in the area you should definitely go check it out. Check out www.vladthejanitor.com to find out more or if you are not familiar with his interesting biography.
DTW- Hello Vladimir, you have been active finding great success in the IFL but I've heard the IFL has closed it's doors and released contracts. Are you now a free agent? I saw you happily enjoying the Affliction show, is that a sign of things to come?
Vladimir- Technically yes I am free now, but really I will most likely be fighting at the next Affliction show Oct. 11th. I just got back from meeting with Affliction people in Las Vegas.
DTW- So have you signed with them?
Vladimir- Everything is verbally agreed right now for me to fight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira! (Vladimir previously defeated him by decision in 2002 so this is a rematch)
DTW- What did you think of the first show?
Vladimir- It was a great show, the best ever! You had a great crowd and great fights.
DTW- I was thinking that there would be some very interesting fights there for you with Renato "Babalu" Sobral, a rematch with Lil Nog (Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, smaller twin brother of the UFC Heavyweight Interim Champion) and a possible rematch with Tito Ortiz.
Vladimir- It looks like Affliction has lined up a few shows! I don't know if Tito is signed but that would be interesting if I get that rematch!
DTW- Do you think the wrestling aspect in that possible rematch will go differently, especially since Tito has had plenty of knee injuries/surgeries that have effected his wrestling? How would you see that fight going today?
Vladimir- In the last fight I was trying to KO him and I was not worried about the takedowns going into the fight. But if it happens again it will be different, no one can keep me held down on bottom right now. My grappling has continued to improve.
DTW- What are your thoughts on both Fedor Emelianenko and Andre Arlovski and there recent wins?
Vladimir- They are good fighters, the best heavyweights. Obviously I know Arlovski having fought him. I've trained with him a couple times after we fought and we have a good relationship.
DTW- Whom do you predict between the upcoming fight between Andre Arlovski and Josh Barnett?
Vladimir- It's hard to say. I know both very well. Arlovski is fast and athletic. Barnett just KO'd Pedro Rizzo. He has great ground work and knows how to use his weight. It will be a great fight.
DTW- What do you think is likely to happen if the proposed fight between Fedor and Couture ever happens?
Vladimir- I think it is a bad situation for Randy because the longer he goes without fighting, especially at his age, is not good. I'd give it to Fedor probably. Randy uses cage tactics well, especially in his last fight, but in the ring things might be different.
DTW- What are your favorite types of movies?
Vladimir- I like the Classics, and Cowboy and Western movies.
DTW- Do you have children and do they train wrestling and MMA?
Vladimir- Yes I have a son that is 17 and he trains.
DTW- Do you want him to become a fighter?
Vladimir- Yeah, he better do that or something else, because he needs to start paying rent soon somehow. He needs to take training and fighting more seriously as a job. He has had 1 amateur fight already that he won.
Thanks and good luck in October, Vladimir!
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