Figher Focus: Getting to Know Steve “Punch Your Lights Out” Greene

Figher Focus:  Getting to Know Steve “Punch Your Lights Out” Greene
 
MCC:  Steve, when we interviewed your opponent, Luis “Jabz” Saldana, we thought he had an interesting nickname.  Yours may top his!
SG:  Well, really the nickname is “Punch Your Mother ****ing Lights Out”, but I’ll tone it down for MCC.
 
MCC:  It just so happens that your only loss in mixed martial arts is to Saldana.  Does that make you more excited to get back in there with him?
SG:  Yeah, the loss was a bogus decision, but that’s all right.   I really don’t try to talk to much stuff because I respect every fighter unless they disrespect me.  Me and Luis have no hard feelings, and win or lose it will be a good experience for us both!
 
MCC:  He is pretty confident in his stand up skills.  Should he be?
SG:  Luis is a beast, so I know it will be a good fight for both of us.  It will be a good one, I know that much.  We are both pretty good on the stand up, on takedown and submission defense, so it will come down to a knockout or judges decision. I don’t see either one of us tapping out judging from our past fights.
 
MCC:  Tell the fight fans about  yourself, your experience and what you’re bringing into the cage:
SG:  I love to fight!  Last summer I decided to take my first MMA fight.  I fought at DMX, like many of the up and coming fighters do.  I was nervous and almost wanted to back out, but I’m not a quitter so I went in there and gave it my all.  Ever since then I’ve switched back in forth between MMA and boxing.  I love every bit of both sports.  As far as myself, I was born in Des Moines and bounce back and forth from Denver, CO.  I have been in Des Moines for years though, so this is where I call home.

MCC:  How about your family?  Do they support your combat sports endeavor?
SG:  Absolutely!  In fact, my uncle Tim was an eight-time Golden Glove Champion. He fought “Sugar” Ray Leonard and Leon Spinks. I try to keep his name alive and make everyone in my family proud by competing.  My parents are very supportive, but my mom may try to hop in the cage at the first sign of me being in trouble!  Either that or she will yell bloody murder at the top of her lungs if I were to get into any trouble in a fight. (kidding, of course)  My dad is a fan of boxing and I recently turned him on to MMA.
 
MCC:  So, just like your opponent, given your boxing background, do you plan to make this a stand up fight?
SG:  Boxing is a big part of my MMA game, but I love doing what I call homework by watching fights and trying the moves until I get them down.  I have been focusing on my submission game.  I need to in case the fight- any fight, goes there.  Also, I have a reach advantage over most because of my height.  I’m 6’2″, so it’s good to be able to frustrate shorter fighters with my height and reach.  I’ve never been tapped.  To submit me you would have to break a limb or put me to sleep.  I’m not tapping!  I have the heart and will power to push through anything.
 
MCC:  Between boxing and training MMA, you don’t have much free time, do you?
SG:  Not really.  I am a gym rat.  But, I’m also a full time student.  I am either studying, training, fighting, or sleeping.  Oh, and I get on Facebook when I can!
 
MCC:  Are you nervous to make your MCC debut and try to avenge a loss at the same time?
SG:  I am both nervous and excited.  I am ready for this.  I am grateful for the opportunity to compete in MCC.  This is something I will be able to tell my children about someday.  I want to take this as far as possible and make it to the place where many of my role models have made it.  I look up to so many of these guys.  Win or lose I will always continue to fight and get better.
 
MCC:  Best of luck with your training and the fight.  We look forward to watching you compete at MCC 26.  Anything you want to add?
SG:  I want to thank everybody at MCC for the opportunity and support.  I want to thank Patrick Perkins for the good advice and words of wisdom, and fighters like Dean Bradley, Josh Neer, Chris Mickle, Jermey Stephens, and the other guys who have already made it.  Thanks for giving me role models and shoes to fill.