Fighter Focus: Getting to Know Johnny Case

Fighter Focus: Getting to Know Johnny Case
 
At MCC 26: “Triple Crown”, Johnny “Hollywood” Case will make his promotional debut against Mike Miller in a three round lightweight bout.  Amidst preparations for their upcoming battle, we spent some time to get to know what makes “Hollywood” shine.
 
MCC:  Johnny, welcome to MCC.  Tell the fight fans a little about yourself and your background.
JC:  Thanks for having me.  Well, I have a 7-2 professional MMA record and a 22-3 amateur MMA record.  I have wrestled most of my life- all the way back since kindergarten, and I started to train in boxing an jiu jitsu when I turned eighteen.
 
MCC:  Where did you grow up?
JC:  I moved from school to school, but I would definitely call Jefferson, Iowa home.
 
MCC:  Wow, for a young fighter, you have quite a bit of ring experience!
JC:  Yeah.  I took my first fight one month after my 18th birthday.  I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.  I’ve been going at it steadily ever since.
 
MCC:  Given all the years in wrestling, can we assume that’s your strong suit?
JC:  I can wrestle, that’s a given, but I have to say my dukes are where I’m the most strong.  I can’t describe how good it feels to punch somebody right in the face.  I like to think I’m strong wherever the fight goes, but based on what everyone says, watch out for my hands.
 
MCC:  It sounds like MMA is a big part of your life right now.
JC:  Absolutely.  This is my lifestyle.  I train hard because I love the sport.  I love everything about it.  I am trying to learn something new every day.  It’s pretty much my life- train, train, train some more, hang out with my girlfriend Paige, play with my dog Tucker, oh…and did I say train?
 
MCC:  It sounds like you are going to take MMA as far as you can.
JC:  The way I see it, I am going to let MMA take me somewhere- not the other way around.  I fight because I love it.  If I can pay the bills this way, that’s even better.
 
MCC: Do you know anything about your opponent, Mike Miller?
JC:  I do.  I know Mike, and he is a really nice guy.  I have nothing but respect for him.  In fact, I’ve had the opportunity to train and wrestle with him this past Winter.  He’s a tough dude.  He’s strong.  Where I see his weakness is just his lack of experience.  I have a lot more fights under my belt, and I plan to use my experience to my advantage.  It’s nothing personal.  Someone has to win, and someone has to lose.  I don’t plan on losing, so I hope Mike brings his A game because I will.
 
MCC:  So, you are predicting a win, but how?  In what fashion?
JC:  I never predict fights.  I think that is impossible with all the elements of MMA.  But, I do think I am going to win.  I would not have taken the fight if I thought I was going to lose.  I like to keep it simple: train hard, fight easy.
 
MCC:  Have you done anything to train for Miller, or do you always keep your training camp the same?
JC:  I train twice a day, six times a week.  On Sundays I run.  I have been taking trips to Minnesota, training with Dave Menne at Northway Gym.  Here, I have been training a little with Kevin Burns.  He has been helping me with my footwork.  I am not afraid to put in the hours and train hard, that’s for sure.  I want to put on entertaining fights, so I know I need to prepare myself for anything.
 
MCC:  We look forward to seeing you in the cage in just a couple short weeks.  Is there anything you would like to add?
JC:  I want to thank everyone for their support, especially my family.  They are huge MMA fans.  Thanks for MCC for having me, and I look forward to putting on really good fights for the crowd.  Everyone else- watch out!  Here comes Hollywood!
 
MCC 26: “Triple Crown” takes place Friday, April 16 at Hy Vee Hall, downtown Des Moines.  Tickets are available on-line at www.MidwestCageChampionship.com, by phone at 515-229-8566, or at all Dahl’s ticket outlets.  For more information, including videos, interviews and fighter blogs, log onto the web site.