Fighter Focus: Getting to Know Seth Craig

Fighter Focus: Getting to Know Seth Craig
 
MCC: Seth, welcome to Midwest Cage Championship.  First thing’s first…  We have had some interesting nicknames in MCC, for example, “Punch Your Lights Out”, “Tha Alligator”, and “Bogus”, but “The Spyder Monkey”?  What’s that all about?
 
SC:  My team and I were working different positions at the gym and I hated being manhandled by the bigger fighters so I would spaz out. The reason I got the nickname was because Josh (Henry) had me in the corner and I couldn’t move him so I put both legs on the wall and pushed off and got into a good position.  Everyone at the gym has called me The Spyder Monkey ever sense.
 
MCC:  Ok, fair enough.  You are making your MCC debut on June 11, and you are taking on someone who has never been beaten in MCC before.  What are your thoughts about facing Johnny “Coletrain” Coleman?
 
SC:  I am super pumped for this fight because it’s for the biggest promotion in Iowa and the Midwest. Johnny is a great wrestler and has knock out power. I train with some of the best guys and so does he.  With that said, I think it’s going to be a war  from the second the fight starts.  I have submissions.  I’ve knocked guys out.  And, I have won belts.  Let’s just get in there and do it.  We will see who the better fighter is.
 
MCC: Tell us how you got started in mixed martial arts.
 
SC:  I first started training when I was seventeen years old.  I started training at Henry’s Martial Arts. I wanted to try kickboxing for a long time and I had a friend who mentioned a gym in Creston so I figured I’d give it a whirl.  When I first walked in and met Chuck Henry I thought he was really nice and he walked me through things. It wasn’t until class started that I realized Josh Henry was his son. I had hung out with Josh in the past, and I think that helped my commitment to training. After the kick boxing class was over Josh told me there was a grappling class in ten minutes. I attended the class and met Will Shutt, Jake Brown, and Jesse Lund. During the class I started to catch on really fast and fell in love with the ground game.  After that Will and Josh took me under there wings and showing me the way to combine everything together.
 
MCC:  Like your opponent, you both got your start on MCC’s minor league promotion; DMX.  Is that correct?
 
SC: True.  After a month or so of training I told them I was ready to take a fight to see where I stood. They took me to DMX. I was so pumped until I stepped into the ring and then I got tunnel vision. I ended up losing by rear naked choke submission.  I had made a big mistake letting him take my back. That’s all it took unfortunately.  Some people thought I would stop fighting and training after that, but I took the loss as a lesson and worked my ass off everyday.  In fact, Josh and Will would start on my back and put the choke in then I would have to work to get out of it or pass out.  It was tough love.
 
MCC:  It’s a good thing you didn’t quit because you have had a nice run since your first fight.
 
SC:  I had a few more fights with better results.  After some wins in a small event I got an offer for a title shot at 125 lbs even though I had been fighting at 135 lbs. I took the fight and my team worked me to a breaking point.  Thank goodness!  I went in there and took the belt home after a 55 second knock out.  Six months later I fought for the 135 lb title for the same show and also took that belt home after a twelve second arm bar. That fight was the first fight I used my submission skills and it turned out great.  I am now 7-4.
 
MCC:  Sounds good.  We look forward to your MCC debut in just a few short weeks.  I’m sure you are training hard.  Is there anyone you want to thank?
 
SC:  Thanks to MCC for giving me this opportunity.  I am looking to make a good impression so I can return to future shows and work my way up the ranks.  I owe everything to my team.  Jake, Josh, Bull, and Jesse have invested a lot of time with me and I want to represent our hard work.  I will see everyone on June 11!