Fighter Focus: Getting to Know Eric Kapayou

Fighter Focus: Getting to Know Eric Kapayou
 
At MCC 27: “Mutapcic vs. Cummings”, a newcomer to the promotion,  Eric “Little E” Kapayou will make his debut against Henry Meza.  Training with MCC veteran Ronnie “The Warfrog” Britt, this ground specialist from Tama is looking to make a splash in the stacked Featherweight Division.  We caught up with him one week out from his fight to get to know what motivates his desire to compete.
 
MCC:  Eric, welcome to MCC.  Training with Ronnie Britt, a veteran fighter who has competed in MCC for years must be a pretty good confidence booster as you prepare to make your debut.  Tell us about that.
 
EK:  It really is.  Ronnie has so much knowledge about the sport.  It’s hard to find someone around the Midwest with more experience.  As far as my debut, I’m not really thinking about all the hype.  I’m taking this the same as I do every fight.  I’m preparing the same.  My motivation is my love and passion for the sport and I want to make my family and my tribe proud of me.
 
MCC:  Currently, you live in Tama, Iowa.  Is that where you are originally from?
 
EK:  No.  I was born in St. Louis and moved around a lot.  I’ve lived in Denver, Colorado, Albuquerque, New Mexico and St. Paul, Minnesota.  I live in Tama now with my wife and six children.
 
MCC:  There have been a lot of tough fighters that have come out of the Tama area such as Tyrone and Andre Roberts, the Bear brothers, and Vern Jefferson.  You have some pretty big shoes to fill!
 
EK:  True.  I get a lot of support from my family and fellow tribal members.  Every time I fight I have a pretty big following that comes to cheer me on.  It’s great.
 
MCC:  Tell us about your background in martial arts.
 
EK:  I wrestled High School Varsity all four years.  I also boxed and competed in Golden Gloves for a couple years as well as numerous Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in may different states.  Wrestling is my number one strength.  It’s my base, and it’s what I have been most successful with.  I began training mixed martial arts about six years ago.  I really like the competition and learning aspect of the game.  The sport is constantly evolving so learning new techniques, the ups and downs of competition, the sport itself- it’s what drives me.
 
MCC:  What do you know about your opponent, Henry Meza, and are you doing anything special to prepare for him?
 
EK:  I train to fight and compete, so it really doesn’t matter who my opponent is.  Honestly, the only thing I know about him is his name.  That’s all I really need to know!  When I get in the ring it’s just going to be me and him.  He is going to have to worry about me- not the other way around.
 
MCC:  Since your opponent comes from a wrestling background as well, your techniques may nullify each other and you both may need to rely on your other tools.
 
EK:  That’s fine.  Like I said, I have boxed for years, so if I need to use my hands to win the fight, I can do that.  This is mixed martial arts, so I have developed many weapons in the arsenal.  One way or another, I plan to come out victorious and move on to my next opponent.  Eventually, I want to have a title fight before I hang up the gloves and the first step is to win on June 11.
 
MCC:  Well, best of luck to you.  We look forward to seeing you compete next week.  Is there anyone you would like to thank or anything else to add?
 
EK:  I want to thank MCC for this opportunity to showcase my skills.  I also want to thank all of my friends and family who have supported me from the beginning.  I couldn’t do this without you guys.  I look forward to a good war at MCC 27, and may the best man win.