Jamie Varner is a fighter that has been overlooked for a long time. But with wins over Rob McCullough and Marcus Hicks, aswell as the WEC belt, he’s starting to get the attention he deserves. FightSport caught up with him before his fight with Donald Cerrone.
How did you get started in MMA?
I grew up boxing and wrestling. I started training jiu jitsu when I was 17 years old and I was cross training MMA for wrestling. I had my first fight when I was 18 and I just fell in love from there.
Did you expect the fight with Marcus Hicks to go so fast?
Marcus is a really tough competitor, so I planned on a 25 minute back and forth battle. 90% of the time I push the pace, but Marcus really put the pressure on me. But I knew if I was given an opportunity to finish that I would.
Did you expect him to be so dogged in going for the takedowns?
I trained for him to box with me. But when he grabbed hold of me and he was the strongest guy I've ever fought. I wrestle with great wrestlers, so my ability to get off the mat has gotten a lot better.
Is getting off the mat something you were working on?
It's something I picked up in the fight against Rob McCullough. When I took him down he was able to pop back up. So I watched the fight a lot and saw how he did it.
You landed a huge knee in the fight.?
He's shorter than me, so my trainers thought that the clinch could be a good position for me. And it was.
Would you agree that you don't feel like a champion until you've defended the title. It definitely solidifies you as a champion, but beating a guy like Rob McCullough, who hadn't lost in so long, was one of the best moments in my life. So I definitely felt like a champion. That was a huge fight for me.
Did you feel like the underdog going into that fight?
I've been an underdog going into every fight. I'm an underdog going into this fight with Cerrone.
How do you feel going into that fight?
I feel like I'm the best lightweight in the world, or maybe just behind BJ Penn. The Cowboy is just another opportunity for me to go out and prove it.
Once you prove that, what would you like to do next?
I'd like to fight somebody in the top ten, a big name. I think Eddie Alvarez would be a really tough fight for me because we're both so similar in style. But I would love that fight.
Would you like to go to the UFC to fight bigger names?
I'd like to see the WEC bring me in the Gilbert Melendez, the Josh Thomsons, the Eddie Alvarez, the Shinya Aokis. Those are the guys I'd like to fight.
Do you feel that you're overlooked by being in a bigger organization?
Besides Strike Force the WEC is one of the only shows that makes money. Affliction doesn't make money, EliteXC doesn't. DREAM is on HDNet. I just think there's too many Japanese nuthuggers who take those guys who fight a bunch of nobodies and when one of them beats another they're suddenly in the top 10. I don't understand it. I think the best talent in the lightweight division is in the UFC, minus Aoki and Eddie Alvarez. Those guys in Japan don't even get drug tested.
Is it frustrating to see these guys ranked ahead of you?
It's a little frustrating. I've consistently been beating good guys, I've fought Jason Gilliam and Marcus Hicks who were undefeated. Rob McCullough whose only loss before me was to Josh Thomson, who's now ranked 10th in the world, by decision. And Rob was probably half the fighter back then than he was when I fought him. It is frustrating, but I know it's only a matter of time. If I go out and KO the cowboy that could be the fight that propels me into the top 10.
If you weren't an MMA fighter, what would you be doing?
I worked as an accountant right out of college, I would probably be doing that.
What do you do in your free time?
I ride dirt bikes and motorcycles, hang out with my friends and family.
Are you an MMA fan or is it a job?
I was a fan first, I'm a big fan of MMA.
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