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Skrap Pack Member Jonny Carson: Saturday MMA War Awaits

Exclusive Interview by Marc Anthony

“He is a tough fighter and this fight will prove I am ready for the big shows.” — Jonny Carson

A former Tulsa Oklahoma native now a team member of Gilbert Melendez’s “Skrap Pack,” of Northern California, is getting ready to fight for the 155 pound title against Mike “Wildfire” Budnik, 10-4, at the very popular Dale Cook’s promotion XFL which has pro Boxers, pro Kick-boxers, and pro MMA fighters all under one event.

Jonny Carson’s first fight was in November of 2006 against Edgar Castillo defeating him by TKO of the first round, showing he has good power in his striking ability and is very good in submissions with a 50 percent submission ratio.

The fight promises to not go the distance since both guys really don’t like each other. Mike has been calling out Jonny for several years and has accused him of ducking him. On Saturday, Jonny is looking to not only shut Mike up but win the XFL 155 pound title further moving him up the MMA ladder.

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MA: Can you bring us up to speed since your last fight in August 14 of 2010?

I’ve fought in October and December as well. The first of the two fights I won by a quick knockout, in the first thirty five seconds or something like that. I had a title fight at XFL, the fight was going great. I won the first three rounds. In the fourth I was on the guy’s back and he jumped backwards with a last minute desperation move. When we landed, the impact knocked me out: he landed on me while I was on his back and that knocked me out and I lost that fight. I am ready to bounce back from that. I am training hard and ready to handle some business for this fight.

MA: Xtreme Fight Night 2 on Saturday against Mike “Wildfire” Budnik. What do you know of him?

From what I understand, he is a brown belt under Renato Tavares. He was also a three time Gold Medalist for the X-Games back in the day; I think for rollerblading of some sorts. He got into MMA and he fought in the WEC, maybe four times. He was also in this past season of the Ultimate Fighter, where he lost to Nam Phan. So he is looking to bounce back from his loss just like I am from my last loss. I feel I am better in every aspect of the game and I am going out there and prove it.

MA: Mike Budnik says he’s wanted to fight you for a long time. What might that reason be?

I am originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and when we were both in Tulsa, I was holding the XFL title at the time. He was the number one contender. We were going to fight each other but I was offered to defend my title with only two week’s notice. I turned that down. Then he starts going on saying I was ducking him. Right after, I had moved to California to train with Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez and that made it harder for them to put the fight together.

They ended up vacating my title because, at the time, they couldn’t afford to fly me out from California to defend my title. Mike again started to run his mouth saying that he wanted to fight me and let me tell you, the feeling is mutual. He is going to regret saying everything he said about me.

This is a fight that I have been wanting too. He has a decent name. He was in the WEC and was in the Ultimate fighter. He is a tough fighter and this fight will prove I am ready for the big shows.

MA: This is a title fight and you have Gilbert Melendez in your corner, how long has he been cornering you?

I have been training with Gilbert for about two and half years now. He is a great guy. He has made me a better fighter. He has turned a lot of my weakness into strengths. Training with Gilbert every single day does a lot for your confidence. It’s a make or break, if you can’t hang then you can’t hang. But if you can you will constantly keep getting better. He has helped me out tremendously.

MA: In addition to Gilbert, you also have trained with Jake Shields and several other champions under the Cesar Gracie camp, can you talk a little on that?

That gives me a huge added confidence. Knowing that I am in there with these world champions every day, knowing that whoever I am fighting they are not going to be able to offer me anything more then what I go through everyday already. I would rather see any other opponent than having to have Jake Shields on the other side of the ring.

MA: In the past you have fought at 145 pounds. Any plans to move back to that weight?

I am going to stick to 155, because when I used make 145 I was smaller…that was a couple years ago and since then I have packed on more muscle. I am a pretty big 155 pounder these days. I don’t really make 155 all that easy anymore. I could go down to 145 if I had to but I would have to drastically alter everything. Right now I am comfortable fighting at 155 and I feel good so I am going to stay at 155 and see what happens.

MA: Where are you doing your strength conditioning?

A lot of it, I do it here at the El Nino training center: Gilbert’s Gym. Most of it is at the El Nino training center, but sometimes I will travel to other gyms to do some sparring.

MA: You were also in a documentary “The Fighter” a film by Todd Smaretsky featuring Gilbert and the Skrap Pack?

Yeah, it was cool experience. Just being part of Gilbert’s team … the Skrap Pack it is an honor. I will do anything for these guys.

MA: Is fighting your full time gig?

Yes, fighting is my full time gig. I currently do not hold another job. I train two to three times every single day and I have been fighting a lot lately. As long as I stay healthy I am going keep on fighting.

MA: You also fought in Strikeforce against Kenny Giddens. What do you remember about that fight?

At the time I was planning on fighting at 145 but Strikeforce offered me a fight at 155. It was a “take it or leave it” kind of deal. I was a little small going into that fight. In the first round of that fight I threw a kick and I broke my foot. That slowed me down a little. It’s somebody I would like to rematch eventually to get that blemish off my record. It’s one of those fights that it was just bad luck not that the guy was better than me. It’s kind of hard to fight on a broken foot you know.

MA: Now that you are more established are you planning on doing longer training camps and not taking fights in such short notice?

Honestly, if I am feeling good I will take a short notice fight for sure… right now at this point in my career I am trying to climb the ladder to get in the bigger shows. I will do whatever it takes. I prefer a longer training camp but as they say here at the Skrap Pack “You stay ready you don’t have to get ready!”

MA: Your previous corner man has been Beau Taylor. Are you guys still in contact?

Yeah we are. Actually Beau is the one who hooked me up with Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez in the first place. I was about seventeen years old when Beau moved to Tulsa. I started training with Beau a little bit and he told me if you are serious about your MMA career… you need to move out to California with these guys. I took his advice, I packed up and moved out here and have been training hard ever since.

MA: Your first trainer at 16 was Mikey Burnett. What can you tell us about the training regimen with him?

Yeah it was good. I have all the respect in the world for that guy. I learned a lot from him and he made me a lot tougher. When I first started with him I had not wrestled. I had not done anything. I was just a basketball player. He put me through it, all those guys over there did, I hung in there and I liked it.

Originally, I wasn’t really planning on doing this as a career. I was doing it for fun and to stay in shape. Then I got pretty good at it and one thing led to another next thing I know I am taking my first professional fight.

MA: Did you like how the Ultimate Fighter portrayed Mikey?

To be honest, I really didn’t watch that whole season with Mikey. So I can’t really accurately answer that question.

MA: What do you plan on showing in your upcoming title fight?

Nothing in particular, I just plan on bringing everything to the table I am getting better in every aspect of my game and I expect this fight to go everywhere: On the feet… on the ground…I am prepared for any instance. I really would like to knock this guy out, honestly! But I will take what I can get that’s for sure.

MA: Final Words?

Yeah, I want to throw a quick thank you to Gilbert Melendez and the Skrap Pack and all the guys who helped me train for this fight to get me prepared. And thank you RSR for having me.

Jonny Carson
Nickname: “The King of Late Night”
Division: Lightweight
Professional Record: 10-4-0, 2 KO’s & 5 submissions

12/10/2010 Loss John Cottrell XFL _ Rumble on the River II Submission 4 2:53 Title Fight
10/22/2010 Win Michael Casteel Extreme Fighting League 10/22/10 TKO/RSC 1 0:35 Title Fight
08/14/2010 Loss Brian Cobb Fight For Wrestling Submission Rear Naked Choke 1 1:08
05/22/2010 Win Arturo Ramirez SLO Cal Poly 5/22/10 Submission Rear Naked Choke 3 4:27

09/25/2009 Loss Kenny Giddens Strikeforce Challengers Submission 2 4:15
05/02/2009 Win Jared Lopez Freestyle Cage Fighting 5/2/09 Decision Split Decision 3

10/11/2008 Win Donnie Frye Snake Bite Fight 2 Submission Triangle Choke 2 2:59

11/10/2007 Win Richard Gamble Extreme Fighting League: Xtreme Fight Night Submission 2 2:52
09/08/2007 Win Richard Gamble Extreme Fighting League: Battle at the Buffalo Run Decision Split Decision 5
05/12/2007 Loss Richard Gamble COMBAT ZONE Submission 2 0:40
05/12/2007 Win Tanner McPherson COMBAT ZONE Submission 1 0:52
04/07/2007 Win Glenn Pool Extreme Fighting League Submission 1 1:50

11/11/2006 Win Edgar Castillo Extreme Fighting League: Extreme Fighting TKO/RSC 1 1:46

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