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Josh HaynesTRAINING: My training regimen for this fight includes team practice and conditioning at Team Quest, focused training in Jiu-Jitsu and Thai boxing, as well as running and gym time. I have to give credit where it’s due, as I have been training with a lot of people to make sure I come into this fight more prepared than ever. In preparation for this fight I have been training with Team Quest to improve on my overall MMA game. They have an excellent coaching staff and provide me with a room full of great training partners to work with. Their strength and conditioning coach, Mike Dolce, has been instrumental in helping me make the cut from light heavyweight to welterweight. In addition, I’ve spent a lot time training with Jermey Wijers of Portland Thai Boxing, and John Ramirez, Kurt Shrout, and Eben Kaneshiro of New Breed Jiu-Jitsu. Lastly I have been working a lot with Greg Thompson and Nate Quarry and you can look to see them in my corner at UFC 69. When and why did you start training for fighting? I think I knew I would fight all my life. In the beginning I didn't know how to make it happen though. I trained in a few traditional martial arts and did a small amount of wrestling, but it didn't hold my attention at all. After a while I stopped doing anything. I started to gain weight and before I knew it I was weighing in at 330 pounds. I was fat and out of shape, but I just didn't know it. A friend found out about a fight in Portland, Oregon at the FCFF, a high quality amateur show. I fought my first fight and I didn't know anything. It was a mess. I promised myself I would never fight again and be so unprepared. I started to train and the next fight went better and every one after that got better and better. Before I knew it I had a good record and my name was known to some extent. I started to lose weight and my life just started getting better all the time. MMA has made my life what it is now. It has given me a chance to do something I look forward to every day. I love my job - that is why I train to fight. I love the fans, the adrenaline, the ring and everything that goes along with it. I was born to fight and fight I will!
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