Joey Villasenor was in the ProElite.com forums today and I had a chance to ask him a few questions.

"Smokin Joe" recently stepped in as a replacement to take on Phil Baroni at the upcoming Debut of "EliteXC CBS Saturday Night Fights" after Murilo "Ninja" Rua was forced to withdrawal from the bout. Joey’s bout will appear on the televised portion of the May 31 fight card.

Villasenor is coming off of a brutal first round knockout over Ryan Jensen at the March 29 StrikeForce event.

Joey is part of an amazing team at Greg Jackson’s Training Camp which includes the likes of Keith Jardine, Nate Marquardt and Rashad Evans to name a few. He always comes prepared and May 31st at EliteXC should be no different.

5 Questions with Smokin Joe:

RedSweat: Can you explain what your very first MMA bout was like for you?

Joey: My very first bout, is like euphoria and disbelief, you live in the moment. All athletes have a sense of what I’m talking about.

RedSweat: What is your training regimen when you are not preparing for a fight?

Joey: I usually take 2 weeks off after a fight. I usually do heavy lifting to put on some size. And I train 5 times a week.

RedSweat: Who was your toughest opponent ever?

Joey: Toughest opponent? I would like to say Ninja. He brought a lot of heart. You don’t have to be technically the best fighter, but if you got a lot of heart, you make a tough fighter.

RedSweat: In your opinion, who is the best pound for pound fighter in the world?

Joey: Pound for pound fighter in the world? A draw between St. Pierre and Anderson Silva. Right behind them would be WEC Miguel Torres.

RedSweat: Where do you see yourself in 10 years, explain?

Joey: 10 years, that makes me 42, hopefully retired and looking back and appreciate what I’ve done. I hope to be an assistant coach. I would love to be still fighting, but I know if my body can handle that. Randy Couture is a great athlete.

I recently had the opportunity to interview one of the most dynamic lightweights in the world, Yves Edwards.

Edwards is coming off of a stunning knockout victory over Edson Berto at February’s EliteXC event. He will soon have his shot at the EliteXC lightweight title when he squares off against dangerous striker, KJ Noons, on June 14.

So let’s get straight to the questions in this exclusive interview with one of the most experienced lightweights in MMA.

10 Questions with Yves Edwards:

RedSweat: Out of all your past opponents who hit you the hardest?

Yves: Probably the one guy that’s been able to knock me out, George Masvidal. I ain’t gonna let that happen again.

RedSweat: If you could avenge any of your losses who would it be and why?

Yves: It would have to be the loss to Mark Hominick. I think that was the worst Yves Edwards that the world will ever see.

RedSweat: What exactly made you decide to become a mixed martial artist?

Yves: I just loved the challenge. There is no one to turn to to pick up your slack, you just gotta work hard and get it done. Plus I’m probably too little for Football.

RedSweat: Is there anyone in mma you can’t stand?

Yves: I’m not a big Ken Shamrock fan. I think I used to be, up until I read his book back in the day. The part where he talked about beating up (training) Vernon White. I thought to myself, "What a douche bag, he’s not training these guys he’s just kicking their asses." I’ve seen him a few times over the years since then and I haven’t seen or heard anything from him to change my mind about him.

RedSweat: Which profession would you like to pursue if you weren’t a mixed martial artist and why?

Yves: If it were another sport it would be football, man I love that game it has everything. Strategy, game planning, teamwork, making adjustments as the game goes on, athleticism, and best of all violence, or at least big hits.

RedSweat: How is your training going at American Top Team?

Yves: The training at ATT is great I mean where else are you gonna go and have that kind of atmosphere? Maybe AKA or Extreme Couture or Quest, but I’ve know some of the guys at ATT for years, plus I like Florida a little better than California, and Nevada, and a whole lot more that Oregon. (No offense Lindland it’s just too cold for Black people out there).

RedSweat: What is your strategy for your upcoming fight with KJ Noons?

Yves: I’m sorry but if I told you that then I’d have to kill you, and everyone else you told my strategy to. Now I’m sure that you can see how that could pose a problem.

RedSweat: Are you looking to get back to the UFC or are you happy where you are?

Yves: I’m looking to fight the best guys in the world. A lot of them are in the UFC, but then you got Dream, World Victory Road, WEC and Strikeforce. I guess what I’m saying is I’m definitely not opposed to it but I’m pretty happy where I’m at also.

RedSweat: What does your diet consist of training for this upcoming title bout?

Yves: I eat pretty healthy all the time. My wife loves to cook so I don’t really change anything. I guess the biggest thing is I eat a lot more fruit and vegetables, and cut out the cakes and pies.

RedSweat: If you win the EliteXC title, what will it mean to you?

Yves: It’ll mean I’m the man and that everyone that wants a piece of me will know where to find me. It’ll also mean that I’ll need to get some gold shoes to match my new belt. Could you imagine me in the club, bottle full of bub, with a gold belt and black shoes like a scrub? That could be bad for my image you know.

Interview courtesy of Jason Allen.

Jason Allen and I recently had an opportunity to ask Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez a few questions during a Q&A session in the ProElite.com forums.

Melendez is the current StrikeForce lightweight champion recently defeating Gabe Lemley via TKO at the "Shamrock vs Le" event back in March. He devastated Gabe with a vicious ground and pound assault and proved why he is ranked top ten in the world.

He recently suffered his first career loss at the hands of Mitsuhiro Ishida in a controversial 2 round decision that could have easily went his way. It happened back at the Yarennoka New Years Eve 2007 event in Saitama, Japan. Gilbert had won thirteen straight fights up until the loss to Ishida.

Gilbert was very forthcoming with his answers and had some very interesting things to say in this short interview I like to call:

16 Questions with El Nino

RedSweat: What got you into mma?

Gilbert: I’ve been a fan since I was a kid watching it on tv. I wrestled in high school. Then met Jake Shields in college and he got me into it

RedSweat: Do you remember the first fight you ever got into? (not mma) explain.

Gilbert: Not too sure, but in Jr. High I got into some of those school yard fights. Someone would hit you wrong in football & it then you’d be scrapping. Also I used to challenge kids in elementary school to wrestle. I used the head and arm takedown a lot then.

RedSweat: Your gas tank is never on "E", are you ever exhausted in a fight?, and if so what do you think about to keep yourself level.

Gilbert: I train hard in camp & put myself in that situation a lot, so I’m not new to it.

RedSweat: Are you obsessed with watching mma, like PPV, dvds, etc?

Gilbert: I’m a giant MMA fan, but not obsessed. I appreciate great fights, but don’t like to watch great fighters who fight with a boring style.

RedSweat: Has Nick Diaz ever got you in a "go-go" when you’ve rolled?

Gilbert: Nick has probably gotten me in a gogo plenty of times. I cant remember a specific time, but I’m sure he’s gotten in stuff that no ones even heard of! & if I rolled out of the gogo, he probably got me in an armbar. But that’s why I wont get gogo’d in a fight

RedSweat: How often do you train when preparing for a fight? When your off?

Gilbert: There is no off-season. Always on. My training camp is 8wks long and I increase the intensity every 2wks. I work out twice a week, for a total of 11times each week

RedSweat: If you had to estimate, how many fights do you plan on competing in during your career?

Gilbert: I want to go for another 20-25 fights

RedSweat: Who is your biggest role model, idol, or person you just look up to?

Gilbert: I look up to my teammates Nick, Jake, & Nate. Back in the day Tito Ortiz is someone I really looked up to.

RedSweat: Do you think that you and Josh Thomson will fight soon?

Gilbert: Me & Josh is a definite possibility.

RedSweat: Looking back at the tape of the Ishida fight, How would you have scored it?

Gilbert: I felt like Ishida won the first in a close round, but I thought I won the 2nd strong.

RedSweat: As a competitor in mma, what do you have to say to the people who think this sport is barbaric?

Gilbert: Obviously those people are not knowledgeable about the sport. They do not know about the huge technical aspect. It’s not like were blindfolded chickens. Those people need to take time to learn about the sport.

RedSweat: I heard you are one of the nicest guys outside of the ring. What do you do to get yourself into fight mode?

Gilbert: I think I’m mentally strong. I just stay cool and then let the beast out. I let it out by visualizing my goals, how hard I’ve worked, and how no one is going to take it from me.

RedSweat: Can you describe what your very first mma fight ever was like?

Gilbert: I have never felt a high or a rush like it before, and I was immediately hooked like crack. It was at "Barnyard Beatdown"… I had 2 fights in one night. I found the beast. It was a great feeling.

RedSweat: Who has the strongest jiu-jitsu at your training camp besides Cesar of course?

Gilbert: Jake & Nick. They are two different styles. Jake has the best top game & Nick has the best bottom game and overall BJJ. Dave Terrell– I miss you.

RedSweat: Have you ever had to use your skills in a real life fight situation?

Gilbert: Yeah, I never look for a fight, but had to finish a couple. It’s been a while though.

RedSweat: Describe MMA in 3 words?

Gilbert: "Mixed" "Martial" "Arts" lol. Seriously though, for me it would be "Glory", "Respect", and "Challenging"

A special thanks to Jason Allen for helping out with the questions. Stay tuned for more MMA news!

Recently I was fortunate enough to get to ask "Ultimate Fighter 5" standout Gray Maynard a few questions. He is coming off a huge win over light weight stand out Frank Edgar at Ultimate Fight Night 13 on April 2.

Edgar who was formerly undefeated was the biggest test of Gray’s career. Gray shined in his performance, out pointing Edgar and winning a three round decision. Being undefeated himself, he is one of the many rising stars with a great future ahead in the sport. Training with the likes of Randy Couture and BJ Penn he has made his presence known and seems unstoppable at the moment.

See what he had to say in this short interview with RedSweat.com.

RedSweat: Xtreme Couture if full of beasts, who gives you the most problems when you roll?

Gray: Mike Pyle, because of his length, experience and jiu-jitsu

RedSweat: Who do you think is going to win the upcoming Serra vs St. Pierre fight and why?

Gray: On paper St. Pierre should win, but this is MMA so anything can happen

RedSweat: In your opinion who is the #1 fighter in the lightweight division?

Gray: BJ Penn

RedSweat: What gets you motivated before a fight?

Gray: My 8 week training camp before the fight. i know all the work i put into it, there is no reason I shouldn’t win

RedSweat: If you were offered a title shot, but it was against BJ, would you take it? explain.

Gray: Am I ready for a title shot, No. would I take a title shot, Yes. You have to jump on that opportunity any chance you get. Win or lose it is only going to make you a better fighter.

RedSweat: How did you feel you performed in your last fight with Edgar and were you happy with your performance?

Gray: I would have liked to attack him more on our feet. I broke my hand and had some problem with my right eye throughout the fight so I had to be a little more cautious than usual.

RedSweat: In your opinion who is the hardest hitting mixed martial artist?

Gray: I think Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva, and Fedor are some of the most hardest hitting. But that is different than being someone like Anderson Silva or Chuck Liddell who are considered knockout artist because they are precise with their striking

RedSweat: Looking back at the infamous slam, do you think that a ref should be able to change a call that he has already made?

Gray: The ref didn’t change his call. The athletic commission stepped in and changed the call. The ref thought I should have won.

RedSweat: Who is the best pound for pound fighter in your eyes?

Gray: Anderson Silva

RedSweat: Where do you plan to be in 5 years involving mma?

Gray: Hopefully training to fight all the best guys in the world

Interview courtesy of Jason Allen.

Frank Shamrock & Cung Le were in the ProElite.com forums and I got the chance to ask them a few questions.

Frank is a legend of the sport. Le is an undefeated fighter with devastating strikes. They are set to take center cage in the main event of Strikeforce this Saturday 3/29 on Showtime.

Frank is coming off a great win over Phil Baroni, where he battered him for two rounds and sank in a fight ending rear naked choke. Le is coming off a great win also against mma vet Sam Morgan. Le showcased superior striking skills finishing his opponent with a devastating liver kick. There has been no love loss between these two, Le’s calm and soft spoken while Frank is cocky, flashy and always the instigator.

See what they had to say in this Q & A with Shamrock & Le.

5 Questions with Frank Shamrock

Redsweat: You rock! Where do you see yourself in 5 years involving MMA?

Frank: In 5 years… The face of MMA.

Redsweat: When you are completely done with the sport , what do you want to take away from it?

Frank: I don’t think I’ll ever be done with the sport.

Redsweat: Who is your biggest motivation?

Frank: My children are my biggest motivation.

Redsweat: When you can just let loose, what’s your all time favorite food to eat?

Frank: Pizza.

Redsweat: Do you ever drink beer? I f so what’s your favorite?

Frank: Stella

Redsweat: Is the fight with Ken still going to happen? If so do you have an idea of the date or even an estimate?

Frank: The fight is definitely going to happen. First quarter of 2009

5 Questions with Cung Le

Redsweat: Hey thanks for taking time out for this Cung! Do you feel Franks going to stand long with you?

Cung: I don’t know what to expect from Frank. He promises he’s going to beat me at my own game. We’ll see if his ego keeps him standing or not.

Redsweat: Do you feel added pressure being undefeated and fighting a big name?

Cung: I train like a champion, I win like a champion. If I lose I’ll lose like a champion. The pressure is on Frank. I’ve only been in this game for 2 yrs.

Redsweat: What is the one thing you eat but shouldn’t , but cant help yourself?

Cung: Swiss Organic milk chocolate, but I’ve cut that out for a month

Redsweat: What do you think about a match-up between you and Anderson Silva? Who would win?

Cung: Right now, it’s all about Frank. Gotta get through him first before anyone else pops into the cross hairs.

Redsweat: If you beat Frank, Do you think you should be ranked top 10?

Cung: Not for me to judge if I should be top 10 after beating Frank. I’m just happy I’m able to do what I love. I’ll represent the sport the best I can while I’m in it.

Written and Interviewed by Jason Allen.