It’s Friday evening in Brooklyn, New York, and Jamal Patterson is getting ready to go out: “I’m packing my bag right now, getting ready to train in MMA at Ricardo Almeida’s gym,” says Patterson.

Jamal is known for his regimental workouts: starting his day at 6am with a run, before going to work for an orthodontic company, then after work, training in boxing, and finally, doing BJJ.

In his bouts against Matt Horwick and Alex Schoenauer, Jamal appeared to smother his opponents – exploding in their faces and not letting them get their game plans started. For Patterson, imposing his will is a big part of his strategy. “I’m an explosive person: I’ve always been explosive. That’s how I plan to fight, but I’m also in good shape, which enables me to do that.

“I’ll dictate the fight though: If I want to slow it down, I will. But when I come out, they’re going to be expecting something.”

Although Patterson does display such volatile energy in his bouts, he also possesses amazing cardio which enables him to maintain that unrelenting pace throughout fights. “My cardio is good: I do a lot of long-distance running, I spar regularly in jiu jitsu, and on Monday night I sparred in boxing for ten rounds with a WBO champ at Gleason’s gym, and right afterwards I ran five miles.”

 
Jamal Patterson vs. Matt Horwick

Jamal, can you give a brief rundown of your bout against Matt Horwick please?

“Matt wanted to take me down to the ground. I knew I was better on the ground than he is because of my jiu jitsu, so I was very happy to go to the ground. I took his back and finished him (rear naked choke).”

Does Renzo Gracie make you go surfing with him?

“No, I’ve never surfed in my life. I’m black – black people don’t surf.”

I’ve never heard that one before.

“Well now you’ve heard it.”

(Much laughter at both ends of the phone line)

Did you first start training in MMA with Carson Gracie, Jr?

“I started with Renzo – I was kinda playing around when I was with Carson, but I really started with Renzo.”

Is training with Renzo similar?

“No.”

Go on, please.

“Carson is a great guy, but at the time I wasn’t a professional fighter – I was a novice playing around, learning jiu jitsu. Then, when I moved back to New York, things changed a little. Renzo’s atmosphere is different – a little more intense, and I got a little more serious.”

Jamal Patterson delivering a heavy right

With Matt and Alex, you gladly went to the ground with both of them. With Reese Andy, will he want to take you to the ground?

“Reese is a very good wrestler – probably better than I am – so he’ll likely want to take me to the ground. No problem: I’m a blackbelt in BJJ. I like being taken to the ground.”

You don’t care where it goes?

“No, if I want to keep it standing, I’ll keep it standing. If he wants to punch with me, I want to punch with him. I’m dying to show off my new weapons: my right and left hands. And they’re both solid.”

[Perhaps Jamal unveiled a sneak preview of his ‘new weapons’ when he had Alex Schoenauer pinned in the corner and let go with a burst of rapid-fire leather].

Do you have a prediction for your fight with Reese?

“My prediction for the fight is his getting knocked out or submitted - one of the two.”

How will Renzo go against Carlos Newton?

“How will Renzo go? Renzo is a bit different a fighter to when he last fought Carlos. Renzo took a lot of time off before he fought Carlos Newton. I don’t know if he was as focused as he is now, but now I’m around Renzo and he’s starting to get that ‘eye of the tiger’ back. So I think Carlos better be ready to fight because he’s not fighting the same man this time.”

Some people have been saying they don’t think Renzo is taking this fight all that seriously, but that’s not the case?

“No. People said that about him before Pat Miletich, and did you see what happened to him!”

Jamal, is there anything you’d like to add?

“Yeah, one thing I’d like to say is: The only reason I’m as good as I am is because of my training partners. I train with some of the best in the world – Mike Smith from Gleason’s gym is one of the best boxing coaches in the world for MMA. For BJJ I’ve got my blackbelt, and Renzo is a legend: He’s produced some of the best jiu jitsu players in the world. I’m just honored to be able to represent him… I’m honored to represent my teammates who have helped me to get to where I’m at.”

Your sponsors?

“I’m a sponsorless fighter. My sponsor right now is IFL: I fight for the greatest fight organization out there.”

 
Jamal Patterson victorious