Despite having fought in the Octagon for a total of only five minutes and ten seconds, Mike ‘Quick’ Swick has already made a big name for himself competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Mike first came to UFC prominence when he defeated Alex Schoenauer in twenty seconds in the light heavyweight division of the inaugural series of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), which scored him a contract to fight at the UFC.

Training with the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, Mike’s motive for originally taking up a fighting art was pure and simple: “I wanted to be the best martial artist in the world, so I started in tae kwon do when I was eight,” says Swick.

For his next Octagon outing, Mike made it another short night when he TKO’d Gideon Ray at The Ultimate Fight Night, twenty-two seconds into the opening round. At UFC 58, he followed up this explosive demonstration with a guillotine choke-out of Steve Vigneault, just 2:09 minutes into round one. This lead Swick to rename the submission the ‘Swickotine’.

Then at UFC 60, Mike was pitted against the highly respected Joe Riggs, who had been blazing an MMA trail of his own in the Octagon. This bout would certainly test the solidity of Swick’s capabilities. Before a packed Staples Center house, Mike proved himself yet again with his trademark Swickotine, by submitting Riggs at 2:29 into the first round.

On September 23, 2006, Mike will have another challenge on his hands when he faces David ‘The Crow’ Loiseau. And Swick says he is looking forward to their rendezvous: “Very much so. I am very excited about this fight.”

Mike, for The Ultimate Fighter #1, you fought at light heavyweight. How did that change in weight class come about?

“I applied for the show late. They had too many middleweights and not enough light heavyweights, so they asked if anyone would move up. I guess I was the only volunteer.”

Was it a buzz when you scored the UFC contract?

“Yes, it was very exciting: a dream come true.”

Were you the underdog when you fought Joe Riggs?

“In some people’s eyes I was the underdog.”

Mike Swick vs Steve Vigneault

Was it the perfect setting for your victory at the sold-out Staples Center?

“Yes, I think it was great exposure. I think it was the most watched UFC PPV to date - very exciting.”

The nickname ‘Quick’; was that mainly due to the speed at which you’ve been taking out your opponents?

“It is for both the way I win and my natural speed in the ring. I work a lot of speed drills to keep my hands fast.”

What’s ‘Swick-Fu’?

“Swick-Fu is the art of winning a fight as fast and dominantly as possible. It’s also something I made up that just sounds cool,” laughs Swick.

Will you be the underdog for your bout with David Loiseau?

“I am sure I will be the underdog in most of the hardcore-fans’ eyes, due to his success in the UFC, and the fact he carried Franklin to his only decision.”

You’ve won six of your bouts by KO, but lately you’ve been winning through submissions with your ‘Swickotine.’ Do you feel confident to face David standing or on the floor?

“I prefer to stand but will take whatever...”

What do you expect David’s strengths to be?

“I think his strengths are his elbows, kicks, knees and toughness.”

When you enter the Octagon, will you be using your best poker face to stare David down?

“Yep. Looking into the eyes of my opponents before fights tells me everything I need to know. I read people very well.”

Will Bruce Buffer be betting with you on the outcome of your fight?

“I don’t know.”

What will be your strengths?

“My strengths in this fight are a secret. I don’t want to give away my strategy.”

Will this fight go longer than the 5:10 minute total of your last four UFC outings?

“Who knows? It doesn't matter to me. I train and am prepared for a long hard-fought war. My cardio is at peak and I can push it for five rounds if I need to.”

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

Your sponsors?

“Xyience, Sprawl, Toe2Toe, Scoreclinic.com, Toyo Tires, Pain Inc., Ameritec Capitol.”

Mike Swick vs Joe Riggs

MMA record: 10-1-0

Division: Middleweight

Stance: Orthodox

Height: 6’1”

Date of birth: 19 June ’79

Birthplace: Houston, Texas.

Fighting out of: American Kickboxing Academy, San Jose.