It’s Thursday evening, and Ryan ‘The Lion’ Schultz is at home in Estacada, Oregon watching his son playing. Kilian’s toys are all over the place.

What better time to do an interview than while babysitting. And although Ryan’s thoughts are not on toys at the moment, but rather, on his IFL Final’s match coming up on December 29 in Connecticut, Ryan’s preparation for this fight can be traced back to when he wasn’t all that much older than Kilian is now.

“Yeah, I’ve been wrestling since I was in second grade – about eight years old. I’m from Nebraska, and my father wrestled, and he introduced me to it. I loved it and kept doing it,” says The Lion.

Prior to becoming a professional MMA fighter, Ryan finished his degree in criminal justice, and then he started plumbing after that to learn a trade. “Now I’m a full-time, professional athlete – IFL helps out with that, bigtime.”

Despite being known for his wrestling abilities, Schultz easily adapted to the stand-up game when he arrived in Oregon. “I started doing the striking when I came out here to Team Quest in 2003 – I’ve always hit pretty hard because I’ve got heavy hands, so I just went off that. I haven’t had any formal boxing, just what I’ve done at Team Quest.”

Consequently, Ryan has won the majority of his fights through strikes. He says some of those victories have been through standing punches, while others have been the result of ground’n’pounding.

“I’m doing both: Some of the things I’ve done are off my feet; I have a few knockouts off my feet, whether it be a one-punch knockout or by a punch to the guy going down and finishing him with a TKO.

“A lot of it starts on my feet, and I’ve won by a head-kick knockout. But a lot of it, too, is on the ground, where I knock them down or take them down and the referee stops the fight after I start striking from the top.”

Ryan, how did you learn the head kicks? Was that through Muay Thai?

“I actually just picked that up at Team Quest also – we work the whole deal, so I got to put it into play. Kicking is not my strong suit but I kick fairly hard when I decide to let it go. I don’t look for it right away… I like to throw my hands.”

You’ve also won two of your fights through rear naked chokes. Have you mainly learnt your submission skills whilst training at Team Quest as well?

“Yeah, I didn’t start my submission stuff until I was out here, and those submissions were led to by strikes: My opponents basically wanted me to finish them with submissions because I was smothering them with punches.”

You soften your opponents up first.

“Yes, but I know submissions and if it’s there I’ll take it.”

Do you train with Chris Wilson?

“Yes, I do. I’ve learnt a lot from him on our feet, and I think he’s learnt a lot from me as far as the wrestling goes. We kinda balance each other and help each other out.”

He has some nasty knees.

“Oh, yeah - I’ve been hit by those many times: In the practice room you have to watch out for those vicious knees when he throws them to the body. He’s pretty technical on his feet.”

What’s Matt Lindland like as a coach?

“Matt Lindland is the type of coach who leads by example - obviously because he’s still fighting, but he’s really good at finding your strengths and playing to those. And he finds out your opponent’s weaknesses, and tells you what you need to do to win. I think that comes from his being so successful as a fighter.”

I was surprised by the way he went through Jeremy Horn in the Superfight. Were you?

“I was a little bit surprised by that fight. He just dominated. I knew Matt would win the fight, but I thought it would go to the decision. Matt just took charge from the opening bell – he didn’t let Jeremy breath at all, and was all over him.”

There’s a lot of team spirit at Team Quest. Do you guys like the idea of competing for the Wolfpack?

“Yes, I think it fits well with us because it’s been brought to our attention that a lot of these other teams, their guys are all over the place, whereas we’ve been training together for a long time. A lot of our members have been here since I got here, and that’s been three years now. I’ve gotten to know these guys well, and I think it’s a huge advantage for all of us – knowing each other on a personal level and on a training level.”

It seems to stand out with the Wolfpack and the Silverbacks, and both teams have made it to the final on December 29 in Connecticut.

“Exactly: They’ve got the same thing going on as us – they all train together all the time. It’s going to be an interesting match-up and one to watch. I can definitely say it about that duel.”

Is there a lot of pressure on you as the first fighter to come out for the Wolfpack team at events?

“You know, it’s not any more pressure than any other fight… It’s one of those things where when you’re the first fight you know you have to set the tone, and at this last fight (November 2, 2006), I didn’t do that. I do feel a little bit of that pressure, but it’s good pressure: ‘Hey. Let’s get this thing started: Let’s go up one-nothing, and get the energy flowing in our direction.’ It’s kind of a good thing, and a little bit of pressure, but it’s good pressure if you make it that way.”

Does the recent Wolfpack victory mean you lock horns with Bart Palaszewski in December?

“Yeah, and he’s tough; he’s a good fighter. If I perform the way I did this last fight, I’ll lose. I know I have to change that and just let things go in my fight – come out with a lot of energy and be aggressive. I feel if I do that and impose my will and be aggressive the way I can be at times, then he’s in for a fight, and I’ll win that fight.”

Do you expect him to want to stand with you?

“Oh, he’ll want to stand – he’s great at boxing, and I respect his stand-up. And he better respect mine because I can hit too. But on the ground I feel I have a bit of an advantage over him. He can fight and I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a fighter, but I think I’m a better fighter than he is – I think I’m more well-rounded and I think I’m going to beat him.”

Will you prefer to keep it standing?

“I think I’m going to mix it up - I’m going to listen to Matt this time and really get a solid game plan and just execute it; whether that’s banging on the feet, slamming him a couple of times, getting on top of him and beating him down from there, wear him down and get him back on his feet…

“That’s when I fight the best – when I’m aggressive and I do it for the whole game and not just one aspect of it. I don’t want to just stand there and trade blows when that’s his best aspect.”

Can the Wolfpack defeat the Silverbacks?

“You know it! Without a doubt, and I honestly think we will – without a doubt.”

Does winning the IFL ring mean a lot to you?

“It does…and they’re the defending champs, so it’s got a lot of recognition from us. The IFL is a great organization and I’ve been in the fight game since 2003. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the best thing that’s happened. And sure it means a lot to me to win that title, and we’re going to leave it all out there and scrap until the very end to make sure that happens…

“And they’re really nice rings. But what it stands for means a lot more than the actual rings. But to have something to signify that is a really cool idea – it’s great.”

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

“I hope the fans keep watching, and those who have seen me fight before know I’ll be back. I’m looking forward to this fight, working harder than ever and I’m just going to perform. Look for the Wolfpack to be the champions because all our guys are on the right page and they’re doing all the right things to win.”

Your sponsors?

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