After the fight between Luke Stewart and Tiki Ghosn was recently announced I tried to find as much information on Luke Stewart as possible.
He's relatively unknown (for now) on the east coast and I was very interested in seeing what this guy had since there is talk about Strikeforce gold in his future.
There's some footage of his fights out there and a few articles about him, but I figured what better way to learn about this guy than to ask him a few questions myself.
And that's exactly what I did.
Luke was a super nice guy. He was a great interview and I'm definitely a fan of his now. He has a lot of confidence, but a respectful confidence -- not cocky at all.
He talked a lot about gaining respect and being a top 10 welterweight in the world (yes, other top 170-pound fighters exists outside the Octagon). Without personally witnessing all his physical ability I'd say he definitely has, at the very least, the right mind set to become great in this sport.
Mark these words: Keep an eye out for Luke Stewart ... especially if he can somehow get the fight he wants most with WEC Welterweight Champion, Carlos Condit.
Let's get on with our discussion:
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): Hows it going man?
Luke Stewart: I'm doing good, how about you?
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): Thanks man, I'm good. What are some of your thoughts on fighting Tiki next Saturday?
Luke Stewart: I think he's a real tough guy. It looks like he's had some bad luck recently, but guys coming off losses like that are dangerous. I know he's going to come right at me and I feel confident wherever the fight goes. I've been training really hard and I feel really confident.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): Do you have a specific gameplan? I know you're a blackbelt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Ralph Gracie, but are you looking to showcase some of your other talents in this fight or are you going to be looking for the submission?
Luke Stewart: I'm a big believer in having a game plan and sticking to it. I always have a game plan going into a fight. Obviously, I don't want to tell Tiki what my game plan is, but I feel comfortable on my feet. I've been training a lot of Muay Thai and striking so I feel good there. I know I'll have an edge on the ground with Tiki, and I'd love to finish the fight there, but wherever the fight goes, I'm comfortable.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): This will be your sixth fight with Strikeforce. What's your contract status with them?
Luke Stewart: I've got two fights left. I'm really happy with Strikeforce. They've been doing a great job promoting me locally and building me properly. Plus with the NBC deal I have an opportunity for a lot of exposure internationally. I have no plans of leaving.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): There currently is not a Strikeforce welterweight champion. Have you heard anything about possibly fighting for that belt, and is that your main motivation right now?
Luke Stewart: Right, there is no champion right now. In a few fights I'm hoping to be the number one contender for that title. Strikeforce is looking to bring in some more welterweights and there will be some good fights here for me. I want to make a name for myself and gain respect in this sport. I want to be champion and be a top 10 welterweight in the world.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): You're fighting on the same card as Jake Shields and Drew Fickett who are going after the first EliteXC welterweight title. EliteXC and Strikeforce do a lot of shows together, do you maybe want to fight for that belt too one day?
Luke Stewart: Well, Jake Shields is a good friend of mine. We train together a lot and I would like to avoid fighting him if I could. I think he's going to run through Fickett though. Fickett is going to have a hard time next Saturday night. Right now I'm really just focusing on the Strikeforce title. I'm not even thinking about EliteXC. I'm looking to stay in Strikeforce and make a name for myself there.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): Are there any fighters out there who you would love to fight?
Luke Stewart: Carlos Condit. That's a fight I'd love to have if it's possible. Also guys like Josh Koscheck or other local fighters who are making names for themselves.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): I read somewhere that you had a controversial loss to Matt Hughes in a grappling match. Thoughts?
Luke Stewart: Yeah that was back in 2004. I was a brown belt at the time. I'm a black belt now and obviously a lot more skilled. I've been around the jiu jitsu circuit for years and I've fought a lot of tough guys and gained a lot of experience that has prepared me for MMA.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): Well that's the reason I ask about Hughes. You're making the transition from jiu jitsu to MMA and he's been really successful in MMA. Do you feel like you would have success with guys like him now in an MMA match?
Luke Stewart: Definitely. I'm looking to bring myself along in the sport properly, but at the same time I want to fight the best guys out there. I feel like the better the competition, the harder I'm going to push myself. I want to get out in the deep end and see if I sink or swim.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): There are a lot of people on the east coast who haven't really heard of you or seen you fight. What should they expect to see when they see you fight?
Luke Stewart: I'm not scared to try stuff. I'm not going to go out there and look to win a decision. I'm always looking to finish, whether is by submission or TKO. I have a really hard style to gameplan for because I work on everything. I am good from a lot of unique positions that other fighters aren't able to capitalize out of. I just don't think there are many fighters out there who can help my opponents train for my style.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): Where do you see yourself one year from now?
Luke Stewart: I see myself being the Strikeforce champ. And hopefully I have some tough fights a year from now. I'm really looking forward to making a name for myself and gaining respect as a top 10 fighter.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): You've got some pretty sick tattoos man. What's the story behind all that ink?
Luke Stewart: I've been getting tattoos since I was 18. I've been tattooing professionally for seven years now and I have a tattoo shop in downtown San Fransisco. I've just always been into hardcore music and I've always been around it. I love everything about it, the art and all the imagery that goes along with it. It's kind of always just been something I've done and now I'm kind of known as the tattoo guy. It's cool though, I like it.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): Do you have a favorite tattoo on yourself?
Luke Stewart: Well, I just finished my back piece. It was a two-year project and I put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it. Not to mention money. That's probably my favorite one right now.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): One last question man and I'll let you get out of here. Who's gonna win -- Frank Shamrock or Cung Le?
Luke Stewart: Well, I think Frank has a lot of experience on Cung. Cung is a good friend of mine and I'd like to see him do well. I think Cung has the ability to hurt Frank right off the bat. If he can do that I think he'll be able to control the fight and keep it standing, but Frank has good hands too so we'll see. But I think the first round is going to dictate how that fight plays out. What do you think?
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): I personally hope Cung Le whoops his ass. I've developed a bit of a distaste for Frank recently and I'd like to see Cung Le knock him out. I think if he can keep it standing Frank is in trouble. Anyway, I think that's all I got for you today man. Are there any sponsors you want to thank or shout outs?
Luke Stewart: Scion, On the Mat, Shoyoroll, all the guys I train with, the Gracies, my strength and conditioning coach Dave Alexander and my Muay Thai coach, James Cook.
James Iannotti (MMAmania.com): Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us here at MMAmania.com and good luck to you next Saturday and in the future.
Luke Stewart: Thanks man.