Lee Murray Interview

Lee Murray & Heath Herring

By Wiggert Meerman, SFUK Holland, 17 September 2002

Lee Murray is on of the UK most promising fighters according to many insiders. His boxing is superb, he doesn’t tap from a little Ground and Pound and is working hard for his submissions and groundwork. Training with top fighters like: Pat Miletich, Remco Pardoel and his superb boxing coach Terry Coulter. Lee was in Holland so when I got the chance I did an interview, made some pictures and watched the young UK fighter.

The pictures are with the next people:

• Terry Coulter (UK boxing coach)
• Remco Pardoel (UFC veteran and grappling trainer)
• James Zikic (UFC veteran and training partner)
• Michel van Halderen (Dutch boxing coach)
• Hans Nijman (PRIDE veteran)
• Heath Herring (PRIDE fighter)

Zikic coached by Terry

Lee & Hans

First of all here are some quotes from Remco Pardoel and Terry Coulter about Lee.

Terry: Since I have been training with Lee he has come to 100%. He is nice to work with and learns very quick and I am sure if he gets the breaks he need he will go right to the top in the sport. He is one of the best prospects I have worked with for a long time.

Remco: Lee came to my gym a year ago. He has improved a lot on his ground work.
Lee is the man to train with because he helps me a lot with my boxing
skills. And I can help him to improve his ground game. He is so descent
that he brings over his boxing trainer to help me out. That is how
friendship and respect should be...

This next fight is D-Day for us.
His opponent was in Pride twice and if we can beat this guy. We and the
promoters know that we belong in the major league.......

On with the interview :

Wiggert : What about the fight after UFC 38 with Tito Ortiz?

Lee Murray : We were all outside the club, I had a chat with Tito and Chuck Liddel before. One of Tito’s guy was messing around, he was on the back of Pat Miletich, it was just for fun I believe. Tony Frykland thought it was serious, so he came to help. Pat said it was all right, but the guy from Tito was also angry. Tony Frykland was pulled away but was still mad. A friend of mine (Paul) started to talk with the guy from Tito, they started arguing. Paul got in a fight and punched the guy, then Paul got punched so I punched him. Then Tito came right at me, he hit me right on my ear, we clinched, I punched him 2 straight ones, 2 uppercuts and then he went down and at I kicked him in the face. He didn’t went really KO I think, but he did go down. Matt Hughes jumped on Tito to protect him and Miletich pulled me away. That was it.

Wiggert : Tito challenged you after the fight in a interview, what do you think about it?

Lee Murray : I will fight him if possible. If possible we will do it like this: I will gain 10 pounds, he looses 10 pounds. And I would like a couple fights before Tito so I can prove I can fight.

Wiggert : Any upcoming fights?

Lee Murray : Millennium Brawl 8. Against Amir Rahnavardi.

Wiggert : Who are your trainers at the moment?

Lee Murray :Terry Coulter for boxing & Alexis & Paul (London Shootfighters ) in UK for ground. Remco Pardoel in Holland. Pat Miletich in the US.

Wiggert : Are you going to do some pro boxing?

Lee Murray : In the future I will be, now I just concentrate on Vale Tudo.

Wiggert : What is your goal in fighting?

Lee Murray : Become Champion, UFC or Pride.

Wiggert : You come a lot to Holland these days, what do you like about it?

Lee Murray : Yes, its good, good guys to train and fight. Though guys.

Wiggert : Why is it that you went to Terry and Remco for training?

Lee Murray : Terry is one of the best boxing coaches / trainer the UK provides (famous for training Mickey Cantwell who fought for the world title and a list of fighters).

Remco Pardoel is one of the best grapplers in the world, the best I have ever trained with.

Wiggert : Are you visiting the Miletich camp soon?

Lee Murray : In a few months I will, hadn’t have time to get there. Pat is just a great help, just take a look on his camp’s fighters. For all round training he is the best. He knows about a fight, what it takes, what it needs. Just look at his camp.

Wiggert : What is your opinion at Ian Freeman’s fight at UFC 38?

Lee Murray : He is a good friend of mine, I speak a lot to him. I thought it was going to be a hard fight, but Ian just smashed him. He made look Mir like an amateur.

Wiggert : Who is the best fighter in MMA?

Lee Murray : Many guys are good. You can win from a guy and loose from the same guy next week, its very unpredictable, everything can happen. For the UK……..Ian Freeman definitely.

Wiggert : Any last words for the fans? Maybe even for Tito Ortiz?

Lee Murray : I’d like to thank all the fans that follow me, to many names to list, but you guys know who you are!! Thank you!

Wiggert : For Tito:

Lee Murray : It should never have happened at the club. I have full respect for Tito as a fighter and champion. But when someone is throwing punches at you, you have to defend yourself. That’s what I did. For all the people that blame me for this, remember this: It takes 2 to fight, perhaps a little further down the line me and Tito may fight in the UFC, win, loose or draw. Either man shake hands and put an end to this for the good of the sport.

Thanks Lee!

Lee Murray : Thank you.

Remco bobs Murray

Murray & Michel van Halderen

James Zikic