“I feel like this is my opportunity.”
CageCraze.com Profile: Casey “Hellbent” Huffman
Photo: Mark Perry of MPFotografie
Casey Huffman has been a fixture in the Indiana fight scene for the past three years. The middleweight training out of Kokomo, Indiana considers himself a striker, although he also teaches Brazilian jiu jitsu at the Garra BJJ gym. Casey took 2010 by storm, winning all three of his professional fights by stoppage, but he’s not slowing down now. When Yancy Medeiros was forced to withdraw from a Strikeforce Challengers fight due to a training injury, Casey answered the call and stepped up to face UFC veteran John Salter on short notice. He will be making his Strikeforce debut this upcoming Friday, January 7th in Nashville, his first ever fight outside the state of Indiana and he assures us that he’s not overwhelmed
Casey took the time out of his busy training and work schedule to talk with CageCraze.com for an interview.
Can you tell us a little bit about Garra BJJ in Kokomo, Indiana?
It started off small. It actually started off in a garage, the owner Tony Wright’s garage. He lived in Brazil and trained a lot. We’re actually a Barbosa affiliate from Brazil and it’s pretty amazing. It’s really catching on. People are actually realizing that it’s an established, great place to train. People are travelling to train with us. I actually trained my last opponent, from my last fight in October. He came over and trains with us now. You’ve got Dan Head running the MMA program over there who is a very established fighter and one of my best friends in the whole world. We’re really starting to gain momentum. People are finally starting to notice when we go to a fight and there’s three or four of our guys showing up to an event and we’re going 4-0, 5-0. People are finally starting to recognize us.
Can you tell us about your life trying to balance being a fighter with working a 9-5 job?
It’s tough, it’s very tough. I work at a factory. I work for Chrysler at a Die Cast plant so I’m on my feet working all day. There are days where I come home and I don’t want to get up. I don’t want to get up and lift weights. I don’t want to get up and go train jiu jitsu or Muay Thai or anything. I’m thankful for having a good woman behind me, my fiancé Michelle, she pushes me, “Come on this is your dream! It’s time to get up, it’s time to go! You don’t have time to be tired right now.” It’s hard trying to balance everything but I have a really good family and they’re all behind me backing me in all of this. It’s tough but they help me make it through.
You mentioned the family, just how important is your family in your career right now?
It’s one of the most important things. I think if I didn’t have a big family supporting me I don’t think there’s any way I could be doing this right now. It’s hard sometimes because I have young children and I hate being away so much because to be in shape, to be really good at this sport, you have to donate a lot of time on top of also having a 9-5 job so you’re gone a lot. I hate being away, but I try to make special time when we are together. It’s important, they’re my driving force in all of this.
Family even helped create Casey’s nickname
When I told my mother I was gonna start cagefighting. She said to me, “You’re absolutely hellbent on giving me a heart attack aren’t you?” It just kinda stuck. (laughs)
You mentioned your opponent from your last fight against Roberto Nieto, he really gave you a stern test. Your first two professional fights were really quick where you blitzed your opponents and got a first round stoppage. What did you learn about yourself from a tougher test like that fight?
I really learned that I can be faced with tough opposition, you know? A lot of my amateur fights and my first couple pro fights, like you said I blitzed through the guys. I kinda got caught in a position against Robbie where he was taking my best shots and maybe they would wobble him, maybe they would knock him down but he’d keep coming. The guy was like the energizer bunny, he’s got heart. The biggest heart I’ve ever seen from any fighter in my life. It’s like no matter what you do he’ll keep coming. I remember in between the 2nd and 3rd round telling my corner that I think I’m gonna have to hit the guy with an anvil to get him outta here. I learned that I can really push through and that I’m pretty decent in all areas. I always question myself because you always have to question your cardio, question your heart if you go into the later rounds. Your burst and your brute strength are gone later in a fight. You’re exhausted, you’re winded but you’re still fighting and I proved to myself that I can do that.
All of your amateur and professional fights have been in Indiana. What’s it like stepping out into new territory in Nashville for your Strikeforce debut?
It’s actually exciting really. I took the fight on very short notice so that alleviates some of the nerves because no one really knows who I am or what I’m capable of. My dream is to fight and my dream is to fight at the big shows so this opportunity is really exciting.
Can you tell us a little bit about your mindset taking a fight on short notice?
My mindset is pretty good. I try to stay in shape all the time. I’m not the type of guy that puts on a lot of weight in between fights. I try to always eat healthy, stay in pretty good shape and I try to make sure I’m always 2-3 weeks out of being in prime shape for a fight. Obviously it’s always best to have 6-8 weeks to prepare for a fight but I think when you stay in shape, you can keep your mind focused on your goals and you’re capable of fighting on short notice and doing it well.
What’s it like taking on an opponent like John Salter, a guy that actually earned a win in the UFC?
I haven’t watched a lot of footage on him, I’ve left that to my head trainers. I know he’s definitely going to be my biggest challenge so far. He fought in the UFC, I believe he wrestled in college near Missouri and he’s been training in some really good camps for a long time. It’s one of those things where it’s a surreal experience. I’m gonna be in there with one of the toughest guys around. The guy fought in the UFC, I have great respect for anyone that does that. If you fight there, you’re definitely one of the toughest guys around. I have to respect every aspect of his game but I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I’m looking to see how I fare against a guy like that.
Are you confident in your game plan against Salter?
I’m always confident in my game plan. I think my strength in my skills is my stand up. I know I don’t have a really good pedigree in wrestling but I’m able to use my wrestling in reverse and have a lot of success. I have good takedown defense and I’m comfortable off my back. If I don’t think I can get a submission there, I’m able to get the fight back to my feet. I’m confident in my skills and I think I really have a good chance at this. I know I’m the underdog by quite a bit because nobody really knows anything about me going into this because he’s already had fights on the big show and has been training and winnings against some top guys.
Are you feeling any extra pressure considering how big of a career opportunity this is?
As of right now, I know it’s kinda early in my pro career because I’m only 3-0 but I just turned 30 years old this past July. I feel like maybe it’s not so much my days are numbered right now but they could be getting that way and my opportunities are gonna come short the older I get. When I got this opportunity I knew there was no way I was gonna turn it down. If this is the only opportunity I have, I have to capitalize on it. I’m not feeling any extra pressure because this is one of my dreams. I’ve always wanted to fight. Ever since I started I wanted to be in the big shows. I wanted to be one of the recognizable faces in MMA so I feel like this is my opportunity. Really, there’s no pressure at all. I’m just excited to be here.
