MMA Prospects - Gilbert Vielmas

By Chris Herrera

Gilbert Vielmas is a 25 year old mixed martial artist with a record of 2 wins and 0 losses. He will square off against Chris Mercado on November 28 at the Clash of The Gladiators.In a recent interview he discussed how he got into MMA, the hardest part of being a fighter, his goals in MMA and much more.





Chris - Do you work full time or part time?

Gilbert Vielmas - I work full time.

Chris - Is it hard to fit in training when you're working a full time job?

GV - Yeah but I manage, I work valet so I do alot of running and I train Mondays and Fridays I double up. On Mondays I train at 10 until 12 then I train at 3:30 to 5:30 then I do the same thing on Friday but Friday nights are longer. I train Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays ,right after work I go to the gym I do some weights, I run, then I train at 7:30 again where I do jiu jitsu.

Chris - Ideally if you could how often would you like to train?

GV - I would want to double up everyday if I could, like 4 to 6 hours like a job if I could.

Chris - When it comes to work and fitting in training is that tougher on you physically or mentally?

GV - I think it's more physically, more tiring on my legs cause I do alot of running when I'm working valet so I'm always on my legs, I'm never off my feet.

Chris - How long have you been fighting for?

GV - I've only fought 2 years but I've trained jiu jitsu 3 to 4 years and I wrestled in high school for 4 years but I've only had 2 fights.

Chris - Why is that you've only had 2 fights thus far?

GV - I wasn't really training MMA, I was training jiu jitsu, I've only been training Muay Thai going on about 2 years now.

Chris - What got you into jiu jtsu?

GV -Wrestling, my instructor I train with now he used to assistant coach for Palm Desert , he saw me in the gym he asked me and I started doing jiu jitsu then I met his friend who is my Muay Thai coach and I've been training ever since.

Chris - When did that transition go into wanting to be a fighter?

GV - I've always been good at fighting, I was a trouble maker when I was small. I like it cause it's a 1 on 1 sport, you have to work for yourself nobody can help you it's just you and 1 other guy.

Chris - Being as you said you were a wrestler do you think getting into fighting is an extension of that as I've heard former wrestlers such as Randy Couture say they still have those competitive juices but there's not much of an outlet after their wrestling careers are over?

GV - Exactly, there's nothing else so now that MMA is here it's given wrestlers an opportunity to do something cause after college there's nothing else unless you go to the Olympics but now you can make a career out of something.

Chris - Do you think when you got into jiu jitsu you had an advantage because you have a wrestling base?

GV - Yes, I do because wrestling it gets you mentally strong, it makes you a harder worker.

Chris - Would you say you're fighting style is more ground based at the moment?

GV - Right now a little bit but I'm actually picking up muay thai and I'm liking to bang more, to stand up, the punching and kicking, I'm getting more well rounded. I started out as a ground guy just trying to take you down but now I like being on my feet too, I feel comfortable being on my feet.

Chris - Do you ever get nervous or anxious before a fight?

GV - Every now and then when I'm training I think about this fight and I get a little nervous. I do get nervous at weigh ins but I think it's good to be, you can't be too confident, I'm confident in myself, it's good to be nervous but as soon as I start fighting all that goes away.

Chris - What's the hardest part thus far in being a fighter?

GV - The discipline, you have to be real disciplined, diet, can't really party, to be honest you can't really have fun it seems like because you've got to be strict with yourself, you gotta always train, it's kind of draining but you gotta do it if you want to be successful you have to stay away from all that stuff.

Chris - Is that something that's easier to deal with being as you're 25 where if you were 18 or 21 it'd be harder to stay disciplined?

GV - Yeah because I want to be a champion one day and if I want to do it I gotta train hard. That's my goal and strictly train and staying focused on that, I think if I was younger I'd probably wanna go out more and party and have alot of fun. I still have fun but I'd rather just stay home and hang out and train and work towards my goal.

Chris - Something I've noticed is alot more hispanic fighters with the lower weight classes, any thoughts on that?

GV - What it is to is, I like boxing but, in boxing it's just your hands but in MMA you use everything. Alot of wrestlers and I think people are starting to like the sport more, it's growing fast it seems like everyone wants to do it now.

Chris - The fight you have coming up, how did it come about?

GV - I was training with my jiu jitsu instructor they hit him up and I took the fight, it's here where I live in Indio, I haven't fought since June and need to start fighting.

Chris - What do you know about your opponent?

GV - He fought on the same card I did, he won in the 2nd round, I heard that he fights Muay Thai so that's all I know about him.

Chris - That said, do you think it's in your best interest to try and take him down, work your ground game and tap him out?

GV - What I would like to do is feel him out, see how it feels in there, wherever the fights goes. That's the way I see it , I'm gonna try and bang it out we'll see what happens and if not then I gotta take him down and pound him out.

Chris - How many times would you like to fight a year?

GV - I would say at least 5 fights a year.

Chris - What are your goals in MMA.

GV - I would want to fight for the UFC, maybe be a champion one day or maybe open up a school to help other fighters out.

Chris - What do your family and friends think of you fighting?

GV - Well none of my friends were saying I should do it. My Mom she's supportive, she doesn't like the fact that I'm getting hit but she's always been supportive cause most of my brothers wrestled in high school, my two older brothers, so she's used to the whole 1 on 1, she likes to see us wrestle, everybodys supportive of me.

Chris - How long have you been a fan of the sport?

GV - It's been a long time I don't know how old I was I just remember my brother he used to rent the UFCs when they had them on video and we would watch them when Royce Gracie, I don't know when it first started I just know I was young. Since then I wish I would've started training MMA when I was younger, alot more muay thai and I would've been at a different level. I wish I would've with jiu jitsu, when they told me to start jiu jitsu I was a sophomore but I waited until after high school to start but I wish I would've when they first told me I would probably be a purple belt by now.

Chris - Do you have any favorite fighters or any that you'd like to pattern your style on?

GV - One of my favorite fighters is B.J. Penn. Of course everyone likes Georges St. Pierre, I like him too I like the way he likes to push the pace. And I like that British guy who fought on Saturday, they call him The Real Deal.

Chris - Ross Pearson.

GV - His stand up was awesome, I like the way he would mix everything up, he would go from knees to elbows to punches just mix it up and kept the guy on his toes.

Chris - Are you watching UFC this weekend, if so who do you got, Tito or Forrest?

GV - I think Tito, I've liked Tito for a long time and I know alot of people stopped liking him but I think he's back for a reason and hopefully he trained hard and I think he's gonna win.

Chris - Alright man that's pretty much it, I wanna thank you for your time, good luck on your fight next weekend and hopefully win or lose I can talk to you before your next fight.

GV - Thank you, I appreciate it.

The card will be a split event, half boxing and half mixed martial arts, providing entertainment for all fans of combat sports. Steve anticipates his debut as promoter and had his father be the matchmaker for the event, paying tribute to the man he sees as responsible for all of his achievements. Fighting on the boxing side of the card will be undefeated (15-0 10KOs) Michael ‘Lil Warrior” Franco who will take on veteran Nikki Bentz (36-7 29KOs) in an eight round bantamweight match up. On the MMA side of the card, Jorge Valdez will try to maintain his unbeaten status, fighting Noah Tillis.

Champion Promotions looks forward to putting on many events in the future, including one fight card a month beginning in February 2010. For tickets or more information on the event, contact Champion Promotions at: (760)-835-3234 or visit: www.spotlight29.com

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