Credeur just can't wait to back into that octagon. (photo courtesy of tim-credeur.com)
It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it is how you play the game that counts.
Athletes hear this phrase on a regular basis growing up. For Tim Credeur, it is not whether he wins or loses his fight, it’s how exciting his fight is.
“For me as a fighter, the biggest thing is going out there and putting on exciting fights for the fans,” Credeur told MMAMadness.com. “The thing that kills MMA is that slow, stagnant, boring fighting.”
Going into his UFC Fight Night 19 fight against Nate Quarry, Credeur sees all the makings of a barn burner.
“Looking at a guy like Nate Quarry, he definitely offers that kind of fight for me,” Credeur said. “We both put on fireworks shows and we both take licks and throw hard shots. I think we’re going to kill each other, and one of us will snatch victory.”
Part of this kamikaze attitude stems from Credeur’s desire to help sell and expand mixed martial arts. Credeur is willing to sacrifice his body, and perhaps just as important a victory, if his performance helps move the sport a step forward.
“For sure I want to grow my name, but we’ve got to get this sport bigger,” Credeur said. “We’re got to get this sport mainstream and I just want to put on fights that contribute to that for the UFC and for MMA in general.”
Against Quarry, Credeur does not have one strategy. Rather, he hopes that the fight incorporates all facets of mixed martial arts.
“What do I want to do to Nate Quarry?” Credeur ask. “I don’t want to do anything to Nate Quarry. I want to go in there and have a fight. I don’t want to have a Jiu Jitsu match, I don’t want to have a wrestling match, I don’t want to have a boxing match, I want to go out there and put on an explosive fight that goes everywhere. On the ground, standing up, takedowns, blood everywhere, scars on my face.”
“That’s what I want to do; go to war, battle with someone, and Nate for [expletive] sure is one of those dudes.”
Credeur may not be going into his fight with a specific game plan, but that does not mean he is unprepared. He is prepared to give it 100 percent for three full rounds, and his training is reflective of that desire.
Some fighters set up specific training camps for upcoming fights. For Credeur, training camp is a year-round process.
“I just train full speed like I’m in a camp my whole life, because I don’t got time to waste,” Credeur said. “I train my ass off every day all the time and I’m going to keep on doing it until either I see the top or I’m done with the sport.”
While the top may be somewhere in the future, Credeur has his sights set on a more immediate goal.
“I don’t fight on UFCs with numbers; I only fight on Fight Nights,” Credeur said. “I’m working my way up.”
With another exciting victory over a seasoned veteran like Quarry, a spot on a numbered card could be just months away.
