Interview With Pro Fighter Razor Rob McCullough Interviewed by Ben Tatar of CriticalBench.com - May 2008
CRITICAL BENCH: Critical Bench is here with pro fighter and fighting celebrity Robert Alexander Mccullough AKA Razor Rob. Razor, tell Critical Bench readers about yourself!
RAZOR: My full name is ROBERT ALEXANDER MCCULLOUGH THE 4TH. I come from a family of six sisters and one brother. I was born in Huntington Beach, CA on May 26, 1977. I'm half Irsh and half Latino. I left home at the age of 14 to better myself.
CRITICAL BENCH: How did you get started in MMA and who got you started in MMA? What sports did you play as a kid?
RAZOR: I got started in MMA in 2000. I was already training with my good friend Tito Ortiz before that but had never fought in the cage until 2000. I was always a pretty athletic kid. I played football, baseball, karate, wrestling, basketball, surfing, snowboarding and jogging.
CRITICAL BENCH: That is cool that you are great friends with Tito Ortiz and that you get to hang out with him and do cool things with Tito such as train and party! Before you were a pro MMA fighter, tell us about your fighting background!
RAZOR: I was a professional kick boxer, Muay Thai was my style. I had a very decorated amateur kickboxing record and amateur boxing as well. I held 10 different championship Title Belts before turning pro at Muay Thai and then won the I.M.T.C. Intercontinental welterweight Title in 2001.
RAZOR: I have matured as a person and more so as a fighter. My mixed martial arts game has become very well rounded and I now know I can only beat myself at this point.
CRITICAL BENCH: As a fighter, what do you think about before you're in a huge fight and during a fight?
RAZOR: Before a fight I think you're getting paid to do this and you're not going to jail.
Afterwards, you're locked in the cage and the guy can't run away from you :)
CRITICAL BENCH: The spirit of a predator, of a warrior that is having fun! Tell us about your fight philosophy in general!
RAZOR: Well, my philosophy is hurt this guy before he gets the chance to hurt you. I'm always looking to end the fight dramatically.
CRITICAL BENCH: You do end your fights dramatically! What is your advice for someone who would like to be a fighter?
RAZOR: I HOPE YOU DONT WEIGH 155..
CRITICAL BENCH: Hahaha, well, I'm glad I don't and that I'm doing the interview! hahaha! Do you have any sick stories about destroying someone in a fight?
RAZOR: When I fought Olaf Alfonso I hit him with a combo that left him out for 30 minutes and carried out on a stretcher with an oxygen mask. I thought I'd killed him, but thank God he had a full recovery!
CRITICAL BENCH: Fighters, always have the most intense stories to tell! haha! So far in a fight, what has been your most powerful moment? What has been your funniest moment?
RAZOR: I guess when I fought Rich Crunkilton. A lot of people thought and said I would be exposed and would lose the fight when we first engaged. I hit him with a solid shot on the bottom which set up the finale of punches in his final demise. I suppose the feeling of knowing I was the better fighter that night and retaining my title and shutting the mouths of the haters was a pretty powerful moment.
And the funniest moment was the same fight last punch I threw I waved at him with my left hand to distract him from my right cross which I landed and dropped him to win!
CRITICAL BENCH: That was one of the best finishes to any fight that I have ever seen before. You have held many titles before. However, in anyway, do you think that ever losing a Title has helped you out more in the long run than winning a Title?
RAZOR: One of the moments that has changed me the most for the better as a person and as a fighter was losing the title. I had to get back to the hungry Razor that was the first in the gym and the last one out. Everything happens for a reason.
CRITICAL BENCH: Overall, would you say that you're good or evil?
RAZOR: I would say good unless you're on my bad side which currently no one is except for my next opponent. I'm a firm believer of good things happen to good people! Karma Baby….
CRITICAL BENCH: A lot of people would like to be more hardcore and gutsy like you. What is your advice for the sissies of the world and how to make fearful people brave?
RAZOR: Well life is short! Live it cause your gonna leave it before you know it!
CRITICAL BENCH: If anyone can get that message in their heads, it is you! Tell us about some of the things you have done in fighting that you are proud of?
RAZOR: I really enjoy teaching people the art of which I do and seeing the progression. I like hearing the stories and just letting peeps know that hard work can take you places.
CRITICAL BENCH: Tell us about your workout routine, diet, and supplements? How do you train to be a fighter?
RAZOR: I train daily except Sundays I run 4 miles a day. On Saturdays I do sprints and eat very healthy 6 times a day. I take Multi Vitamins and drink a mix of veggies and fruit juiced daily. I kick box and box. I also wrestle and do jiu-jitsu throughout my days as well as circuit weight training every day. Sometimes core, sometimes full body circuits.
CRITICAL BENCH: what are the best and worst things about being a fighter?
Razor: I get paid to do something I love and that is not work. I can't think of a bad thing about being a fighter.
CRITICAL BENCH: What is the best advice you were ever told and what was the worst?
RAZOR: Winners never quit and quitters never win. The worst advice would be "This guy sucks and you don't even need to train to fight him."
CRITICAL BENCH: What injuries have you had to experience before and what adversities have you had to overcome? How did you make it through them?
RAZOR: I have broken my hand a few times and torn my MCL. I broke an ear drum and sustained lots of cuts. Just rehabbing properly and staying healthy. The worst was having a few of my friends killed in a car accident before a fight. I couldn't stop training but I also could stop grieving for them. I had to stay strong and focus. Life is short!
CRITICAL BENCH: What are your future goals?
RAZOR: I'm currently planning on taking over the world.. :)
CRITICAL BENCH: Hahaha, you are making headlines everywhere, no doubt about that! What are your five favorite weapons when it comes to fighting?
RAZOR: Kicks, big punches, elbows, knees, and the undetermined mind to kill.
CRITICAL BENCH: How do you see the future of MMA?
RAZOR: The fastest growing sport in the world! Watch out soccer!
CRITICAL BENCH: What do you like doing away from fighting?
RAZOR: Hanging out with my friends. Scuba diving, surfing, snowboarding, going to the beach, watching comedies, going to the movies and quoting funny movie lines all day! Oh and going on vacations!
CRITICAL BENCH: Razor you have experienced many people's dreams. You have had success with the ladies, with fighting, you have been scuba diving (which many people wish to do,) and you have experienced so many other great things in life. Of all these things that you have experienced that most people never get to experience, what would you say the greatest high in the world is?
RAZOR: The best high in the world is knowing you won a battle for a title and that you beat a guy who trained to beat you. Showing off what you worked so hard for is the best high.
CRITICAL BENCH: It goes to show that just maybe the hard work and taking risk are worth it!! Since, you have seen it all. Do you have any sponsors? Tell us about them!
RAZOR: Punishment athletics, sprawl, triumph united, osiris shoes, gamma-o, razor clothing TV. I love all these guys and couldn't do this without them.
CRITICAL BENCH: What does your family think about you fighting?
RAZOR: At first they said get a real job, go to school, and now they say can I borrow some money for rent..
CRITICAL BENCH: Hahaha, that is funny! What makes Razor Rob different from everyone else?
RAZOR: Well, besides my stunning good looks : ) My explosive striking from punches or kicks and the fact that during any fight I'm looking to end the fight by knockout. Oh and I love to fight!
CRITICAL BENCH: When your fighting career is all said and done, how do you want people to remember you?
RAZOR: I want to be remembered as the guy who pushed the limits and loved life. The guy who you didn't want to fight cause you didn't want a beat down but who you wanted to party with after cause it was just too much fun!!! The guy who worked hard and played harder and never quit!
And the funniest moment was the same fight last punch I threw I waved at him with my left hand to distract him from my right cross which I landed and dropped him to win!
RAZOR: The best high in the world is knowing you won a battle for a title and that you beat a guy who trained to beat you. Showing off what you worked so hard for is the best high.
