I am world champion and UFC contender Tarec Saffiedine AMA

do you think if Rory wasn't a UFC fighter he would be serving multiple life sentences for homicide ?

no idea lol

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a manga hero name Kiichi Miyazawa

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Yep lol

Super TOUGH lol

SUPERMINHOUTOUGH!!

How much would I have to pay you to beat the shit out of my brother? He thinks he's so tough.

loool. How much can u afford?

You've only fought once in nearly two years, while Rory has fought four times in the same spell. Do you think this is a disadvantage for you?

I dont think it is. I train my butt off for this fight and I am use to have long time between fight from when I was fighting in strike force.

Would you be interested in fighting Jean-Claude Van Damme for the title of “The Muscles from Brussels”?

its his title, I can't take that away from him but I would love to fight in a remake of any of his movie ;)

Hello Tarec. First of all, I am excited to see you fight live in Halifax at my first ever UFC live event. My question is, with news coming out about the UFC using two different sized Octagons (one bigger and one smaller) I want to know if you could choose a bigger or smaller cage, which would you prefer?

Thx for attending the show live bro!!! I didn't know about those new rules, I like bigger cage. In the small cage, we end up clinching too much.

who's your pound for pound #1 fighter in the world today? also, how well do you think Ronda Rousey would do if she fought in the mens division?

Cain!! Women vs Men is a different debate but I think she can do pretty good.

You frequently post videos of your young son practicing his kicks. Would you want your children to follow in your footsteps and compete in Kickboxing or MMA?

Nope, my son did that couple times and he stopped. I will support whatever he does but I would rather have him going to school and play other sport.

What are the best trash-talk lines you've heard?

Chael Sonnen, too many to remember!

How is the fight going to end?

My hand raised

The Halifax event will be my first live MMA event! I can't wait! With that said, what's your favorite zombie movie?

I like the TV show Walking Dead

How do you deal with fight nerves? I'm a professional Thai Boxer with only 4 fights under my belt, but I find the nerves leading up to a fight worse than the fight and weight-cut put together. Do you get the same anxiety still?

Nerves are part of the deal, the more you fight the more you can handle them but they dont go away. Jean Charles Skarbowski said that he retired because he wasn't scared to step into the ring anymore and THAT scared him. Nerves are good as long as you take them at your advantage.

hello Tarec, Huge Fan and Belgian here. i watched you fight against Hyun Gyu Lim. and have been (im)patiently waiting for your next performance.my question is two parted:

1 = will you be able to bring the UFC to Belgium one day? many of our countrymen still don't know that we have an accomplished MMA fighter competing in the UFC.

2= You are know for your devastating kicks,will you change it up against Rory? or are you inclined to do what you know best. would you mind it if the fight went to the ground?

NICE!!!

1. I hope man, its one of my goal.

2. I am ready wherever the fight goes.

Hi Tarec, who's your favorite manga character, and why? Also, if you could fight one fictionnal character, who would it be? (mangas or movies)

Manga call TOUGH, I would fight Kiichi Miyazawa, the hero!

Running in to the GYM! Please keep sending in your questions, I will be back shortly!

Tarec

Does Belgium really have the best beer in the world?

OF COURSE!!!!!! and the BEST CHOCOLATE!

Glad to see you're back in the cage!

What is the worst part about your job?

Thanks bro. I love everything about what I do but I would say being away from family and friend for almost 6 years now.

Tarec! You're an awesome fighter. I always make sure to catch your fights. What goes on in your head before, during and after a fight? Thanks again.

Thanks LilWinnie!!!

Before, I am focus and want to win, during I am in the zone and after I am glad I won.

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I hate running!

In the locker room or otherwise behind the scenes, is there a fighter who has had an unexpected positive influence on you?

Dan Henderson

Hey Tarec- thanks for doing this! Could you talk a little bit about Shihaishin? It reminds me a lot of kyokushin and I reckon it's an offshoot? How difficult was it transitioning to striking in mma? I think you have some of the most talented striking abilities in mma! Thanks

My pleasure, its really similar to kyokushin but my coach taught us Judo, Muay Thai and BJJ as well so it was pretty close to MMA, the transition was easy.

Being that you came into the UFC as the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion, there was a lot of hype around you. Then your fights with Robbie Lawler and Jake Ellenberger (twice) got called-off. Do you think this fight against Rory MacDonald is your chance to really prove yourself? What holes do you see in his game that you think you can exploit? And if you come out victorious, are you expecting a title shot?

Bonus question: Did you like working at a restaurant, a cinema, as a gardener or as a security guard the best?

Its definitely the biggest fight and opportunity of my career and I want to take full advantage and win! Holes, he has a lot. We shall see after the fight.

Bonus: none of them, I was sneaking out to go train lol

Hey Tarec,

Since UFC is going to Japan this weekend and you've fought for Dream what's it like fighting in Japan compared to Brazil and the US? Is there a favourite place you rather fight?

I wouldn't mind fighting anywhere. In Japan the crowd is definitely more quiet than US or Brasil.

Hi Tarec thanks for doing this! I'm flying to Halifax from Newfoundland Canada to see you and Rory fight and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm a fan of both of you so this is a hard fight for me to cheer for someone, but I'm looking forward to one of you taking the next step.

Now for the question. If you weren't an mma fighter what would you be? Oh and what's your favourite tv show?

Thanks for coming bro!

I have no idea what I would be.

Breaking bad was pretty damn good! Didn't have the time to start a new one!

I'd dream to see you fight against Nick Diaz : could you try to make that happen ? :D

First Rory!

Who's your favorite superhero?

Kiichi Miyazawa

What is your favourite music to train too? Favorite song that gets you the most pumped up? Good look in Halifax!

RATM is always good! Thanks

Thanks for your time. I have three questions.

1. What motivated you to join UFC? Was it your ultimate passion from the beginning or were you led to it by serendipity?

2. It's a very tough sport you're in. It must affect your relationship with your family. How does the sport affect your family life, and what do you do to support each other?

3. If you could give advice to young adults and kids aspiring to MMA, what would you say to them?

sure.

1. Being the first belgian to go and win inside the UFC.
2. my wife has been there from the very beginning and she understands and support me everyday.
3. have fun, find good school and good trainer.

Hey Tarec huge fan here!!!! Who punched you the hardest whethere in a ufc fight or practice??

Dan Henderson punches pretty hard

What is a typical day like for you?

(training, diet etc)

8am I am, eating + kids training at 10am 1pm eat and rest 5pm second training after, family rest and food

1.Who is your biggest inspiration in life?

1. All time favourite UFC fighter?

2. Your favourite moment in career as a fighter?

1. too many people!
2. I really like BJ and Jose Aldo.
3. winning for the first time in the UFC and winning the strike force belt

Tarec, I'm a pretty new UFC fan, but I really enjoyed your fight with hyun gyu Lim. One thing I noticed was how calm you were in the octagon and how clinical your performance was. I saw Rory shut down Tryon Woodley in a fight that reminded me very much of your fight with Lim. Without giving anything away about your game plan, How do you expect this fight is going to go down? I'm really looking forward to the fight

Thanks bro. I have to fight my fight not his fight!!

I have only recently started watching UFC within the last year (loving it) and being a typical girl, I always wonder, how long does it take to recover from a fight? How long are you sore and probably have a headache for?

it depends on the fight and the intensity of the fight, if you have injury or not. it can last 1 day up until 1 year.

What does your daily diet consist of?

organic food, diversify the food and WATER!!!

I know you like TOUGH, but any other mangas, animes, and TV shows you like?

I like DBZ of course. Breaking Bad was good. I dont really have the time to watch more to be honest.

Where you at Tarec?

Running in to the GYM! Please keep sending in your questions, I will be back shortly!

Your fight against Hyun Gyu Lim was great and I loved watching your style. You clearly won the fight but seemed to fade in the later rounds. If you go the distance with Rory, how do you plan on combating taking as much damage/being as tired in the later rounds?

After a year off I definitely wasn't in my best. but it won't happen for this fight.

1.) Who gave you the nickname "Sponge" and why?

2.) Out of the 15 fights that you won, you only have a 40% finishing rate, and 0% for the past 4 years, are you afraid this will impact your career in the UFC as they are known for disliking fighters who doesn't "pursue the finish"?

1. my former belgian coach gave it to me because I would learn techniques really quick, I would absorb them like a sponge.

2. I am not worry.

I saw you KO Nate Moore on a Strikeforce card years ago. Been a fan ever since. Thanks for doing the AMA.

I know you've only had one fight in the UFC but you been on their roster for a while. What's the biggest difference between to the two orgs and how they treat you as an employee?

My pleasure, thanks.

Not much difference, I have been treated really well by both.

Is there a particular type of fan that annoys you?

nope I am good with everyone!

Who is your inspiration?

A lot of people, especially my family.

If you could fight any fighter on the current UFC roster who is not in your weight class who would it be?

Mark Hunt, great fighter

Your leg kicks have been the deciding factor in some of your biggest fights. How do you go about conditioning your shins, or is that something that has come naturally through years of training?

As a Strikeforce veteran, how do you feel Coker will do as the new head of Bellator?

I dont do anything special, just kicking and kicking as much as I can in training. I guess Karate helps a lot with that.

I watch ufc and have never heard of you. Your thoughts?

soon you will!