Sam Hoger is Ready for Jonathan Ivey and Enjoying Life in Houston

On January 24, UFC vetern and alumni of The Ultimate Fighter Season 1, will be fighting Jonathan Ivey at Cage Fighting Championship’s Urban Rumble III. I had a chance to talk with Sam about his upcoming fight, his life in Houston and what he wants to accomplish in the sport of MMA.

FTG: Growing up, you lived in Panama, then Alaska, then you moved to Louisiana to go to school. That’s quite a jump from Alaska. Why did you choose LSU?

Hoger: LSU is a good school and I got a scholarship. Ya gotta go to where the money is.

FTG: When did you decide to pursue fighting professionally?

2002. I went up to Iowa to try out for Miletich Fighting Systems. I starting fighting amateur and then turned pro.

FTG: What did you think about getting selected for the first season of The Ultimate Fighter?

Hoger: My manager got contacted five months before filming. They spent a lot time going through people and they chose the best candidates. I was thinking it was a great opportunity to help build up MMA as sport and it would be good for me.

FTG: When did you start training with the Militech camp? What prompted the move to Iowa?

Hoger: Started in 02. In 03, I was full time over there.

FTG: You run the Militech school in Houston, Texas. How did you end up in that position?

Hoger: It was the right time and right place. I also had a girlfriend who was down there, so that was a motivation. I moved down to be with her. I needed way to support to her, if I was gonna be with her. I asked Pat [Miletich] and he said, “Yes.”

FTG: What do you enjoy more, teaching or fighting?

Hoger: I like teaching and fighting in different ways. I Like seeing students get better and helping them grow and fighting is exciting. It’s the difference between sex and a BJ. You like them both, but for different reasons.

FTG: How has teaching enhanced your game as opposed to just training?

Hoger: You get a more technical respect for the game. Teaching that stuff to another person definitely enhances the technical aspects of your game.

FTG: When did you first start talking to the WCF about fighting for them back in September?

Hoger: I got a call from Joe Cavallaro and he said he was interested. It came with the right figures and estimate, so I said, “Lets do it.”

FTG: Before that, you hadn’t fought for 16 months. Why did you wait so long between fights?

Hoger: I was so busy with the school. I gotta support my girl. At times I’d get the itch to fight and then it finally just overtook. Now that I’ve completed my goal: to go to the UFC and win a fight, I’m fighting because I love it and its a great time and I enjoy doing it. Its a passion. For the love of the sport.

FTG: You fought Jason Dolloff last September and finished him in 0:17 of round 1. Did you do anything different to prepare for that fight?

Hoger: It was totally different. I don’t have don’t have the Miletich guys around me in Houston. I had personal trainers that only focused on me, as opposed to training as part of a big group of other guys who are training. It made a huge difference.

FTG: You are fighting for Cage Fighting Championship’s Urban Rumble III on January 24. When did you start getting ready for that fight?

Hoger: I got a call from them two or three months ago and started the preparation.

FTG: Do you know much about your opponent, Jonathan Ivey? Have you seen him fight?

Hoger: He’s a gamer, he likes to get out there. He’s Fought a lot of guys, a lot of big names, ex UFC champs and stuff. He’s fought everybody. I’ve got my hands full. I’m looking to walk into fire and come out unscathed.

FTG: Are there any specific areas of your fight game that you’re working on right now? Is there anything special you’re doing to prepare for Jonathan Ivey?

Hoger: A lot of studying of his fights. He’s got a lot of fights on YouTube. He knocked out a UFC vet in 8 seconds. He’s no joke. This is the kind of stuff I like.

FTG: What does a typical day for you look like? What is your training schedule?

Hoger: Wake up, conditioning, meet with speed and conditioning coach, come back to the gym, meet with the strategist, do some sparing, live grappling, go to bed.

FTG: What do you feel like you have that Ivey doesn’t? And vice versa?

Hoger: I think I”ll have some speed on him. He’ll have strength on me. I think I’m a little more technical and I’ve taken preparation a little more seriously.

FTG: Do you have a prediction for the fight? Round? How will it end?

Hoger: Hopefully, a knockout. Hopefully I’ll hit him with one punch and he’ll fall asleep. I’m trying to be like Mike Tyson back in the 80’s. Be a crushing force that has devastating power.

FTG: Is there anyone you would like to fight after Ivey?

Hoger: I’ll fight whoever’s next. Whoever makes sense. Its a passion you must indulge.

Ya know what really inspired me to get back into fighting? I was looking at records on Sherdog Fight Finder. I found Travis Fulton. He’s had 189 fights! I wanna be the kinda guy that when I’m older I can say to some kid that I’ve fought 100 men. When I started thinking that, I said I wanna get to at least 100. Its a passion. Its all for the love of the sport.

I’m also working on building a kids program in Houston. I wanna provide a great area where kids can come and train. If parents can’t afford it, lets charge a quarter a month and get the kids off the streets and away from gangs and drugs, give them a chance to succeed by giving them good role models here at the gym. I’ll do anything I can to get kids off the streets. Politicians talk a lot about doing things, but I’m really doing it. I’ll do anything for the kids.

FTG: When is the kids program going to start?

Hoger: The kids program is already up and running. We have about eight kids in here right now. I’ll have to start going to some impoverished neighborhoods visit families and get kids off the street. They need a positive place where they can find that inspiration, that goodness, that hope, that family that will give them everything they need to become successful people.

Would you ever go back to the UFC?

Hoger: It’d have to be the right price. I’m doing my thing right now. I like what I’m doing and how I’m doing it. Over here in Texas, I’ve sold over $20,000 worth of tickets. Its amazing to see what you can do. I’ve got a lot of guys and we’re enjoying what we do. So we’ll see. As long as I’m not Machida I’ll be alright! [laughs] I’d put everybody to sleep!

FTG: Speaking of Machida, he has a fight on card for UFC 94, as does another guy you fought, Stephan Bonnar. Do you have any thoughts about those fights?

Hoger: I got thoughts [laughs]. Man, I wonder how boring this will be! Ya know, I gotta stop hating on him [Machida]. He’s a very technical fighter. He’s good at what he does. Its just boring as hell. I’ve never been so bored, even in a fight. in a fight. And Bonnar, he’s my boy. My boy’s nuts!

FTG: Having fought both Griffin and Rashad Evans, what did you think about Griffin’s loss?

Hoger: I think Griffin underestimated Rashad. He’s a tough dude. When he wants to get in your tail he gets in your tail. I think the best thing was [Rashad's] move with Greg Jackson. Jackson’s done miracles for him.

FTG: Well Sam, thanks for the interview. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Hoger: I’d like to thank my sponsors,  Nutrition Depot, New Business Groups, Miletich, Elite Miletich Fighting Systems Houston, Pat Miletich, my manager and girlfriend-Erica Dugger, my family, and God. Also, Shawn Machado and his strip club hotties in Houston on Westpark.