interview with yours truly

Hello josh! I'm Sean McPhilamy and i usually write blogs for castaclysm , at castaclysm.com. Our topics are usually video game based but recently we have noticed that alot of our members avidly discuss MMA or fighting in general. I've heard you mentioned a few times by some of our Canadian members , and hope that you will be as whol hearted and modest as they say by answering a few questions for us!

1. What got you into fighting in the first place ?(person , event of your life)

That is a very good question! When I started training I had no intention of fighting, I enjoyed the technique aspect of the martial arts in general. The fact that a smaller man can defeat a larger man with the right skils and technique. I took my first fight at 15 and it just slowly progressed from there.
2. What about fighting makes it appealing to you?

I would say the friends I have made along the way. I love the pureness of the sport. I was never a natural at any other sport, nor did I ever excel at any other sport. Fighting never came natural but I could always tilt if the need ever arose. I enjoy the fact that its you and you only in there, nobody to blame but you, nothing to improve but yourself and your own skills.
I was never popular but once I started fighting, Jordan Mein and I were the only kids in high school that were fighters, we had trained together since we were 6 years old it upped my reputation 500x by far. He is now doing very well and I hope to follow suit.

3. Do you have any idols inside or outside of the fighting business?

I could write about 4 men in particular for hours 1 one of which for days.
My favourite well known fighter is BJ Penn for the fact he has fought everyone from Diego Sanchez-Lyoto Machida, fighting between 6 weightclasses in MMA is unheard of, he has done it all. Won the UFC title at 155 lbs and defended 4 or 5 times, won the strap at welterweight when matt hughes was the best in the world by far. When BJ wins its nasty, and amazing to watch, considering he had like 3 fights coming into the ufc and has beaten fought so many times is amazing.
Brad wall taught me my muay thai which is my bread and butter. Dunno how much respect is there these days but he was influential in my life

Chris Harper out of KMA, Kenora Ontario taught me the finer points of being a good person, He is a big hero of mine and I respect him hugely, he has changed many lives and brought me into the light with words alone more than once. Mad respect for him
I saved the best for last… Jesse Bongfeldt, the godfather of my unborn child, the mentor, the idol, the friend, the hero.. I can go forever. The most caring person I have met, he taught me about being a man, being more than just a name or a rep. He is my idol, my confidant, my brother and my leader all at once. He is also a UFC middleweight, rep him hard kids!

4. As with any fighter you must have your strengths and weakness' , would you care to discuss yours?

This is a weird one for me to answer, my main strength which most people will attest to is my power. I hit like a small truck. I really do. I have trained at some of the top Muay thai gyms in North America and have been the hardest hitter anywhere from 135-170. My technique is pretty strong and I can throw hard kicks, bone breaking kicks. I also don’t get nerves before my fight’s. none, zip, zero… its not scary to me. I was raised proper enough from Jesse Bongfeldt and he taught me enough that nothing is scary, especially the unknown.
I am not considered strong or even middle level for my weight but I hit hard enough that anyone I fight shoots the second I stop throwing or stop circling,

My weakness is my height and my lack of nerves, and probably the biggest of the bunch if my ego. I know I can bang with just about anyone so its all I focus on.
My nerves are weird, I am more scared to go for dinner and have my visa bounce on me than I am to fight in front of a few thousand people. My cornermen can back this one up. I fought last year against a bigger/stronger/more experienced guy and when the commission came into the back he asked me what sized gloves I needed. 30 minutes before my fight all I could think of was trying to crack the best joke I could. I said tiny ones… you know what small hands mean…. We all burst out loud.

5. If you could give some advice to lets say the average joe who watches you compete who would like to do that themselves , what would it be?

Train your ass off, train and then fight.. I know hundreds of fighters, I train with the best in the world all the time and none of which wear tapout or other “MMA Brands”. If you want to be a fighter then be one. Improve your skills, volunteer in your community and be the best person you can be. Prove yourself to yourself.

6. Last one I promise! How did you get your nickname " The Golden Boy"?
I hated Oscar De La Hoya my whole life. I always thought he was the best fighter with no heart that ever existed. I guess it got started because I started fighting young. Fighting at 15-16 against guys 10-15 years your elder will give you a nickname like that. Especially when you beat them
Since then I have tried to stear away from it, if you have any other suggestions feel free to send them my way!

Thank you sincerely for your time , I wish you the best of luck in your fighting endevours ! I have read up on some of your past fights and can proudly say that luck is not what you need , as you have alot of hard work and determination behind you and i know you will succeed !

Thank you and best of luck!, to all the Josh Harley fans out there.. theres gotta be at least 3 or 4, 2011 is my breakout year. here we go.

JUST FUCKING SCRAP