· Wes Sims ~ The A-Hole Show
It is no secret in the mixed martial arts (MMA) community that the show which started the immense popularity of the sport has grown a bit stale, as the undiscovered talent is thinning, the twists have all been done before, and fans are growing tired of the same old drunken tirades that take place in Las Vegas. SpikeTV’s The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), which is the brainchild of UFC owners Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta III, started in 2005 and completely exploded the sport of mixed martial arts after the finale provided one of the greatest slugfests ever between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar; but fast forward 10 seasons, and the reality show that gives 16 young fighters a chance to fight in the UFC is facing serious problems, because even Jerry Springer style antics get stale after awhile.
However, the UFC is not about to let the show that put them on the map just go away. The tenth season will feature a cast of 16 heavyweights – the first time since season two that the show will feature the big boys – but these are not just any heavyweights. The show will feature four former NFL players who have made the transition to MMA, the last heavyweight champion of the International Fight League, three fighters with UFC experience, and an Internet streetfighting legend, Kimbo Slice. This cast is expected to revitalize a show that has begun to slip in the ratings.
One of those UFC veterans is Columbus, Ohio native Wes Sims, who went 0-3 during his time in the UFC from 2003-2004. The Mark Coleman product’s first stint in the UFC was less than ideal, as he was disqualified in his first fight for stomping a downed Frank Mir in the head after Mir gouged his eyes (which was not seen by the referee). Sims has carved out a distinct image for himself in the sport, but he has been absent from the spotlight during the past few years, and he was even homeless when The Ultimate Fighter came calling for a colorful addition to their newest season. David McKinney recently caught up with the always-entertaining 6’10” self-proclaimed ‘black man’ to talk about his career, being homeless, and the atmosphere during this season on TUF.
David McKinney: You are a UFC and IFL veteran with over 30 pro fights. For those fans that are new to the sport, tell me a little about yourself.
Wes Sims: I have over 30 fights. My name is Wes “A-Hole Show” Sims. I’ve fought in the UFC, I’ve fought in Japan, Korea, Mexico, Canada…all over the world. I’m one of the most experienced guys on this season of TUF and I’m the only guy who has fought on a main card in the UFC.
DM: How does being 6’10” give you an advantage in the cage?
WS: It definitely helps with my strength and leverage; things that normally work on some guys won’t work on me because of my freakish strength.
DM: If fans do know anything about you, then it is that you are the guy who got DQ’d for illegally kicking a downed Frank Mir. How have you tried to distance yourself from that fight?
WS: I haven’t. You know, it was an accident. He gouged me in the eyes, and I got him back. It’s not something that I’ve continued to do. Now I’m the A-Hole Show and I’m a different fighter.
DM: We all know about the bad boy image that you’ve carved out for yourself. Was your appearance on “The Ultimate Fighter” something that the UFC approached you with in order to gain viewers, or was it your idea to go on the show?
WS: It was my idea. I heard they were doing heavyweights and I contacted them. I didn’t have to go through auditions or send them a tape. As soon as I made the call, they were interested, and they called the producers. Then the producers called me, they flew me out to Las Vegas, and sat me down in front of a camera.
DM: I heard that you texted [UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva and asked to be on the show. Is that how it all started?
WS: Yep. I sent Joe a text, he called the producers, and they gave me a call and said they wanted to talk.
DM: This season is the first season of TUF with 16 legitimate heavyweight fighters. Which guy surprised you the most when you first walked in?
WS: I was readily surprised by [former NFL players] Marcus Jones and Wes Shivers. These guys are former 300-pound NFL players who came in weighing about 285 or 290. I was readily surprised by how fucking fat Roy Nelson is. And as the season went on, I was really surprised by his appetite. That guy can eat everything. He uprooted a shrub out back and ate it during one of the tapings.
DM: I’ve heard you talking a lot about Roy. Was he your roommate?
WS: Hell no! If I slept in the same room with him, he probably would have eaten my foot. It was ridiculous the amount of food that man ate. He looks like he’s nine months pregnant. On the previews for the show, they just show that growth right above his belt line.
DM: Do you think that this is the toughest season of TUF yet, with three UFC veterans, four former NFL players, the last IFL heavyweight champion, and of course, Kimbo Slice?
WS: It’s definitely a cast of characters. It’s going to be, I think, heavyweights are exciting. There’s a lot of personality, and without giving away anything, it’s going to be very, very interesting.
DM: So was the level of competition on the show as high as you’ve experienced in the UFC?
WS: I think that The Ultimate Fighter is a breeding ground, and there are a bunch of guys on the show that can get up to UFC level. I feel very fortunate to be on the show, because I’ve already been in the UFC. I think they brought me in for my personality and to liven that place up. I’ve watched a couple of these seasons, and that fucking show definitely needed an enema.
DM: Without spoiling anything, tell me how the season went overall.
WS: It was a complete season. It’ll be good for the fans, but as far as answering any questions about it, I’m going to be as surprised as you are, because I don’t remember anything. It was filmed a couple months ago and I have a really bad memory.
DM: I have heard that this is going to be one of the craziest seasons yet. What contributed to that buzz?
WS: There has only been one season with heavyweights. The coaches – Rashad Evans and Rampage Jackson – have a big rivalry brewing. And you have Kimbo Slice with this cast of characters…it’s going to make for a good season.
DM: We all know that coaches Rampage and Rashad don’t like each other. Do you think that their rivalry overshadowed the season, or did they become super competitive and pump up their fighters?
WS: You’ll just have to wait and see. There’s definitely a rivalry as far as competition-wise, but it’s personal between these two, and you’ll see a lot of personal conflicts on this season.
DM: Give me a name that will surprise fans this season.
WS: [UFC president] Dana White. He always surprises everybody.
DM: What were you doing before you entered the TUF house?
WS: Oh, you know…just like everybody: homeless. I had elbow surgery in 2007, and it was really bad. I had to have surgery three times. I opened a gym, and the gym was going really well, but personally, it could have been much, much better.
DM: I know that UFC legend Mark Coleman is the man who introduced you to the sport. How is your relationship with Mark these days?
WS: Mark and I are best friends. He’s in Vegas right now, and I’m here in Ohio. We still train together and I’m hoping to be in his corner for his fight in November with Tito Ortiz. When I actually have something to take care of, he takes care of it. I’m headed out to Vegas here at the end of the month to train with Mark and Randy Couture.
DM: At 29, you’re probably in the prime of your career. What can fans expect from Wes Sims in the next couple of years?
WS: I’m getting to my prime. Mark Coleman didn’t even start in this sport until he was 31 years old. At 6’10” it’s taken a long time to grow into this body. I was 6’10” with an adult body but the mind of an 8-year-old. I’m growing up, getting more knowledge, going places to train, and I’m getting better. I’m passionate. I do have some blemishes on my record, but the fights that I’ve lost I don’t have any excuses for besides the fact that I just didn’t train. There were many times when I’d take a fight just to get the money, and I just thought that I was bigger and stronger and that I would win. But if you know this sport, you have to train to get anywhere. If you gas out, you’re done.
DM: You were just 22 when we last saw you in the UFC. You say you’ve grown a lot mentally, and hopefully we’ll see some maturity.
WS: I don’t know about that. I just said that I’ve grown a lot, meaning aged.
DM: Are you a more mature fighter now?
WS: Yes, I’m a more mature fighter. I’m not a much more mature individual, but I am a much more mature fighter.
DM: What would it mean to you to possibly fight in Columbus when the UFC comes here next March?
WS: Nothing would please me more than to fight in Columbus, Ohio in March against Frank Mir. Nothing would please me more.
DM: Is there anybody you want to thank?
WS: I want to thank Mark Coleman, my trainer. I also want to thank Jamie Mathias and all of the guys in Lancaster at Buckeye Hammer House and the Lancaster Police Athletic League. I obviously have to thank my family. If you’ve seen my promos, you see that I say, “My fans will love, my enemies will hate, and my family will forever be embarrassed.”.
The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights debuts September 16 on SpikeTV at 11pm after UFC Fight Night 19. Former UFC light heavyweight champions and bitter rivals Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans will be the coaches, and the live finale will be on December 5 and will also be shown on SpikeTV.
