Muay Thai Authority was able to talk to Journey Fight Series participant Rami Ibrahim and have Rami share his thoughts on the upcoming tournament.
MTA: The tournament has a talented field of fighters, it is a also a random draw so you have no idea who you are fighting in the opening round until the day of the weigh-ins. Does not knowing who exactly you will be fighting affect your preparation at all for the tournament?
Rami: First off, I'd like to thank you for this interview... No, me not knowing who exactly I will fight will not affect my preparation for the tournament. Prior to training with Sitan Gym under Aziz Nabih, I always wanted to study my opponent. However, when I started training with Aziz at the age of 18, he never told me about my opponent and trained me for everything. He said, "why train for one thing, and then, be surprised if it's not what you expected and not have an answer for it?"
MTA: As far as the other competitors in the tournament is there anyone you would particularly like to face in the opening round of the tournament?
Rami: I don't have any preference as to who I would like to fight in the opening round of the tournament. They're all great fighters and anyone of them would give me a great challenge.
MTA: Who do you feel is the favorite to win the tournament going in?
Rami: Me personally, I don't feel that anyone fighter is more favorite than the rest. Depending on what camp and side of the world you talk to, you most likely get different feedback as to who will win.
MTA: Now as far as the tournament goes, are you bound by a contract to keep you from competing in-between rounds of the tournament?
Rami: The contract does not state I can't fight in another event in between rounds of the tournament.
MTA: If not bound by a contract do you have anything scheduled after this opening round of the tournament?
Rami: I do have a big Muay Thai fight on April 2, possibly against a fighter from the UK. Also, I might have an MMA fight in the end of April and May. Training in BJJ is something I recently started doing the last couple of months to be able to fight in MMA. Also, in July, there's talk about me having a unification title fight with the WKA, WMC and WBC titles on the line, in NJ. So this year should be a busy year for me.
MTA: As far as the tournament goes there are four Canada based fighters, and four fighter based out of the Unite States. Although it is an individual tournament do you kind of see it as America vs. Canada?
Rami: Having 4 Canadians and 4 Americans in the tournament, I still see it as the best fighters in North America, nothing more than that.
MTA: The tournament is in Canada, so the odds of you having the crowd in your favor isn't likely, does that affect you as a fighter, and do you think it provides an advantage to the fighters from Canada?
Rami: Everyone knows fighting in someone elses turf, let alone, country, is a disadventage. However, this will be my 3rd time in Calgary. I fought Daniel Christian in my first visit and in my second visit, at the C-Max 2 Pro 8 man tournament I fought Saji Geeverghese in the quarter final fight and Trevor Smandych in the semi final fight. All 3 of them were Canadians, and after every fight, the crowd was happy with me because I gave them a fight. I'm coming to give them another one. God willing, three more.
MTA: Even though you don't know who you will be facing in the first round can you give us a prediction?
Rami: Only God knows who will fight who and what the outcome will be. With that said, I will do my part and leave the rest up to him. His decision is always best.
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