Mike Lemaire (@MikeLemaire) is fresh of his “Road to Glory” middleweight tournament victory. Lemaire won the 8-man one night tournament with two (T)KO's and one exciting decision to earn a Glory contract and with the $20,000 grand prize. Muay Thai Authority caught up with Mike to talk about his tournament victory and see what is next for him.
MTA: Mike huge weekend for you. How do you feel after winning the “Road to Glory” middleweight tournament?
Mike: I feel amazing, I grew a lot as a fighter over the course of this tournament, I am grateful to have been a part of it, it was a lot of fun.
MTA: You definitely put on a show for the fans you knocked out your first opponent with a head kick, you were involved in a war with Andy Kapel, and you stopped Eddie Walker in the finals. How were you feeling going into the championship bout?
Mike: Going into the championship bout was all mental at this point, I was not physically 100% from my previous bout with Andy Kapel, but my coach Melchor Menor reassured me that it was my moment, we worked really hard to be in this position. I never once doubted myself and I was very confident.
MTA: In your fight with Andy he dropped you with a head kick. Were you seriously hurt or were you caught more off balance because you seemed to jump right back to your feet?
Mike: In my fight with Kapel I was not hurt, it was like nothing happened, he caught me good, my brain shut off for a second and I was back up ready to go to war again.
MTA: In the tournament finals you really damaged Eddie’s leg. Did you watch his other tournament fights and new that you might be able to take advantage using leg kicks or is that something you picked up on as the fight went on?
Mike: Eddie had a great momentum going into his fight, knocking out two of his previous opponents so I am sure his confident level was very high just as mine. I knew he was going to put his hands on me so my coach came up with the game plan of slowing him down with leg kicks and like he mentioned in his post fight interview he did check a couple of my kicks which I felt!
MTA: What do you think was the most challenging part of the tournament?
Mike: The most challenging part of the tournament was to "stay in the game", when I got knocked down I stayed composed and focused on what needed to be done. Breaks between fights and watching your competition is very mentally challenging.
MTA: Now that you are officially part of Glory, any idea when your next fight is?
Mike: No date yet for my next fight it is in the making.
MTA: You have made a huge impact since turning pro in early 2012. How has that ride been for you since making your pro debut at 110% Fights to now being part of Glory?
Mike: The ride as been great, I am enjoying every step of it and I feel blessed to do what I love. I strongly believe now more so than ever before that anything is possible when you believe in yourself.
MTA: What can the Muay Thai and Kickboxing world expect from Mike Lemaire in the next few years?
Mike: Expect to see me on the big shows, I am on a mission! Thanks again for all the support everyone.
MTA: Mike huge weekend for you. How do you feel after winning the “Road to Glory” middleweight tournament?
Mike: I feel amazing, I grew a lot as a fighter over the course of this tournament, I am grateful to have been a part of it, it was a lot of fun.
MTA: You definitely put on a show for the fans you knocked out your first opponent with a head kick, you were involved in a war with Andy Kapel, and you stopped Eddie Walker in the finals. How were you feeling going into the championship bout?
Mike: Going into the championship bout was all mental at this point, I was not physically 100% from my previous bout with Andy Kapel, but my coach Melchor Menor reassured me that it was my moment, we worked really hard to be in this position. I never once doubted myself and I was very confident.
MTA: In your fight with Andy he dropped you with a head kick. Were you seriously hurt or were you caught more off balance because you seemed to jump right back to your feet?
Mike: In my fight with Kapel I was not hurt, it was like nothing happened, he caught me good, my brain shut off for a second and I was back up ready to go to war again.
MTA: In the tournament finals you really damaged Eddie’s leg. Did you watch his other tournament fights and new that you might be able to take advantage using leg kicks or is that something you picked up on as the fight went on?
Mike: Eddie had a great momentum going into his fight, knocking out two of his previous opponents so I am sure his confident level was very high just as mine. I knew he was going to put his hands on me so my coach came up with the game plan of slowing him down with leg kicks and like he mentioned in his post fight interview he did check a couple of my kicks which I felt!
MTA: What do you think was the most challenging part of the tournament?
Mike: The most challenging part of the tournament was to "stay in the game", when I got knocked down I stayed composed and focused on what needed to be done. Breaks between fights and watching your competition is very mentally challenging.
MTA: Now that you are officially part of Glory, any idea when your next fight is?
Mike: No date yet for my next fight it is in the making.
MTA: You have made a huge impact since turning pro in early 2012. How has that ride been for you since making your pro debut at 110% Fights to now being part of Glory?
Mike: The ride as been great, I am enjoying every step of it and I feel blessed to do what I love. I strongly believe now more so than ever before that anything is possible when you believe in yourself.
MTA: What can the Muay Thai and Kickboxing world expect from Mike Lemaire in the next few years?
Mike: Expect to see me on the big shows, I am on a mission! Thanks again for all the support everyone.
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