Few people have ever visited the small town of Palmerton, Pennsylvania. Situated in the mountains of the northeast region of the state, it’s home to The Ultimate Fighter’s newest sensation, 22 year old Matt “The Answer” Riddle. While Matt Riddle isn’t the only fighter from the show to come out of a small town, he certainly comes out with a big mouth and even bigger actions to back his words up. If you watched the second episode of The Ultimate Fighter, you saw Matt Riddle deliver one of the most brutal knockouts in the show’s history. A knockout that Quinton Jackson called “knockout of the century.” The young fighter, however, is probably one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. He’s always smiling and more than willing to help anyone learn jiu-jitsu at the facility where he currently trains.
Going back a couple years to 2006, Matt Riddle begin his MMA experience at Jay Russell Jiu-Jitsu in upstate New York. After moving from New York to Pennsylvania to live with his family and train locally in April of 2007, he placed 2nd at the NAGA World’s in the Expert Division. Next came NAGA’s Battle at the Beach where Riddle took home the belt in the mens no-gi Expert division along with a win at Grapplers Quest, and at the Copa Atlantica BJJ tournament. While Riddle was winning these tournaments, he was still a white belt with less than two years of jiu-jitsu experience. He recently won his first amatuer MMA fight with a keylock at the “Battle of the Sun II” before trying out for The Ultimate Fighter in Newark, New Jersey where he was selected to be a part of the show.
Not only has Riddle gone further than most fighters in only 8 years, he also doesn’t train at a large regional facility hosted by a big name UFC star or a well-known trainer. Instead, you can find him in Palmerton, at Rat Pack Fighting Systems. MMA Opinion sat down with Matt Riddle tonight during the second episode of The Ultimate Fighter, Season 7 to discuss his past, training with a Gracie Black Belt, and his move from junior high school wrestling to Division 1 wrestling.
So you started wrestling since eight grade?
Yea I started in 8th grade, kept wrestling in high school and went to nationals and then wrestled in Division 1 at ESU [East Stroudsburg University].
What made you start wrestling in the first place?
I was just messing around with my friends, ya know? Then I found out that school had it and it just went from there.
How has your ground game changed since you have been training with Renzo Gracie black belt, Brian Miller?
I already had my own style of jiu-jitsu. I was already at purple belt level. I was getting in better shape and rolling with a lot more people and sparring a lot more for fighting. I don’t think anything has changed - nothing with technique, just sparring partners.
You went from being a big fish in a small Pond here in Palmerton to training with guys fighters like Mike Dolce…
Mike Dolce, Brandon Sene, Gerald Harris, C.B. Dollaway. All great dudes - All American wrestlers. Paul Bradley is an All American Wrestler. And whoever wasn’t a good wrestler or grappler was a good striker. I just can’t wait; it’s going to be a good show. I can’t wait to watch it.
So tell me about the fist time you got humbled?
Humbled? I don’t get humbled! (laughs)
What about the first time you hit a brick wall?
The one thing I will say about the competition out there. I could basically handle anything that they handed me, I’m a pretty good natural athlete and I have really good technique. The only thing was the athleticism and the fact that I was dealing with high caliber wrestlers like myself; Division, All American, State, and National champions. That was the only difference. The jiu-jitsu and striking was more like what it is, if I can use “what it is.” (laughs)
Did it take a day or two to reset yourself – to push further?
Yea, when I first got out there, the first couple days, the All Americans with the takedowns were like throwing me around. Because I go so light at practice they were messing me up. Then like two days later I was like “I’m not taking this shit anymore” and I started dominating them.
Did living in a house with no connection to the outside world change your training mentality?
The only difference is before a fight when you got nerves, you can normally calm it with TV, video games, internet. You can talk to your family and friends. When you’re out there, you can’t talk to anybody, you just gotta fight. It’s good, you know, it’s good. It helps you in a way and it doesn’t help you. It’s like a positive and a negative.
Did you make any lasting impressions out there in Las Vegas?
People will not forget my name after this season. (laughs)
Did you notice any natural rivalries?
I won’t be surprised if by the end of show if everyone in the house wants to mess me up. I would not be surprised. (laughs)
Now that you’ve returned, what part of your game do you most need to work on?
The biggest part of my game that I’m missing right now is experience in the cage. Other than that my athleticism, my grappling, my striking, everything is top notch except I need to get more time sparring and fighting in there. And that’s it and that will get better with time.
How about your diet? Did you change anything?
Before, about a month out, I definitely go on a more high protein diet and I still eat carbs, but I hold off on all the junk food. More natural, whole grains, lettuce, meats, and it just flushes me out and I lose a lot of weight.
So how did you end up finding Rat Pack Fighting Systems?
Actually I was still training at Jay Russell Jiu-Jitsu and my family lived here and I was basically chilling out here for a holiday, for Christmas and wanted to roll and I looked it up on the internet, for places in Pennsylvania, local areas. It came it, I trained there - liked it. And then my roommate and I had a falling out and then I had to come down because I was out of money because I wasn’t working and my family supported me until I got where I am now.
Many thanks to Matt Riddle for taking the time out on a very busy day to talk with us. Good luck, Matt and thanks to Rat Pack Fighting Systems for hosting a great premiere party!
To learn more about what Matt Riddle had to say about his first fight on the show, check back tomorrow for the second part of the interview only at MMA Opinion. Matt will soon have his own blog online as well. Keep checking back and we’ll post up a link.
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April 10th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
This guy Matt sounds like a real ASS! Reading this interview and watching his fight did not impress me or my MMA friends. Matt didn’t show much on the ground and his close clinch work against the cage left something to be desired. The only saving grace was his stand-up. Matt had a good agressive attitude with his striking and his form with that devastating knock out was fantastic. His stiking instructors from the Rat Pack must be gloating.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I’ll try to get some video footage of him at NAGA so you can see his groundwork outside of the cage. He admitted that he needs to work on fighting in the cage, but otherwise he was happy with his performance against a Serra BJJ guy.
April 10th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
There is a NAGA event where I live in Va on the 19th. I am planning on going, there are a few of the guys from the gym competing. I will try to get some pics, especially if there is anyone there that is worth seeing or hearing about. Other than the guys at my gym of course!
April 10th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
To Bill Watkins: You sound like the ass to me bro. I train with Matt at the Rat Pack and he is one of the nicest dudes you’ll ever meet. I think you will be impressed in the coming weeks. And he’s not cocky, its just his way of joking. You dont know the guy, so who gives a shit about your opinion.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
yo bill watkins u sound like a big dildo. riddle has kicked my ass around several basements and many other places. he has taught me so much about MMA the sport, and technique. He’s the coolest guy you can meet and one of the funniest mother fuckers out there. With time, more experience, and his personality he can be one of the biggest names in MMA today. Mark my words this comp will not be the last time you hear about Matt “The New York Night Train” Riddle
April 17th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Let it be known he is from SARATOGA SPRINGS NY.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
ALSO to Bill Watkins: You are an ass dude, you don’t matt riddle. He has a reason to be cocky. He was the champ back in high school, he was the champ in college and he’s the champ now. Watch yourself.
April 19th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Champ in college? I’m looking to get some more info on Matt. Why did he go to ESU and when did he end up leaving?
April 19th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Shoot me an email and I may be able to help.
brandt@mmaopinion.com
April 27th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Bill Watkins is an ASS! Matt seemed like one of the nicest guys on the show. He fought 2 good BJJ guys on the TUF one brown belt and one black. He got caught after a tough fight with a experienced black belt after a tough couple rounds. His wrestling was awesome I’ve wrestled freestyle and folk style for 15 years I stopped and started coaching 5 years ago. His throws and take downs where excellent consider that he’s taking punches,elbows, fending off submissions etc. What’s your story what makes you a great critic and expert.