Duane "Train" Douglas and the UEC

1Q.What got you started in MMA?
1A. after I was discharged from the navy in 2000, I wanted to do something to stay in shape and feed my competitive nature, I played semi pro football for the Cleveland Lions for a season, but it wasn’t fulfilling enough. I needed more, and one day I turned on spike TV and Forrest Griffin was training to compete for the semifinals and I thought to myself, "This could be it!" 10 yrs later and I’m still here.
2Q. Describe your first fight, what was it like?
2A. Scary, all the months of preparation and training with friends to finally put my skills to the test. My first fight was in Mansfield, OH in this "Hole in the wall" warehouse, everyone had a team shirt, and there teammates with them and here I come rolling in with my entourage full of black t-shirts... My opponent introduced himself, and then quietly escaped out of the back door.
3Q.Who is your favorite MMA fighter and why?
3A. Lately, I have been very impressed by Amir Sadollah. If Forrest Griffin had a twin brother separated at birth, Amir would be him. Very down to earth, very tough and he is a great ambassador for the sport.
4Q. How was it training with Triple Threat MMA?
4A.It’s awesome, you couldn’t ask for a better gym or group of friends to train with. We all walk in as friends and walk out as family. I love the intensity Coach Pizzi brings to the workouts, he really makes you push yourself past what you think your limits are, and focus on progress. You have several gyms with the equipment and the big name fighters, but triple threat is the gym where serious fighters go to learn and get better.
5Q. What is your favorite thing about Mixed Martial Arts?
5A. My most favorite aspect of MMA is the ever changing fighter, if you watch UFC 1 you see all of the fighters are 1 sided, either ground or stand up, now as MMA has evolved we start to see the future of fighting, the Hybrid uni-versed fighters. The real badasses!
6Q. Who are you main inspirations for fighting?
6A. I have 4 Daughters Dayzhia (12), Dehvian (7), Daylian (4), and Destane`(2) They all love to watch daddy train and whenever I put UFC on the run to the TV and ask.. "Daddy, are you fighting today?" and sadly I tell them soon girls, hopefully soon.
7Q. How did you get involved with the UEC?
7A. I started UEC in my living room with a former business partner of mine. He was the Financial Investment and I was in charge of running the show from start to finish. It was a tough job but I managed to make it work with the best executive secretary in the world, my fiancée' Rochelle. We spent at least 12-14 hrs a day matching, communicating with the Ohio Athletic Commission, Advertising, and building a decent show, only for our former business partner to run off with the fruits of our labor and be cut from the organization. The backend of this sport can be cutthroat, but sometimes you have to dust your butt off, and go back to square one. There isn’t always an easy way to do things sometimes you just have to keep getting knocked down, before you can stand high.
8Q. How is it working with the UEC?
8A. I love it, it is my baby but at this point I have put off producing shows to get back into training myself, I have spent 2 yrs out of the cage / ring and I would love to start competing again in the near future.
9Q. Where do you see the UEC in the next few years?
9A. under the right supervision I can see the organization progressing to unlimited levels. Although only time can tell. The best method is to continue to do the right thing, and be straight up with everyone from the fighters to the fans. People see your sincerity and your willingness to do great things, and that doesn’t go unnoticed. I will reclaim UEC in the future and promise to bring bigger and better shows that the MMA community will appreciate.
10Q. Is there any chance you step back in the cage for a UEC event?
10A. Under Ohio guidelines , because I am a licensed matchmaker I can only fight outside of Ohio, if the UEC ventures to other states then it may be a possibility, but for now I am looking forward to traveling and making a career out of the sport I love.