Bobby Hoffman is yet another name that is gaining recognition from Monte Cox's Extreme Challenge. Bobby is the Extreme Challenge Heavyweight Champion and in my opinion, the toughest man in NHB, if not the planet. The setting this time was the finals of the 8-man heavyweight tournament in Super Brawl XIII, which Bobby made it to but lost a hard fought battle against Josh Barnett. Bobby entered the finals after first punching the 1998 Abu Dhabi World Submission Wrestling Champion, Ricco Rodriguez into submission. Then after having Heath Herring severely sprain his elbow in the first round of their fight, he continued his onslaught on way to a unanimous decision over Herring. After all of that, he never even thought about quitting and fought Josh Barnett for three rounds, losing the decision. We talked about how this Iowa farm boy, who holds a special place for his grandmother, Winnie Ragona, and his two year old son, Jordan, is able to come into NHB and…well, basically out fight his opponents. I called Bobby at his manager, Joe Sales's home [Bobby doesn't even have a phone, how tough is that?] for this interview on September 12, 1999.

FCF: First of all, I want to apologize for reporting the results and misspelling your name. I got the spelling off the Super Brawl announcements and program. Now, what did you think of your fights?
Bobby Hoffman: You know I really enjoyed fighting out in Hawaii. My first fight was with Ricco [Rodriguez], a real good submission man. He threw some submissions at me and it was a good fight for me because submissions are part of the game. I like to get them thrown at me just to see if I can counter them. My second fight…Heath's a good fighter. He's a young kid. He caught my damn elbow. He got me in arm lock and twisted my elbow and kind of hurt me in that match. But I went ahead and won. And Josh, well what can I say about Josh, Josh just beat me. It's that simple. Josh is a good fighter. I'm not going to take anything away from him. I'd really like, somewhere down the line, to get a super fight with just me and Josh. So I can go in fresh, instead of having to deal with a tournament type situation. I would fare much better, I'm sure.

FCF: In your fight with Heath Herring, he got you in a key lock and injured your arm. I understand there was talking between you and Heath during that moment, what happened?
BH: I think he thought that he had broken my arm. It had popped. He said "your arm is broken, why don't you tap?" I don't know. I can't tell you why I didn't tap. I just didn't. I just kept laying big rights to his head. I just never thought about it. He just freaked out because it popped. I don't know if he thought that he should have won, because the elbow was dislocated or what. But I just continued to do what I had to do to win the fight.

FCF: I heard that they had to treat your arm before the tournament finals. What did they do to it?
BH: Well, no one in particular treated it. We tried to put some sab on it and some spray on stuff that baseball players use when they get hit by the ball. [It is] like a freeze-it type of thing. I don't know if it did anything. I don't think it did anything, if it did anything, it just hampered me because the DMSO, it kind of makes you tired. The surface stuff didn't do anything for the damage that was done on the inside. I knew the elbow was hurt and I could have thrown the towel in, but they wanted a show out there. The people didn't come here to see me throw the towel in. And I got a big right hand. And at any given time, I thought maybe I could land that right hand. Anything can happen in a fight. So I went out and put on a show because that's what the crowd wanted. Obviously, that's what T. Jay [Super Brawl promoter] wanted because he promotes the show. So I went out there to do that.

FCF: Were you aware that when Josh Barnett jumped over the top rope to get into the ring for the tournament finals match with you that he had hurt his ankle by doing that?
BH: I didn't see him jump in. Someone said that to me when I was in the ring. Actually, I think someone said he injured his knee. If a guy has an injury or something, I'm not the type of guy who tries to damage something that's already damaged. I just go out and fight. I wasn't aware of that.

FCF: What do you think about the quality of fighters that were in the Super Brawl heavyweight tournament?
BH: There was a good quality of fighters. There were young fighters. They all had great records.

FCF: Tell us about your background and previous training?
BH: Well, I played football through high school and I wrestled, [and participated in] track. I went to Ellsworth Junior College on scholarship and played [football] there for two years. I was an All-American Defensive Lineman there. Then I went to the University of Ackerman, Ohio, where Jerry Faust, who coached at Notre Dame, was coaching me there. I played out there for two years. Then I went to the [Cleveland] Browns [training] camp and made it to the final cut, then got cut. So, basically I wrestled in high school, but most of my athleticism comes from football. I was recruited to wrestle out of high school. People have told me that I was a better wrestler than a football player, but I really liked to play the game of football.

FCF: Did you have any martial arts or boxing training?
BH: Until about two years ago, I had never had any boxing or martial arts type of training whatsoever. What limited martial arts training I do have is thanks to Miletich's Martial Arts Center. I went up and trained with him on occasion. Basically, that would be my only experiences with any kind of martial arts at all.

FCF: A lot of fighters come from troubled pasts. Did NHB turn your life around? BH: You know what. This may sound kind of strange, but NHB has relaxed me. I feel really relaxed when I get in there and fight. Basically, how I like to put it is that I was programmed that when played football, I went out and I did my job. I liked to roar at the crowd and all that good stuff. So when there was a lull, when football was over, I didn't have anything to take it's place, that excitement from football. Therefore I was getting myself in a few bar fights and getting into trouble. And now that I got into NHB fighting, I don't fight at all in the street anymore. I walk away from them because everything that needs to get out, as far as aggression or being angry, I save it. I let them out in a productive way. Hard core training is good therapy for anyone. It is for me, it helps me relax. Basically every aspect of it.

FCF: Do you train yourself for fights or do you have a trainer?
BH: You know, I'd like to have a trainer, but I don't. I have a manager, Joey Sales is my manager, but he's not really a trainer. We hit the track, run miles, weight lift, hit bags, and visit a boxing gym occasionally. I need to step up my training. I think that it's going to get to the point where I need a well-rounded game, kicks, punches, and also submissions. To actually think that I could get to compete for a world title, I need to be well-rounded in all disciplines. I'm looking for a trainer of some sort, if I could get someone interested.

FCF: What aspects of your game do you feel that you have to improve upon?
BH: I would say submission, most definitely, and probably stand up. When it comes to wrestling, I'm a natural wrestler. I have no problem with wrestling at all.

FCF: How do you specifically train for your fights?
BH: I probably fought 14 times and I've been on the mat probably about 25 times. I never get on the mat and have any practice time, so that's one thing that I'm lacking. But I just basically run, I do a lot of mental preparation, a couple weeks before and I lift weights and that's it. I also hit the bag, and that's about it, believe it or not.

FCF: What kind of mental preparation do you do?
BH: I try to focus on the task that I have at hand. It was really hard to keep focused in Hawaii, being in Hawaii for the first time and everything. It was such a beautiful, beautiful place. But that's all part of it. You got to keep focused. You know, you hear different things about different fighters and you try not to get distracted. Staying focused is the main thing for me.

FCF: Don't take this the wrong way, but what are your thoughts when people say that you beat more skilled opponents just by being more tough than they are?
BH: [laughs] I would probably say [concerning] submission skilled opponents, yeah I'm sure there's a lot of them out there that are going to be better at it. You know, alcoholics say they black out when they friggen drink, well when I enter a fight, I don't really remember it sometimes, until after the fight when I slow down. I just go in there and I react to a situation. I like to be mean and aggressive. That's where I get it out, in the cage cause I'm able to. I would agree to that.

FCF: I was talking to Joe [Bobby's close friend and manager] yesterday and he told me a lot of funny stories about you. One was when he asked you if you ever thought about tapping and your reply was "well, maybe for my knee, but I don't run or walk on my elbows." Now the big question everyone is wondering. How did you get so damn tough?
BH: How did I get so tough? [laughs] Good question. I don't know. Maybe I can thank my old man for that, cause I was born and raised on a farm. I have carried many buckets of friggen corn to the hogs and ground a lot of feed, bailed a lot of hay. When I was a kid, I worked pretty hard. My old man was pretty rough on the aspect as to when he wanted something done, you had to do it. I guess, now, as far what makes me tough… I don't feel so tough today man, my elbow's killing me, by the way. [laughs]

FCF: Well most people wouldn't have got into the ring for that final match. In fact, most people, if they had the balls to step into the ring, would have looked for a decent shot to go down on.
BH: It had to be done though. Well, you know the old saying if you don't mind, it doesn't matter. I didn't mind my elbow hurting, so it didn't matter. I only felt my elbow twice in the fight. I stalled in the last friggen period, I have to apologize to the fans. I was just trying to survive. He was throwing some vicious knees and I put my hand in there to block them and he would hit my elbow. That would be the only time I actually felt some pain run through it. I just had to go in and do it.

FCF: Joe also said you like to watch cock fighting and can relate to the fighting cocks. Can you tell us what that is all about?
BH: [laughs] It's outlawed in Missouri. Well, you know, you watch these chickens…[laughs] I can't believe I'm being compared to a fighting cock. Well, the difference between us and fighting cocks is that they go in with spurs on. It's life or death. Maybe sometimes when I go in there, I look at it that way too. This guy is trying to take something away from me. This loss to Barnett is just eating at me right now. It's bugging me really bad. But all I can do is train really hard and get him in a super fight.

FCF: What about how you found out that you didn't have a glass jaw and that you could take a punch. Can you tell us about that incident?
BH: [laughs] A fighter wants to know if you can take a punch or not, to know if you have a glass jaw. It's not a fun thing to find out about. It got to the point with me that people sucker punch me, left and right. One night I caught a big, giant right hook, right on the button and it didn't phase me at all. Although my jaw was sore for about three weeks or so, but it didn't knock me down or anything.

FCF: Is this the incident where the guy was holding a cue ball?
BH: Actually it was a number four ball. He knocked me twice in the eye and four times in the back of the head and hit me in the jaw. He caught me from behind. I go into a fight and think, hell, I've been hit in the head with a damn pool ball four times and it didn't knock me out. It's going to take a hell of a punch to knock me out. [laughs]

FCF: What are your aspirations with regard to fighting?
BH: You know, I really like this sport, but there needs to be a better payoff somewhere out there for us fighters. That's all I can say. It's not only the disappointment of losing a fight, but it comes to money in the Super Brawl. And here I am, with maybe six to eight weeks before my elbow is able to go. And I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do with myself, financially. My aspirations are that I want to keep fighting. I want to get fights with quality opponents. Eight man tournaments, man, should become a dinosaur. Those things are too brutal for heavyweights. I'm not saying that I wouldn't do another one. I will do whatever I'm asked to do. But, I guess until I get a promoter…that's probably my first aspiration, to get me some sponsors and a promoter. You know, I never know where I'm going. It's not like I have four or five fights lined up in advanced. I've known about Hawaii for about two months. But I'd like to get more organized and know when I'm going to fight or if I'm going to the UFC or to Pride over in Japan. I'd like to get direction. I don't know if Monte Cox is going to be my promoter or not. That's something that I have to find out in the next few days. But I do need to find me a promoter that can get me some quality fights. I would like to win a world title. I would like to go to the fake stuff [professional wrestling], but I'm hard headed. I don't think I could go to the fake wrestling, I've had opportunities. Going in there and having them say you've got to lose to this guy and knowing inside my head that I can whip this guy is something that I'm not willing to accept. So I guess I'll stick with where I'm at, until I can't make a living at, which I'm not doing, but hopefully soon [I will be].

FCF: Speaking of Monte Cox [Extreme Challenge promoter], I heard part of what happened when Monte did not put your picture on one of his posters for his show. Can you tell me your side of the story?
BH: Well, I'm his champion, the heavyweight champ. And he sent these posters down to my hometown and I had a lot of people that were interested in it. The posters get down here and my fricken picture is not on it. How can I justify saying to someone, like a sponsor that's going to give me money and say, "look, I'm doing well. I am the champ," blah, blah, here's my picture on a poster, when the guy that's promoting you sends the poster down and you get a little bitty, Bobby Hoffman down at the very bottom and no picture. I wasn't happy with it at all.

FCF: What happened at the end of your match?
BH: After I beat Amad?

FCF: Yeah, after you beat him, didn't you stand up, look at Monte and say "who's show is it now!" or something like that?
BH: Yeah, I did. I get a little excited in there. I don't want to have a personal vendetta with Monte or nothing, because if it wasn't for Monte, I wouldn't be where I am now. So I don't really want to make any bad blood there, you see what I'm saying. I'm outspoken and I'm going to speak my opinion. And I need to make money in this sport. I guess that I'm doing whatever I think it takes to get some attention to me, to try and get some money coming my way.

FCF: What's up next for you?
BH: See, once again, we're in one of those floaters. Monte has nothing lined up for me as of right now. I'm really open to some options. If promoters or sponsors would like to get in touch with me my address is: RJS, Inc., P.O. Box 214, Centerville, Iowa 52544 [or call Joe Sales, through Monte Cox]. I've had a few people contact me, but I have to see where that's going. I'm hoping with this [his performance at Super Brawl], that I should get more promoters interested in me and get more fights coming my way.

FCF: You're definitely an exciting fighter to watch, just seeing you go in there and beat the crap out of people.
BH: Until my last one.

FCF: Well, you showed tons of heart first by going in there and then staying in there full the whole 15 minutes. A lot of guys would have quit a lot sooner.
BH: Yeah, either I've got big balls or no brains. [laughs] One or the other, I figured that out.

FCF: Any specific fighters that you want to fight?
BH: Yeah, it's too bad Tank Abbott went into retirement. I would have really have liked to fight Tank. Of course, I want to fight Josh again. You know, there's big name fighters out there, but…I don't want to say that I can't be beat, it's obvious that I have been beat, but I'm saying, healthy and properly trained, I could stand my ground against anyone and put up a really good fight.

FCF: Speaking of Tank, what did you think of him offering advice to Barnett before the fight?
BH: See that's what I was saying. Well what am I supposed to think? Excuse my French but fuck him! You know? I don't care. I wouldn't be afraid to line up against Tank, at all.

FCF: Anything else that you would like to add?
BH: Nope, I believe that's about it, buddy.

FCF: Thanks and I look forward to seeing you fight again.
BH: Thanks man.