FCF: I'm standing here with Phil Johns right after winning the Ironheart Crown Lightweight Championship. What were your thoughts going into, during, and after the fight?
Phil Johns: Well, I went into the fight revenging my loss last week in Japan to Rumina Sato. Their technique over there is astounding! I wanted to win my first fight by submission, that's why I had shoes on. I didn't want to punch at all. I got a broken thumb joint or something in my hand. And I got a hurt ankle from getting submitted last week. So this week I wanted to win my first fight real quick with a submission and show everybody. Everybody seems to think I'm a wrestler, I've trained vale tudo for three years now. I've got a coach Bob Long, I've trained with Pat Miletich, I've trained with Ryan Blackaby of Muay Thai, a kickboxing expert. I've trained with pro boxers. I have been training really hard. The second fight, I told everybody that I was going to knock the guy out. He trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, so I really didn't want to go to the ground. Although that's where I like to fight, but I love boxing and I love strikes. And I knew that I had a game plan, that's why I took my shoes off. And I was ready to strike.

FCF: Can you tell us how you set up that big knock out?
PJ: [laughs]. Well, I hate to give away my secrets, but being a 5' 2" fighter, I like to change levels. I like to fake to the body and go to the head, you know? It's really a tricky thing because I'm a good take down person, so I can shoot or I can punch at the same time when I lower my level. I knew that I had a game plan, I knew what I had to do.

FCF: Do you have any fights coming up?
PJ: No, I really don't. I'm going to spend time with my wife and kids totally. That's my number one priority. I got into fighting for a few reasons, to keep my sanity and be spiritual with myself because I've wrestled all my life and I enjoyed fighting. But I want to teach my kids discipline. I'm a school teacher, a PE (physical education) teacher. I believe this kind of sport and wrestling and other sports like that teaches self-discipline. I want my kids to see that. And I want them to know, when you do something, do it the best you can. I really don't have a lot of plans for the future, whatever comes up. I like these types of events. I don't like going to far away places like Japan, it's rough on you. I want to train our fighters and let them have an opportunity to get into this.

FCF: Alright, thank you.
PJ: Thank you. Thanks for your support.