Photo credit to UFC.com
Anthony Perosh chronicles (Australian MMA growth and Jiu Jitsu return)
Anthony Perosh is a pioneer of MMA in Australia. He has competed at both light heavyweight, as well as heavyweight and is a UFC veteran.
In the sixth and final installment of the Anthony Perosh chronicles, The Hippo articulates his thoughts on Australian MMA’s growth in the last few years and the backstory to his nickname. Also, Perosh discusses returning to Jiu-Jitsu competitions in recent years and the sort of hard rock/ metal he jams to while training.
Anthony Perosh
The residual growth in Australian MMA culture on several levels since his competitive career
“It’s amazing, man…These Australian- New Zealand fighters, we’re fighters to be reckoned with. There’s a huge MMA circuit. A local circuit with a lot of fighters. A lot of academies and they all have a goal. Of not only making it to the UFC but becoming UFC world champion as well. So it’s really, really a good place to be. If you like MMA and want to be an MMA champion, it’s here in Australia.”
The origin story of his nickname The Hippo
“It just happened early on when I was training. My goal back then, and even still today, is get on top. Stay on top and finish from on top. So even back then I had a very top game. And heavy game and pressure game. Every time I get on someone. They can’t get me off. So people just started saying ‘get off me you big Hippo’. And it kind of stuck from there.”
Jiu-Jitsu and Heavy Metal
If a savvy Jiu-Jitsu player like Anthony Perosh would be interested in appearing for Submission Underground and his return to submission grappling competition in recent years
“Back in 2018, I went back after a long layoff. I went back to competing. I competed in the Australian BJJ championships and I won. And then I went to Vegas that year in 2018 for the world masters. And I competed in the master’s four division. Which is 46 to 50-year-olds. I won a gold medal. Like six matches and won the open division in the world championships in 2018. I went back in 2019 but I fell short one. Won the silver medal. I was going to go last year again but obviously, everything was shut down last year with COVID. But if all goes well, I’ll compete again this year.”
Music that Anthony Perosh trains to and “Kickstart my Heart” by Motley Crue being a regular entrance song for past MMA fights
“Look if it was up to me it’d be all like yeah, hard rock and heavy metal. But not everyone likes that kind of music these days. So I have to mix it up a little bit. But yeah, definitely the hair bands like Motley Crue, Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard are definitely a favorite. But I also like the old-school thrash metal like Metallica and Megadeth. Those bands as well. And just good old-fashioned rock n’ roll bands too.”
