Photo via Tom Theocharis Tapology page
Tom Theocharis on TOFC 1 opponent switch and sparring Ngannou
Tom Theocharis competes at the first show for Tarps Off Fight Club. This goes down on December 18th at Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
I spoke with Theocharis ahead of this rare Homefield bout and excerpts from our chat are below.
Tom Theocharis
Having an opponent switch ahead of TOFC 1
“I’m gonna have to stop you in your tracks there. I’ve got actually a new opponent…He’s an Alaskan. His name’s Deven Paulsen. Unfortunately, Drayton (Angus), won’t get into it but he wasn’t able to compete. I wish him nothing but the best. It’s very understandable what he has to kind of go through.”
“For sure. Even though it is a fighting sport. I’m not here to hate my opponents. You know, it’s one of those things where I just like to compete and it’s all business .”
Tarps Off Fight Club
Working with current UFC heavyweight world champion Francis Ngannou in Las Vegas
“That was a crazy experience. We’re in the practice room and he’s like, do you want to spar? I’m like, Okay. I think I said something like, as long as you don’t kill me. He goes, as long as you don’t kill me and he was funny. It’s like, okay, he’s got some humor. He’s not too serious. He’s not going to try to kill me. So we’re sparring and he kicks me in the leg, my whole body just shifts. Like, Oh God, what did I sign up for? He just takes me down and starts hammering me. I’m trying to get up and do stuff.”
“And then the round ends after he kind of mauled me and he’s like, you want to go again? I’m like, fuck, why not? Sure. We went again and basically the same thing. I left that training session with a few marks on my face. And it was very cool. It was a really cool experience.”
TOFC 1
Thoughts on his new opponent Deven Paulsen overall
“Yeah, I’ve looked him up and I see kind of a lot of holes in his game. I mean, he’s not the greatest anywhere to put it nicely. And I’m just kind of focusing on myself. Making that weight and going in there and focusing on myself like I just said. Having a good performance and making an entertaining fight.”
Parting thoughts for Tom Theocharis
“Thanks for the interview. It’s always a pleasure talking to you. Thanks to Sergio and Chris from Tarps Off Fight Club. I’m looking to put on a good performance and just kind of moving on… Let’s do it. Beer on me.”
