My interview with DaMarques originally was slated to be featured as our weekly “20 Questions”; however, after a few conversations he made me realize that he’s not the cocky, arrogant persona I thought I knew from TUF. He’s endearing and charming and funny… and that’s just the beginning. Somehow he just has this way of making you feel relaxed talking to him- it’s not a “normal” interview by any means. My “normal” interview with a fighter consists of gaining their e-mail and letting them fill in their answers whenever their schedule permits. Most fighters take about a week, but they are training and running schools and busy so it’s totally understandable… but DaMarques was different. He responded to my interview request within 12 hours and we were on the phone 8 hours later. I explained that I normally e-mail (for their convenience), but he seemed more comfortable with a phone interview, and thank God he did or I would have never discovered that we’ve all been duped by SpikeTV and TUF. Not to blame them; they have certain “personas” to fill and DaMarques is just cocky enough often enough to fill that persona.He’ll admit that his attitude “never turns off, that’s what people don’t get. Being cocky is a small portion of who I am.” It is, a very small portion, but he’s also much, much more. A MMA fan since age 10, Johnson grew up the poor kid on the west side of the highway in Salt Lake City, UT (if you’re from there you know what the West-side is like). His first taste of the UFC was in 93’ when Ken Shamrock took on Royce Gracie and the love grew from there. For DaMarques MMA isn’t everything in life, it just makes life better. It provides him with a means to support his child and give him a role model he can be proud of. Before joining the military Johnson had gotten into some trouble as a kid; he had a choice- join the military and make something of your life, or go to jail and end up on a path all too familiar to kids he grew up with.
During his time in the military the long hours were filled by watching current UFC and MMA greats compete. Ultimately he decided “I think I could do that” and started training. While completing his 8 year stint with both the Army and National Guard DaMarques found time to train. Taking advantage of veteran UFC fighter, Jeremy Horn, owning a gym in Sandy, UT (a suburb of Salt Lake), Johnson soon found himself taking classes and fine tuning his skills. With only a few months in a professional gym Johnson stepped inside the cage for the first time. Walking away with a loss, DaMarques was more determined than ever to get in the gym and hone in his skills.
After four years of fighting in smaller, regional shows Damarques took the leap and tried out for UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter ninth season. With a first round TKO of Muay Thai specialist, Ray Elbe, to get into the house the Utah-native showed what he was made of early. The move into the house was little more than Johnson expected, "I expected it to suck! The lack of family and friends. Having to live with people you would eventually fight. I didn't expect much." There's no reason for him to expect more than that. There are countless post-TUF accounts of fighters saying they'd never to the house again, but doing it once can change everything. On his way to the finals, in DaMarques' Preliminary fight he finished Brit, Dean Amasinger via triangle choke in the first round- boosting the score to 2-1. With that push the Americans then went on to settle up at 4-4 going into the semi-finals. With less than a week left in the house the semi-finals pitted DaMarques against Nick Osipczak. USA team-member Jason Pierce pulled a Benedict Arnold and tipped off Team U.K.’s David Faulkner how DaMarques trained and what his strengths were. Viewers at home were weary of the outcome when this was aired… knowing the ins-and-outs of an opponent can be the difference between a W or an L. However, DaMarques showed heart and heaps of skill with his Unanimous Decision finish of his British counterpart.
Since getting home and out of The Ultimate Fighter house Johnson has had time to relax a little more and focus on more than just training… like his kid. DaMarques’ “little man” turned 4 recently and they celebrated with a Batman themed birthday; for DaMarques it was the perfect day. He’s not a party type of guy, he’d rather hang out with his son and girlfriend than go out clubbing and get drunk.
When asked who, if given the chance, he would spend a day with the answer took no time to think of “my dad, he died when I was nine, and my mentor Steve, he died on my birthday in ’04.” It’s not the typical “Muhammed Ali” or “Bruce Lee”, just the two guys he feels he didn’t get enough time with. After the time I've spent talking to DaMarques Johnson it's hard to sum him up in a few words, but I'll try: Funny, Charismatic, Personable.
Tomorrow: Reviewing StrikeForce and WEC41. The end of Jens?
Miss something? Questions? Comments? E-mail me: samantha.lynn.johnson@gmail.com
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