In the world of Mixed Martial Arts, injuries are frequent and are happening more often as the brutal sport evolves. Our friend Nick Moghaddam understood that when he chose MMA as a career. That’s why Moghaddam decided to disregard the numbing-sharp pain on his broken arm during the 1st round of his main event fight against Ricardo Feliciano in Irvine, CA. Nick was determined to win and did not let such a serious injury stop him. Instead he continued on to finish the bout until the fight was over. The bone in Nick’s arm was broken in half during the beginning of the 1st round while blocking a high kick using only one arm to defend. Nick miscalculated Feliciano’s offense and decided to block a high kick using one arm instead of two.
This classic error was once observed when Frank Shamrock and Cung Le fought in 2008. Shamrock absorbed Cung Le's shin with only one arm, which then snapped Shamrock’s ulna in his forearm.
“I can strike and I have explosive power when I strike and I can knock people out” said Nick during his interview with ConvictedArtist.com.
Nick , who is known as the “The Mercenary” is not afraid to fight anyone at any given time, especially when there is money involved. Nick got the name “The Mercenary” after taking a MMA fight on a day’s notice simply for the money.
Even after breaking his arm, Nick continued strong to the fights finish. “I was just way longer. I could just feel my jabs connecting. It was awesome” said Nick about the fight. It wasn’t until after the fight when the excruciating pain began.
Nick is looking for a rematch with Feliciano as soon as possible. “I do believe, in my own opinion, that I had done enough to win the fight – even with one arm broken “ said Nick.
When you first look at Nick Moghaddam, you cant help but notice his intimidating look. He is 6’3 inches tall with a reach of 81 or 82 inches and resembles MMA legend Royce Gracie during his is earlier days.
Nick’s MMA trainer and corner man is 8-time World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion Allan Goes. Goes is an accomplished UFC, PRIDE, IFL, and Pancrase veteran who too has suffered severe injuries during his career yet continued to push forward and not let injuries stop him. Goes did notice the break in Nick’s arm at the start of round 1 but felt that Nick could still go on to win. In a 1995 Pancrase Tournament, Allan Goes vs. Frank Shamrock, Shamrock secured a lock on Goes. Shamrock then tore Goes’s ankle off its tendon hinge. Goes absorbed the trauma and went on to finish the fight.
We are honored to present our sites visitors with this exclusive interview with The Mercenary himself.
Enjoy!
Exclusive Interview with “The Mercenary” Nick Moghaddam
SA: What is your height and reach?
Nick Moghaddam: I am 6’3’ tall. I think my reach is 80 inches or more. 81 or 82 inches. I got a good reach.
SA: What weight did you end up fighting at?
Nick Moghaddam: 215 lb.
SA: When did you first realize that your arm was injured?
Nick Moghaddam: Within the 1st 30 seconds of the fight. I threw a high kick and he throws one right back at me right away. I block it right away, bam and catch it. And I was kind of being cocky. I know how to block a kick, use two hands but I only used one because I did not respect his offense at all and he took advantage of that. My arm broke right away, I did not know it was broken, I knew it was hurt. Whole thing stung and went numb. But of course the way I was taught to fight, I just continued to fight. My corner man Allen Goes told me after the fight that he knew I broke my arm in the 1st round but he did not want to tell me until after the fight.
SA: How did you feel after the fight was over?
Nick Moghaddam: After the fight the pain set in and it was just agonizing. I kept thinking to myself, what if I didn’t break my arm. I would of finished him off right in the 1st round. He took my right arm in the first round, so I had no right arm. During the second and 3rd round my arm just went numb. So I just started dropping it and throwing it hard.
SA: Is there anything that you learned off of this fight?
Nick Moghaddam: Yes, from a tactical standpoint next fight I am going to throw a lot more low kicks. I will begin throwing the head kicks when I have the guy dazed a little bit more. To finish him, instead of just throwing them to throw them. I threw a lot of head kicks and body kicks. I was trying to take his head off. I think I have a good head kick. I tried to set it up with a few low kicks and then go back to the head. His defense was better than I expected it to be.
SA: In all of your MMA fights you throw and land several head kicks. Can you tell us a little bit about this?
Nick Moghaddam: Sat always trained me in practice to throw the head kick. He never let me throw low kicks in practice ever on the bag in Muay Thai classes. Because he said that is too easy, so he helped me develop a really good head kick. I think it is a good weapon to keep people away from you. If a baseball bat gets swung at your head, obviously the guy broke my arm throwing a head kick at me and me blocking it. So those things do have some force. I am glad that fight is over. I get to evaluate the fight. A whole 3 rounds of stand up where I get to see what I need to do differently on my next fights.
SA: Can you tell us a little bit about your family background?
Nick Moghaddam: My mom is part Portuguese and Scotch Spanish. That is the fighting side. My grandpa was a boxer. My father is Persian, Iranian, and German. So he is mixed as well. I am just an interesting mutt. So we have a lot of different things in me. My last Moghaddam is Persian.
SA: You are originally from Southern California?
Nick Moghaddam: Yes sir, born and raised here.
SA: You have a big following here how did you become so popular here?
Nick Moghaddam: Yes, I have my own school in Aliso Viejo at LA Boxing called Nick Moghaddam Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. I have quite a big following there from all the members and all my students. We have a total of 600 students. I have taught at other gyms in Orange County too.
SA: Who were your training partners for this fight?
Nick Moghaddam: I only had one training partner for this fight. It was Allan Goes, my jiu-jitsu coach. We did MMA training and jiu-jitsu training. No striking at all to get ready for this guy for when the fight hit the ground. I got three days a week of training with Allan and he would train with me for an entire hour and a half. It wasn’t like we are going to train a 5 minute round, it was like 30 minute rounds. I remember training with Allen. I will be on the side mount and he will be on top of me punching me. And I will be like, ok I tap out and I stop. And he will be like Hell No! Training is not done yet. You get out yourself, find a way out, you find a way out! That is how Allen trained me for this fight.
SA: What about your striking?
Nick Moghaddam: Striking I did all my own, all my own techniques all my own stuff. I consider myself a Muay Thai striker. I consider myself a black belt in Muay Thai.
SA: What does your family say about the career your have chosen?
Nick Moghaddam: My mom can not even watch a jiu-jitsu tournament. Watching us get choked with a gi and she flips out. So I don’t even tell her about the fights. My Dad, he is into it, he is a black belt in judo and taekwondo. He is starting to be really proud now. He is finally happy.
SA: What is next for Nick Moghaddam?
Nick Moghaddam: I see myself in Shooto Japan actually. I got the phone call about that. Hopefully I can win that fight and go on to fight in DREAM. Shooto, Japan in 5.5 months to go on and put on a big show out there.
Nick “The Mercenary” Moghaddam
Dubbed the “The Mercenary” since he will take a fight on short notice for the MONEY $$
Steven Arredondo
www.convictedartist.com
