Whats up Joe, How have you been?

Sup Bear? All is well man. Just chill’n hang’n out at the moment.

Whats new in the life of JC?

Well, a lot is new. After having a great year in 07′, I started off 08′ defeating
“The Wildman” Thomas Denny at KOTC and claimed the Lightweight World
Championship title and landing a nice contract with EliteXC as well. It’s been
a blessing thus far.

You been in the game a long time both in grappling and mma. Give us a run down on how you started and where you have trained along the way?

Well, I started with grappling just fooling around with my friends and cousins
back in 1995 but it wasn’t serious then. It was just horse playing being that
we were big UFC fans. My cousin, Charlie Valencia, who was a wrestler and
had some experience with Judo introduced me to Larry Landless one day and
he invited us to his classes at the Boys & Girls Club so we checked it out one day.
Being out wreslted and smashed on the mat by those who knew grappling, I then
took interest in it and looked for a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school in my area in the Yellow
Pages. I found Pedro Carvlaho and soon after that, I rushed to his academy and signed
up. It was 1996 and that’s when I began my BJJ training under a structured belt system.

I trained under Pedro for 6 years and then I left his school and began training under
Aloisio Silva. He gave me my Brown and my Black Belt and I’m still currently flying
the Silva flag as we speak.

What are the biggest changes you see in MMA from the 90’s to today?

The rules and regulations of coarse. That’s a given but mainly, the cross-training
factor. Then, it was style vs style but now, everyone is training just about in every
discipline you can imagine to be a well rounded fighter. Also, in the early days of
MMA, when it was called NHB, the Grapplers were so focused to take the fight to
the mat immediately, and today, the Grapplers want to stay on their feet and strike
more than being on the ground. This is primarily because the guy on the bottom has
a harder time winning a decision because I think there’s still more education that needs
to be tought to these judges who don’t know the art of submission quite yet. Yeah, they
know the basic game of submsion but not the whole technical side of side.

The Grappler is now being more and more the striker now because the level of the ground
game has gotten better also and the grappler is forced to strike with the striker where
as back in the day, it wasn’t the case. You have some Grapplers who preffer to strike now
and finish the fight on their feet and you have some Grapplers who strike to get a clinch to
work the takedown to finish the fight in their own world.

Over all, I think MMA has come full circle and now the level is just going to increase
more and more.

You have the KOTC Belt, How does it feel being the belt holder?

It feels great man. It was a long goal of mine and a very long road to get there too.
I’m glad I made smart decisions along the way because before, I was taking some
dumb fights I had no business taking. I made some bad decision in the past and it
hurt me bad but after revamping and going back to the drawingboard, I was able to
make smarter decisions and think with a more focused mind where as before I didn’t,
I just took the fight because it was a challenge. Fights are always challenging, but it’s
being the smarter fighter that’s even more challenging.

What’s next for JC?

Well, I’m scheduled to defend my KOTC belt against Buddy Clinton on August 8th.
That’s three months away so I’m hoping to get a tune-up fight elsewhere before then
so that I can keep on going with my momentum.

Yeah, I lost my last fight in EliteXC on Showtime but a lot was going on at the time
mentally and physically and not to mention a premature stoppage by the ref…hehe
But no, I’m not going to dwell on that loss. I’m just going to look ahead and get back
in the zone with a clear and focused mind and come back winning.

What’s an average day in the life of JC from am to pm?

Before I left my job, I was an Art Director by day and full time fighter by night.
I also taught BJJ and MMA as well but now that I have no job, I’m pretty much
the full time fighter day in and day out. I wake up in the morning, hit the gym,
I go eat, come home to nap, eat lunch, and hit the gym in the evening. On my
way home fromthe gym, I stop to get a bite to eat and then come home and
rest. The routine is repeated like this daily.

Everyone now and then I’ll take a break, wind down a bit and endulge myself into
some R&R at the movies or a lounge. But when it’s fight time, I’m super focused
and disciplined.

You have been fighting all over the place. Where are some of your favorite places to fight and why?

I’ve fought numerous times abroad and two of my favorite places to fight are in Japan
and of coarse the lovely island of Guam. Japan is an awesome place. At least from
what I experienced. I got a chance to learn about their culture and way of life living on
the side of the rising sun. As for Guam, I love the whole island vibe. The peeps are
cool and the hospitality is very welcoming. Guam is like my home away from home…haha
Being that I’m a “Camacho”, I feel like I’m already accepted as one of Guam’s own.
I’m of Mexican descent but when I’m on Guahan, I’m Chamurro….haha

Who are some of the people you look up into the game you admire?

I look up to everyone in the sport and I admire everyone as well. It takes guts to
do what we do and if anyone get’s in there and puts their name on the line, no matter
if he wins or loses, he’ll get my total respect. I admire courage and I also admire humility.
Being humble goes a long way and if you’re humble, you’re going to win everytime, even if
you lose. Being humble reminds you where you’re from and who you are as a person.
You ain’t better than anyone.

It’s not cool to be arrogant. Confidence is not arrogance. If one trains hard and believes in
his or her craft, then it’s ok to be confident. Arrogance is a whole other attitude.
Everyone has a goal and if you work hard and put all over you mind, body, and soul in aim
for your goal, that goal will be yours and it will be rewarding in the end. Confidence gets you
that.

Who are some of the people you would like to fight? And Why?

Ultimately, I’d like to avenge my losses but who wouldn’t. There’s really no one
in particular who I’d like to fight. All I ask is a chance to fight the one of the best
if not the best in fron of millions of fight fans around the world and be given the
chance to showcase my skills with a great performance.

How much longer do you see yourself in the MMA Game?

I don’t think I’ll be fighting too long. I’m 35 so I have a few years left in me,
but even if I’m not fighting, I’ll always be in the MMA game. It’s way way of
life for me. It’s not something I can just walk away from ya know? I’ll coach,
manage fighters, ref fights, match make, put on tournaments and MMA shows,etc…

I’ll always be part of MMA. It’s in my blood now. It’s part of being me. Shoot, it made
me what I am today.

Where do you want to be 10 years from now?

Alive and healthy and blessed with a family of my own surrounded by positive
people….haha That’s what care to say but as far as the sport goes, I’d like
to be an owner of a chain of several gyms of my own continuing to teach BJJ/MMA.

Being in the game for a long time now, how important do you think it is to cross train at other gyms once you hit a certain level at your home gym?

Well, when you train with the same people everyday, they tend to know your habbits
and learn your movements. They tend to spung what you know and before you know it,
you find yourself sparring your own self because they’ve caught up to you. They learned
your timing, your movements, your strategies and your physical abilities.

It’s important to cross train with other people so that you know what you’re capable of
and you know what you can learn as well. I learned from getting my butt kicked so with
that being said, I’m always a student of BJJ even though I’m and instructor. White belts
to black belts teach me everday.

Who would be a few people in the game today that you would like to train with?

I’d like to train with anyone. Training is fun so whomever I train with I’m always enjoying
the session everytime.

In your eyes what do you think is the 3 most important styles to being a success MMA fighter?

Submission Wrestling, Boxing, and Muay Thai

If I was to ask you to pick between getting your black belt or to date Jessica Simpson for a day what would you choose?

A date with Jessica Simpson. I already have my Black Belt…haha

Seriously though, if I had to choose, it would have to be a date with Jessica Simpson
anyway. Think about it. Do the math. It takes an average person to receive his/her
Black Belt 10 years. An average person wouldn’t have those odds with Jessica Simpson.

haha

What is the best advice you can give to a MMA fighter trying to climb the ranks?

The best advice I can give is always stick to the basics. Stick to what works. Believe in
your skills and capability, and stay focused on your goal whatever your goal may be.

Also, have a good support system behind you. You don’t need anyone or anything
bringing you down.

If you could turn back time to 5 years ago, what would you make different?

Choosing smarter fights and taking this fight game more seriously.

After all this is said and done where do you plan to retire and why?

Where do I plan to retire?….um, I don’t know about where but when the day
comes, when my body can’t take it anymore and when I’m on pain killers
and meds, that’s when I’ll hang up the gloves.

What can we expect to see in every fight with JC?

You can see an action packed performance everytime. I always give it my all and lay it
out all on the line.

You got mad brands throwing you gear, why do you still rock Shoyoroll?

It’s simple, I support those who support me.

Thanks a lot Bear.