· On The Spot ~ Zak Cummings

Springfield, Missouri’s middleweight prospect Zak Cummings recently made his Strikeforce debut where he put his perfect 10-0 record on the line against fellow up-and-comer Tim Kennedy. Cummings was handed his first ever loss that night, as part of the Strikeforce Challengers main event. However, the bout gained Cummings a lot of respect and some positive national exposure, showing his toughness and willingness to step up to upper echelon opponents.

Cummings is still a student at Missouri State University, where he’s majoring in exercise and movement science. He hopes to transfer on to physical therapy school once he graduates. Although, with his new found fame he may find time hard to come by as he prepares to help lead Stikeforce’s loaded middleweight division into the new year.

Zak trains at the Springfield Fight Club and after a 6-0 amateur record he turned pro. As a professional he has collected seven stoppage victories by TKO or submission, and holds a decision win over UFC veteran Terry Martin. Cummings’ future in the sport is bright, as the well balanced fighter looks toward getting back into the cage in early 2010 to continue is ascent to the top of the rankings.

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MMA Spot:  Where are you from and why did you get into mixed martial arts?
Cummings:  Hometown is Springfield, MO. I wrestled all through middle school and high school then attempted to walk onto the Iowa State University wrestling squad, but I injured my knee in high school and wasn’t cleared to wrestle by the doctors. Then I came back to Springfield found Springfield Fight Club, started training MMA, and five months later had my first fight.

MMA Spot:  Where do you train at and who are your coaches?
Cummings:  I train at Springfield Fight Club and my coaches are Rick Wyner (BJJ/MMA), Gabe Wouk (BJJ), and Clyde Hicks (boxing/kickboxing).

MMA Spot:  You recently headlined the Strikeforce Challenger Series event against Tim Kennedy, despite the loss, how was the experience and what are your thoughts on the fight?
Cummings:  The experience was awesome and it was exciting to be on a card with so many great wrestlers. I was really excited about headlining the card. As for the fight I felt ready for the fight, but I felt rather hesitant in the fight and that led to Tim Kennedy being just a step ahead of me, and you can’t let that happen. Kennedy is one of those guys that is so gifted you have to be on your game or it will be a rough fight. Overall though I learned a lot and I loved it.

MMA Spot:  Any news concerning your next fight?
Cummings:  My management team is still working with Strikeforce on it, but it is looking like this coming January or February is when it’s going to be.

MMA Spot:  Who do you idolize in the sport? Who do you try to model yourself after?
Cummings:  Watching the UFC, I always loved Rich Franklin. He is a left handed, middleweight, well rounded, former champion. I always have respect for any wrestler in the sport since I am a wrestler. Dan Henderson, Randy Couture, and other guys like them, you just got to love. 

MMA Spot:  If you could chose to stand and bang or take it to the ground and grapple which would it be?
Cummings:  It depends, since my base is wrestling, I started off taking it to the ground but then began to stand and bang more as I got more confident in my standup. Now I feel confident anywhere and that allows me to play to my opponent’s weakness. My wrestling background helps me out here because it allows me to dictate where the fight takes place against most guys. I have had fights where I stood and just had a blast, like my fight against Dan Anderson. It was a lot of fun because we just went at it on our feet and I dropped him several times.

MMA Spot:  Besides MMA what do you like to do for fun?
Cummings:  Well MMA, of course, takes up a lot of my time but when I can get away from the gym I like hanging out with my friends. All my teammates have become like a family and we hang constantly. Our big thing is going and playing some Big Buck Hunter, but sometimes when there's time we will get some paintball, flag football, or softball going.

MMA Spot:  Is it tough balancing your blossoming career as a fighter with your personal life?
Cummings:  Yeah it is and it's sometimes a little annoying. School takes a blow every once in a while because a fight might force me to drop a class and it's holding up my graduation, but it’s a small price to pay. All fighting, all the time, gets old occasionally but then I remember how much I love it.

MMA Spot:  Thoughts on the recent Strikeforce card?
Cummings:  Fedor vs. Rogers was an awesome fight. Rogers proved a lot but I think people are giving him to much credit because he did lose the fight after all. Fedor looked impressive.

MMA Spot: Right now are you ready to fight Fedor?
Cummings:  Probably not, but who is? I would take that fight in an instant though. I’ll fight anybody Strikeforce wants to throw at me. 

MMA Spot:  Since you are a middleweight what were your thoughts on the Miller vs. Shields title fight?
Cummings:  It was a great fight and I really couldn’t disagree with the decision. I really hope they go at it again. Mayhem is always entertaining even in a loss. You could tell Shields was a little out of it after that choke, but he recovered to continue out grappling 'Mayhem'.

MMA Spot:  As a middleweight what are your thoughts on all the upcoming 185 pound fights in Strikeforce and UFC, starting with Cung Le vs. Scott Smith?
Cummings:  Well Scott Smith is a tough as nails fighter with power but he is a standup fighter who has shown in the past to be susceptible to body shots especially body kicks and that is Cung Le’s bread and butter. I expect Le to wear Smith out on the feet and probably finish him.

MMA Spot:  'Jacare' Souza vs. Matt Lindland?
Cummings:  Wow! That is definitely a tough fight for me to call because both are excellent grapplers. As a wrestler I want to say Lindland, of course, but it will be pretty hard to stop 'Jacare' from getting a submission if he grabs a hold of Lindland on the ground. I am going to say Jacare by submission, but Lindland is tough.

MMA Spot:  Trevor Prangley vs. Robbie Lawler?
Cummings:  Two guys I really would love to fight and another tough fight to call because both guys have loads of experience. With Lawler’s wrestling base and striking I bet he will come out on top though.

MMA Spot:  Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping?
Cummings:  I hope Wanderlei KOs him badly. I can’t stand Bisping and his mouth. I loved when Hendo shut him up at 100. Bias aside though Wanderlei should overwhelm him.

MMA Spot:  And the big one, Vitor Belfort vs. Anderson Silva?
Cummings:  That is going to be an awesome fight because Belfort is just on a tear and Silva is as close to unbeatable as is humanly possible. I am going to have to go with Silva, just because he is the man right now. But Belfort has an excellent opportunity of taking him down.