MMA Canada Goes One on One With "The Road Warrior" Jonathan Goulet

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By: Sean McManus

MMAC: Hey Jonathan, thanks for taking the time out of your training for us over here at MMACanada.net – how is everything?

Jonathan Goulet: Thanks to you to take the time to ask me how is everything - everything is good for me, the training is going well and I'm really excited to fight at the Bell Centre.

MMAC: You were recently in Brazil – how was that experience?

Jonathan Goulet: I went in Brazil for four weeks to train in BJJ.  I was training almost everyday and ok I was going to the beach everyday and I explored a little bit of the city. That was beautiful and for sure I'll go there again this year. The Gracie Barra Team at Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janiero is where I improved a lot on my ground game.

MMAC: Let’s get straight to it – you are fighting Hironaka at UFC 83 in Montreal, Quebec – what does fighting in front of a hometown crowd of 21 000 strong and proud Canadian fans in the UFC’s first ever Canadian show mean to you?

Jonathan Goulet: That mean a lot for me, I'm proud to be in the card even if I'm the very first fight of the night. That is going to be an historical moment and wow just to fight in front of the biggest crowd ever I can't wait.

MMAC: What do you think of your opponent Hironaka – how do you see the fight unfolding?

Jonathan Goulet: I really respect him, he fought some good opponent like Thiago Alves, Jon Fitch and Nick Diaz. He did great, he's a tough opponent that is going to be a hard fight but I swear it is going to be exciting to watch. My goal is for sure to win that fight but also to force Zuffa to put my fight on TV – I really want to be broadcast.

MMAC: You are definitely a veteran in the world of MMA yet you’re relatively young at 28 – you’ve been in the UFC and have had some success and you’ve had to build upon the successes you’ve had in the some of the smaller organizations to get back to the big stage of the UFC. Tell us what it means to you to fight outside of the UFC and is your goal always to be fighting back in the UFC?

Jonathan Goulet: Sure my goal was to keep fighting in the UFC because both of my feet are in the octagon. When I was fighting outside of the UFC that was only to keep working on my mental block and I've been able to work on that.  I want to work so I will train and fight as well as I can.

MMAC: When you called out Mike Swick, who was eventually replaced by Hazelett at UFN 11 – was that your intention, to use that situation as an advantage to get back on the UFC’s radar?

Jonathan Goulet: No at that moment I had a contract for the UFC – what I did was only to put a kind of story in that fight.

MMAC: What is your current contract situation like with the UFC?

Jonathan Goulet: I have 4 fights with them, my first one is going to be on April 19th. I talked to the UFC after my last fight and I ask them to fight more often. So I will stay busy like I'm used to.

MMAC: Your new manager is Ken Pavia, how is this relationship working out for you?

Jonathan Goulet: I don't think it didn't start well but I think it is more because of my limited English, he worked well in being able to make me sign the new contract. The money is way better and for the sponsorship – it always depending on my win but for my next fight I have nothing bad to say.

MMAC: Those who know The Road Warrior, know that you are as dedicated and as hard working a fighter as they come – where does your drive and ambition come from?

Jonathan Goulet: I don't want to build houses again, lol. I have so many poor years behind me and not that much years in front of me to being able to plan my retirement. I pass through so many bad things and I always keep the faith in myself. One day all that work will pay and I hope that day will come soon.

MMAC: When you are not fighting, or not training, what keeps you busy?

Jonathan Goulet: Damn I'm always in the gym, but when I'm not fighting I'm giving private lessons to amateur fighters. I like to travel so after that fight I will go somewhere near a beach to relax but like I wrote, I'm always in the gym so I'll find a place near an MMA training center.

MMAC: You obviously have some great people supporting you – is there anyone you’d like to thank at this point of your career?

Jonathan Goulet: Yes, I would like to give a special thanks to mmafightshop.ca, Jonathan Chaimberg (my strength coach) there are so great with me just because of them I will be able to win my fights and spend some good times with my daughter. I also want to thanks my brothers who live in Montreal, I don't really like to sleep on a couch but I need it to train everyday at the Tristar gym.  I'm living to far to being able to drive it every day.

MMAC: I’m going to try out my French skills with you - Merci beaucoup Jonathan, nous souhaitons que vous tout le meilleur et Canada vous soutient. I think the French made sense…we are all looking forward to seeing you in Montreal – all the best to you from MMACanada.net.

Jonathan Goulet: Thank you very much for your time.

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