The Doombeard Report is proud to present this interview with up-and-coming Professional MMA fighter Brian “The Solution” Nielson. Training out of Richmond, Virginia, Brian is currently preparing for his seventh Professional MMA fight at the Victorium II on August 10 in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Q: What brought you to MMA?
A: Well I had just not made the wrestling team at Liberty University. I needed to work out somehow without just lifting weights and stumbled I on to grappling and I was hooked.
Where did you begin your training?
Team Ram in Lynchburg, Virginia, then a short time later MMA Institute in Richmond, Virginia and I’ve been there ever since.
When did you have your first amateur MMA fight? How did it go?
It was only a few months into training but it went pretty good. I took the guy down and we ended up in the ropes and they started me on the bottom in guard which was foreign to me, but I got an Arm Bar and finished it.
After finishing your amateur career at 6-1, you made your pro debut on 3/25/2011 at M1-Challenge XXIV against recent TUF winner Colton Smith. How did your preparation go for this fight? How was the event? How was the fight itself?
Oh we had to talk about that fight? Haha! It was not the greatest fight for me. I was coming off a pretty long layoff and it was the first time I fought at 170. But no excuses, Colton is a beast and he beat me on that night so its just another learning experience.
M1 has gotten its fair share of criticism for the way it ran its events held in the US. What was your experience like at that event?
The event was ran pretty smooth from what I can remember. My boy Bryan Lashomb had a rough time getting his purse. I’m not even sure he ever got paid.
Your loss to Colton Smith was followed up with a three-fight winning streak. What did you take away from your fight with Colton Smith, and how did your next three fights go as your Pro career started to take off?
I think that loss was a learning experience like any other fight is. Just getting in the cage each time prepares you more for the next time. Then my next three fights, I won all of them. I wanna say in the first round if I remember right, and it was a great feeling.
You lost to recent World Series of Fighting competitor Ozzy Dugulubgov last April, then lost a questionable (I thought so at least) Split Decision to Brandon Becker at CFFC 19. What are your thoughts on those fights? Where do you see your career now that your Professional record is at an even 3-3?
I mean kinda like what I said earlier they are all learning experiences, but more specifically I learned that I need to go out there and dictate the pace. I have great conditioning and I need push and look for finishes more. My career is just starting, I am young at 24, and I have a long time left in the sport. So who knows where its going. All I can do is get up every morning and get better.
At the Victorium II event on August 10, you face Jeremy Boardwine. How is your preparation going for the fight, and what do you think about your opponent? How do you see the fight going?
Preparation is going great, I’m training hard. Thoughts on my opponent are that he is tough and crafty, but at the end of the night I’m gonna get my hand raised because of who I train with and how hard we get after it.
What are your ranks/achievements in MMA or other Martial Arts forms that you have achieved?
I just got my brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu a few months ago.
Forgive me for using a somewhat loaded term, but how would you describe your style as a fighter?
I would consider myself a well-rounded fighter, but if I had to speak to a specialty, it would be in the grappling aspects of MMA.
Aside from fighting, do you have another occupation?
I work at the gym teaching, adults and kids. And sometimes I work as a doorman on the weekends at Europa, as well as every now and then judging amateur MMA fights. But nothing I would really call “work”.
What motivates you as a fighter? What are your goals that you’d like to achieve in your career? Do you feel that coaching others helps you grow as a fighter?
I enjoy getting better, so progression is probably what motivates me more than anything. And along with that my goal is perfection. By that I mean perfecting my skills, technique, cardio, athleticism, mental preparation, everything that goes into the fight. And yeah, coaching for sure helps, I might be showing a technique to someone that I know how to do but is difficult for me to explain, so I learn the technique even better and more polished in order to show or explain it.
What would be your ideal way to end a fight? If you could fight anyone during your career, regardless of whether they are active or retired, who would it be and why?
My ideal way to end a fight is with a submission or knockout, as both are amazing to me! And if I could fight anyone … that’s hard man. I would say when I’m at my peak or the best I could be…whoever is the champ, so right now it would be Georges St. Pierre.