Editor's Note: A few hours after this post was published, the UWC 8 Judgment Day main event featuring Mike "The Hulk" Easton and Ryan "Lion" Diaz was cancelled due to the illness of Diaz.
On May 22nd at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia, Mike "The Hulk" Easton defends his 135 pound UWC Bantamweight World Championship Title against Ryan "Lion" Diaz, a stand-up specialist. His fight against Diaz in Saturday's UWC 8 Judgment Day extreme cage fighting event will be his third title defense in the Ultimate Warrior Challenge (UWC). Like his childhood heroes, BJ Penn and Randy Couture, Easton is well versed on the ground as well as in the stand-up game. During his early career fights, Easton slammed guys with single leg and double leg takedowns, earning the moniker, "The Hulk." With a 9-1 record, Easton has exhibited these well-rounded mixed martial arts (MMA) skills throughout his career, winning via KO, submission, and five-round decision. In today's mixed martial arts, a fighter must have the proper skill set, top-flight conditioning, and the right mentality to be considered elite. Easton is putting all these elements together in his quest to become the best bantamweight in the world.
As a child, Easton began his martial arts journey by taking Tae Kwon Do and eventually started kickboxing and boxing. He met Master Lloyd Irvin randomly when he was a teenager at a Cluck-U-Chicken and struck up a conversation with the cauliflower-eared legend. Fast forward nearly a decade and Easton is now a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt under the man he calls the best MMA game planner and trainer in the world. 
Along with his striking and submission skills, Easton's physique and cardio make him difficult to handle in the cage. According to his strength and condition coach, D'Angelo Kinard, Easton trains 6-8 hours every day, except for Sunday. Kinard, tirelessly drills Easton on his endurance and explosiveness. Kinard usually puts Easton through sparring sessions of nine rounds for seven minutes per round, making the five minute, five round title fight seem like a vacation. Easton likes to quip that "your workout is my warm-up."
Kinard, founder of Maryland-based Advanced Sports Performance, LLC, also provides nutritional advice to the Team LLoyd Irvin fighter. He recommends a lot of carbs, proteins, fruits and vegetables, and quick burning sugars while training. Fighters should also drink a lot of water and monitor salt intake closer to the actual fight. The 5-foot-6 Easton normally walks around 155-160 pounds, yet fights in the 135-pound division. He usually consumes broiled chicken, almond butter, dandelion water, and no salt (salt retains water in your body) during his weight cut. Several days from the fight, Easton is a svelte 143 pounds. After his weigh-in 24 hours before the actual fight, he will be back up to 155 pounds.
Despite his physical prowess and advanced martial arts skills, Easton is quick to point out that the mental game is crucial to any fighter's success. Growing up in the rough streets of southeast Washington, D.C., where he witnessed people getting shot and killed, Easton credits his father for keeping him out of trouble and making him mentally tough. He says he doesn't need a hype man because he is his own hype man. Easton knows that winning will provide a better life for his two children now and provide security for his family in the future. 
Easton does not hide the fact that he treats his fighting career as a business. He wants to get paid and put on fights that the fans want to see. He currently fights for the UWC, but if the WEC (a sister promotion to the UFC that focuses on the lighter weight classes) comes calling, Easton would be up for the challenge. In the last several years, Easton has sparred with good friend and current WEC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Based on those experiences, Easton knows he can hold his own against the best in the world.
After his fighting career, Easton envisions teaching BJJ and coaching MMA. Already a veteran of the fight game despite being only in his mid-twenties, Easton urges young fighters to be hungry and willing to sacrifice. "Ask questions during training, listen to your coaches, and always look for an edge," Easton told Access Athletes. "Young fighters often get too cocky and think they have all the answers. Fighters need a little cockiness, but must remain humble." Easton embodies these sentiments when discussing his opponent on Saturday. Easton says that he will be too fast, too strong, and too slick for the challenge, but gives Diaz credit for his Thai boxing skills. The world will see come May 22nd if "The Hulk" can defeat Diaz to continue on his path to greatness.
On behalf of Access Athletes, we would like to thank Mike "The Hulk" Easton for taking time out of his busy schedule to do an interview with The Real Athlete Blog.
