Legacy Recon Report
Interview with Mike Ciesnolevicz: Professional MMA Fighter & Miletich Team Member

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Rising Star of MMA
Interview by Steve Loftin
Posted August 20, 2006



fightinglegacy.com: What got you interested in MMA?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Well believe it or not I got interested in martial arts in general ever since i saw the movie Blood Sport with Jean Claude Van Damme and started Karate right before my 15th birthday. The Kumite as they called it in the movie is basically MMA. People of different fighting backgrounds testing themselves in a format where they can pit their skills against another specialist. Although I must admit in todays MMA everyone is pretty well rounded.

fightinglegacy.com: Where did you begin your training?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: I started training with a guy named John Korab who trained the legendary Joe Lewis in Karate. John was a marine and a blackbelt and probably to this day one of the baddest dudes I ever ran into.

fightinglegacy.com: When did you realize you wanted to become a professional fighter?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Well it was really a natural evolution for me. Grappling, Boxing, Wrestling, Karate and then when I got an offer to fight i was like why not give it a try..I'm training in all these different disciplines, might as well see if i can put it to use in the ring.

fightinglegacy.com: You went to school at Lock Haven University and actually made it as a walk on to the wrestling team. What was that like?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Walking on to a Division 1 wrestling team was exciting at first but then it got ugly real fast as I was in groups with all multiple time state champs! Let's just say I basically had no choice but to improve my skills.

fightinglegacy.com: What were you able to take from the LHU wrestling program and apply to your fight training?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: I learned so much at LHU in regards to conditioning, teamwork, dieting, pushing myself past limits. My coaches at LHU were top notch. One of the guys I learned the most from was Mike Rogers who was a multiple time All American and had a real open mind. Helped me develop some tricks for MMA that I still use today.

fightinglegacy.com: You also did some intercollegiate boxing, how did that help your game?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: You know I only had a few bouts but I qualified for nationals, however I never ended up going because I got really sick and couldn't make weight which was 195. I learned a decent amount in the time I boxed. I had really good workout partners and got solid sparring but my coach and I also weren't on the same page, he was old school and not very open minded so I didn't get the most out of my experience.

fightinglegacy.com: You competed in several submission grappling competitions over the years. What are some of your best memories of those competitions?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: My record in no gi submission grappling was 25-4 and I won quite a few titles and made lots of friends along the way. I had 2 really action packed matches with a buddy of mine, Rick McCauley, who is an absolute stud on the mats and competed in Abu Dhabi recently. Trying to hold onto that guy was next to impossible. We had a match in Grapplers Quest and another at NAGA. At the end of both matches we kinda just looked at each other not knowing who really won. I won the first match by advantage and I believe he won the 2nd by advantage on a submission attempt.

fightinglegacy.com: Do you feel that the competition at that level helped you with your success in MMA?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: I really do, I think everything I have competed in up until this point has helped me develop into a more well rounded fighter. Obviously, grappling is a big part of MMA and I have a solid base of wrestling and bjj to go on from those days.

fightinglegacy.com: How do you compare other types of fighting competition to the MMA competition?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: MMA is where I'm at home. I don't mind being hit and that is a big thing among fighters. Some guys can't make the transition. Then again sometimes when I'm doing standup I am like "only if I could take this guy down" or when I'm grappling a higher level grappler, I'm like "if only I could hit this guy". So what I'm saying is there is nothing like MMA, it's the best sport in the world and I don't really have a lot of interest right now in anything else.

fightinglegacy.com: When did you decide to move to Iowa and train?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: I have been in Iowa for about 2.5 years now.

fightinglegacy.com: How did that decision come about?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: I came to visit with a friend for a week and i was blown away by MFS. Everywhere I looked I saw someone from Pay Per View or I had read about in a magazine, not to mention the training was top notch. I went home tied up some loose ends, packed up my stuff and hit the road for 15 hours.

fightinglegacy.com: What was your first impression of the training at MFS?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Well my first impression was that they didn't like me because people like Tim Sylvia were hitting me so hard and trying to make me go back to Pennsylvania. Then I realized that it was kind of like an initiation to see if I could hang and come back for more. My first six months were miserable but eventually I fit in.

fightinglegacy.com: Did you have to adapt to it or were you familiar with that type of intensity in training?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Well, I definitely had to adapt. I was familiar with the intensity from LHU Wrestling but you don't get punched and kicked in the face during wrestling.

fightinglegacy.com: Who or what has been your biggest influences since training with MFS?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Obviously Pat Miletich is the major reason MFS is so successful. He's a great person and someone I will always look up to and respect both in and out of the practice room. Jason Black is somebody who doesn't get enough credit. Arguably, the hardest working guy in MMA and a really solid role model. Tim Sylvia for accomplishing what he has is amazing since he's always the underdog. I had the opportunity to be part of his corner for the last 2 Arlovski fights and Tim showed what hard work and believing in yourself can do for someone. Other than those guys...all my IFL teammates are huge influences on me...we are all really close in and out of the practice room and all have influence over one another.

fightinglegacy.com: As an MFS fighter, how do you compare your team to others out there? In other words, what do you think makes MFS fighters stand out above the rest?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: I really think our work ethic and team unity is a lot stronger than other teams. We don't really have too many distractions out here in Iowa. We pretty much train hard in the morning, rest, eat, train hard at night and do it again the next day. Pat knows how to push us past our limits so the fighting in the ring becomes the easy part. It's nothing we haven't seen before.

fightinglegacy.com: You have only one loss on your professional record. Looking back, what would you have done differently in that fight to secure the win?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Well my record is 9-1 now and my loss was a close split decision. Looking back on it, I feel I won the fight as did a lot of other people but when you leave it to the judges anything can happen. I took the fight on 10 days notice and I was in the process of training for a fight about 3 wks after this one so I didn't peak right, I was 100% on track with my weight but the opportunity presented itself and I took it so I can't really make excuses.

fightinglegacy.com: You actually have a fight coming up on the September IFL card. Tell us about that.

Mike Ciesnolevicz: The IFL is blowing up! The team concept is great and I think it's going to really take off in the next year. Sept 23rd is going to be huge for the IFL and the MMA world. Pat Miletich is coming back and fighting Renzo Gracie who in my opinion is probably the most well rounded Gracie. It's a dream come true for me to be part of this card representing the Silverbacks at 205.

fightinglegacy.com: Do you know anything about your opponent?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Not really, Andre Gusmao is his name and I know he's only 1-0 and destroyed the first guy he fought in like 10 seconds with strikes. There isn't a whole lot of info on him so he's kinda a wildcard. I'm pretty sure he's going to be dangerous standing and on the ground.

fightinglegacy.com: How are you preparing for this fight?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: I'm just trying to do all the right things. I'm not out partying, I'm trying to clean up my diet, get enough sleep and not miss any team practices.

fightinglegacy.com: How influential has the management of Monte Cox been in your professional career? How has it helped you?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: They call Monte the godfather for a reason. He knows more about MMA than anyone else on the planet. He's the best at what he does for a reason. He's dedicated, hardworking and puts in so much time it's ridiculous whether it's managing, promoting, etc. He basically spends all day on the internet and the phone. I lucked out getting Monte as my manager...he has given me some great opportunties.

fightinglegacy.com: What do you think are some of the biggest problems for aspiring fighters out there?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Making it financially is hard right now because at the lower levels there isn't a ton of money to be made to make it worth quitting your day job. It's hard to pay the bills and give training your all at the same time.

fightinglegacy.com: What kind of advice would you give to someone who was thinking about fighting on the professional level?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Get an education is something I would recommend to anyone. You have to have something else there besides fighting because you never know what's going to happen in your life. My parents made sure I got my teaching degree before I pursued MMA. I will always have that to fall back on and I thank them for it.

fightinglegacy.com: How does training and fighting as a pro affect your personal life?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Well I don't really have a personal life right now. I pretty much train, eat, sleep and train. I spend most of my time with my fiance and our two little girls. I'm not a big party guy so I'm not out at all hours of the night.

fightinglegacy.com: Does it present a strain to your relationships?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: No, not really. My fiance and I get along great. My friends always joke that we were meant for each other by how we act and joke around. She's a big fan of the sport and she understands what I am trying to do. She is supportive of my goals as a fighter.

fightinglegacy.com: What are your long terms goals in Mixed Martial Arts?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: Well, right now I am just trying to take one fight at a time and obviously winning is my number one priority. I'm not sure where the IFL is taking me but the future looks very promising. I think everyone that gets into the ring wants to be a world champion. Hopefully if I do the right things and stay on the right path I will one day be able to achieve that goal.

fightinglegacy.com: Where can people find out more information about you and your career?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: My personal website is www.MikeCies.com or if you are into myspace you can check me out at www.myspace.com/mikecies. Make sure you check out IFL.TV too.

fightinglegacy.com: What kinds of things do you like to do to chill out & relax?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: I like to watch a lot of movies, read books, maybe go fishing. I spend a lot of time with my fiance, our little girls and our pets. We have lots of fun together.

fightinglegacy.com: Before we wrap it up, do you have any final shout outs?

Mike Ciesnolevicz: I need to thank my team at MFS, especially Pat Miltetich, Monte Cox and the IFL for giving me the opportunity to accomplish my dreams.

I need to thank my sponsors for helping me get to this point. Joel Gold from FCFighter.com, ScientificWrestling.com, NemesisFightGear.com, and FightingLegacy.com who has the coolest cauliflower ear T-shirt I have ever seen!!!

fightinglegacy.com: Thanks for the interview, Mike. I really appreciate it. I'll be pulling for you in September!

Mike Ciesnolevicz: My pleasure...I appreciate the support. I'm looking forward to giving the fans a war on September 23rd.