#TFGinterview: Jimi Manuwa talks about upcoming fight against OSP, Jon Jones and much more

UFC 204 IS SET to come to you from Manchester, United Kingdom and the tickets for the event got sold out in 6 minutes flat, as per various reports. The Middleweight champion Michael Bisping is set to headline the card in his first title defense, but the undercard boasts of some solid fights.

Fighting on the main card is local KO artist Jimi Manuwa, who takes on Ovince St. Preux in what is an exciting matchup. Manuwa has been away from the octagon for a year now and if the word from his teammates at the gym in Sweden, where he is doing the camp for this fight, is anything to go by then 'Poster Boy'is raring to make an impression.

Two weeks away from the fight, Manuwa took time off to talk to The Fan Garage about his upcoming fight, training alongside former foe Alexander Gustaffson and   his take on the whole Jon Jones saga. Read below for what he had to say:

TFG: You have been away from fighting since your loss to Anthony Johnson last year in September. Can you update us on if the layoff was planned or was there an injury to be healed or any other reason for the time away from competition?

JM: Yeah, I was actually scheduled to fight in February against Nikita Krylov but ended up having an injury. That set me back a few months, but it ended up turning out to be a good thing as it let me enjoy training, get my weight up, doing a lot of strength work among other things. So, I actually feel better now

TFG: It's an interesting thing that both of your losses in your professional MMA career have come in the UFC and you have chosen to take lengthy time off following those losses. How do you deal with them and are you someone who really goes back and analyzes what went wrong with those losses and working on them to fix them during your time away?

JM: No, the losses have nothing to do with my time away from the octagon as after my last fight in September, I was scheduled to fight in February. But it was injuries which played its part.

But at the end of the day, when you lose, you do go back and analyses what went wrong just to become a better fighter. You do that anyways.

TFG: Your opponent at UFC 204 is Ovince St. Preux, a guy who has fought for the UFC interim title this year and is among the best pure athletes in the division. How do you see yourself stack up against him in terms of fighting style?

JM: I feel like my style matches up great against him. He hasn't fought a true banger like myself, who is looking to come forward and try and take his head, which is what I plan on doing.

However, it is the Light Heavyweight division and it's filled with animals and all you have to do is one mistake and the other man can capitalize. But I do need to watch out for his skills, stick to my game plan and do what I do best.

TFG: Do you feel that your lack of wrestling experience growing up in England has been a factor in the UFC where typically wrestlers have had an advantage, especially in the Light Heavyweight division?

JM: I don't know about that. It is an MMA contest and not a wrestling match, so I have to work on what I have to work on. I have come to Sweden to train with the All-Stars and they have great wrestlers and great fighters here who have been helping me with my wrestling. Like I said, this being an MMA match, maybe I will knee you or hit you with an uppercut if you come trying to take me down. Who knows, maybe I will reverse you and take you down instead.

TFG: You mentioned that you have been training in Sweden for this fight, which has kind of coincided with Sweden's own Alexander Gustaffson who recently fought. You were featured prominently during the fight week, training alongside him. How was the whole experience like, training alongside someone who holds a win over you.

JM: It's been great, without a doubt the best move I made in my MMA career, moving my training camp down here in Sweden where they have a great team and a great family here. I am happy to be a part of it, we help each other. I helped Gus in his preparation for Blachowicz, who I had, experience against as an opponent.

TFG: On that topic, what did you think of his performance against Blachowicz?

JM: I thought it was a good performance. Like I said, it is an MMA fight, it's not a standup fight and it isn't a wrestling match. So, you got to do what you got to do, to win the fight.

Blachowicz was more aggressive on the feet and so he took him down where he could win and that's what he did.

TFG: One of the most overlooked aspects of your game is your ability on the ground. Can you talk about your progress in Jiu Jitsu under Ricardo Da Silva and how does that facet of your game stack up in comparison to your standup?

JM: Jiu-jitsu is what it is and I am always learning and getting better. I like to put on a show and knock people out and everything, but if it comes to the floor, I am comfortable on the floor. I have good submission defense, submissions from various positions but people like to see me getting a KO and that's what I try to do.

TFG: The Light Heavyweight division in the UFC is in a bit of a flux right now, with the whole situation surrounding Jon Jones at the top. In your opinion, who should fight for the title next and do you see DC holding onto the belt if he faces either Johnson or Jones next?

JM: Listen, I don't know what the hell is going on with Jon Jones and the whole situation with him. I heard that he got done for taking steroids and I can't really comment on that without knowing the facts. But it does seem strange that one minute he gets busted for doing drugs and in the next, he is back fighting.

I think that once you get done for drugs, you should be banned for life. That's my personal opinion and it is what it is, but there is nothing that we fighters can do about it. So, if he comes back, then he comes back.

TFG: In closing, any thoughts or experiences related to India and any message for the fans?

JM: A big shout out to all the fans in India and I wish to thank them for all the support and keep watching, keep training. See you soon!