(Andre “Touchy” Fili is an up-and-coming featherweight prospect with a record of 11-1. A veteran of Tachi Palace Fights, Gladiator Challenge, and King of the Cage among others, he’s also the West Coast Fighting Featherweight Champion, and will defend his title May 3 against Adrian Diaz at WFC 5 in Sacramento. Andre sits down for a few words with us at Undercard.)
UCS: Andre, thank you for taking the time to field a few questions with us. First, how did you get your start in MMA and what interested you in it?
AF: I started wrestling in middle school, after I saw my first UFC event I knew it was what I wanted to do.
UCS: What drew you to Team Alpha Male and who has helped you improve the most as a fighter?
AF: They were guys I loved watching fight and they were based out of the same place I was living so it only made sense to go there. Faber invited me an I jumped at the opportunity. Everyone on the team has helped me tremendously in all aspects of MMA. Danny Castillo especially has really helped inspire me to live a healthier lifestyle outside the gym.
UCS: If every member of Alpha Male was placed inside a giant pit in a fight to the death, who would be the last man standing?
AF: Mikhail Venikov. Without a doubt. He’s the kind of person that thrives after the nuclear apocalypse. They made a movie
about him actually, you may have seen it, it was called “Captain America”.
UCS: Favorite thing to eat or drink after weigh-ins?
AF: PIZZA. Pizza is my favorite thing to eat after anything ever.
UCS: Ultimately, what weight do you see yourself having the most success in? Would it be Featherweight or do you feel as you get older, with your tall frame, you might ease into 155?
AF: I love being a featherweight, later on in life my body might require me I be a lightweight, only time will tell really.
UCS: Besides yourself, give us somebody on Alpha Male to keep an eye out for.
AF: Anthony “The Shark” Avila. He’s one of my best friends, my roommate, teammate and all around great dude. He’s got crazy talent. He’s gonna do big things.
UCS: Who’s been the toughest opponent you’ve ever faced? You only have one career loss and it was due to injury, so everyone’s in play!
AF: Derrick Burnsed whom I lost to and is now my teammate and good friend would probably be my toughest fight. A very close second is Enoch Wilson, that crazy bastard. Both of them are warriors and it was my honor to fight them.
UCS: What’s one thing about yourself you’d like our readers to know?
AF: I’m single. Tell your sisters and all their hot friends.
UCS: What’s your opinion on fighting teammates? Obviously Alpha Male specializes in the lighter weights so it may happen more often there than in other camps.
AF: I won’t fight my teammates, there are plenty of other people from other camps to beat up.
UCS: Finally Andre, thank you for your time, last question: Explain your hair.
AF: My hair was months of bad decisions piled on top of each other. I just wanted to see how crazy it could get. It turned into a crazy combed over mullet-hawk with 5-6 colors in it. I have since cut it and now sport a nice side parted gentleman’s cut courtesy of Lucky’s Barbershop.
-Andre can be reached on Twitter @TouchyFili, West Coast Fighting can be reached on Twitter @WFC_MMA.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
