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 Hello fight fans, Merlin here and today I have a special treat for you. I had the pleasure of sitting today and have a nice talk with ex Lightweight Champion "The Law-nley Boy"Tom Cirus, and incase you've never heard of Tom here is alittle back story! Tom has been a Wrestler hes awhole life and a pretty damn good one at that, well Tom decided to take a different journey in life and went to law school, while in Law school Tom dabbed in the MMA world alittle but it was nothing serious. Then when he graduated and pass his Bar exam with flying colors, he decided to that he wanted to give MMA his full attention to try to accomplish his life long dream of becoming a Champion. He first contacted King Arthur as a journeyman just trying to travel around and get some experience, and stepped into the Fallen Champions cage on two seperate occasions at FC VI, and the first Lost Legends event. Then Tom decided to settle down and make his home at Fallen Champions, and fought for the first ever Lightweight Championship at FC XVII defending David King with a SUB of the Night Arm Triangle. Tom lost the title in his next fight to future long time Champion Darcy Lilo, but quicking bounced back with an impressive victory over Kay Ector at FC XXV and it appeared that Tom would quickly be back in the title picture. But then he met the under acheiving Robert E Conan, and it seemed that it would be Tom's final stepping stone to getting back to the title but he fell short in two straight fights to Conan. Rumors swirled that Tom was going to hang up his gloves, but after some talking with King Arthur Tom has decided to come back for one last fight and a chance to end his career on a high note with a Victory!
Tom walked into the room with a high priced tailored suit on, and doesn't fit the bill for your average MMA fighter. He carries himself with a special confidence that I guess is fitting for a young Lawyer, but not something you are used to encountering when talking to someone that is paid to punch another human being in the face. We greeted each other with a hand shake then we both took our seats and got started....
How are you doing Tom and how has your Training Camp been?
I'm great, thanks for asking. My training has been great. I've been training a lot to stay in shape and help my friends at the gym. After both fights against Conan, I came back very quickly and started my drills. I've been helping them with the wrestling part and when I got the call for this retirement fight, I focused again on the striking department. Sure, I've been training it since those fights, but it wasn't something that a fighter with a fight scheduled would train. So it's been great so far.
So you are forsure going to retire after this fight?
Yes, I am. I was thinking about that before I faced Conan for the 1st time, but then with the loss I wanted to give it another chance against him as I thought I could beat him. I still think I can but he defeated me twice so congrats for that. I'm not asking for another one again. And then the opportunity came when King Arthur asked me to do a final fight as he didn't want me to leave with those performances. I took some time out and then decided to give it a proper ending.
What made you decide that it was time to hang up the gloves?
I was always a wrestler and I knew that being a Law student and then becoming a lawyer would not help me get the proper development. I always dreamed of being a lawyer and then being able to fight as well... It's great. I'm getting even better in my career with the experience that time gives us that it's only time to focus on that career. Sure, I'll never leave my roots but I'm still helping the guys with the training and having fun doing it. There will be a time when I'll just practice to keep in shape and just it. I know it's coming soon but I want to enjoy each step of it. Of course that being champions was something I dreamed of, but I wasn't sure I would accomplish it. After that, most of my goals were achieved. Bad results showed me that I should probably end my career with a good record and enjoy the other part of my life.
Does it matter to you if you go out with a victory?
Now it does. I wouldn't come back if it wasn't for the special treatment that Fallen Champions has given me and also to end my career with a victory. I wanna get it and I'll get it. Defeat is not an option here even though it could happen.
What are your plans for after fighting?
I'm sticking to my lawyer career and maybe I'll work towards becoming a judge. I'll keep the training because of my passion but I don't think I'll ever fight again. Perhaps I'll move back to the USA. Probably something similar to what I've just said.
Rumor has it that you might be opening your own Law firm to represent MMA fighters?
No no. I'm focusing on my lawyer career. Whatever I do related to fighting will be on support of Dovik and his team. They're like a family to me and I have nothing less but respect for them.
Your stable mate Nikolay is fighting on the same card as you, do you have any advice for the younger fighter?
We're the same age actually. Both young guys looking to enjoy their lifes. Nikolay is a monster. He's been great and he develops so fast... Man, you should see him training. He was way too much younger when he fought in Omnislash Gauntlet and both of his defeats were fights that he was supposed to win. Osko was an upset and something that he did wrong. He didn't have to take someone to the ground that can only beat you there, even if he's not better than you in that area. But Osko got an incredible transition and ended up on mount. Tough to get out of it and the judge stopped it. Soares was an older guy that knew the ways to win fights and got the best of him for those 3 rounds. Soares' retired, so he can't avenge that loss but Osko will definitely be defeated by him if they face each other again. That being said, I have no advices for him. We pretty much talk those things during training camp and watch out for him. He'll make some noise on that 170 division. Perhaps he'll even go up to 185. He's amazing.
Oh I didn't know that, it must be because you carry yourself as such an older man. Do you think that watching your stable mates fight will make you miss fighting?
Definitely. Specially because I did it for fun and also part of my hobbies. I got to fight for pleasure and I even became a champion. It's something I'll definitely miss, but when it's time to end something, you gotta do it.
Think there might be a comeback in your future?
As I said before, I'm pretty much done with it for know. I might move back to the USA or there's something special for me on the Bahamas. Did you know that guy called Saul Goodman? Well..
Anything else you would like to add before we go?
I'd like to thank everyone that supported me in this journey and it's been a pleasure to share it with you. I'd like to thank all the orgs that had me, specially Fallen Champions for all the support and I'm honored to be their first 155 champion. See you in the cage.
There you have it folks, a great sit down with a very interesting young man! It will be great to see what he does with the rest of his life. But from everybody at Fallen Champions we wish the ex Champion the best in his life.
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