Sol Gilbert Interview

Sol “Zero Tolerance” Gilbert is a well known fighter, coach and MMA entrepreneur. A former professional boxer and veteran of the early UK MMA scene, he built up a 5-0-1 unbeaten amateur record on the Combat Sports National Championships in 2002. He then moved into the pro division, making his name with one of the big events at the time – Ultimate Combat and winning their British Middleweight title, before moving onto Cage Rage where his explosive striking style made him a big hit with the Cage Rage audience. He amassed a 9-5-1 professional record, before calling time on his fight career to concentrate on his own MMA Gym ZT Fight Skool in Hove. The Gym went from strength to strength and the ZT name has grown into arguably one of the most recognisable “brands” in UKMMA.

Sol has had great success with his fighters, most notably the undefeated UFC veteran John “the hitman” Hathaway. Under the ZT banner Sol also runs a Personal Training business out of his ZT Fitness gyms which boasts a celebrity clientele including Katie Price among others. There are now two ZT Fight Skools with Eastbourne opening in the New Year, ZT Kids Fit Skool opening in December and he runs successful Amateur MMA Tournaments which are a great proving ground for up and comers in UKMMA and there is also the “ZT FightNight” MMA promotions.

As if all that wasn’t enough to keep him going, he has recently announced that a new MMA event will be coming early next year, and it’s one that has got internet fans attention straight away: A one night, 8 man, Heavyweight Tournament. I got a quick email interview with Sol to ask a few more questions about the tournament and see how it’s all progressing:

• Hi Sol thanks for talking to us today. The forums have been buzzing with anticipation for your new venture since you announced it: You are going to put on a 1 night, 8 man winner takes all old school style tournament. It’s a great idea that should really shake up the UK HW rankings and potentially put the winner firmly on the European and world stage, how did it come about?

I’ve just put myself into two pairs of shoes a fighter trying to get signed by the UFC and the UK MMA fan. The fighter who is trying to get signed would love the chance to prove he is the pound for pound best un-signed fighter in his division and with this event he can claim that. The UK MMA Fan gets a chance to see the best of UK’s talent battle it out in one night.. it’s like christmas all round..

• Why the heavyweights?

There is a big buzz at the moment with the lightweights & welters and we have a big pool of talent over here and due to the comments on CageWarriors asking for a card with the best on it, it seemed like the
obvious choice.

• You are really busy with running the various ZT fightskools, your new kidz fit venture, personal training clients, you also already put on ZT fight Night events… how the hell are you gonna fit in organising an event of this magnitude as well? Do you ever sleep? [laughs]

Yeah, but I am a early riser, i mean this morning I was up at 3:30am checking e-mails as I missed a day on my PC yesterday, so I had about 120 e-mails to catch up on! Today I had to teach and train 2 clients
and meet with my accountant before heading off to London at 930am to sign the relevant forms for the event..and I have the ZT Team behind me of course!

• Is there a name for the tournament yet? Will it be held under the ZT Fight Night banner?

Yes it is Called ” ZT FIGHT NIGHT – THE TOURNAMENT”
(check out www.ztfightnight.com!)

• There are some big Domestic names being touted for this tournament, have you got your final 8 yet?

We are very close, to choosing our final eight..

• Can you confirm who you have approached, for those readers who may not know yet or have been living under a rock the past few weeks?

Rob Broughton – Damian Grabowski – Martin Thompson – Neil Grove – Karlos Vermola – Oli Thompson – Wilson Jnr – Neil Wain…..

• Are they all signed and confirmed or are there a few tbc’s?

The contracts are just being finalised and all should be signed over the next few days!

• What are the contingencies in case of fighter injuries on the night… will there be a reserve roster? Who will be on that?

Medics Ice and a stretcher [laughs]… no seriously we will have 4 alternates fighting on the night in case someone gets injured then they can step in and it’s fair as everyone would have fought at least once.

• The prize money being mentioned is around £15k. That has to be one of the biggest purses for a non-ufc fight on UK soil. We have to ask….Is this a bit of hype or is this purse confirmed?

Nope confirmed!!

• Is it only going to be the winner that gets paid? Or will all the fighters be taking home a competitors fee?

No Winner takes all!! Losers get Jack!!

• UK MMA fans have sometimes seen events announced that look like they will be amazing, only for it all to fall flat at the last minute much to the disappointment of all involved and usually because of “outside influences” like interfering local councils. Are you in a position to assure the fans that this IS going ahead, or are we still very much in the planning stages?

This is the most important thing, I don’t want people to tarnish me with the same brush as others, I tend to stay away from the internet and just do my own thing, building my brand “ZT” and ensuring that everything I
do is to the best of my ability ( I mean I sacrificed my fight career for building a business) so if I say I am going to do something and put my balls on the line then trust me it will happen.

• On your site you announced the venue – the HMV forum in Kentish Town – is booked for Jan 30th 2010. This is more well-known as a music gig venue / nightclub. How have negotiations gone with them?

All done and signed, in fact we also signed another 3 dates after the 30th january for further shows.

• MMA has had the spotlight shone firmly on it by the mainstream media recently, largely due to a very high-profile relationship between media celebrity Katie Price and your good friend Alex Reid. Not all of the press has been good and a lot of trashy mags and red-tops are sensationalising MMA as “brutal cage-fighting”. I read an article about the last Ultimate Challenge in one of my wife’s coffee-break magazines that actually said “Fighters are frisked for razor blades as they step into the cage”!! Does this sort of ridiculous press make it hard to persuade venues like the HMV forum that it’s a good idea to put on an MMA event?

Sometimes I have had problems with certain venues down to bad press, but on this occasion they have been very welcoming and they came to ZTFN 18 and witnessed how we operated first hand and gave us the go ahead. Obviously crowd safety is paramount and we want to ensure that there is nobody in the venue with any weapons so we have agreed to bag searches and and metal detectors.

• I really like the gladiatorial element of the one-night tournament format and would love to see it done for other weight divisions. I’m sure there are a lot of fighters who would like to test themselves in such a way. You mention you have secured 3 other dates with the venue so can we assume this event will become a fixture in the UKMMA calendar? If you do it again which weight division would be next?

It is going to become a permanant fixture and as for what weight next you will have to wait and see.

• Have you made any approaches to any TV networks to get coverage for the event? I’m sure many fans who couldn’t make it to london would love to get the opportunity to see the fights!

We have had offers but to be honest I’d rather wait and make sure we get the right deal that is going to give the right message for UK MMA.

• Finally have you got anything else you want to add, any shout outs or any other big announcements for the fans?

Yeah, to all fans of UK MMA get behind this show as this is going to forge the future for some un-signed MMA Athlete and place them on the main stage……

• Thanks Sol, looking forward to the show!

UKMMANews would like to wish Sol and the ZT Team all the best with the event! Stay tuned to the site for more info about the confirmed fighters and the event. For further information on training with Sol for fitness or MMA check out www.solgilbert.com

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