IFL Razorclaws fighter Brian Foster is in Moreno Valley, California, where he’s the proprietor of Inkaholics, and has just finished some body art on a client.

[Before the inquiries start coming in, here are the details: Inkaholics, 24150 Alessandro Boulevard, Moreno Valley, CA, 92553. Ph: (951) 485 4930.]

As with Brian, it seems a lot of other IFL fighters have served in the marines: Josh Odom, Adam Lynn, Mark Miller, Mike Corey… So I asked Brian if the IFL has a carbon-copy contract hidden underneath the marine’s enlistment forms for when personnel are eventually discharged.

“It sure looks like it, doesn’t it? I think it just goes along with the lifestyle: In the marine corps you become accustomed to training a lot, and hand-to-hand combat is obviously a big issue. When you get out of the marine corps you still want the camaraderie, you still want to train, you still want that hand-to-hand combat, you’re still looking for that challenge. And the International Fight League is where you find that,” says Foster.

Brian served in the US Marines for five years, with his tasks including some elite duties, before he was discharged in 1997. “I was what they call a grunt – like a ground pounder. I was in a division referred to as the ‘Reconnaissance Company’, where I basically carried a rifle around. Then I had the opportunity to go to a specialist sniper school, so I got to fulfill some duties as a scout sniper in the marines corps, which was quite a privilege.”

Brian, what was your first martial art style?

“I didn’t really have what you’d call a style before extreme fighting. I didn’t even train or anything, I just got an invitation to fights that were happening at a nearby city. It was a matter of turn up with your mouthpiece and be ready to fight, so that’s what I did.

“I fought a jiu jitsu guy, and luckily I won. But, man, he arm-barred the shit out of me. Shortly after that, I started taking a bunch of jiu jitsu classes and kinda began morphing my style from there.”

How did you win that fight?

“He had my left arm in an arm bar – at the time I didn’t even know what that was – and I hit him with overhand rights to his head. I just kept hitting him with punches until he let my arm go, and he quit.”

So willpower defeated skill power.

“Yes, it did.”

Brain Foster vs. Dan Molina

Can you give a brief rundown of your bout against Dan Molina, please?

“That fight went really well for me. I knew he was going to be more of a ground guy: Most people don’t want to stand and kickbox with me, so I knew he was going to come in and take me down, which is what he did. We played the position game on the ground for a while, and I was patient – being careful not to get submitted.

“I just kept the g’n’p game going, and he started getting tired towards the end and I out-positioned him. I got his back to go for a rear naked choke, but Frank Shamrock was yelling at me to keep punching him because I think time was getting short in the round, so I kept punching him. Then the ref broke it up.”

How did you come to be an alternate fighter for the Wolfpack?

“I’m a personal friend of Matt Lindland’s, and the Wolfpack were on short notice for a fight they had coming up, so they gave me a call and I took the fight on two weeks’ notice. I won that fight, and I just did it as a kinda favor for Matt, and he was doing it as a favor for me: He was helping me out to get a fight. >From there, my name got tossed around and I got put on the Razorclaws team. It’s been great.”

You got your nickname ‘Tattoo’ due to your being the proprietor of a tattoo shop in California. Have you done any ink work on other MMA fighters?

“No one too famous – some of the guys from the school who come in to train… I tattooed Shawn Tompkins, who’s now the coach for the Anacondas.”

What is the story with your mini zoo?

“I’ve just loved animals since I was a kid, and I happened to get a piece of property out here that’s known for animals… I guess, long story short, I had a bunch of weeds in my backyard, so I got some goats because they’re supposed to eat all the weeds down. And then my neighbors had some horses that needed a home, so I took them in. Somehow I ended up with some sheep, and then my wife brought a pig over, and next thing you know you’ve got a zoo.”

Good things happen to those who are good to animals.

“Yeah, I love it.”

Who are your main training partners these days?

“A lot of the guys from Team Quest: Dan Henderson, Thierry Sokoudjou…”

Brian Foster vs. Joe Doerksen

Is Frank Shamrock very involved in your training and fight preparation?

“He’s involved in my fight preparation, but not my day-to-day training, just because we’re about six or seven hours from each other. I’m based at Team Quest in Murrieta, California, and Frank is in San Jose, California.

“Before a fight, I drive up to San Jose and spend about a week up there training with the rest of the team and getting with Frank for my game plan and fight strategy.”

Do you do anything with Joe Sarti or Tony Demara?

“Yeah, when I go up there I train with them every day. Joe’s our strength and conditioning coach, so he makes us hate him during the week with lots of weight drills, sprints and running to make sure our cardio is real good. He also takes care of all our medical stuff.

“And Tony is an excellent boxing coach. Periodically, throughout the month, I’ll just drive up there for a couple of days and train with them, so it’s not like I only see them before a fight.”

On May 19 you’re fighting Justin Levens (Condors). What are you expecting from Justin?

“He’s a little bit of a brawler, from what I’ve been told. I expect him to come out punching and kicking. I’m just going to control him on the stand-up, try to take him down, and control him on the ground. I don’t expect anything super-technical out of him, but I expect a lot of energy, and his cardio will probably be good.”

And your cardio will be good?

“Oh, it’s always good. I’ve never had a problem with that – thanks to Joe.”

Do you prefer the stand-up?

“I prefer the stand-up. That’s where I like to win the fight at, because that’s what people want to see. I know I prefer watching the stand-up: It’s more exciting. But at the same time, there’s a lot of technical stuff on the ground, and you have to be proficient – you have to be good on the ground. So I don’t mind going there: I’m very comfortable on my back, and I’m comfortable on top position – getting out and standing back up. I’m pretty comfortable everywhere, but stand-up’s what I prefer.”

Brian, is there anything you’d like to add?

“I really appreciate the fans watching: That’s what this sport’s all about. And I’m happy and blessed to be a part of the IFL – it’s a great organization. I’m just ready to go out there and have some fun.”

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