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Beyond Fighting: Matt Lindland
Olympic Wrestling Silver Medalist and Star MMA Fighter Prefers the Simple Country Life |
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Written by Doug Jeffrey |
 Start off by telling us about your family.
My wife's name is Angie, my daughter Robin is 12 and James is 14.
Tell us about Eagle Creek, Oregon, which is where you live.
It's about 20 miles east of Portland, and it is in the mountains. I don't deal that well with neighbors. It's 15 minutes from where I grew up. I just like getting away from it all. It's not too far from town, but it's not really in the suburbs. I've got 11 acres, and I'm in the process of buying 40 more.
It sounds like your neighbors have four legs.
We have deer and coyotes in our yard. We have to keep the coyotes away so they do not eat our goats, hogs, cows and horses.
You mentioned that you eat organically. Do you get attached to the animals that you raise to eat?
There is no attachment. We raise them purely for food.
What were your early goals in life?
By the time I was a teen, I knew I wanted to wrestle in the Olympic Games, which I did. I never wanted to work for anyone else, and I succeeded in that. In fact, I'm not sure if I've ever had a job.
You must have had something along the way.
I did drive a Zamboni (the machine that smoothes the ice in hockey rinks). I had moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to train for the Olympics, and I needed a job to pay the bills. I had a wife and two kids. I drove that until 3 in the morning. That was work.
What college did you attend and what was your major?
I went to junior college in Oregon, and then the University of Nebraska recruited me. In my senior year, I was 36-1 in wrestling, and I majored in speech communication.
How about the Olympics?
For me, it was just like any other tournament. I was focused on the competition and doing well in the matches. You always hear people talk about the whole experience from a social experience, but I was there to compete. My family was there, and I was with them when I was not competing.
How gratifying was it to win the silver in Greco-Roman wrestling?
In hindsight, it was gratifying. At the time, however, I went out with a silver medal, so I saw that as losing my last match. At the time I was not that thrilled. I lost a close match that I felt I should have won. In looking back, I can say I made a pretty good run. After all, I won an Olympic medal, and there are not a lot of people who can say that.
What is your favorite hobby?
I do like to do other things; it is just that I do not have time. I have a gym here in Oregon, I run SportFight, I manage 20 fighters, I am an IFL coach and it seems like things do not slow down for me. But I do like to put up fence posts, plant gardens and ride horses. I like to work around the ranch. Living on a ranch and staying home would be the simplest life for me and I could fight in between.
Describe Matt Lindland to people who don't know him.
I am really focused on work and family.
What station is on in your car?
When I am driving, I am on the phone. It's the only free time I get. When I'm home, I'm with my kids, so I don't really listen to music. If I turn a radio on, I'm listening to political talk radio.
Are you a sports fan?
I do not like any other sports, and I do not watch. It just takes too much time. A baseball game, for example, takes 3 hours. If I get an opportunity to go to a game live, I will enjoy it. Before my last two fights, I went to a Dodgers game and sat in the dugout with the team. [Pitcher] Brad Penny invited me. So I enjoy sports on that level.
What is the best thing about being a pro athlete?
Getting paid to play. It's a dream come true. Most people work jobs they do not like to earn a living, so they can support their family.
Has anyone ever challenged you to a fight on the street?
First, there are ways to avoid street fights. But there was this one time when I picked up some Slurpees with my family at a 7-Eleven. While I was inside, my wife came in screaming, asking me to get out there and help. When I got outside, there was a guy who had his hands [all over] a broad, so I pulled him off. I had to do some work on that guy, but that was just one of those situations in which I had to step in.
If you were not fighting, what would you do?
I'd be a cowboy. I like the simplicity of the lifestyle.
What is the No. 1 place on your vacation list?
Well, I do not take time off. If I did, I'd go to Hilo, Hawaii. I have been over there five times. To me, that is the ideal spot. I can train with the best fighters in the world and go to the beach.
What is your biggest regret in life?
I have none whatsoever. There are some things I'd do differently, but I do not have any regrets.
Who is the most important person in your life and why?
My wife. She really loves me and supports me, and she has been with me for 15 years.
She's very supportive and allows me do what I need to do.
We can't wrap this up without asking you about the Harley.
It's a Thundermountain Custom 2006. I got it from Team Latus Motors in Gladstone, Oregon. They sponsor me, and they gave me a bike to drive around. I am pretty stoked.
Do you prefer the bike to a car?
I've never owned a car. I've always owned pickups. But I ride any time I can. The pickup is like my office. I've got a phone plugged in, the tobacco is in the center console, I've got pens and it's all good. I get more work done when I'm driving, but I am not focused when I am driving. I am working my PDA, I've got chew in my face, I'm writing notes and you can't do that on a bike. So I'm not sure what I prefer. They both have benefits. One thing for sure is that I stay focused when I'm on the bike because I don't want someone hitting me.
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