Benji Radach

Benji "Razor" Radach (21-5) will make his long awaited return to the cage Sat, Dec 4th when he takes on Ovince St Preux (8-4) in a fight at 205 lbs on the main card of Strikeforce: Henderson vs Babalu. Radach, born and raised in Castlerock WA and a fighter who cut his teeth on the tough NW fight circuit, last fought in April of '09 in an epic back and forth battle against Scott Smith that many saw as fight of the year. Since that time, Radach has had to deal with numerous injuries and fight through a nasty staph infection as well that has kept him sidelined, but is now finally healed up and ready to go. Radach spoke with NW Fightscene's Spaniard via phone from the weigh-ins at Scottrade Center in St. Louis about the fight...

NW Fightscene: First off Benji, how you feeling down there in St Louis?
Benji Radach: I'm feeling really good. The weight came up fast. I got through medicals and now we're about 20 minutes from weigh-ins and face-off.

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Benji Radach & Ovince St Preux at weighins

(Photo Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE)

NWFS: You don't know much about your opponent and you're fighting at a different weight. Talk about those two things.
Radach: Yeah, this is a new weight class for me. I went up to 205 because it was such close notice. There was no way I would have made 185. I was 220 when I got here, I had to lose 15 pounds to get to 205. So I'm taking this on basically ten days notice and not training, and fighting an athlete [who's a] long, big dude. So I'm hoping I made the right decision. Its kind of ballsy stepping into something like this, but I need the cash and I'm strong, and I think I'm a lot better than him on the feet. Just got to watch out for that left leg that he has and then set up my combos.

NWFS: This has been a long road back for you, having to overcome some major injuries and surgery. How are feeling with your training and everything?
Radach: Well, if it wasn't for Lou's [Training Center in Anaheim, CA], I'd probably be in a lot worst shape. But I've been doing that fairly steady since you were there.

[ED Note: NWFS's Spaniard covered Benji training at Lou's earlier this year HERE]
 I got to where I was doing it timed and getting through the circuits really fast and doing timed rowing on the row machine. So I think I'm in better condition than I probably thought when I first took the fight.

                                                                                Lou Smith and Benji Radach

NWFS: With all that time off for you, what's it like now mentally for you knowing you got this fight coming up tomorrow?
Radach: Honestly, I was really locked up and nervous and freaking out when I first got here all the way till last night. So what I did was just sat down and figure out what makes me do well. And I really just kind of dug deep and listened to some hardcore anger rock and it got my attitude right. Kind of remembered who I was and now I feel a lot better and more confident about everything.

NWFS: Going into this fight against St Preux, he's 6 foot 3, he's young and he's a bigger guy, but you definitely bring in the experience. Where do you see his strengths and your strengths? 
Radach: I think his strengths are going to be of course his length. He's got a 79" reach. Real tall. I think my strengths are going to be staying in the pocket and mixing it up. I'll be able to see his punches for the most part and then landing one. And then also on the ground, I think I'll be way more superior.

NWFS: Do you think you'll go right back down to 185 in the future or stay at 205?
Radach: I'll probably dabble in both a little bit.

NWFS: After you weigh-ins, what are you going to be doing tonight?
Radach: Just getting water in my body. Eating. I just listen to some anger rock. Get my head straight and think about the gameplan. Maybe watch his past fights one more time. Go through that really quick and get my game plan down and then go for it.

NWFS: Are you a big tape watcher?
Radach: Not usually but in this one I have been just because he's got a pretty angry left body/head kick. So I got to be ready for that. Take his ass down and get away from that left kick.

NWFS: Anyone you'd like to thank?

Radach: I want to thank Metal Mulisha. Rockstar. And I want to thank Tapout too as they've helped me out for the last year.