NW Warrior out of Victory Athletics, Cory "The One" Devela, faces Luke Rockhold this Friday at the Strikeforce Challengers Event at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. NW Fightscene had a chance to chat with Cory for a couple minutes at the Strikeforce open workout Wednesday inside the Vision Quest Sports and Fitness Center at the Auburn Supermall...

NWFS: Here with Cory Devela and you're fighting Luke Rockhold on Friday night. What are your thoughts on the fight?
Cory Devela: I think its going to be a good fight. Gonna have some fun. His strengths... Well, are not as good as my strengths. 

Have you watched much tape on him or anything?
Devela: I only found one and it looks like he's going to run out there and take me down which is where my strengths are is in a little bit of defense. I mean I wrestle with Dennis Hallman who is one of the best submission specialists in the world. So I'm not too worried about his strengths. 

And with Strikeforce, is this a one fight deal or are you longer term with them?
Devela: I'm on a full one year contract with Strikeforce for this one but I know they're talking if I win this one, they're going to cancel that one and we're going to go to a Showtime contract. So hopefully I'll be fighting more on Showtime. 

So your fight is going to be televised Friday?
Devela: Yes mine is.

You haven't had a fight in a little while, tell us why the long layoff.
Devela: Just had to get my head back in the game. I think I was on a run for a while and was taking everything a little too lightly. I wasn't training as hard as I should have and then my last fight... I mean I was winning the fight and then I got clipped by Terry Martin, knocked out. I mean I think if I would have won that fight, I don't think I would be training as hard as I am now. I think I was taking things a little too relaxed and Terry helped put my head on better. Turned my head around, but now my heads back to where it needs to be. 

Anyone out there you want to fight in particular?
Devela: Just throw them in front of me, it doesn't matter. I just have fun. If you want to be the best, you got to beat the best.

You still working?
Devela: Still working, still do concrete work. Still spend my time doing that between family and fighting. Got a full week ahead of me everyday. 

What about sponsors for this fight. Any lined up?
Devela: Actually Dennis' manager is helping me with my sponsors. I'm horrible with sponsors, I don't know how to find them. I'm still working on that part.

Anyone to thank.
Devela: Got to thank Dennis because he's the one yelling at me for not being at practice and keeps pushing me to keep going further.

Much thanks to Cory for talking with NW Fightscene. He has a myspace page which can be visited at myspace.com/cdevela.