NW Fightscene: First of all, congratulations on getting the Ring Of Fire 155 lb Title. How you feeling?
John Gunderson: I Feel good, no injuries. Ready to go.

NWFS: For people that weren't there, tell us a little bit about the fight and what happened as it was kind of controversial. Tell us your side of it.
Gunderson: He threw a kick, I grabbed it, I took him down. Basically, I dominated him on the ground. Got him in a Kimura. I had him backed up against the cage when i got him in the Kimura and I was turning the Kimura over. And he screamed out loud out of pain, and the ref stopped it. The ref jumped in. His arm was trapped underneath him and he couldn't really tap. And I was bending his arm, and his arm was bent back pretty far. I could feel it going but he didn't tap. All he did was scream. But when he screamed, it was a scream of pain, not a scream of anger. It was more of a scream of pain. So the ref took it as a verbal stoppage. Because they tell you, if you scream, it's the same thing as tapping. 

NWFS: Your opponent, Fabian Acuna, has been saying that it was a scream of exertion and that he was doing that as a method to get out. Do you believe that's not true?
Gunderson: Who am I to say? I wasn't on that scream. The way I took it, there are 2 different ways of screaming. You could either scream that way out of anger and try to get extra power. Or you could scream because it hurts. I took it as the hurt, and I know that I had it. He wasn't getting out of it. No matter what he was doing, he wasn't getting out of it. He may have been trying, I had it locked up completely. But I do know that he didn't tap. I think it was one of those things where he couldn't believe that he was actually caught. And he wanted a do-over right away because he was embarrassed that he got caught so quick.

NWFS: Did you speak with referee Curtis Thrasher afterwards? What was his take on it?
Gunderson: Yes, all he said was that basically they saved that guy from a broken arm. So don't even worry about it.

NWFS: They are talking about a rematch in October. How do you feel about that?
Gunderson: If they pay me the right amount, I'll go there. If not, I have a couple of other opportunities out there. So I'll give him the rematch, it may not be right away. I got to do what's best for me, and what's going to pay me the most money. If I have another show that's willing to pay me more money, then of course I'll do that.

NWFS: With the PFC (Palace Fighting Championship) no longer in operation... are you still contracted with them?
Gunderson: No my contract is up with them. I only signed a two fight deal.

NWFS: So what do you think about that with the PFC moving on and the Tachi Palace possibly making their own fights?
Gunderson: You know I don't really know, I don't know anything about it. I really have no clue, I'm kind of out of that whole thing. I don't have any idea what that organization is doing or what happened. They have been pretty quiet about that. 

NWFS: So you say you have some other fights coming up. Do you have anything you can talk about?
Gunderson: It's all speculation. Couple of bigger fight opportunities. One overseas and one for another top organization, but we'll see which one comes through. It's all speculation until I sign.

NWFS: After a win like this, is it right straight back to the gym or are you going to take some time off for the family?
Gunderson: Yes, I'm just taking a couple of weeks off, going to relax. That was my fifth fight this year. But I'm looking to fight in October, that's the month I'm going to fight. I got three different opportunities that I'm looking at. And whichever one I think is the best for me is the one that I'm going to take.

NWFS: You've been really active this year, especially coming back off surgery. How is everything feeling for you?
Gunderson: I feel good. You know I got little nagging injuries, but I feel good. I feel like I've learned a lot and have become a better fighter. Right now, I just want to take a couple of weeks to spend with my family. And relax, and then I'm going to start back in the gym learning more and working on my techniques for a couple of weeks before I start up a fight camp. Before I decide to take a fight and get ready.

NWFS: With Affliction ceasing its MMA operations... you are close to a lot of guys that were involved in that being at Extreme Couture and training with those guys. What was your take on the whole deal?
Gunderson: I feel bad for all of them. But I think it all worked out in the end because now every one of them got better contracts, better opportunities. More power to them.

NWFS: So are there better spirits around there then?
Gunderson: You know, it is. I think everyone is happy, they all got better contracts, so they'll all be taken better care of. Of course they were a little upset, but it happens. it's just the fight game. The fight game is a dangerous game. It's got a lot of ups and downs.

NWFS: With the UFC coming to Oregon, who are you going for, Randy or Nogueira?
Gunderson: I'm going for Randy of course.

NWFS: Anyone you'd like to thank?
Gunderson: I'd like to thank Extreme Couture, my family, and everyone who's stepped inside to help me out. I'd also like to thank Buff 'Em Car rentals.