Fighter of the Month – Travis Bartlett

David Pasquarelli

Travis Bartlett is the NEMMA.net Fighter of the Month for August.  Travis is a promising fighter out of Team Irish in Bangor Maine who looks up to Maine’s most visible MMA fighter in Marcus Davis. He credits Marcus with putting Maine on the MMA map. Like Davis Bartlett comes from a strong boxing background an he has translated those skills into MMA. Travis has big goals for the next year and with a string of under-a-minute knockouts is an odds-on favorite to accomplish those goals and make his dreams happen. He is coming off an August 29^th title defense against Josh Watson at Untamed 29 where he settled the matter with a 54 second knockout win. Travis and I didn’t get to speak but he was kind enough to answer a few questions for all of us in the NEMMA universe.

NEMMA:  You have been fighting since 2001; how long did you train before your first fight?

 Bartlett: Actually my first MMA fight wasn’t until 2007. I trained only a few weeks before the fight.  I wasn’t even sure if I was going to fight competitively, I started training to get back in shape. John Robinson was supposed to fight and one day we were training together about three days before the fight and he sprained his ankle. Dale Hartt called me and asked me if I would fight in his place and I said “why not”. At that time, Marcus was in Texas getting ready to fight Pete Spratt, so he wasn’t there to work in my corner. That fight was in a ring so I really didn’t have any nerves because of my boxing background, it felt “old hat” to me. I won KO in 54 seconds.

NEMMA:  Did you start training for MMA right away or did you have a base in one martial art like boxing, wrestling or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Bartlett: I have a base that stems primarily from Boxing. I started Tae Kwon Do at about twelve years old, although I continued to train, I also started boxing at about fifteen. I compiled an amateur boxing record of 77-19 from 1991-2001 and was ranked 6th in nation in 1997. I won several major tournaments, Golden Gloves, P.A.L. National, Bud Belt, Northeast Regionals, etc. I also became a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I have to say after UFC 1, I did order the Gracie tapes and dabbled in BJJ throughout the years.

NEMMA: You have three knockout or TKO stoppages in under a minute and one of those in 27 seconds. Do you always look for the quick knockout or do you take advantage of opportunities as they arise?

Bartlett: I am always looking to end the fight. I believe that is what fighting is about. My ground game is getting stronger all the time, because of that I am starting to let my hands go more. I don’t fear the take down as I once did. I believe my KO will be more prevalent in the future.

NEMMA:  What do you like the most about training? (Striking, wrestling, conditioning, etc)

Bartlett: My favorite part of training is any live action training, whether it be stand-up sparring, san shou, or ground and pound. If we are training to make each other cry “uncle” then I am enjoying myself.

NEMMA:  What do you like the least?

Bartlett: My least favorite part of training is strength & conditioning training. Garth Krane is “the Furor”. I mean, a “sick lil man” with the stuff he comes up with. I know I need it, but I don’t like it!

 NEMMA: What else do you like to do for fun or as a hobby when you aren’t training?

Bartlett: When I am not training, I am preoccupied with my family. My children usually have sporting events that I am either attending, coaching, or helping them to prepare for.  I am an avid hunter and fisherman. And in the past year my wife and I have picked up golfing which I surprisingly enjoy a great deal.

NEMMA: What professional fighter would you most like to be compared with?

Bartlett:  I think my style of fighting is similar to Chuck Lidell. I have good timing, KO countering ability, and good take down defense. I believe when I’ve hurt a guy, my ability to finish him is also like Chuck’s.

NEMMA: Who is your favorite fighter?

 Bartlett: My favorite fighters are Marcus Davis and Vitor Belfort. Marcus because of his style and that he has done so much for me. Vitor caught my eye on his first ever appearance in the UFC and I’ve followed him since. His hands I believe are the only ones that could ever compete with Anderson Silva and I’ve been saying that for years now.

NEMMA: What is your favorite music to listen to get psyched up to train or to fight?

Bartlett:  I’m not big on the whole music thing. I train to whatever is on at the time. I like just about anything. During the pre-fight I don’t listen to music. I focus on the fight and go over my game plan in my head over and over again.

NEMMA:  How did you get the nickname “showstopper”?

Bartlett:  I got the nickname “showstopper” from my first fight. I had the second fight on the card that night. My teammates Colby Brown and Dale Hartt were also on the card. Dale was fighting Matt Lee in the Main Event. Well, I KO’d my guy and he had some pretty serious facial and head injuries and the entire show was halted for over an hour. Colby started calling me “showstopper” and it stuck.

NEMMA:  What do you do for work besides fighting?

Bartlett:  In the real world, my job is in construction. I am a pipe fitter for the Union Local 716 here in Maine.

NEMMA: Where do you want to be in you fighting career in 1 year and in 2 years?

Bartlett:  In the next couple of years I will be fighting for the UFC or I will simply retire. Time is an issue for me. I am 34 years old and have spent a great deal of my life in the fight world in one aspect or another. My family supports me because they know I have a shot, but I believe the time is now and the next year is all or nothing!

NEMMA: Do you have any sponsors?

 Bartlett: Sponsors I’d like to thank:

Maine Military Supply, thanks for everything, Frank Spuzuko, you are the man!

Hodgedon & Sons landscaping

Starbird Contracting

Suckerpunch Athletics

American Stand-Up

Boston Brawler

NEMMA: Do you have any upcoming fights booked that you want to mention?

 Bartlett: I don’t have a fight booked at this time. I’ve been having a little trouble finding an opponent and I do not have a web page at this time. On a personal note, I’d like to thank the people that through the years have impacted my life in a manner that made me the fighter that I am today. Thanks to my father, through his example I’ve learned how to never give up, never complain, and to keep my mouth shut and just do it! To Don Harriman for introducing me to martial arts and boxing and for pushing me forward at a very young age. To my brother Peter for teaching me to “dare to dream” and showing me the true importance of perseverance . To Paul White for being much more than a boxing trainer. To Marcus Davis for paving the way. Without you no one in northern Maine would even dream of getting this opportunity! Finally to Ken Graves for teaching me what it means to be a Christian. Ken once told me “when you lie with pigs, you’re gonna get dirty, it’s when you stop wanting to be clean that you’re in real trouble.”

NEMMA:  Do you have a website or Myspace page people can check out?

Bartlett: I do not have a Myspace page.