Shonie Carter may not be as famous as other stars of mixed martial arts but he might just deserve the same legendary status alongside the world’s best.

The 33-year-old has fought in almost every organization imaginable, in every hotspot of MMA around the world, and stood toe to toe with names like Dave Menne and Pat Miletich. Next up for “Mr. International” is a battle in the newest MMA hotbed of California when he takes on Jake Ellenberger for the IFC United States welterweight title.

The Z-Files caught up with Carter a day after he defeated Alex Carter by rear-naked choke in the first round of an IFC show in Kearney, Nebraska.

 

 

Z-Files: With your win over Alex Carter, you now have 34 wins and 55 fights under your belt. What keeps you going?

Carter: I’m not getting hurt and I’m still winning, so why not? Each fight could be my last one, but it’s just something that I want to keep doing. How else would get to see the world and get paid to do it?

 

Z-Files: Have you ever come close to retiring?

Carter: It happened recently. I had just lost to Jonathan Goulet and Mike Pyle and I thought ‘The hell with this.’ But I knew I was contracted to defend the King of the Cage belt and if I would have lost that, it would have been my breaking point. Since then I’ve won five in row and I’m white-hot. Now I’m just making sure that it wasn’t a fluke.

 

Z-Files: It had to be exciting then for you after holding onto the KOTC belt?

Carter: It was funny because after the Jason Black fight (a first-round TKO victory) it felt like it was duck-hunting season. I was getting fight offers from all over – Australia, England, and Denver. Five or six fights came up and I just told everybody that I don’t care. They were asking me who I wanted next and I said that I really didn’t mind who it was as long as it was a good payday.

 

Z-Files: Do any of your losses really stick out and bother you?

Carter: I won all but one fight in Shooto (to Jon Fitch in 2003) but the biggest one would have been to Nathan Marquardt at Pancrase (in 2000). That was a bunch of shit.

 

Z-Files: Do you think that you’ll ever get another shot in the UFC?

Carter: Not likely. I’d like to say yes but I doubt it. A lot of their fighters are the same type of guy. They’re all soft-spoken and clean cut. They do what they’re told and they keep their mouths shut. I don’t do that. I don’t fit their profile.

 

Z-Files: You’re often very outspoken and you certainly have flare. Do you like standing out from the crowd?

Carter: How many great fighters are there out there? How many of them do you remember? Not that many. I’m someone who people remember. The people remember things I said, how I look and that I come to the ring with pretty girls on my arm. Like all the guys on (The Ultimate Fighter) reality show. How many of those guys are you going to remember? I took the Nate Quarry fight on two or three weeks’ notice. I have three children and I work three jobs. It’s nothing against those guys but if I was in the same situation and had nothing but time to train, man, it would be a bad night for somebody and it wouldn’t be me. Any of those new “stars” (from The Ultimate Fighter) even if they had 10 pairs of hands they couldn’t hold me.

 

Z-Files: You had a very close decision victory over Jason MacDonald at TKO 21. Would you be willing to give Jason a rematch in the MFC in 2006?

Carter: I would definitely do that. As long as I don’t have to go to Quebec and fight again. Somebody stole one of my hats there. Jason is very tough. I think he could make a bear tap out.

 

Z-Files: Do you feel then that you haven’t been given the credit and respect you deserve for your longevity and success?

Carter: It doesn’t really bother me. When I first fought in the UFC, I already had over 40 fights. I won a fight with the spinning backfist five years ago and people are still talking about it. Now most guys who try it can’t even do it right. Sometimes I do think to myself ‘What do I have to do?’ I can’t believe how some guys feel that they’re above me after only 14 or 15 fights, but really I don’t care about that. The fans all know who I am and the good fighters do too. It actually makes me hungrier when people doubt me and then as soon as they get their butt kicked they know what I’m about.

 

Z-Files: Beside the spinning backfist, what do you think you’ll be remembered for?

Carter: I’ve held 12 or 13 legit championship belts. Let’s see any of those young, up-and-comers do that.