cage and goes at it. The atmosphere is raw, it's very raw and it teaches you that everything isn't always perfect. It shows you that you don't need the high price, glitz and glamour of a huge, extremely popular gym to come away with an outstanding product. He teaches you to go get it. You don't need all the paperwork that shows you're more advanced than the next guy. Miguel's gym doesn't have that, but he still creates the best possible product. To be a champion, it's a team effort, but it requires an extreme amount of self motivation. Nobody wanted to train over the holidays. I had the key to open the gym and I had to find people who were willing to help me out. Fighters need to be hungry and he's taught me that's what it comes down to, so if you can't motivate yourself, than it won't be easy.

I credit him with a lot at this point. He was even giving me advice on the Wagnney Fabiano fight. Even though he put it out there, he still said I didn't have to take it if I didn't want to. He told me by the beginning of the summer, I'd be in there regardless. I'd have a chance to gain valuable experience around him in my upcoming fights and if I keep winning, I'd be in there regardless. I didn't have to jump at that opportunity, but I just couldn't wait. I don't care if it was Wagnney, who is a guy that I've looked up to for a long time. I knew exactly who he was. I didn't have to go and look him up online to see who he was or what he looked like. I already knew who he was and I was down with it. I was ready for the challenge.

FiveKnuckles.com: How do you see things playing out for Miguel's career in the near future? Do you see a title rematch in the making?

Mackens Semerzier: Let me give it to you like this: Miguel Torres the person, is super tough. I mean this guy is granite. He makes sacrifices and he's very diligent in his training amongst many other things so Miguel the person is going to do great this year regardless of what happens. What's going to set him apart this time around is instead of doing everything himself, he's now willing to seek out trainers that he's able to listen to and willing to take advice from. I see Miguel regaining the bantamweight title because he's going to bust his ass. He's going to leave Indiana and go up to Boston to train. He's going to Vegas to train. He's going wherever he needs to go and everybody's behind him because we all want to see him become the champion again. Now, he has to win his fight in March, but whoever has that belt when Miguel gets ready to challenge is damn sure going to be in trouble. At the same time, whoever holds the belt at that time, whether it's Brian Bowles or Dominic Cruz, they're going to be ready to scrap too. Nothing is easy anymore. Not too long ago, there were only eight or so guys in the entire bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Now, there are more than twenty guys and they're bringing in somebody...