This Thursday evening, former UFC lightning rod, Cody McKenzie will meet up with Canadian lightweight attraction, Andrew McInnes in the World Series Of Fighting cage. McKenzie will be coming off an extended, two-month-long layoff, and says that this is a “one off thing,” and that MMA is more like a hobby to him these days. Ever prepared, Cody says the only thing he knows about his opponent, is that he’s “kind of an asshole.”
Bloody Elbow recently caught up with Andrew McInnes who had a unique assessment of he and Cody’s paths, as well as his thoughts on the PED situation in MMA, his time with Maximum Fighting championship, and unique training methods and implements. Andrew is also seeking a new nickname, and would like Bloody Elbow readers to help him make a choice, so there will be a poll at the end of the article for your participation.
Bloody Elbow: What are your overall thoughts on your opponent, Cody McKenzie?
Andrew McInnes: I think we’re very similar. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but it’s like an episode of Community with all the different timelines. He and I could be the same person, but we’re on different timelines. He’s on the worst possible timeline. He’s like this big fuck-up, and ruined his whole career, doesn’t train, acts like an asshole, drinks all the time and everything else.
I’m a guy that’s super critical of himself. I learn from my mistakes, and I’ smart enough to learn from other people’s mistakes, so I’ve kept myself from making too many of them. I feel like I’m the successful version and he’s the crappy version.
Bloody Elbow: What’s with the “Andrewconda” nickname, and do you use it as a signature submission move?
Andrew McInnes: I hate that name. It was just some stupid Twitter thing, and I’m trying to get rid of it now. I’m either the submission artist formerly known as Andrew McInnes or The Moneyshot Andrew McInnes or Magic Andrew McInnes.
*There will be a poll at the end of the article. Andrew is going to let our readers choose his nickname*
Bloody Elbow: You’re a black belt under Robert Drysdale. Did it bother you when he tested for elevated testosterone levels?
Andrew McInnes: I wasn’t upset at all. I’m not sure what his situation might have been, but it seems to be happening frequently now. I’m smart enough to understand that pretty much everybody in the sport is using, except for myself and probably Cody McKenzie, to be honest. We all know full well what’s going on with this sport.
I know when I go into a fight that my opponent is probably going to be juiced up. A lot of people take that road, and I don’t blame them. I know how hard it is to train and stay healthy and recovered adequately. It’s a part of MMA and I don’t think it’s ever going to change.
Bloody Elbow: Would you prefer to see all PED abusers that get caught banned from the sport, suspended for longer periods of time, or should all the athletes be able to use performance enhancers freely?
Andrew McInnes: If you were to start banning people or suspending them for longer periods, there’d be no sport left. If you just tested the main event guys, the majority of them would be fucking gone. There’s a reason why Vitor Belfort looks like a racehorse one day, and Tom Hanks in Philadelphia the next. So the main eventers will be gone and then the Al Iaquintas of the world will move up, and they’ll start getting popped.
It’s just something you’ve gotta deal with, so I say let’s bring back the PRIDE days, take away weight classes, gimme those Bob Sapp types. Let ‘em all juice up. It’s happening anyways. Let’s not fight a war that’s absolutely not winnable.
Bloody Elbow: Would you at least like to see some physician monitoring in that scenario so people don’t get carried away and end up killing themselves?
Andrew McInnes: Let them kill themselves [laughs]. I need people burning out there engines by the time they’re five fights into their careers. Makes it easier for me. The only person that’s a really heavy juicer that has any longevity at all is Gleison Tibau, and he’s a rare exception.
Everybody is juiced up, and if they’re smart, they will get a doctor. If they’re not, oh well, let them do what they want. I’ll still be here.
Bloody Elbow: Why did you mention Gleison Tibau?
Andrew McInnes: He’s been in the UFC for a long time, and he’s a clear cut juicer. I guarantee you, his piss glows in the dark. I’ve been around every gym on this earth, and he’s 100% a juicer. The only person I can say 100% doesn’t juice is Mitch Clark. I’m sure there are others, but it’s very few.
Bloody Elbow: What about the really outspoken fighters that almost crusade against PEDs?
Andrew McInnes: It’s all bullshit. Look at Jon Fitch. He says he’s a vegan, and the whole time he’s saying it, he’s got a needle hanging from his ass. Everybody is juicing, and the ones that are singing that same tune are full of shit…except me [laughs].
Bloody Elbow: How was your time with MFC (Maximum Fighting Championship)?
Andrew McInnes: I fulfilled my two fight deal in 2014, and won both my fights to get a shot at the belt, but unfortunately, that’s not going to happen now, so it’s on to bigger and better things.
Bloody Elbow: When you say ‘that’s not going to happen now,’ what do you mean? Has MFC officially or unofficially closed down?
Andrew McInnes: I’m not sure, to be honest. Mark Pavelich is a smart promoter, but I think he’s making his money elsewhere now. Luckily, I can get fights anywhere, so I’m taking all the intriguing fights I can.
Bloody Elbow: Mark is known to have a surly reputation. What was your experience working with him like?
Andrew McInnes: I’ve heard a lot of stories about Mark, not all of them flattering, but I only judge people on my own personal experience with them, and I don’t have a single bad thing to say about Mark. I think he’s a good dude.
Bloody Elbow: When you went to WSOF, was there any dialogue between the two of you? Did he ask you to give him a little time to figure things out, or otherwise?
Andrew McInnes: We spoke, and he told me to stay active, and pretty much left everything open-ended. If he decides to keep promoting, I’d go back in a heartbeat for that belt, no matter what stage I’m at in my career, unless I was locked in to a contract somewhere else.
Bloody Elbow: What’s your contract like with WSOF?
It’s a two fight deal, and my next fight will likely be on June 5th in Edmonton. I plan on putting McKenzie away, and then I’m going to start calling out names directly after. I might even yell out Gaethje’s name because I want that belt, too.
Bloody Elbow: What are your thoughts on Justin Gaethje?
Andrew McInnes: I think he’s a generic tough guy. I don’t think he’s good at anything. I think he’s the WSOF equivalent to Rich Franklin in 2005. He’s alright in several areas, and good at none. He’s not a specialist. I’m a fan of Nick Newell, but beating him doesn’t make you one of the best guys on the planet. He’s a tough, generic brawler that will get exposed by anybody that’s world level.
Bloody Elbow: What’s your end goal with MMA? Do you want to end up in the UFC or do you want to continue freelancing?
Andrew McInnes: I just want intriguing fights. I’ll fight these guys on any stage on earth. I’ll fight Anthony Pettis in my mom’s back yard. I don’t give a shit. I just want to compete at the highest level possible. Right now, WSOF is my employer, and I’ve got to stay loyal to them. I signed a contract for an amount of money that I deserved, and after I beat these two guys, I’ll deserve more money. If they can pay me, then I’m happy. If not, I’ll just move on to greener pastures.
Bloody Elbow: How has WSOF treated you so far? Do you feel they’re marketing your fight enough, or do you not really concern yourself with the business end of promoting?
Andrew McInnes: I’m all about marketing myself, and I genuinely promote myself. I’m always on Twitter or Facebook with some type of bullshit. I’m a big fan of pro-wrestling and grew up watching it, so I’ve got a big mouth and I know how to use it. Luckily for me, this match-up sells itself. I believe I’m the next big thing in the sport, and I think I can beat anyone at 155. Fortunately, Cody McKenzie is a goofy fuck, and I get to beat him up, and people want to see that.
Bloody Elbow: What are your thoughts on new age or unusual training implements like hyperbaric chambers, cryotherapy, alternative training programs, nutrition coaches, etc?
Andrew McInnes: I believe there are smarter people than I am and that they can make me a better athlete, so I’ve always looked out for those people to train with. I believe I have that with the team I’m with now, Complete Fitness. As far as unusual training and things like that, I’m all for it. We do some out of the box shit here at our gym, and I think we have a clear-cut recipe for success.
As far as diet coaches and people like Dolce, well, I think Dolce is a fraud, and people are catching on to it. If you listen to one of his podcasts, it’s the same generic rhetoric. It’s all about “earth-grown nutrients and fucking vegetables,” shit like that. He’s a complete fucking fraud that couldn’t make it with fighting, so he put some gold letters on a black t-shirt and became some guru.
Bloody Elbow: What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Andrew McInnes: I want to fight at heavyweight. I can make 206 no problem, so I want some crazy, PRIDE style match with like a sumo wrestler or something. I want an Emmanuel Yarborough type fight, or maybe have a fight with a pro wrestler.
Bloody Elbow: If you could have dinner and conversation for 2 hours with anyone, past or present, who would it be?
Andrew McInnes: Cody McKenzie. After this fight, I wouldn’t mind listening to a rap CD, that’s code for getting popped Nick Diaz style [laughs], and having a little conversation. I think that guy’s a character, and I’d like to see what’s going on in his head.
Bloody Elbow: Final question, iPhone or Android?
Andrew McInnes: Android all day. Apple sucks.
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