"The Grand" w/ Middleweight Champion Cristian Bonanno

Workhorse central, that’s the best way I can describe the atmosphere I saw when it came to visiting THRONE MMA in Las Vegas. I had the pleasure of speaking with the first Union GP Middleweight Champion, Cristian Bonanno, the biggest name in Union GP. You want skill? Look no further. You want dominance? Look at his highlights. Even as he waits for his first defense the Champion remains ready.

This being the first of many I would like to call “The Grand.” Ya boy Harper hits you guys with a Q and A of Union’s biggest and brightest. Spanning from the professional to the personal. Starting with the grandest. Get to know Cristian Bonanno beyond the fists and ‘bows.

"Uccisore" Cristian Bonanno

---

TH: Let me begin by saying congrats on coming out of the Union GP Middleweight Round Robin Tournament and the first Union GP Middleweight Champion. Everyone else obviously wants to know, how does it feel having the championship belt in your possession?

Uccisore: First of all, let me say thank you. It’s a humbling experience to be the Union GP Middleweight Champion. Sometimes I wake up and look over on my dresser where I put the title and I just stare at it. I still can’t believe that I made it out of the murderer's row of the middleweight round robin

TH: You are currently 5-0 with all eyes on you. Dominant performances. Two-time Fight of the Night. Two-time Performance of the Night. Another question everyone is asking but will probably never dare to say to your face, who can beat Cristian Bonanno?

Uccisore: Anyone. That's the terrifying thing. Every time I step through that cage door anyone can beat me- but they have to put the work in. They have to train like I do and have the mindset I do. I train every day because I’m not a self-absorbed egotistical fighter and my camp won’t let me be.

TH: With that in mind of your 5 fights in Union GP, contract talks are already happening as far as your future. The highest earning fighter in Union GP are you looking for that Tier 3 contract in the future? That’s me assuming the champ stays the champ and stays under Union banner.

Uccisore: I’m not a money guy, but I know my worth. I know you have to get your money while you can because every fight could be your last. I hope Union wants me to stick around, because I don’t ever plan on leaving. They’ve been great to me so far and if they feel like I deserve to be tier three then I’m here for it. But like you said, all of those bonuses I’ve got? They add up. I’m doing alright.

TH: Now it’s no question you are at this point the biggest representative of THRONE outside of Marissa Kane’s upcoming return in the few months. There’s those that believe THRONE is considered the little brother gym now in comparison to the other big ones in MMA. What’s your response to that as the flag bearer of THRONE?

Uccisore: When I was looking for a gym to train at I reached out to the public and asked them where I should go. I had thought to myself, why not go to slaughterhouse and train with the best I’ve ever seen. But, and this is a true story, I had slaughterhouse guys all but deny my inquiry and tell me go to throne. They dismissed me. Ever since my goal has been to put Throne MMA on my back and grab whatever torch there is to carry and show the world that we don’t need anyone’s approval, we just show up and work.

TH: And beyond the THRONE. Let’s get to know Cristian Bonanno. Your girlfriend is well known for being rather verbal...to the least...to the fighters along the social media and very supportive of your work. Some may say that’s a distraction overall or a hindrance how does it work for you?

Uccisore: Everyone sees the Terra on social media, nobody sees the Terra I know. She’ll probably kill me for this, but the Terra I know is a loving person. Sure, she knows how to press everyone’s buttons. But she’s also the first one into my locker room with tears in her eyes every time I win. She’s a loving and caring mother at home to her little girl. She doesn’t distract me, she’s just my biggest fan.

TH: Brooklyn born so the metal is ingrained in you. What brought you to MMA? What was that moment where you realized this is what I want to do?

Uccisore: Honestly, and I don’t enjoy making myself a sob story, but my parents death. They were killed by a drunk driver who jumped a curb and clipped them when I was young. So I bounced around foster homes and eventually at a young age I just disappeared and got a job bussing tables at a diner. Snuck back in and slept there at night. One of the regulars was a wrestling coach and he caught me sneaking back in one night. Basically, let me sleep at his gym and sweep floors. In return he coached me up and there’s no way I was going to be a pro wrestler so I had to learn how to box to be a fighter.

TH: Give us the background on the name Uccisore? Italian I am aware but was it given to you or chosen?

Uccisore: Chosen. I’ve seen so many people I care about die in my life that I’m convinced I must be the grim reaper. Depressing for people I love, sure. But terrifying for everyone I step into the cage with

TH: The expansion you’ve seen in this short Union GP time how does that make you feel? How do you feel about the new additions? Anyone you look forward to seeing down the road?

Uccisore: I love it. I love that everything around us is growing and it’s beautiful. More fighters mean more opportunities for guys nobody knows to make a name for themselves. That’s all you can ask for.

TH: Speaking of down the road. UGP 5 is this Saturday and with it, a few pivotal Middleweight clashes which I’m sure will be a deciding factor in who is next in challenging you. My eyes are on Edan McLeod versus Jeremiah Ford as well as Simon Bishop versus Sang-Hyun Lee. All have to make their impression felt to come for the Middleweight King who do you see yourself defending against first in the division?

Uccisore: I wouldn’t mind Ford for a third time because we always take home fight bonuses. Haha. I try not to worry too much about who’s next. I can see myself defeating any of em, I can see any of them knocking me out.

TH: Two weeks after UGP 5, Boss Fight 4 will bring even more deciding factors in play with Edan McLeod versus Robert Guilliman as the headline bout. Your thoughts on that matchup?

Uccisore: I’m intrigued by Guilliman. He seems a lot like me. I almost feel bad for Edan having to run a gauntlet. I can’t imagine it will be easy so I’d take Rob. Like I said. There’s something about that dude. The look in his eyes.

TH: Until it’s decided and your first defense is made official what have you been doing with the downtime more or less?

Uccisore: I’ve been spending a lot of time in the gym still. I’m stubborn. I can’t just relax because I’ll get anxious. My coaches keep me out of sparring but I’m working on cardio and ducking my head. I know I take a lot of pride in my brick chin, but I also enjoy my good looks.

TH: There have been whispers still about the opportunity in time to going up divisions and the process therein. If you continue your dominance as Middleweight Champion what are your thoughts in challenging yourself going up a weight class if given the chance?

Uccisore: I would absolutely be open to that. I would get to eat pasta for the first time in I don’t know how long. I’d have to switch up the way I approach and prep for a fight tho. I can’t expect to just take down and bully bigger guys.

TH: Do you feel the pressure of being Champion at this moment? Even without the first defense official at this time do you wake up knowing the target is on your back? How does it influence you if at all?

Uccisore I love the pressure to be honest. I can’t just exist in the fight game. I need to be chasing something. So I welcome the target. It makes me train harder to prove that I’m not just here because I got lucky when it opened. I’m not just here because the division is soft. I’m here now and will remain here on top because of my work ethic.

TH: How will the UGP fans describe the reign of Uccisore?

Uccisore: They’ll remember my reign as an exciting one. A reign where the champion didn’t just look to do enough that the judges gave him the benefit of the doubt and walk out champ. I’ll push every single person who steps in the cage with me to their absolute limit. More importantly, I hope they remember it as a long one. Like I’ve said before I don’t want to just be a champion, I want to be a feared fighter.

TH: Let me thank you for taking the time out for this interview Cristian, any comments toward the MMA realm? You know eyes stay on a Harper exclusive.

Uccisore: No, thank you. This was a lot of fun. I appreciate you having me on. I don’t really have anything exciting to really say towards the MMA realm. Well, actually I will say this. I owe my life to Throne MMA. I was just a dude in a tournament for CGFC. Throne MMA made me. So if you want to be another dude on a roster of loudmouths then join those other gyms. But if you want to evolve as a person and a fighter, follow us. We’ll take you to the throne.