"He's a young and talented fighter. He still thinks he's unbeatable. He's probably going to try to be patient, but that's not the smartest idea with a guy like me. I think he's going to probably try to stay patient and look for a knockout or submission. Everyone seems to think that they can submit me. I'm going to just keep a high-level paced match and see if this young kid has been through a war yet. These are things that I do daily, day in and day out, go through these wars. He has a lot of wins, but let's see how good they are...I am definitely cautious of his technique and who he is, but I don't give 2 shits about who he is or his techniques. I'm still going to run straight through him and see what happens," stated Bellator featherweight Joe Warren as he talked about his upcoming clash with Patricio Pitbull this Thursday in the Bellator Featherweight Tournament Finals. Check it out!

PC: How has your preparation been for your fight against Pitbull on Thursday night?

JW: Good. You know, it's finally starting to slow down here. I would like to thank those Ultimate Fitness guys up at Urijah's camp. They got me ready for this fight. I was up there for like 2 weeks. I got some good training, some good simulations and things like that. You know, it's one day at a time when I'm fighting, so I'm ready.

PC: Patricio trains with some tough guys himself. What do you think of him as a fighter and what are you expecting from him Thursday?

JW: He's a young and talented fighter. He still thinks he's unbeatable. He's probably going to try to be patient, but that's not the smartest idea with a guy like me. I think he's going to probably try to stay patient and look for a knockout or submission. Everyone seems to think that they can submit me. I'm going to just keep a high-level paced match and see if this young kid has been through a war yet. These are things that I do daily, day in and day out, go through these wars. He has a lot of wins, but let's see how good they are.

PC: Yeah, some of those records can be deceiving. He is 14-0, but like you said, maybe the competition wasn't there or maybe it was. We will see. That's one thing King Mo gives you credit for. He always says that besides Lesnar, you have faced the toughest competition in your short career.

JW: I have not had easy fights, I tell you that much. They have been barnburners. I have been putting in 15-minute grind matches. That's something I don't like to do right now. I'm still learning to like this sport, you know what I'm saying? It's so much technique that I am still learning, so muscle memory-wise, it takes some time for your muscles to get used to it. I'm just getting comfortable with feeling good striking and feeling good on the ground and then I get into these fights and these guys aren't slouches. They are pros, man, and they know what they are doing. They're coming after me also, so I have learned in the fire a little bit, which is not the greatest way of doing things, but we're getting it done.

PC: On the job training.

JW: No shit. I think I will like this sport more in the next year and half than I like it now. Then I will know everything that's coming after me, because right now, I'm like, "Oh fuck, what's happening?"

PC: Your foundation is wrestling, but against a guy like Patricio, that can be dangerous because he is so good off of his back. How do you let your top game be effective without letting his bottom game overwhelm you?

JW: It's just like we said, I have had some tough fights. I've competed against a lot better Jiu Jitsu guys than Pitbull. I think Bibiano would whoop the crap out of this kid. I'm used to it, so this guy is going to have to be able to do something off of his back. I have been caught in a lot of things in my short career and it hasn't stopped me. Hopefully I make it through that first minute. You know, that's the hardest part with these Jiu Jitsu guys. They are still dry, still explosive and you haven't taken a lot of steam out of them yet, so they are real dangerous in that first minute or so. I am definitely cautious of his technique and who he is, but I don't give 2 shits about who he is or his techniques. I'm still going to run straight through him and see what happens.

PC: You jumped right into the tournament formats with Dream to begin your MMA career and now you're continuing the same with Bellator. Was that the gameplan, being that when you wrestled, it was similar circumstances?

JW: Yeah, that's what we planned on. It was like, "Let's do this; it will be real comfortable." The problem is I didn't have any technique, so it hasn't been comfortable. I jumped into the real high-level tournaments with real good guys, so I wouldn't suggest someone else doing this. I'm a real different person. I have been through the grind and competed for this country, so I know what it means to be in some battles. It's been hard man. I had 2 babies this past year too. I have an almost 2 year old and a 3 month old, so it's been testy this year for me, but I will get through this year. My techniques will get a lot better and then we will start kicking some people's fucking ass starting Thursday.

PC: I know you had a little contract dispute with Bellator. Other than that, are you pleased with the organization so far?

JW: They've been good. We did have some contract problems, but besides that, everything has been fine. They are giving me the opportunity to drop down to 35, which is something I want to do, so I'm excited about doing that. They are going to give me the opportunity to train for the Olympics. It's a lot of young, good guys in the organization and it's a growing organization. I think some of the names in the organization will be some of the biggest names in fighting coming around here in the next few years.

PC: What can the fans in Kentucky expect from Joe Warren on Thursday night?

JW: You know, same old Joe Warren. I'm going to bite my freaking tongue and get after it. It's going to be a high-pace match and hopefully they will get a knockout or a choke out. I've been working hard on it, so it's gotta come one of these days.

PC: You're only 5 fights into your career. What are the short term goals for you right now?

JW: Short term goal is to take care of Pitbull first, win these belts, then go back to Dream. I got 3 fights there also. I want to win those belts over there. My goal is to really win all of these fights in the next 6 to 7 months here and then maybe join a 135 tournament somewhere and then go into the Olympics when it comes around here. And hopefully, I will have both belts, an Olympic championship and look for some super fights.

PC: Good luck Thursday Joe. Give me some closing thoughts.

JW: I appreciate the interview; thanks a lot. We're training out of the Rino Sport Galleri in Denver, Colorado now. That's my gym, along with Ryan Tobin. Rashad Evans, King Mo and everybody has been out here training and it's going good. If anybody wants to check us out, they can go to www.rinosportgalleri.com.