By Scoop Malinowski

Hard-hitting Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis (19-4, including 11 wins in a row, six in UFC contests) speaks about improving his skills, his next UFC fight, the state of the game and which fights the fan in him would love to watch…

MMAOnline.com: How are you doing Marcus, staying sharp? Please give us an update on The Irish Hand Grenade. Do you know your next opponent?

Marcus Davis: “I’m currently doing heavy lifting, plyometric and intensive stretching training. I’m trying to get my body weight up to 185 to 190 before I enter training camp. I was 182.6 today so I’m close. On June 7th I will be fighting Mike Swick in London at UFC 85.”

MMAOnline.com: What are the most significant changes you’ve added to your MMA since you’ve been involved in it?

Marcus Davis: “Well Mark DellaGrotte has identified a lot of my weaknesses and we are fixing them. I have concentrated on my ground game a lot in the past two and a half years. I’m adding the Sit Yod Tong Thai style into my stand-up. I’ve been working on my wrestling with former nation champions and even some Olympic competitors.”

MMAOnline.com: How do you see this sport evolving in the next 10 years?

Marcus Davis: “I just see it growing to even a larger audience. The money will grow and it will be on every channel. You will see more fighters coming from other sports like boxing and wrestling.”

MMAOnline.com: What are some of the most common criticisms you are hearing about MMA in America?

Marcus Davis: “Lately nothing really. I mean I hear fighters complaining about money but that’s about it. It might be that no one bitches to me because they know what I do.”

MMAOnline.com: If you were the all-powerful MMA czar for a week what changes would you make to enhance the sport?

Marcus Davis: “I would build the shows around the fighters and not just the brand name.”

MMAOnline.com: How about as a fan of MMA which fights would you be most excited to see?

Marcus Davis: “Fedor and Couture. Ryoto Machida and Silva if they could meet at weight. BJ Penn and Georges St. Pierre II.

MMAOnline.com: And how do you see Couture vs. Fedor playing out?

Marcus Davis: “I think Couture would win the fight by decision. He would control the stand-up exchanges and get all the takedowns from the clinch and dominate the top game.”

MMAOnline.com: Who do you see winning out of Machida-Silva?

Marcus Davis: “I have no idea who would win this but I want to see it for the stand-up. Machida has pinpoint accuracy and good power. Silva has good technique and a killer clinch with devastating knees. This is a fight where the fans win.”

MMAOnline.com: And in your career, who is it you most would like to fight, most of all?

Marcus Davis: “Gomi is my first choice. Style-wise I see it as a great fight for the MMA fans. I see both of us standing toe-to-toe and just smashing each other in the face until one of us gets put to sleep. “