By Bryan Levick, FightTicker.com blogger

Over the weekend I interviewed UFC welterweight and The Ultimate Fighter season one alum Mike "Quick" Swick. Swick next faces Jonathan Goulet on UFC's Dec. 10 Fight For The Troops card. Here are highlights of our interview.

FightTicker.com: Can you tell me about your background and how you got involved with MMA?

Mike Swick: I started out in Tae-Kwon-Do when I was 8. I just progressed from there.

FightTicker.com: Did you have any heroes growing up or was there anyone in particular you looked up to?

Mike Swick: I looked up to a lot of the top martial artists. I found inspiration in a lot of totally different individuals.

FightTicker.com: What do you recall most about your first fight?

Mike Swick: I honestly can't remember. I have had so many competitions spanning since childhood. I remember my first MMA fight though... It was an amateur fight in Texas and I was exhausted! I fought a tournament and had 3 fights in one day.

FightTicker.com: What is your favorite technique or submission?

Mike Swick: I prefer the knockout over anything.

FightTicker.com: How did you get contacted about participating on The Ultimate Fighter?

Mike Swick: Through my management. They let me know Dana needed some fighters.

FightTicker.com: Is there anyone from the house that you have maintained a close friendship with?

Mike Swick: Koshcheck and Bobby Southworth train with me. I stay in touch with and see many of the other guys whenever I can.

FightTicker.com: When Dana gave the "Do you want to be a fucking fighter" speech did it have as much of an impact as they have played it out to have had on the fighters?

Mike Swick: It was impacting but I already knew why I was there and what I wanted to do. The speech was directed to the guys complaining about being there.

FightTicker.com: What was it like being around Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell at that time?

Mike Swick: It was really good to hang out and train with them. I didn't train with Chuck much because I was on Randy's team but I learned a great deal from Randy.

FightTicker.com: Have you watched any of the other seasons of TUF?

Mike Swick: Yes I have.

FightTicker.com: I have to know. Is there any particular reason you competed as a light heavyweight instead of a middleweight? Now that you are fighting at 170 it seems as though that would have been a better course of action for you. Were the middleweight spots all taken up?

Mike Swick: I took what was available. Dana said they wanted me on the show but they had too many middleweights and would I mind taking a
light heavyweight spot. I said, "No problem."

FightTicker.com: Now that you have a few fights under your belt at 170 is there anyone in particular you are looking to fight in that division?

Mike Swick: Right now I am only focused on [Jonathan] Goulet. Ask me after that fight and I will give you an earful!

FightTicker.com: Do you have any fighters that you really enjoy watching fight?

Mike Swick: Too many to list! Lots of exciting MMA fighters out there that I admire!

FightTicker.com: Are there any young fighters at AKA that we should keep our eyes on?

Mike Swick: Cain Velasquez!

FightTicker.com: Any thoughts on your opponent Jonathan Goulet? What does it mean to be fighting on a card that will benefit our great soldiers of the armed forces who have been injured?

Mike Swick: I think he is an exciting fighter and this will be a great fight. I am honored and excited to be fighting for the military and to be helping such a great cause as the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. I am a huge supporter of the military.

FightTicker.com: When the problems with AKA and Dana went down over the video game deal you were the first one to say I will sign the deal. Was there any backlash from the other fighters at AKA?

Mike Swick: The media has completely misconstrued my part of this. I was not involved at all. My dealings with the UFC on current issues had been over long before this happened.

FightTicker.com: Would you ever consider fighting Jon Fitch or Koshcheck?

Mike Swick: I fight them every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the gym! Haha. To answer your question, though, I would not want to fight them in the UFC.

FightTicker.com: How far away do you think you are from getting a shot at the title?

Mike Swick: Not even in my mind right now. I am just trying to train hard, improve and put on a great fight December 10th.

FightTicker.com: Who do you see winning between GSP and BJ Penn?

Mike Swick: I don't do predictions! haha I think its going to be a great fight and I like both of them as people and fighters.

FightTicker.com: Mike, I really appreciate your time. The readers at FightTicker.com wish you the best of luck in your fight with Goulet and with the rest of your career. Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans?

Mike Swick: Yes, I would like to thank the fans for their support! It has meant the world to me that the fans have always been so supportive. I have a blog going on my website at MikeSwick.com and I am trying to updated it, posting daily. I will share all the details of my final preparations and fight week as well as post-fight thoughts. I am also heading back to Asia after the fight so I will be blogging and posting videos on my blog and YouTube page regularly. Thanks guys!