Seven Linford Gonzalez Media TV interview on War Championship 16

Seven Linford Gonzalez Media TV interview centered on a November 7 co-main event at War Championship 16 that Linford says is an MMA fight, despite a poster advertising kickboxing. Speaking with Jose G, the lightweight also discussed training under Brad Blackburn, taking four years away from fighting after having his daughter, and offers from Power Slap and Slap Wars that never went ahead.

What did Seven Linford say about his War Championship 16 fight?

Seven Linford said his November 7 co-main event at War Championship 16 is an MMA fight, not a kickboxing bout. He feels good mentally and physically ahead of it and hopes to improve on his previous outing, which he said earned fight-of-the-night recognition.

Why the War Championship 16 poster caused confusion

When Jose G asked whether the upcoming fight was kickboxing, Linford corrected him. He said the poster advertised kickboxing, but the card includes boxing and MMA fights. Linford identified his own place on the card as the MMA co-main event.

His outlook after fight of the night

Linford said he has stayed with the same training group and camp. He felt his team pulled things together for the last fight, though he wants a better outcome than simply putting on an entertaining contest. Linford described his approach to the next opponent this way:

Either way he has to fight me. So it's gonna be a good night for one of us

He would welcome another fight-of-the-night performance, but said he would rather finish the job quickly than take unnecessary damage. His reasoning was practical: fighters are not paid by the minute.

How did Seven Linford start fighting and meet Brad Blackburn?

Seven Linford began wrestling in high school because his father made it a condition of letting him fight. He started MMA at about 16, trained at several gyms and eventually began working with Brad Blackburn, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter who is now one of his head coaches.

Wrestling in high school

Linford said his time in combat sports has not been continuous. He has stepped away at points because of surgeries and family life. Wrestling gave him a starting point, but his route through gyms and into professional fighting involved those interruptions.

Learning from Brad Blackburn

Blackburn’s work on the feet has particularly influenced Linford, who said he is trying to become as good as his coach in that area. The lessons are not limited to technique. Linford said Blackburn reminds him that he does not need to be the toughest person in the room; he needs to pay attention and train intelligently.

Working with Blackburn also keeps him humble. Linford said a fighter can feel on top of the world until someone more skilled shows otherwise. He wishes he had found Blackburn earlier in his career.

How is Seven Linford preparing for his next MMA fight?

Seven Linford said his preparation emphasizes consistent strength work, cardio and sharpening skills he already has. He typically goes to the gym in the morning before work. Rather than build an entirely new approach for the November 7 fight, he wants to execute his existing strengths cleanly and avoid mistakes.

His description of camp was focused on precision. Linford said he has been tightening up his whole set of tools and striving for perfection, not looking for something unusual to attempt on fight night. He framed the task as doing what he already does well, only better.

That approach fits the advice he takes from Blackburn. Linford values being smart about training rather than treating every session as a test of who is toughest. He said he feels good both mentally and physically while continuing to work with the same people who helped him prepare for his previous fight.

Where has Seven Linford fought during his professional career?

Seven Linford said he believes he turned professional in 2018 or 2019, then took four years away from fighting after having his daughter. He has competed on Knuckle Shoot, Excite Fight and CageSport cards, and said he has reached co-main events but has never headlined a card.

Four years away after becoming a father

Linford did not give an exact date for his professional debut. He placed it in either 2018 or 2019 and described the break that followed in terms of family life: he took four years off after having his daughter. Earlier surgeries had also contributed to time away from training and competition.

Knuckle Shoot, Excite Fight and CageSport

He recalled fighting a couple of times on Knuckle Shoot and Excite Fight, as well as competing on CageSport when it was still operating. Linford spoke positively about the card put on by Landon Show Walter and said he enjoys fighting on it. The War Championship 16 booking gives him another co-main-event slot, but not his first main event.

Did Seven Linford consider bare knuckle, Power Slap or Slap Wars?

Seven Linford has considered other combat-sports opportunities, but said he has not pursued a bare-knuckle fight or competed in Power Slap or Slap Wars. He received offers connected to the two slap-fighting promotions, yet neither opportunity moved beyond an early stage. He said the right money could affect his willingness to try a different format.

Bare knuckle and Crystal van Wyck

Asked about bare knuckle, Linford treated it cautiously. He described it as a street fight against opponents who can fight just as well, with damage to the face a particular concern. Jose G mentioned a recent conversation with Crystal van Wyck about bare knuckle; Linford did not say that her plans changed his own.

Offers from Power Slap and Slap Wars

Linford said he was offered opportunities with Power Slap and Slap Wars and got close to moving forward, but the discussions went flat. He has never taken part in either. When Jose G brought up a pillow-fighting league, Linford joked that he could not rule it out if the money were good.

Which sponsors, equipment and diet support Seven Linford’s training?

Seven Linford named Finnegan Chiropractic, Milo's Barbershop and Cams Inc among the people and businesses supporting him. He favors Top King equipment and uses Hayabusa boxing gloves, though he said Top King does not sponsor him. Blackburn handles his diet during camp.

Sponsors and fight gear

Linford said his chiropractor at Finnegan Chiropractic helps keep his body right. He also named his barber at Milo's Barbershop and his best friend, a tattoo artist at Cams Inc, as sponsors. He credited the latter with making sure he looks good before entering the cage.

For equipment, Linford said he has not gone wrong with Top King products and considers the brand his current favorite. He also called his Hayabusa boxing gloves good, while making clear that his praise for Top King was not part of a sponsorship.

Brad Blackburn’s diet plan and Jose G’s weight-loss stories

Blackburn manages Linford’s diet. Linford said Blackburn also does much of the diet work for his wife, who competes in bodybuilding and has her own gym, Danny Lynn's Elite Fitness.

The discussion turned to weight loss when Jose G described a bodybuilder who, he said, had lost 250 pounds twice: first following a gastric-bypass-type procedure and later through other efforts. Jose G also spoke about his own experience losing 50 pounds and said his brother had a gastric sleeve, lost substantial weight and had recently earned a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Those were Jose G’s accounts, not Linford’s weight-cutting history.

Who is Seven Linford?

Seven Linford is a professional MMA fighter in the lightweight division, fighting out of Lacey, Washington. His fighting style is marked by explosive striking, a relentless pace and a well-rounded skill set.